Trends – Cobequid Educational Centre
Students at Cobequid Educational Centre (grades 10-12) have submitted the largest number of nominations to date. Librarian Ms. Allen has counted 293 nomination forms, but many more have been handed in. The number one book at CEC (with 12 nominations) is: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
Published in 1960 and set in the Depression, Harper Lee’s only novel examines racism in a small Alabaman town through the eyes of eight-year-old Scout Finch.
Here are some reasons why CEC students chose this as their favourite book:
- It touches the heart.
- A brilliant novel about compassion, struggle, and race issues. A timeless classic.
- A very dramatic and intense story.
Reason for nomination:
Excellent plot.
There is currently a three-way tie for third place at CEC. The following novels have received five nominations each:
Under the Dome by Stephen King
This book follows the inhabitants of a sleepy little town in Maine after it is suddenly cut off from the rest of the world by an invisible force field.
Reason for nomination:
The story keeps you hanging and doesn’t disappoint in the end.
Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
The final book in the Twilight saga. (I won’t say any more about it so I don’t spoil anything for those who haven’t read it.)
Reason for nomination:
Once you start reading you can’t stop.
The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton
Ponyboy, his brothers, and friends are poor outsiders (“greasers”) who are constantly fighting with the snobby rich kids (“socs”), until the rivalry spins out of control and a soc is murdered.
Reason for nomination:
It has a good storyline.
There are also many books at CEC that have only been nominated once or twice by students. Have you read any of the CEC top picks? Do they deserve a place in the Top 10?
Trends – Hants North Rural High School
As we check out what students are nominating at Hants North Rural High School (grades 7-12), it’s becoming clear that teens across CCRSB read an incredibly wide range of books. Ms. Dixon has reported that out of the 30 nominations received so far, only two have been nominated more than once. The frontrunner at HNRH right now (with four nominations) is: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.
Here are some of the reasons why The Hunger Games is a favourite among HNRH students:
- I love this book because of Katniss’s struggle to survive and how much effort it took just to live.
- This is a brilliant novel with a strong female protagonist. The book was thrilling from cover to cover and I found myself unable to put it down. This book will appeal to people of all ages.
- Because it is extremely interesting and makes you never want to put it down.
The only other title to receive multiple nominations (two) is the picture book Strong to the Hoop by John Coy. Ten-year-old James tries to hold his own on the basketball court after he is challenged to a game by a group of older boys.
Reasons for nomination:
- It is a good book because it is awesome.
- It is a good book because it is the best book in the whole world.
Author Ellen Hopkins has shown up on a couple of ballots (for her books Crank and Tricks), but neither book received multiple nominations. For those of you unfamiliar with her work, she writes very powerful free-verse novels about tough issues (e.g. drug addiction, abuse, mental illness). This will likely not be the last time her name appears on this blog.
The rest of the nominated books at HRNH only received one ballot each and represent a variety of genres, including fantasy, romance (particularly supernatural), and historical fiction. Here are a few honourable mentions:
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Eragon is a simple farm boy, until one fateful day he finds a blue stone that hatches a dragon.
Reason for nomination:
Phenomenal book for the author’s first novel. Really good fantasy read for veterans and newcomers to the genre.
Going Bovine by Libba Bray
In this award-winning novel, 16-year-old Cameron Smith goes on an epic road trip with a video-game-obsessed dwarf, a lawn gnome, and a punk rock angel named Dulcie to search for a cure for his mad cow disease.
Reason for nomination:
Because I like cows and yard gnomes.
Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey
Jessica Packwoods is a normal senior in high school – at least until the hot new exchange student claims she is actually a Romanian vampire princess and his long-lost fiancee.
Reason for nomination:
When I read this book I couldn’t put it down.
Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
This classic, semi-autobiographical tale of pioneer life follows the Ingalls family as they leave Wisconsin just after the Civil War and build a new home in Kansas.
Reason for nomination:
Because it teaches kids about how people grew up in the olden days.
What are your thoughts on the books HNRH have nominated? Are any of your favourites on this list?
Trends – West Pictou Consolidated School
Results are coming in at West Pictou Consolidated School (grades 7-8). Ms. MacEachern at the library has received 30 nomination forms from students, and there is quite an interesting mix of titles. Like at Springhill High, most books have only been nominated once. With four nominations, the most nominated book is: Conspiracy 365 : January by Gabrielle Lord.
This is the first book in an action-packed series about 15-year-old Callum Ormond, a fugitive on the run from his father’s killers.
West Pictou students had this to say about the book:
- “”Action packed thriller. Always leaving you wanting more.”
- “The book series is awesome! Lots of action. A lot of my friends read it!”
There are currently two runners-up with two votes each:
Ways to Live Forever by Sally Nicholls
This tearjerker chronicles the last four months of eleven-year-old Sam McQueen’s battle with leukemia.
Reason for nomination:
“Because the book is a very emotional story that teens can connect to.”
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Every year in the post-apocalyptic world of Panem, 24 teens are forced to fight to the death in the Hunger Games.
Reason for nomination:
“It has a bit of everything — action, romance, and lots of suspense. It’s for everyone!”
A single nonfiction title has been nominated: The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks. Although it’s only received one nomination, you can’t argue with the reason for its inclusion:
“If a zombie apocalypse ever happened, this book would help.”
(That sounds like a book I want handy when the end is nigh.)
What do you think of the books students at West Pictou Consolidated have nominated?
Trends – Springhill Jr./Sr. High School
The nomination period has been open for a month and trends are starting to emerge. For the next three weeks, this blog will be showcasing each school’s most-nominated books.
We’ll start with Springhill Jr/Sr High School (grades 7-12) where about 60 nominations have been submitted. A surprisingly wide range of books that have appeared on the nomination forms, from classics (The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton and Hatchet Gary Paulsen) to manga series (Rosario+ Vampire by Akihisa Ikeda), to contemporary novels that tackle tough issues (Shine by Lauren Myracle and Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma). But the biggest surprise of all has been the complete absence of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins from the nomination forms, especially as many students have read and loved the series.
Due to the wide range of reading interests in the school, very few books have received two or three nominations. Only one book has received a whopping four nominations: I Heart You, You Haunt Me by Lisa Schroeder.
For those of you unfamiliar with this verse novel, it’s a love story with a twist – one of them is a ghost.
Here are the reasons students gave when nominating this book:
- “It was written in an easy format that left you breathless with every page.”
- “This book is awesome.”
- “This book is amazing! I recommend it to everyone!”
- “I really enjoyed the book.”
Although I Heart You, You Haunt Me has received the most nominations so far, it is not the only one at SHS to receive multiple nods.
Three books/series received 3 nominations each:
Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroeder.
Another ghostly romance written in free verse.
Reason for nomination:
“I nominate this book because I think it is an amazing book and everyone should have the chance to read and love this book as much as I do!!”
The Demonata series by Darren Shan.
A gory horror series about (not surprisingly) demons.
Reason for nomination:
“It’s awesome and more kids should read it.”
Dear Dumb Diary series by Jim Benton.
A funny series chronicling the life and times of a girl in middle school.
Reason for nomination:
“They are really good and funny books.”
Five book/series received two nominations each:
- Bone by Jeff Smith
- Cirque du Freak series by Darren Shan
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney
- Divergent by Veronica Roth
- Percy Jackson and the Olympians : The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
It will be interesting to see if these results change in the next few weeks. Is your favourite book one of the most-nominated at SHS? What do you think of the student picks so far?
Announcing the First Annual CCRSB Teen Reader’s Choice Award!
Attention teens of CCRSB:
Library Services invites you to participate in the first-ever CCRSB Teen Reader’s Choice Award. The nominees and the winner will both be determined by you!
Here’s how to participate:
- Nominate your favourite book between now and January 14 (see your librarian for nomination forms). There are no restrictions on what you can nominate, but you can only submit one title so make your nomination count! Your nominations will be counted and the top 10 books will be announced in January.
- Read books from the Top 10 between February 14 and May 13. All shortlisted books will be made available at your school library. Even if your book didn’t crack the Top 10, read the ones that did! You never know – you may discover your new favourite book.
- Discuss the Top 10 with fellow students across the board via online forums. This is a chance to talk about the finalists you love and hate, and to convince other students to vote for your choice!
- Vote for your favourite book of the Top 10. Voting will take place online between April 25 and May 14. You only have to read one book from the Top 10 to vote and you can only vote once.
- Celebrate the winning book at your school library. Your votes will be tabulated and the winner will be announced in late May. Details on the award ceremony will follow.
So get involved! The award won’t happen without you.
