Uh, huh. THAT Tanita Davis. Author of MARE’S WAR, her NAACP Image Award-nominated and Coretta Scott King Award-winning young adult novel. She’s also a long-time member of the CYBILS Awards board, helping us continue our work in diversity, equity, inclusion, and outreach.
Introducing: Tanita S. Davis, Board Secretary
Tanita describes herself as being an asocial hermit, who, like most of us reading this blog, would rather be somewhere reading a book than anywhere else.
Although her Wiki page says she “writes young adult novels,” most of of her eight published books are solidly middle-grade … as are the books she hopes will be nominated this fall.
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Tanita’s Middle-Grade Fiction Picks
Marlene loves three things: books, her cool Tía Ruby and hanging out with her best friend Camila. But according to her mother, Paola, the only thing she needs to focus on is school and "growing up." In other words "straight, presentable hair."
With a few hiccups, a dash of embarrassment, and the much-needed help of Camila and Tia Ruby—she slowly starts a journey to learn to appreciate and proudly wear her curly hair.
NOTE: FRIZZY is eligible in the Elementary/Middle-Grade Graphic Novels category. The next three books are eligible in the Middle-Grade Fiction category.
When he left, Trev's stepdad threatened his mom. Now he's back and determined not to live scared. So he is learning boxing so he can handle his stepdad. Not everyone is supportive of this plan.
Trev is a talented artist and those hands may be the key to a better future. Trev knows his future is in his hands, and his hands are his own, and he has to choose how to use them.
Grieving the death of her mother and an outcast at school, Mei (13) finds solace in cooking and computer games. When her friend’s grandmother falls ill, Mei seeks out her father, a doctor, for help, and discovers the hospital is overcrowded. As the COVID virus spreads, Mei finds herself alone in a locked-down city trying to find a way to help.
An incident at a TSA security check point sows chaos and rumors, creating a chain of events that impacts 12 young Asian Americans in a crowded and restless airport.
In creating the story, 12 Asian American authors explore themes of identity and belonging in the entwined experiences of young people whose family roots may extend to East and Southeast Asia, but who are themselves distinctly American.
Got Recommendations?
We’d love to know about them! We’re not using the padlet Idea Boards this year. Instead, we’re gathering readers’ recommendations and ideas via Goodreads. Here’s how you recommend a book. [desktop, IOS, Android]