Nominated by: Amy

Finalist blurb: Cameron is an avid video gamer, but when he is so concentrated on a game that he doesn't take a casserole out of the oven and the local firemen respond and ax through the front door, his parents are NOT pleased. They insist that Cameron participate in other activities and get out of the basement. His attempt to get around this develops into a huge community project and lots of laughs. Video gaming is big with students, but there are few books that portray tweens with this interest. The brilliance of Slacker is that it includes the subtle message that kids can change the world, delivered with a large dose of humor that includes an elderly beaver and immolating ziti . Korman?s many years of middle grade writing are evident in Slacker?s great balance of knee-slapping humor and social issues.