South Dakota Teen Choice Book Awards: Young Adult Reading Program

The South Dakota Library Association publishes a list each year to promote quality literature and to help South Dakota teachers and librarians in selecting and promoting books for adolescents. The books are selected from among the many young adult and adult books that have received positive reviews by national reviewing periodicals. Visit the SDLA committee page for a list of committee members and to find out who is the current chair for the Children's Book Awards and the YARP Book Awards.

2019-20 winners and honors have been announced for High School and Middle School awards! This year two winners were chosen for the high school category.

YARP 2019-2020 Middle School Winner: The Witch Boy by Molly Ostertag;
YARP 2019-2020 High School Winner: Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds and
YARP 2019-2020 High School Winner: This Heart of Mine by C.C. Hunter
https://library.sd.gov/LIB/YAS/yarp/201920/index.aspx

Look for 2020-21 list of nominees to come out in July!

Take a look at the SD State Library website for …

• nominees and almost made it list
• books that are linked to South Dakota Titles To Go
• downloads for posters and bookmarks
• past years winner and nominees

2020 One Book South Dakota

The 2020 One Book South Dakota, Unfollow: A Memoir of Loving and Leaving the Westboro Baptist Church by Megan Phelps-Roper, has arrived at the South Dakota Humanities Council office and is available for discussion programs at libraries statewide.

Megan Phelps-Roper signs copies of her book, "Unfollow: A Memoir of Loving and Leaving the Westboro Baptist Church" after it was revealed as the 2020 One Book South Dakota Dec. 3.

The book examines the author’s unusual upbringing and her life-altering decision to leave her infamous and outspoken family, known nationwide for raucous protests at funerals of U.S. soldiers and other public events, for a quiet life in rural South Dakota.

Since 2003, the One Book South Dakota program has encouraged people across the state to read and discuss the same book throughout the year. Libraries can borrow copies of the One Book from SDHC for a $50 application fee (with reduced rates and waivers available based on operating budgets) and, if desired, can host an SDHC scholar to facilitate their discussion.

To learn more about the book and its author, and to apply to host a discussion, visit http://sdhumanities.org/programs-and-events/obsd/. If you would like a paper application mailed to you, please call 605-688-6113 or email deb@sdhumanities.org.

Phelps-Roper will also visit South Dakota libraries and other cultural sites this summer and fall as part of her One Book author tour. Host applications will be available in March, with details to be posted on http://sdhumanities.org/ and included in a future edition of Cornerstone. The tour will culminate in an appearance at the 2020 South Dakota Festival of Books, Oct. 2-4 in Brookings.