Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction

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The Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction is an annual American children's book award that recognizes historical fiction. It was established in 1982 by Scott O'Dell, author of Island of the Blue Dolphins and 25 other children's books, in hopes of increasing young readers' interest in the history that shaped their nation and their world. Eligibility for the award requires that a book be written in English for children or young adults, published by an American publisher, and the author must be a United States citizen. The award is recognized in the United States by publishers of children's literature and young adult literature, the American Library Association, [1] and the Assembly for Literature of Adolescents. [2]

Contents

Award nomination

Books may be submitted throughout the year to the Award Committee. Award nomination forms must be submitted with the required information for each title a publisher, literary agent, or author wish to bring to the attention of the Award Committee. [3]

Selection committee

The annual selection from qualifying books is made by the O'Dell Committee. Zena Sutherland — who was Professor Emeritus of Children's Literature at the University of Chicago — headed the committee from its formation in 1982 until her death in 2002. The home of The Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction was moved in 2022 to the Reinberger Children’s Library Center at the Kent State University iSchool in Kent, Ohio. In partnership with Kent State University, the O'Dell family and matriarchs Elizabeth Hall (Scott's widow) and Lauren Anderson Gerber (Scott's granddaughter) continue to administer and fund the annual award. The 2024 Committee includes: Maria Trivisonno (Chair), Family Engagement Specialist, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Parma, OH; Kristen Blackshear, Social Studies Teacher, Glenwood School, Smiths Station, AL, and Adjunct History Instructor, Southern Union State Community College, Opelika, AL; Marianne Martens, Ph.D., Professor, Kent State University School of Information, Kent, OH; Mary Anne Nichols, Senior Lecturer, Kent State University School of Information, Kent, OH; Uma Nori, Head, Youth Services, Thomas Ford Memorial Library, Western Springs, IL; Debra Liddell Quarles, Library and Information Specialist, Shaker Heights City Schools, Shaker Heights, OH; Mike Rogalla, Children's Services Manager, Champaign Public Library, Champaign, IL; and Kerry Shelton, Principal, St. Gabriel Consolidated School, Glendale, OH. [4]

History

No award was given in 1982 and 1983, as the committee felt that "no books of sufficient merit had been published". Elizabeth George Speare was the first recipient, receiving the award for her book, The Sign of the Beaver , a tale of wilderness survival. The award has been presented every year since 1984. O'Dell himself won the award in 1987 for Streams to the River, River to the Sea, his fictional retelling of the story of Sacagawea. Louise Erdrich has won the award twice, in 2006 and in 2013.

Winners

YearRecipientBook TitlePublisher
2023 Irene Latham and Charles WatersAfrican TownG.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
2022 Justina Ireland Ophie’s GhostsBalzer + Bray
2021 Helen Frost All He KnewFarrar Straus and Giroux
2020 Thanhhà Lại Butterfly YellowHarperCollins
2019 Lesa Cline-Ransome Finding LangstonHoliday House
2018 Lauren Wolk Beyond the Bright SeaDutton Books for Young Readers
2017 Jennifer L. Holm Full of BeansRandom House
2016 Laura Amy Schlitz The Hired GirlCandlewick Press
2015 Kirby Larson DashScholastic
2014Kirkpatrick HillBo at Ballard CreekHenry Holt and Co.
2013 Louise Erdrich ChickadeeHarperCollins
2012 Jack Gantos Dead End in Norvelt Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
2011 Rita Williams-Garcia One Crazy Summer Amistad
2010Matt PhelanThe Storm in the BarnCandlewick
2009 Laurie Halse Anderson ChainsSimon & Schuster
2008 Christopher Paul Curtis Elijah of Buxton Scholastic Press
2007 Ellen Klages The Green Glass SeaViking Children's Books
2006 Louise Erdrich The Game of SilenceHarperCollins Children's Books
2005A LaFayeWorthSimon & Schuster
2004 Richard Peck The River Between UsDial Press
2003Shelley PearsallTrouble Don't LastAlfred A Knopf
2002 Mildred D. Taylor The Land Phyllis Fogelman Books
2001Janet Taylor Lisle The Art of Keeping Cool A Richard Jackson Book/Atheneum
2000Miriam Bat-AmiTwo Suns in the SkyFront Street/Cricket Books
1999Harriette RobinetForty Acres and Maybe a MuleJean Fritz/Atheneum
1998 Karen Hesse Out of the Dust Scholastic
1997 Katherine Paterson Jip, His Story Dutton
1996 Theodore Taylor The Bomb Harcourt, Brace
1995 Graham Salisbury Under the Blood Red Sun Delacorte
1994 Paul Fleischman Bull Run Laura Geringer/Harper-Collins
1993 Michael Dorris Morning GirlHyperion
1992 Mary Downing Hahn Stepping on the CracksClarion
1991Pieter Van RavenA Time of TroublesCharles Scribner's Sons
1990 Carolyn Reeder Shades of Gray Macmillan
1989 Lyll Becerra de Jenkins The Honorable Prison Lodestar/Dutton
1988 Patricia Beatty Charley Skedaddle Morrow
1987 Scott O'Dell Streams to the River, River to the SeaHoughton Mifflin
1986 Patricia MacLachlan Sarah, Plain and Tall Harper & Row
1985 Avi The Fighting Ground Lippincott
1984 Elizabeth George Speare The Sign of the Beaver Houghton Mifflin

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See also

Documents

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References

  1. "American Library Association". Ala.org. Retrieved 2015-02-19.
  2. "About | ALAN Online". Alan-ya.org. Retrieved 2015-02-19.
  3. https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/72881fdd-5afa-43cb-aeea-637538132e00/downloads/Award%20Nomination%20Form%2C%202023-24.pdf?ver=1683582562202
  4. https://scottodell.com/the-scott-odell-award
  5. https://scottodell.com/the-scott-odell-award
  6. "Scott O'Dell Award Submission Information" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on January 28, 2007. Retrieved March 9, 2007.
  7. "07 Press Release" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 10, 2007. Retrieved March 9, 2007.