2017 Scott O'Dell Award

The 2017 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction winner is Full of Beans, by Jennifer L. Holm.

"Scott O'Dell established this award to encourage other writers-particularly new authors--to focus on historical fiction. He hoped in this way to increase the interest of young readers in the historical background that has helped to shape their country and their world." - Scott O'Dell Award.

Full of Beans is part of the AU Library Juvenile Collection.

"Newbery Honor Book Turtle in Paradise is beloved by readers, and now they can return to this wonderful world through the eyes of Turtle’s cousin Beans.Grown-ups lie. That’s one truth Beans knows for sure. He and his gang know how to spot a whopper a mile away, because they are the savviest bunch of barefoot conchs (that means “locals”) in all of Key West. Not that Beans really minds; it’s 1934, the middle of the Great Depression. With no jobs on the island, and no money anywhere, who can really blame the grown-ups for telling a few tales? Besides, Beans isn’t anyone’s fool. In fact, he has plans. Big plans. And the consequences might surprise even Beans himself." - Publisher Summary

Read the official announcement on The Horn Book Blog, Read Roger: The 2017 Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction

2016 Scott O'Dell Award

The 2016 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction winner is The Hired Girl, by Laura Amy Schlitz.

"Scott O'Dell established this award to encourage other writers-particularly new authors--to focus on historical fiction. He hoped in this way to increase the interest of young readers in the historical background that has helped to shape their country and their world." - Scott O'Dell Award.

The Hired Girl is part of the AU Library Juvenile Collection.

"Fourteen-year-old Joan Skraggs, just like the heroines in her beloved novels, yearns for real life and true love. But what hope is there for adventure, beauty, or art on a hardscrabble farm in Pennsylvania where the work never ends? Over the summer of 1911, Joan pours her heart out into her diary as she seeks a new, better life for herself—because maybe, just maybe, a hired girl cleaning and cooking for six dollars a week can become what a farm girl could only dream of—a woman with a future. Inspired by her own grandmother’s journal, Newbery Medalist Laura Amy Schlitz relates Joan’s journey from the muck of the chicken coop to the comforts of a society household in Baltimore (Electricity! Carpet sweepers! Sending out the laundry!), taking readers on an exploration of feminism and housework; religion and literature; love and loyalty; cats, hats, and bunions." - Publisher Summary

Read the official announcement on The Horn Book's Read Roger Blog: The 2016 Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction

2015 Scott O'Dell Award

The 2015 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction winner is Dash, by Kirby Larson.

"Scott O'Dell established this award to encourage other writers-particularly new authors--to focus on historical fiction. He hoped in this way to increase the interest of young readers in the historical background that has helped to shape their country and their world." - Scott O'Dell Award.

Dash, by Kirby Larson, call number PZ7.L324 Das 2014, is part of the library's juvenile collection. Interested in learning more about this book? Follow the title link to the library catalog, then click on the book jacket cover to view:

• Book Summary
• Author Notes
• Cover Image
• Reviews

Read the official announcement on the Horn Book Magazine blog Read Roger: The 2015 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction.

Scott O'Dell Award 2014

The 2014 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction winner is Bo at Ballard Creek by Kirkpatrick Hill.

"Scott O'Dell established this award to encourage other writers-particularly new authors--to focus on historical fiction. He hoped in this way to increase the interest of young readers in the historical background that has helped to shape their country and their world." - Scott O'Dell Award.

Interested in learning more about this title? Reviews are available in the library catalog! Follow the book title link to the library catalog, Bo at Ballard Creek and click on the book jacket to view:

• Book Summary
• Chapter One Excerpt
• Author Notes
• Cover Image
• Book Reviews

Read the official announcement on the Horn Book Magazine blog Read Roger: The 2014 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction.

Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction

This year's Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction winner is Jack Gantos for his book Dead End in Norvelt.

"Scott O'Dell established this award to encourage other writers-particularly new authors--to focus on historical fiction. He hoped in this way to increase the interest of young readers in the historical background that has helped to shape their country and their world." - Scott O'Dell Award.

Interested in learning more about this title? Reviews are available in the library catalog! Follow the book title link to the library catalog, Dead End in Norvelt, by Jack Gantos and click on the book jacket to view:

• Book Summary
• Author Notes
• Cover Image
• Reviews

Read more about this announcement on Read Roger, one of the Horn Book Blogs: 2012 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction.

Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction

This year's Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction winner is Matt Phelan for his book The Storm in the Barn.

"Scott O'Dell established this award to encourage other writers-particularly new authors--to focus on historical fiction. He hoped in this way to increase the interest of young readers in the historical background that has helped to shape their country and their world." - Scott O'Dell Award.

Interested in learning more about this title? Reviews are available in the library catalog! Follow the book title link to the library catalog, The Storm in the Barn by Matt Phelan, and click on the book jacket to view:

• Book Summary
• Author Notes
• Cover Image
• Reviews

Professional reviews are available from among others, Booklist, Horn Book, Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, and School Library Journal. Choose individual reviews or the option to View all Reviews.

Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction

This year's award winner is Laurie Halse Anderson for her book Chains: Seeds of America.

"Scott O'Dell established this award to encourage other writers-particularly new authors--to focus on historical fiction. He hoped in this way to increase the interest of young readers in the historical background that has helped to shape their country and their world." - Scott O'Dell Award.

Interested in learning more about this title? Reviews are available in the library catalog! Follow the book title link to the library catalog, Chains, by Laurie Halse Anderson, and click on the book jacket to view:

• Book Summary
• Excerpt from the Book
• Cover Image
• Reviews

Professional reviews are available from among others, Booklist, Horn Book, Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, and School Library Journal. Choose individual reviews or the option to View all Reviews.

Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction

Roger Sutton, editor of Horn Book Magazine and author of the Horn Book Blog "Read Roger," posted the winner of the 2008 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction; Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis. His post read in part:

"With comedy and anguish, Curtis tells the gripping story in the voice of smart, funny Elijah, 10, the first child born free in the Buxton Settlement established for escaped slaves in Ontario, Canada, over the border from Detroit. Elijah loses his innocence when he crosses the border on a dangerous mission to the U. S. and encounters the horrifying cruelty his parents have escaped from. Curtis now lives near the Buxton Settlement, and, based on his careful research, he tells of ordinary people who are heroes." - Roger Sutton, Read Roger, 1/08/08.

Elijah of Buxton (PZ7.C94137 El 2007)is part of the library's juvenile collection.Professional reviews of the title, including Booklist, Horn Book, School Library Journal, Publisher's Weekly, and Kirkus Reviews, may be found via the library database Academic Search Complete (authentication required for use).

Learn more about the Scott O'Dell award for historical fiction on the Scott O'Dell home page.


Tags: Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction, Read Roger, Horn Book Magazine, Christopher Paul Curtis, Elijah of Buxton

Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction

Roger Sutton, editor of Horn Book Magazine and author of the Horn Book Blog "Read Roger," posted the winner of this year's Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction last Friday afternoon. His post read in part:

"The Green Glass Sea by Ellen Klages (Viking) is the winner of the 2007 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction. The award is presented to a children's or young adult book published in English by a U.S. publisher and set in the Americas. A standing committee (Ann Carlson; Hazel Rochman, chair; and Roger Sutton) selects the winner. Established by the late historical fiction writer, Scott O'Dell, the award is administered by his wife, Elizabeth Hall. The author is presented with a $5000 prize." (Read Roger, 1/12/07)

The Green Glass Sea (PZ7.K6768 Gr 2006) is part of the library's juvenile collection and professional reviews of the title, including Booklist, Horn Book, School Library Journal, Publisher's Weekly, and Kirkus Reviews, may be found in the library database Academic Search Premier.

Internet resources: Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction, Scott O'Dell Home Page