2010 Kansas Notable Books

Each year The Eagle publishes the list of Kansas Notable Books, and this year's list is out. More on that below. But I've never written about how the books are chosen, because I didn't know. This year, though, I had the honor of serving on the committee that recommends the books, which turned out to be a fun, interesting and rewarding experience.

The committee is made up of about 10 book people, mostly librarians, from across the state. We started with a list of almost 150 books — books that were nominated by authors, publishers, librarians and readers. To be eligible, a book has to be either by a Kansas author or about Kansas. To be notable, a book has to stand out as an example of quality, merit and Kansas-ness.

In January, we started reading. We read histories and novels, picture books and biographies, books for kids and teens, poetry and short stories, nonfiction, mysteries, romance, true crime, even a graphic novel.

The committee met by teleconference about twice a month, discussing what we had read, taking some books off the list and moving others up. We kept reading, and kept whittling down the list. Books that someone was undecided on got a second read. Books that moved up got more reads. By the end, everyone had read almost all of the remaining books.

At the end of June the committee met in person at the Manhattan Public Library — it was fun to finally put faces with the voices I'd heard for the past few months. Our goal that day was to get the list down to 25 books to submit to the state librarian, who would then decide the final 15. We discussed, and voted, and talked some more, and voted again, and wound up with 25 books.

And now it's down to 15. The fifth annual Kansas Notable Books List, in alphabetical order:

"Addie of the Flint Hills: A Prairie Child During the Depression" by Adaline Sorace, as told to Deborah Sorace Prutzman: a straightforward story of life in Depression-era Kansas by a woman who lived it.

"The Blue Shoe" by Roderick Townley, illustrated by Mary GrandPre: a fantasy novel for preteens with an environmental message.

"Carter Finally Gets It" by Brent Crawford: a blunt, funny, ultimately touching story of a boy struggling through freshman year in high school.

"The Evolution of Shadows" by Jason Quinn Malott: a complex novel of war and its effects not on those who fight it, but on those who report on it.

"Ghost Town" by Richard W. Jennings: a young-adult novel about a kid in a very small town who finds a camera that takes pictures of the past.

"A Kansas Year" by Mike Blair: a beautiful chronicle, in words and photographs, of the state's seasons.

"Lisa's Flying Electric Piano" by Kevin Rabas: poetry inspired by music and musicians.

"Nothing Right" by Antonya Nelson: taut, incisive short stories centering on families and relationships.

"One Kansas Farmer: A Kansas Number Book" by Devin & Corey Scillian, illustrated by Doug Bowles: a charming picture book with Kansas settings and fun state facts for older kids.

"Our Boys: A Perfect Season on the Plains With the Smith Center Redmen" by Joe Drape: a thoughtful, engaging look at Smith Center's legendary football team and the people behind it.

"Silver Shoes" by Paul Miles Schneider: a "Wizard of Oz"-inspired story of an unforgettable souvenir from a Kansas vacation.

"The Storm in the Barn" by Matt Phelan: a fabulously inventive graphic novel set in the Dust Bowl that's part tall tale, part coming-of-age story.

"To the Stars: Kansas Poets of the Ad Astra Poetry Project" edited and with commentary by Denise Low: a wonderful anthology of verse by Kansas poets past and present.

"Under Siege: Three Children at the Civil War Battle for Vicksburg" by Andrea Warren: a history of the siege of Vicksburg from the perspective of three children.

"Years of Dust: The Story of the Dust Bowl" by Albert Marrin: a well-presented history of the Dust Bowl in words and photographs, aimed at preteens.

This story was originally published July 25, 2010 at 12:00 AM with the headline "2010 Kansas Notable Books ."