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The California Young Reader Medal is one of the few programs in which the students/kids themselves vote for the winners. Millions of California students participate. I wish I had more time to encourage and provide the program, but it’s tough, especially with two schools. However, let’s look at this year’s nominees and see what we can do to get voting in the 2011-12 school year.
In order to vote, you have to have read all three of the books. I’ve already read and reviewed two of the three. (Sadly, I can’t vote because I’m not a teen!) One of the books is on my summer reading list; another is the first book in a series–and the second is on my summer reading list. So if you don’t know what to read this summer, why not these?
The California Young Reader Medal Program Nominees for 21011-12 school year:
YOUNG ADULT (Grades 9-12)
Graceling by Kristin Cashore. Harcourt, 2008.
Beastly by Alex Flinn. Harper Teen, 2007.
If I Stay by Gayle Forman. Penguin Group, USA, 2009.
About Victoria Waddle
Victoria Waddle is a Pushcart Prize-nominated writer and has been included in Best Short Stories from The Saturday Evening Post Great American Fiction Contest. Her books include a collection of feminist short fiction, Acts of Contrition, and a chapbook on grief, The Mortality of Dogs and Humans. Her YA novel about a polygamist cult, Keep Sweet, launches in June 2025. Formerly the managing editor of the journal Inlandia: A Literary Journey and a teacher librarian, she contributes to the Southern California News Group column Literary Journeys. She discusses both writing and library book censorship on her Substack, “Be a Cactus.” Join her there for thoughts on defiant readers and writers as well as for weekly library censorship news.
School Library Lady 
I read both beastly and graceling and enjoyed them botth i reccomend them highly. graceling has a “partner novel” it can get you lost but i still enjoyed it.