Missouri Gateway Nominees

Student reader poses with Gateways on the counter.

Gateway Readers

My 1^st reading priority each year is to complete the 15 final nominees for the Gateway Reader’s Award.  The winners are chosen by Missouri high school students and the nominees always represent the best of YA.  The nominees are also diverse enough for any student to find at least one book they like.   Multiple copies of the books are on year-round display on the desk counter, and I always refer students to them as a 1^st choice.

This year’s list:

Author	Title
Michelle Gagnon	Don't Turn Around
Lissa Price	Starters
Trish Doller	Something Like Normal
Anna Banks	Of Poseidon
Kristen Simmons	Article 5
Gina Damico	Croak
Paul Griffin	Burning Blue
John Green	The Fault In Our Stars
Kim Purcell	Trafficked
April Henry	The Night She Disappeared
David Levithan	Every Day
Cat Patrick	Revived
Matthew Quick	Boy21
William Richter	Dark Eyes
Jennifer Shaw Wolf	Breaking Beautiful

Reading 3 earns a ticket to Voting party 

Students who read a minimum of 3 get invitation to attend a voter’s party in March to choose the winner.  Sometimes we just have a pizza party, though we have taken field trips to see new releases and last year even had a visit from one of the nominated authors.  We always have swag to give away - books, signed posters, whatever I could collect from conferences throughout the year. So if I can get a student to read one of the Gateways, many times they will return for another to get to attend the party. 

The 15 choices on the counter also are a great place to start with a student who wants book recommendations.  If they have read one of the books, they have common ground to discuss what type of books they like.  Frequently, students will be able to offer one another book choices based on the Gateways they liked. 

I've read 8 of the titles so far, and made a few false start on some others.  This year’s are especially good.  It will be difficult to chose a favorite.  As I make my way through, and as students begin talking about the titles, I'll post reviews.