2018 Boston Globe–Horn Book Award Winners & Honor Books

2018 Boston Globe–Horn Book Award Winner · Fiction and Poetry

Sale price

$1797

Chapter Book · Ages 14–18 · 2018

The Poet X

A young poet battles silence and tradition to find her voice in Harlem.

Boston Globe–Horn Book Award (2018)Carnegie Medal for Writing (2019)National Book Award for Young People's Literature (2018)Americas Honor (2019)Golden Kite Honor (2019)Michael L. Printz Award (2019)Odyssey Honor (2019)

357 pages· 32,942 words· Est. 3 hour read

4.4/5 Goodreads · 145,041 ratings

$18.99Save 5%

Summary: Xiomara Batista, an Afro-Latina teen in Harlem, feels trapped by her family's strict expectations and her own unspoken desires. Her secret love for poetry becomes a lifeline, especially after meeting Aman, a boy her family must never know about. When invited to join a slam poetry club, Xiomara faces a choice: stay silent or risk everything to be heard. Will she defy her mother's rules and embrace her true self, or will fear keep her words hidden? In a world that tries to silence her, Xiomara's voice demands to be heard.

2018 Boston Globe–Horn Book Award Winner · Picture Book

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$1697

Picture Book · Ages 5–7 · 2018

They Say Blue

By Jillian Tamaki

A girl explores colors, questioning what she sees and imagines beyond her view.

Boston Globe–Horn Book Award (2018)

40 pages· 359 words· Est. 3 min read-aloud

4.1/7 Bookroo experts·3.9/5 Goodreads · 2,202 ratings

$17.99Save 6%

Summary: A young girl embarks on a journey through vibrant colors, questioning the world she sees and the mysteries beyond her reach. From sunny orange egg yolks to the elusive blue of a whale, her playful exploration challenges perceptions and invites wonder. As she navigates through a year or a day, her observations become a philosophical dance between reality and imagination. What colors truly exist, and which are mere illusions? This poetic adventure invites readers to ponder the beauty and mystery of the world through a child's eyes, where every hue tells a story waiting to be discovered.

2018 Honor Books

Sale price

$858

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2018

The Parker Inheritance

By Varian Johnson

A hidden letter reveals a mystery and a fortune. Can Candice and Brandon solve it before it's lost forever?

Coretta Scott King Honor (2019)Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor (2018)Cybils Award (2018)Odyssey Honor (2019)

368 pages· 84,464 words· Est. 11.5 hour read

4.2/5 Goodreads · 9,331 ratings

Summary: Candice stumbles upon a mysterious letter in her grandmother's attic in Lambert, South Carolina. It hints at a long-buried injustice and a hidden fortune. With Brandon, the boy next door, she embarks on a quest to unravel the town's dark past. As they delve into history, they uncover secrets that could change their lives. Will they solve the puzzle before time erases the truth?

Sale price

$858

Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2017

The First Rule of Punk

By Celia C. Pérez

A new school, a punk band, and a fight for self-expression.

Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor (2018)The E.B. White Read Aloud Honor (2018)

336 pages· 50,745 words· Est. 5.5 hour read

4.1/5 Goodreads · 8,200 ratings

$8.99Save 5%

Summary: Twelve-year-old Malú faces a tough first day at Posada Middle School, clashing with the queen bee and breaking dress code with her punk style. Despite her mom's disappointment and her dad's distance, Malú finds solace in music. She forms a band with fellow misfits, challenging the school's anti-punk stance. Can Malú stay true to herself and rock out against the odds?

Sale price

$1697

Picture Book · Ages 3–6 · 2017

When's My Birthday?

By Julie Fogliano, Christian Robinson (Illustrator)

A child eagerly anticipates the perfect birthday celebration.

Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor (2018)

40 pages· 299 words· Est. 3 min read-aloud

5.0/7 Bookroo experts·3.6/5 Goodreads · 1,419 ratings

$17.99Save 6%

Summary: A child eagerly counts down to their birthday, dreaming of ponies, bouncing balls, and a chocolate cake with six candles. Will their special day meet their high expectations?

Sale price

$1899

Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2017

A Hundred Billion Trillion Stars

By Seth Fishman, Isabel Greenberg (Illustrator)

Explore the universe's vast numbers and discover your unique place among them.

Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor (2018)

40 pages· 509 words· Est. 4 min read-aloud

4.9/7 Bookroo experts·4.1/5 Goodreads · 794 ratings

$19.99Save 5%

Summary: Dive into a world of mind-boggling numbers, from trillions of trees to quadrillions of ants. With playful illustrations and a friendly narrative, this book invites curious minds to explore the universe's vastness and find their own special place within it. Perfect for young readers fascinated by science and math, it challenges them to imagine the unimaginable and see the extraordinary in the everyday. How do you fit into this grand numerical tapestry? Discover the answer in a journey through the cosmos and beyond, where the biggest numbers meet the smallest, most unique you.

Sale price

$1899

Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 2017

The 57 Bus

By Dashka Slater

A bus ride turns tragic, intertwining two teens' lives in a complex tale of justice and identity.

Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor (2018)Stonewall Book Award – Children's & Young Adult Literature (2018)

320 pages· 47,344 words· Est. 4.5 hour read

4.1/5 Goodreads · 45,326 ratings

$19.99Save 5%

Summary: In Oakland, two teens' lives collide on the 57 bus. Sasha, an agender teen, is set on fire by Richard, a fellow student. This reckless act thrusts them into a legal and moral spotlight, challenging perceptions of justice and identity. As the world watches, the lines between victim and perpetrator blur, revealing a deeper, more heartbreaking story. Can understanding emerge from tragedy?

Sale price

$2342

Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2017

A Different Pond

By Bao Phi, Thi Bui (Illustrator)

A young boy goes fishing with his father before dawn on a Saturday morning, learning about his father's past and their cultural heritage along the way.

Caldecott Honor (2018)Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor (2018)Ezra Jack Keats Honor (2018)Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature (2018)Charlotte Zolotow Award (2018)

32 pages· 952 words· Est. 8 min read-aloud

5.0/7 Bookroo experts·4.3/5 Goodreads · 5,970 ratings

$24.65Save 5%

Summary: Young Bao rises early to fish with his father in Minneapolis, not for sport, but to feed their family. As they cast their lines, stories of a distant pond in Vietnam unfold, weaving a tapestry of survival, heritage, and hope. What secrets does the past hold, and how will they shape Bao's understanding of his father's sacrifices? This poignant tale explores the bonds between father and son, and the cultural threads that connect them across oceans and generations.

The 2018 Boston Globe–Horn Book Award

The Poet X

They Say Blue

The Parker Inheritance

The First Rule of Punk

When's My Birthday?

A Hundred Billion Trillion Stars

The 57 Bus

A Different Pond

Boston Globe–Horn Book Award Winners by Year

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