The Nebraska Library Commission sponsors the "One Book for Nebraska Teens" program. It started in 2008-2009. The first teen book nominated for this program was The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. It was recently made into a movie.
Narrated by Death, The Book Thief tells of Liesel (age 10 at the beginning of the book), who travels to Molching, Germany to live with foster parents; and the effects World War II has on the home front in Germany, and on the people the Nazis are rounding up. To cope, Liesel begins to steal books, even before she has learned to read.
Narrated by Death, The Book Thief tells of Liesel (age 10 at the beginning of the book), who travels to Molching, Germany to live with foster parents; and the effects World War II has on the home front in Germany, and on the people the Nazis are rounding up. To cope, Liesel begins to steal books, even before she has learned to read.
The "One Book for Nebraska Teens" for 2010-2011 was Unwind by Neal Shusterman (one of my favorite books ever!). Unwind tells of a future America where parents can choose to have their children between the ages of 13 - 18, "unwound" (their body parts are harvested and given to others), so they aren't technically dead!
This book follows three teens who all become runaway Unwinds: Connor, a rebel whose parents have ordered his unwinding; Risa, a ward of the state who is to be unwound due to cost-cutting; and Lev, his parents' tenth child whose unwinding has been planned since birth as a religious tithing. What do you think? Would your parents ever choose to have you "unwound?"
There are two other books in this series: "UnWholly" and "UnSouled."
This book follows three teens who all become runaway Unwinds: Connor, a rebel whose parents have ordered his unwinding; Risa, a ward of the state who is to be unwound due to cost-cutting; and Lev, his parents' tenth child whose unwinding has been planned since birth as a religious tithing. What do you think? Would your parents ever choose to have you "unwound?"
There are two other books in this series: "UnWholly" and "UnSouled."
A very good book by a popular author, Blank Confessions was chosen as the "One Book for Nebraska Teens" in 2012.
New student Shayne Blank (not his real name) goes to the police station to confess to a murder. Parts of the story are told by Shayne, the detective who is intrigued by the young man and his story, George Rawls, and Shayne's friend Mikey. Shayne's adopted last name "Blank" explains the title of the book.
You might also want to read more books by this author. Students who read one often want to read more!
New student Shayne Blank (not his real name) goes to the police station to confess to a murder. Parts of the story are told by Shayne, the detective who is intrigued by the young man and his story, George Rawls, and Shayne's friend Mikey. Shayne's adopted last name "Blank" explains the title of the book.
You might also want to read more books by this author. Students who read one often want to read more!
Leviathan, by the ever popular author Scott Westerfeld (of Uglies and Midnighters series fame) is the One Book for Nebraska book of 2013.
It is set in an alternative World War I. This award-winning, first-in-series novel epitomizes the steampunk genre in young adult fiction.
It is set in an alternative World War I. This award-winning, first-in-series novel epitomizes the steampunk genre in young adult fiction.
2014's One Book for Nebraska book is Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. There is a sequel to this book. Also, the movie based on this book will be released in July 2015.
A horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.
A horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.