2011-2012 Iowa Teen Award Titles

Along for the Ride
      Sarah Dessen
Auden has missed out on alot of things while growing up. She's always been more of an adult than a kid. She decides to spend the summer before going off to college with her father and new sister at the beach. While there Auden gets an opportunity to try all those things she missed out on. Will she take the chance?

Operation Yes

      Sara Lewis Holmes
Bo has always had trouble behaving in school, but has promised his Air Force father that this year will be better. A new teacher gets the year off to a good start, but when his cousin comes to live with their family, Bo starts to have some problems. When his teacher's brother goes missing in combat, things get even worse. The students come up with Operation Yes to help their teacher and her brother.

Unwind
     Neal Shusterman
Neal Shusterman takes the reader into another world where life is completely different from what we know. Teens can be sent to be unwound--all of their body parts are harvested to use for others. While this is seen as murder, the teen exists only on other people. Connor has been sent to be an Unwind but is determined to run away and survive. Along the way, he helps another runaway and a "tithe" who may turn them all in.

After Ever After

     Jordan Sonnenblick

Author of another ITA book-Notes from the Midnight Driver-Sonnebrick again create some quirky characters that face real life problems. Jeffrey is a cancer survivor but that doesn't mean he still isn't affected by the disease. He has some real learning problems because of the drugs used to treat his cancer. Now the school is saying all students must pass a test before going on to high school. Jeffrey and his friend come up with a plan, but Jeffrey still fails the practice tests. Can they boys help each other meet their goals?

Pop

     Gordon Korman

One of my favorite teen authors has written another great book this time focusing on football. As a new kid in town, Marcus hopes to make the football team which was undefeated the previous year. The returning quarterback makes it tough on Marcus but with the help of a middle aged man, Marcus improves his skills and makes the team. The man still loves the "pop" of a good tackle and soon Marcus learns to love it as well. When Marcus gets in trouble for some pranks that Charlie was in on, Marcus is unable to tell the police who was in on it. Keeping Charlie's secret could be big trouble for Marcus.

Anything but Typical

      Nora Raleigh Baskin

Jason is an autistic student who loves to write. Posting his stories online, Jason has a chance to feel normal. When he has a chance to attend a conference and meet his online friend, Jason is terrified how she will react to his problems.

Sunrise Over Falluhjah

      Walter Dean Myers

Birdy wants to do his part after 9/11 and so he joins the army and is headed off to Operation Iraqi Freedom. As part of a Civilian Affairs Battalion, Birdy's job is to try to show the people of Iraq that the Americans are there to help them. However, that doesn't keep him from being in danger.

Purple Heart

     Patricia McCormick

Author of Sold, McCormick takes a look at the war in Iraq. Matt is in the hospital and is suffering from a brain injury that has affected his memory. He's afraid he was involved in the death of an Iraqi boy, but can't remember everything. When he joins his squad, the memories continue to haunt him and he's afraid he won't be able to do his job properly.

The Last Thing I Remember

      Andrew Klavan

Book 1 of the Homelanders series. I will definetely need to buy the next books in this series. Full of action and suspense, this book keeps the reader turning the pages to see what happens next. Charlie wakes up to discover he is going to be killed. He escapes from the compound only to discover that he had been in prison for killing his best friend. He remember none of this and only wants to return to life as he remembers it.

Woods Runner

     Gary Paulson

As master of the survival novel, Paulson takes us to the Revolutionary Era. Sam is out hunting and returns home to find his home burned and his parents kidnapped. He sets off to find his parents but doesn't know who he can trust. Along the way, he is helped by another frontier family who are murdered by Indians helping the British. Now he must help their young daughter as he tries to survive the perils around him.

Boost

     Kathy Mackel

Savy's family has moved and she and her sister are trying to fit into their new school. As a thirteen-year old, Savy tries out and makes the 18u team despite the resentment of some of the girls. When steroids are found in her bag, Savy must prove that they are not hers.

Red Glass

     Laura Resau

Sophie's family becomes involved with a young boy that was found in the desert crossing into the US from Mexico. When her aunt and her boyfriend, decide to take Pablo back to his village, Sophia goes along. The trip becomes a journey of self-discovery for Sophia as she faces challenges and dangers she never thought she could face.

All the Broken Pieces

      Ann E. Burg

A story written in verse, this book reads really quickly. Matt is a refugee from the Vietnam War that has found a home in the US. Matt is a great baseball player, but there are people who are prejudiced against him because of his heritage. Can his family and coach help him to find his place?

The Batboy

     Mike Lupica

Lupica fans will enjoy this book. Brian loves baseball and gets the chance to be the batboy for Detroit. His all time favorite player returns to play for the Tigers but has to prove himself after being involved with the steroid scandal. Brian soon discovers that his hero is not all that friendly even when Brian thinks he knows what is wrong with his swing.

Beastly

     Alex Flinn

A great book using the story of Beauty and the Beast. A popular and good looking high school boy, Kyle makes the wrong girl angry and she puts a spell on him that turns him into a beast. The only way to break the spell is for someone to fall in love with him. Even if you think you know the story, Flinn does a great job of telling it and you'll enjoy reading it.