The Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award was created in 1985 by English teachers and librarians to encourage Colorado teens to read. In 2020, the award’s committee could no longer sustain it. Partners in Literacy was excited to jump in and reimagine the award.
The Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award is different than other state’s children’s book awards. Middle and high school librarians mentor students (called judges) in book groups (called teams). Each team reads many books and chooses their favorite. That book becomes that team’s nomination for the winner. After more reading, the judges and students from all over Colorado vote on their favorite. The winning books are announced at the Colorado Teen Lit Conference in mid-April.
WHY DOES THE AWARD MATTER?
Youth are nominating and judging the books, not adults.
Communities of youth readers bloom.
The student judges have a chance to read a lot.
Readers are celebrated.
Student judges must defend their book choices.
Rural schools are actively encouraged to participate.
Students are recognized for their reading work.
Librarians buy the nominated books.
The award brings readers and authors into communication.
Judges announce the winners at the Co Teen Lit Conference in mid-April.
INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN COLORADO
Elliot added seven books to the CBSA eligible book Padlet, the website where eligible books are posted. Two of those books were chosen as nominees for the award. Elliot found these books and caused the books to be read by teens statewide!
Alivia was on middle school CBSA team in Denver last year. She attended the CO Teen Lit Conference and was one of the students that helped announce the winning books. She loved it. During the summer, she moved to Fort Collins and started at Poudre High School as a Freshman. She has now organized a CBSA team at Poudre High.
Aaron was from the Dolores, a small town in the four corners region. Aaron is a trans Hispanic and spoke elegantly for CEMETERY BOYS, a fantastical story of Dios de los Muertos. Although it did not win the award, it had many supporters who spoke passionately in favor of it.
Partners in Literacy wants to hear and amplify TEEN voices!!