Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz
Alex Rider is pretty sure the police are lying to him. Suuuuure his uncle died in a car crash. What kind of “accident” leaves a car riddled with bullet holes? Yesterday, life was sweet, living large in London with his wealthy banker uncle, today, the man who was like a father to him is dead, and all he gets is lies and mysteries.
The problem for Alex, though isn’t about finding out the truth. Alex is clever and has an unexpected gift for sneaking around. The problem is that when Alex does learn that his “banker” uncle was actually a spy working for British Intelligence’s MI6—MI6 then decides Alex is too good to let go. The utterly ruthless spymaster running the agency gives Alex a life or death choice—finish his uncle’s last mission—or else.
Now Alex is going deep undercover to smoke out an international bio-terrorist and would-be mass-murderer.
No one would ever suspect a teenage kid—right--?
If James Bond were a teenager, his name would be Alex Rider. Check out the non-stop action of Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz
by Kirsten Edwards of the King County Library System

2004 Evergreen Nominee 

Touching Spirit Bear

Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen
Did you ever meet a guy that you really, really didn't like? Didn't like the way he dressed, didn't like the way he talked, didn't like the way he acted--just plain didn't like anything about him?

That's how I felt about Cole Matthews for most of this book.

Cole Matthews is a mean, nasty, bad-tempered, rotten bully. He is used to getting his own way by lying, cheating, and pushing other people around. For years he's been hauled into drug counseling, anger therapy sessions and police stations, and every time he got into trouble he was warned to "shape up because this was his last chance." And he has learned that he can always count on having one more "last" chance.

But when Cole beats up a younger kid and smashed his head against the sidewalk, he is in the biggest trouble of his life. Peter may be permanently brain damaged. When Cole is offered Circle Justice, a system based on Native American traditions that attempt to provide healing for the criminal offender and the victim, he plays along,trying to avoid a prison sentence. The Circle sends Cole for a one-year banishment on a remote Alaskan island, where he is mauled by a mysterious white bear during an attempt to escape. As he waits for death, Cole's thoughts begin to change, and he begins to accept responsibility for his actions.

He is not suddenly cured, however. After six months in the hospital, Cole returns to the island, accompanied by Edwin, a Tlinquet elder who has agreed to teach him. On the first day back on the island, Edwin hands Cole a big rock to carry up a hill....

read exerpt from book (this skips around in a few paragraphs) pp. 155-157, hardback edition:

"How far are we going?" Cole asked.
Edwin continued up the long slope.
Grumbling, Cole followed. As they walked, Edwin spoke. "Your life isn't an accident. Many generations of your ancestors struggled through life, learning lessons, making mistakes, just as you have. Each generation passed on to the next what they learned and all that they became."
After several hundred feet, Cole's right arm ached from carrying the heavy stone. He stopped and looked back. They were barely halfway up the slope.
"Pretend that rock is your ancestors," said Edwin. "Climbing this hill is your life. With each step, you carry your ancestors with you, in your mind, in your heart, and in your soul. If you listen, your ancestors reach out from the rock and teach you the lessons of their struggles. Hear your ancestors. Someday, you'll pass those lessons on to others."
Cole acknowledged Edwin's words with a weary grunt and struggled on without complaining. By the time they reached the top, he breathed heavily. He was about to drop the rock to the ground when Edwin reached out, took the heavy stone, and set it down carefully. "Treat your ancestors gently," he said.
"What are they, wimps?"
Edwin ignored Cole's comment. "I've carried that stone up this hill hundreds of times," he said.
"This very same rock?"
Edwin nodded.
"You mean you carry it back down again, too?"
Edwin smiled. "There's a better way. Once the rock is set down, it changes meaning. Now it becomes your anger. Roll the rock down the hill. Roll away your anger. Each time you do this, you'll find more meaning. And you'll learn respect."
"What do you mean, each time I do this? I'm not going to carry that stupid rock up this hill every day. What makes you think you know everything that's good for me?"
Edwin drew in a deep breath. "I don't. Nobody does. We all search for answers, same as you."
"They why do you keep telling me what to do?"
Edwin smiled. "That's the first intelligent question I've heard you ask all morning."
Will carrying a rock make Cole a better person? No, it won't. But the rock is part of the healing process. And there's still the problem of Peter, the injured boy. What can Cole possibly do for Peter?

Read the book and find out. Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen
by Aarene Storms of the King County Library System

2004 Evergreen Nomination

True Believer by Virginia Euwer Wolff

True Believer by Virginia Euwer Wolff

What is the most important thing in your life? LaVaughn is 15 and the most important thing in her life is going to college. She wants a different life than her mother has. She is saving money and getting good grades for college.
Then everything changes. Jody moves back into her neighborhood – Jody her childhood friend who has grown up to be a gorgeous guy! LaVaughn is in love and Jody acts like he loves her - but does he?
Everything is confusing in LaVaughn's life now - there are gangs, violence and poverty all around her, her mom is dating a new guy, and her two best friends are starting to change. The teacher in the Sex Education class at her High School tells her that sexuality is the most confusing thing about being a teenager. LaVaughn and Jody both feel confused and are not sure what they believe any more.
True Believer - A Novel in the Make Lemonade Trilogy.
by Sally Grant of Whatcom County Library System

2004 Evergreen Nomination

2003 Evergreen Award Winner

The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot
 

The Body of Christopher Creed by Carol Plum-Ucci

The Body of Christopher Creed by Carol Plum-Ucci

Christopher Creed had trouble getting along with other people. None of his fellow Steepleton High School students liked him. Everyone considered him weird. Chris knew it and one day he just disappeared.

He had left a note. But was it a suicide note? Nobody was quite sure.

The dislike of Christopher Creed had run deep, and the fine students at Steepleton had let him know how much he irritated them, sometimes with a remark and sometimes with a fist. But certainly they weren't to blame for his disappearance, somebody or something else must be at fault.

But as time wore on and he didn't turn up, everybody had the same nagging questions. Was he dead or alive? And if he was alive, why had he run away? And if he wasn't alive, had he committed suicide or been murdered? And, most of all, if he was dead were was the body?

Read The Body of Christopher Creed by Carol Plum-Ucci

by Tom Reynolds of Sno-Isle Library System

2003 Evergreen Nomination

Angus,Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison

Angus,Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison

Georgia's little sister leaves wet diapers on her bed, her huge cat Angus is trying to eat the poodle next door, her bra is a little loose and rides up around her neck when she runs for the bus, and she needs to learn everything about snogging (kissing) as soon as possible.

Georgia is 14 and she thinks her life is hopeless. She tells her diary everything. Her friends have a solution to her "snogging" problem. Seventeen year old Peter Dyer is available from 4:30 until 6:30 (when his mom gets home) to give full-frontal snogging lessons. Read aloud from the "tainted love" chapter beginning on page 73!

Will Georgia survive her 14th year?

by Sally Grant of Sno-Isle Library System

2003 Evergreen Nomination

Forgotten Fire by Adam Bagdasarian

Forgotten Fire by Adam Bagdasarian

It is 1915 in Turkey. Turkey has entered World War I on the side of Germany. And the new Turkish leaders have turned a hard eye on the Armenian Christians living in Turkey.

Armenian families like Vahan Kendarians. Yesterday the Turks were their neighbors and their friends. Today theyve come with guns. Turkish soldiers have shot up their kitchen and dragged them outside. Theyve questioned Vahans mother: Are you hiding anyone? Neighbors or friends? They want to know where Vahans uncle is. Finally, they seem to be satisfied. (Read from p. 26-28, changing to third person and identifying the names as you go.)

[Then Vahan] heard some kind of commotion behind [him], 
and when [he] turned, [he] saw two soldiers leading [his big
brothers] Diran and Tavel to the garden wall. Two other 
soldiers were standing a few yards away, their rifles pointed
at my brothers.

What are you doing? my mother said to one of them, but he didnt answer. They didnt do anything! [Vahans] mother shouted. They dont know anything! She started to run to [his] brothers, and another soldier grabbed her arm. They didnt do anything! she cried. But the soldiers had already raised their rifles, had already aimed.

Tavel had slipped halfway down the wall when the shots exploded, blowing his body back against the wall. And then he and Diran were on their sides, and the white wall was red and blood leaked from Dirans head, from Tavels chest and head, and puddle beneath them. [Vahans sister] Sisak started toward the bodies, [his sister] Armenouhi dropped to her knees and [his] mother screamed and screamed.

The soldier who had questioned [Vahans] mother drew his pistol, walked to the bodies, pressed the mouth of the gun against each skull, fired, put the gun in his holster, and walked away.

It was only going to get worse.

Be steel, Vahans father always told him when Vahan was having a hard time. Steel is made strong by fire. In the days to come, Vahan must be steel. Everyone he loves will be torn from him. He will live as a hunted creature, desperate to escape Turkey, to escape the fire that consumes his country.

Vahans story may be fiction, but the tale of the Armenian holocaust is absolutely true. Read Forgotten Fire and find out for yourself.

by Kirsten Edwards of King County Library System