Garden State Book Awards

2006 Nominees

Children's Fiction

Collins, Suzanne. Gregor the Overlander.

When eleven-year-old Gregor and his two-year-old sister are pulled into a strange underground world, they trigger an epic battle involving men, bats, rats, cockroaches, and spiders while on a quest foretold by ancient prophecy.

Creech, Sharon. Granny Torrelli Makes Soup.

With the help of her wise old grandmother, twelve-year-old Rosie manages to work out some problems in her relationship with her best friend, Bailey, the boy next door.

Cushman, Karen. Rodzina.

A twelve-year-old Polish American girl is boarded onto an orphan train in Chicago with fears about traveling to the West and a life of unpaid slavery.

DiCamillo, Kate. The Tale of Despereaux.

The adventures of Desperaux Tilling, a small mouse of unusual talents, the princess that he loves, the servant girl who longs to be a princess, and a devious rat determined to bring them all to ruin.

DuPrau, Jeanne. The City of Ember.

In the year 241, twelve-year-old Lina trades jobs on Assignment Day to be a Messenger to run to new places in her decaying but beloved city, perhaps even to glimpse Unknown Regions.

Gantos, Jack. Jack Adrift: Fourth Grade Without a Clue.

When his father rejoins the Navy and moves the family to Cape Hatteras , North Carolina , ten-year-old Jack becomes confused by a crush on his teacher, contradictory advice from his parents, and a very strange neighbor.

Gordon, Amy. The Gorillas of Gill Park.

While spending the summer before seventh grade with his aunt, Willy Wilson finds his first friends ever in the colorful characters who all love the neighborhood park owned by an eccentric old man.

Hurwitz, Johanna. Elisa Michaels, Bigger & Better.

A collection of short stories.

Johnson, Angela. A Cool Moonlight.

Nine-year-old Lila, born with xeroderma pigmentosum, a skin disease that make her sensitive to sunlight, makes secret plans to feel the sun's rays on her tenth birthday.

Kehret, Peg. Spy Cat.

A series of burglaries in their quiet community upsets Alex's family, particularly his younger brother Benjie, but the bad guys are no match for the very protective family cat and Benjie's "spy" skills.

McKissack, Patricia C. Tippy Lemmey.

Three kids are at war with a dog named Tippy Lemmey who scares them.

Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds. Boys in Control.

Once again the Hatford brothers and the Malloy sisters find themselves pitted against each other when embarrassing pictures of the boys turn up in the girls' basement, and the boys try to figure out how to get them back.

O'Connor, Barbara. Fame & Glory in Freedom, Georgia.

Unpopular sixth-grader Burdette "Bird" Weaver persuades the new boy at school, whom everyone thinks is mean and dumb, to be her partner for a spelling bee that might win her everything she's ever wanted.

Potter, Ellen. Olivia Kidney.

Twelve-year-old Olivia explores her new apartment building and finds a psychic, talking lizards, a shrunken ex-pirate, an exiled princess, ghosts, and other unusual characters.

Roberts, Diane. Made You Look.

Twelve-year-old Jason's dream of being a contestant on a cool game show is jeopardized by his family's trip to California --a cross-country nightmare in an embarrassing camper with annoying siblings and a copycat nemesis.

Ruby, Laura. Lily's Ghosts.

Strange goings-on at her great-uncle's summer home in Cape May, New Jersey , draw Lily and a new friend into a mystery involving lost treasure, a fake medium, and ghosts of all sizes, shapes, and dispositions.

San Souci, Robert D. Dare to Be Scared: 13 Stories to Chill & Thrill.

A collection of scary short stories.

Scieszka, Jon. Me Oh Maya.

Joe, Fred, and Sam find themselves whisked by The Book to the main ring-ball court in Chichin Itza , Mexico in 1000 A.D., where they must play for their lives against a Mayan High Priest who cheats.

Woodruff, Elvira. The Ravenmaster's Secret.

The eleven-year-old son of the Ravenmaster at the Tower of London befriends a Jacobite rebel being held prisoner there.

Yee, Lisa. Millicent Min, Girl Genius.

In a series of journal entries, eleven-year-old child prodigy Millicent Min records her struggles to learn to play volleyball, tutor her enemy, deal with her grandmother's departure, and make friends over the course of a tumultuous summer.