What is the Black-Eyed Susan Book Award?
The Black-Eyed Susan Book Award is a student choice award for the state of Maryland that has been awarded each year since 1992. The award seeks to promote literacy and lifelong reading habits by encouraging students to read quality, contemporary literature.
Reading committees of school and public librarians, and other interested members of the Maryland Association of School Librarians (MASL) meet to determine which books will be nominated and placed on student reading lists.
There are six different reading lists:
The nominated books are expected to be outstanding books that broaden the human experience and provide students with new insights into their own lives. Books may be suggested for consideration by students, teachers, parents, or other interested readers. If you would like to submit a nomination for consideration, please do so at this form by October 1 of each year.
Criteria for Nominated Books:
Books must have been read, discussed, and voted upon by the appropriate Black-Eyed Susan reading committee before being placed on the corresponding list. The committee application process for this school year has closed. Applications for the next school year will open in March and close May 31. You must be a MASL member in order to serve on the committee.
Students who have followed the “Guidelines for Participation” may cast one vote for the book they consider to be the most outstanding book in each of the categories. The Black-Eyed Susan Book Award Committee gathers and tallies all votes from across the state to determine the winner.
The winning authors and/or illustrators receive an award engraved with the book title, the year, and the Black-Eyed Susan Book Award logo. Authors, illustrators, and publishers recognize the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award as an honor bestowed by Maryland student readers.
GRADES 6-8
Attack of the Black Rectangles by A.S. King
The Door of No Return by Kwame Alexander
Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun by Tola Okogwu
The Secret Battle of Evan Pao by Wendy Wan-Long Shang
Violets Are Blue by Barbara Dee
When the World Was Ours by Liz Kessler
GRAPHIC NOVELS: GRADES 6-8
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, Book 1 by Kanehito Yamada, illustrated by Tsukasa Abe
Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega, illustrated by Rose Bousamra
Invisible by Christina Diaz Gonzalez and Gabriela Epstein
Isla to Island by Alexis Castellanos
Little Monarchs by Jonathan Case
M is for Monster by Talia Dutton
Treasure in the Lake by Jason Pamment
The Well by Jake Wyatt, illustrated by Choo
HIGH SCHOOL
The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson
Call Me Athena: Girl From Detroit by Colby Cedar Smith
Eat Your Heart Out by Kelly deVos
House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland
I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys
Messy Roots: A Graphic Memoir of a Wuhanese American by Laura Gao