The Mark Twain Readers Award, or simply Mark Twain Award, is a
children's
A child ( : children) is a human being between the stages of birth and puberty, or between the developmental period of infancy and puberty. The legal definition of ''child'' generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person young ...
book award which annually recognizes one book selected by vote of
Missouri
Missouri is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee): Iowa to the north, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee to the east, Arkansas t ...
schoolchildren from a list prepared by librarians and volunteer readers. It is now one of four
Missouri Association of School Librarians {{short description, None
Below is a continuation of the List of library associations#North America, North America section of the List of library associations. Included are state associations, school library associations, and special library associ ...
(MASL) Readers Awards and is associated with school
grades 4 to 6; the other MASL Readers Awards were inaugurated from 1995 to 2009 and are associated with grades K–3, 6–8, 9–12 and nonfiction.
[ The 1970 ]Newbery Medal
The John Newbery Medal, frequently shortened to the Newbery, is a literary award given by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), to the author of "the most distinguished cont ...
winning book '' Sounder'', by William H. Armstrong, was the inaugural winner of the Mark Twain Award in 1972.[
Peg Kehret has won the Mark Twain Award four times, once in 1999 for '' Small Steps: The Year I Got Polio'', a memoir of her childhood, and three times in six years from 2007 to 2012 for novels.][
]
Nomination guidelines
* Books should interest children in grades four through six.
* Books should be an original work written by an author living in the United States.
* Books should be of literary value which may enrich children's personal lives.
* Books should be published two years prior to nomination on a master list of twelve nominees.
Voting process
Though the list of nominated books is designated for grades four through six, any student can vote for the winner so long as they satisfy the following criteria:
* Book must have been read by voter.
* Voter must have read at least four books from the list of nominees.
* Voter can only vote once.
Schools design their own ballots. Individual votes for each school (or qualified group) are tallied on a single sheet and submitted to the MASL.
Winners
The award has recognized a single book by a single writer without exception from 1972.[
* 2021 ''Blended'' by ]Sharon Draper
Sharon Mills Draper (born August 21, 1948) is an American children's writer, professional educator, and the 1997 National Teacher of the Year. She is a five-time winner of the Coretta Scott King Award for books about the young and adolescent Afric ...
* 2020 ''One for Sorrow: a Ghost Story'' by Mary Downing Hahn
Mary Downing Hahn (born December 9, 1937) is an American writer of young adult novels and a former school librarian. She is known for books such as ''Stepping On The Cracks'' and ''Wait Till Helen Comes''. She published her first book in 1979 and ...
* 2019 ''Framed!'' by James Ponti
* 2018 ''The War That Saved My Life
''The War That Saved My Life'', by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, is a 2015 children’s historical novel published by Dial Books for Young Readers. In 2016, it was a Newbery Honor Book and was named to the Bank Street Children's Book Committee ...
'' by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (born June 24, 1967) is an American children's and young adult book author. In 2016, her children's book ''The War That Saved My Life'' received the Newbery Honor Award and was named to the Bank Street Children's Book ...
* 2017 ''A Million Ways Home'' by Dianna Dorisi-Winget
* 2016 '' Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library'' by Chris Grabenstein
Christopher Grabenstein is an American author. He published his first novel in 2005. Since then he has written novels for both adults and children, the latter often with frequent collaborator James Patterson. He graduated from the University of Te ...
* 2015 ''Wonder
Wonder most commonly refers to:
* Wonder (emotion), an emotion comparable to surprise that people feel when perceiving something rare or unexpected
Wonder may also refer to:
Arts and media
Fictional entities
* The Wonders, a fictional band ...
'' by R.J. Palacio
* 2014 '' The Unwanteds'' by Lisa McMann
Lisa McMann (born February 27, 1968) is an American author and the creator of The Unwanteds and The Unwanteds Quests series for young readers and the ''WAKE'' trilogy for young adults.
McMann was born in Holland, Michigan and now lives in Temp ...
[
* 2013 '' Out of My Mind'' by ]Sharon Draper
Sharon Mills Draper (born August 21, 1948) is an American children's writer, professional educator, and the 1997 National Teacher of the Year. She is a five-time winner of the Coretta Scott King Award for books about the young and adolescent Afric ...
[
* 2012 ''Runaway Twin'' by Peg Kehret
* 2011 '' Stolen Children'' by Peg Kehret
* 2010 '' Deep and Dark and Dangerous'' by ]Mary Downing Hahn
Mary Downing Hahn (born December 9, 1937) is an American writer of young adult novels and a former school librarian. She is known for books such as ''Stepping On The Cracks'' and ''Wait Till Helen Comes''. She published her first book in 1979 and ...
[
* 2009 '']The Sea of Monsters
''The Sea of Monsters'' is an American fantasy-adventure novel based on Greek mythology written by Rick Riordan and published in 2006. It is the second novel in the ''Percy Jackson & the Olympians'' series and the sequel to ''The Lightning Th ...
'' by Rick Riordan
Richard Russell Riordan Junior (; born June 5, 1964) is an American author, best known for writing the ''Percy Jackson & the Olympians'' series. Riordan's books have been translated into forty-two languages and sold more than thirty million co ...
* 2008 ''The Lightning Thief
''The Lightning Thief'' is a 2005 American fantasy-adventure novel based on Greek mythology, the first young adult novel written by Rick Riordan in the ''Percy Jackson & the Olympians'' series. It won the Adult Library Services Association Be ...
'' by Rick Riordan
Richard Russell Riordan Junior (; born June 5, 1964) is an American author, best known for writing the ''Percy Jackson & the Olympians'' series. Riordan's books have been translated into forty-two languages and sold more than thirty million co ...
* 2007 '' Abduction!'' by Peg Kehret
* 2006 ''The City of Ember
''The City of Ember'' is a post-apocalyptic novel by Jeanne DuPrau that was published in 2003. The story is about Ember, a post-apocalyptic underground city threatened by aging infrastructure and corruption. The young protagonist, Lina Mayfle ...
'' by Jeanne DuPrau
* 2005 ''Wenny Has Wings'' by Janet Lee Carey (made into a Japanese movie ''Ano sora wo Oboetaru'')
* 2004 ''Zach's Lie'' by Roland Smith
* 2003 ''Because of Winn-Dixie
''Because of Winn-Dixie'' is a 2000 children's novel written by Kate DiCamillo. It was adapted as a 2005 family film directed by Wayne Wang, produced by Walden Media and Twentieth Century Fox, and starring AnnaSophia Robb as Opal Buloni. '' by Kate DiCamillo
Katrina Elizabeth DiCamillo (born March 25, 1964) is an American children's fiction author. She has published over 25 novels, including '' Because of Winn-Dixie'', ''The Tiger Rising'', ''The Tale of Despereaux'', ''The Miraculous Journey ...
* 2002 ''Dork In Disguise'' by Carol Gorman
* 2001 '' Holes'' by Louis Sachar
Louis Sachar ( ; born March 20, 1954) is an American young-adult mystery-comedy author. He is best known for the ''Wayside School'' series and the novel '' Holes''.
''Holes'' won the 1998 U.S. National Book Award for Young People's Literature< ...
* 2000 '' Saving Shiloh'' by Phyllis Naylor
* 1999 '' Small Steps: The Year I Got Polio'' by Peg Kehret
* 1998 ''Titanic Crossing'' by Barbara Williams
* 1997 ''Time for Andrew'' by Mary Downing Hahn
Mary Downing Hahn (born December 9, 1937) is an American writer of young adult novels and a former school librarian. She is known for books such as ''Stepping On The Cracks'' and ''Wait Till Helen Comes''. She published her first book in 1979 and ...
* 1996 ''Ghosts of Mercy Manor'' by Betty Ren Wright
Betty Ren Wright (June 15, 1927 – December 31, 2013) was an American writer of children's fiction including '' Christina's Ghost'', ''The Dollhouse Murders'', ''The Ghosts Of Mercy Manor'' and ''A Ghost in The House''.
Background
Wright l ...
* 1995 '' The Man Who Loved Clowns'' by June Rae Wood
* 1994 '' Shiloh'' by Phyllis Naylor
* 1993 ''Maniac Magee
''Maniac Magee'' is a novel written by American author Jerry Spinelli and published in 1990. Exploring themes of racism and inequality, it follows the story of an orphan boy looking for a home in the fictional town of Two Mills. Two Mills is h ...
'' by Jerry Spinelli
* 1992 '' The Doll in the Garden: A Ghost Story'' by Mary Downing Hahn
Mary Downing Hahn (born December 9, 1937) is an American writer of young adult novels and a former school librarian. She is known for books such as ''Stepping On The Cracks'' and ''Wait Till Helen Comes''. She published her first book in 1979 and ...
* 1991 '' All About Sam'' by Lois Lowry
Lois Ann Lowry (; née Hammersberg; March 20, 1937) is an American writer. She is the author of several books for children and young adults, including '' The Giver Quartet,'' ''Number the Stars'', and '' Rabble Starkey.'' She is known for writing ...
* 1990 '' There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom'' by Louis Sachar
Louis Sachar ( ; born March 20, 1954) is an American young-adult mystery-comedy author. He is best known for the ''Wayside School'' series and the novel '' Holes''.
''Holes'' won the 1998 U.S. National Book Award for Young People's Literature< ...
* 1989 ''Sixth-Grade Sleepover'' by Eve Bunting
* 1988 '' Baby-Sitting Is a Dangerous Job'' by Willo Davis Roberts
Willo Davis Roberts (May 29, 1928 – November 19, 2004) was an American writer, known primarily for children's mystery and suspense novels.
Biography
Willo Louise Davis was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In 1949, she married David W. Roberts. ...
* 1987 ''The War with Grandpa'' by Robert Kimmel Smith
* 1986 ''The Dollhouse Murders
''The Dollhouse Murders'' is a 1983 book written by author Betty Ren Wright. It is a story of teenager, Amy, and her sister, Louann, who had an intellectual disability.
In 1989, it received the Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award.
Plot
In ...
'' by Betty Ren Wright
Betty Ren Wright (June 15, 1927 – December 31, 2013) was an American writer of children's fiction including '' Christina's Ghost'', ''The Dollhouse Murders'', ''The Ghosts Of Mercy Manor'' and ''A Ghost in The House''.
Background
Wright l ...
* 1985 ''A Bundle of Sticks'' by Pat Rhoads Mauser
* 1984 ''The Secret Life of the Underwear Champ'' by Betty Miles
* 1983 ''The Girl with the Silver Eyes'' by Willo Davis Roberts
Willo Davis Roberts (May 29, 1928 – November 19, 2004) was an American writer, known primarily for children's mystery and suspense novels.
Biography
Willo Louise Davis was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In 1949, she married David W. Roberts. ...
* 1982 ''The Boy Who Saw Bigfoot'' by Marian Place
* 1981 ''Soup for President'' by Robert Newton Peck
* 1980 ''Pinballs'' by Betsy Byars
Betsy Byars (née Cromer; August 7, 1928 – February 26, 2020) was an American author of children's books. Her novel '' Summer of the Swans'' won the 1971 Newbery Medal.Author's website She has also received a National Book Award for Young Pe ...
* 1979 ''Champion of Merrimack County'' by Roger W. Drury
* 1978 ''Ramona the Brave
''Ramona the Brave'' is a children's novel written by Beverly Cleary. It is the third book in the Ramona series, and follows Ramona Quimby and her classmates (some of them were in her kindergarten class for the previous year) going into first gr ...
'' by Beverly Cleary
Beverly Atlee Cleary (née Bunn; April 12, 1916March 25, 2021) was an American writer of children's and young adult fiction. One of America's most successful authors, 91 million copies of her books have been sold worldwide since her first b ...
* 1977 ''The Ghost of Saturday Night'' by Sid Fleischman
Albert Sidney Fleischman (born Avron Zalmon Fleischman; March 16, 1920 – March 17, 2010) was an American author of children's books, screenplays, novels for adults, and nonfiction books about stage magic. His works for children are known for ...
* 1976 ''The Home Run Trick'' by Scott Corbett
W. Scott Corbett (July 27, 1913 – March 6, 2006) was an American novelist and educator. Beginning 1950 he wrote five adult novels, then began writing books for children. He retired from teaching in 1965 to write full-time. His best known book ...
* 1975 '' How to Eat Fried Worms'' by Thomas Rockwell
* 1974 ''It's a Mile from Here to Glory'' by Robert C. Lee
* 1973 '' Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH'' by Robert C. O'Brien
* 1972 '' Sounder'' by William H. Armstrong
See also
* 1971–1972 Mark Twain Awards nominees
* 1972–1973 Mark Twain Awards nominees
References
{{reflist , refs=
["The MASL Readers Awards"]
(homepage). Missouri Association of School Librarians (MASL). Retrieved 2014-05-05.
["Mark Twain Award Previous Winners"]
972 to 2010 Retrieved 2014-08-06.
["2013–2014 MASL Readers Awards Winners"]
MASL. Retrieved 2014-05-05. With tabulated results of four elections.
["Mark Twain Award"]
{{webarchive, url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811173740/http://www.mrrl.org/content/mark-twain-award , date=2014-08-11 . Missouri River Regional Library (mrrl.org). Retrieved 2014-08-06. With list of winners 1990 to 2013; lists of nominees with blurbs 2010/11 to 2014/15.
External links
Mark Twain Award winners 1972–
booklist at WorldCat
WorldCat is a union catalog that itemizes the collections of tens of thousands of institutions (mostly libraries), in many countries, that are current or past members of the OCLC global cooperative. It is operated by OCLC, Inc. Many of the O ...
The MASL Readers Awards
– point of entry to all four Missouri School Librarians reader choice book awards
Mark Twain Awards
American children's literary awards
Awards established in 1972
Missouri culture
Missouri education-related lists