More than 56,000 ballots have been cast by children and young adult readers in Utah, listing their favorite titles for the 1993 Utah Book Awards. The results of the three contests were announced in the recent annual meeting of the Children's Literature Association of Utah.
"Dead Man in Indian Creek," by Mary Dowing Hahn (Clarion) was named the winner of the Utah Children's Book Award."Sniper," by Theodore Taylor (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich) received the award for Young Adult Fiction and Utah author, Alane Ferguson's "Show Me the Evidence" (Bradbury) listed as an Honor Book.
"Dolphin Adventure," by Wayne Grover (Greenwillow) was deemed the winner of the Nonfiction Award with Doreen Rappaport's "Escape from Slavery" (HarperCollins) as an Honor Book.
According to Julie Bentley, Utah Children's Book Award chairperson, 226 schools throughout the state, six private schools and five public libraries submitted ballots reflecting an increase of more than 2,000 in books read this year compared with last year. "Even with the number of votes, balloting was extremely close," said Bentley. "Even the last few votes could have swayed what the winner would be. We want young readers to realize that their vote counts; this year's contest proved that."
The 1993 Utah Book Award lists were selected and distributed to all schools and libraries throughout Utah more than a year ago. These books have been read by students from grades 3 through 6 for the Children's Award and the Nonfiction Medal. The Young Adult titles were read by secondary students. The books have been highlighted throughout the academic year in many ways: with activities, video presentations and displays in book shops on library shelves. Many books were read silently by children, others shared as a class. Some schools rewarded students who read all titles on one of the lists and voted.
- MYSTERIES are one of the most popular types of fiction for young readers. Because of their demand, publishers have many `learning-to-read' type stories set in mystery format as well as the easy chapter-books and longer fiction pieces.
Winner of the 1993 Utah Children's Book Award ("The Dead Man in Indian Creek"), the Young Adult Fiction Award ("Sniper") and Honor Title ("Show Me the Evidence") are all mysteries; thrillers to set spines tingling.
In both of the winning books for the Utah Book Awards, as well as the Honor Book, first paragraphs are the grabbers:
"If Parker Pettengill hadn't wanted to go camping, we never would have found the dead man in Indian Creek, and, believe me, we would have been a whole lot better off . . . " ("The Dead Man at Indian Creek")
"When Ben met his first fully grown lion, his dad said, `Wait and maybe he'll come up to you. Just stand still. He might brush up against you, or maybe he'll stop and take your shoulder into his mouth. Don't resist it, don't be scared . . . " ("Sniper")
" . . . it was hot and stuffy in the hallway. It was four o'clock. Those two reasons alone made Lauren anxious to escape into the fresh air outside. But she didn't want to, couldn't take the chance of missing Janaan, not after what she'd found hidden in the bottom of their locker." ("Show Me the Evidence")
But beyond first-liners, captivating mysteries need to have a series of exciting adventures for the sleuths in settings that stir the excitement to a high. That's what each author has done. Hahn, who was also a Utah Children's Book Award winner for "Wait 'Till Helen Comes," sets her mystery in a small town that could be "Any-place, America," with kids who have honest emotions and inquisitiveness. Ferguson, too, has "real" young people who are haunted and driven by a real issue in the news, the kidnapping of babies.
Taylor's "Sniper" gives a different mood through his vivid description of a 195-acre cat reserve, Los Coyotes, as a setting. When he tells about Reggie, Cleo, Rocky and the other huge animals being picked off by a sniper, the reader gets the message and a haunting feeling.
While the remaining two books are not listed as mysteries, they certainly have that element. "Dolphin Adventure" is a factual account of the author's experience with a family of dolphins that leaves the reader still wondering if the water creatures do return to where they are befriended. "Escape from Slavery" is the truestory of five slaves who make their way to freedom.
The list for the each of the three categories for 1994 is available from Emily Lowe at 272-4125 or from Kathie Olsen at the State Office of Education.
Marilou Sorensen is an associate professor of education at the University of Utah specializing in children's literature.