Hawaii kids honor Pearl Harbor novel with Nene
"A Boy at War: A Novel of Pearl Harbor" by Harry Mazer has been selected by the children of Hawaii as the winner of the 2007 Nene Award.
The Nene Award honors the favorite book voted by Hawaii's children in grades 4 through 6.
This year, 5,650 children statewide voted for the award at their public libraries or school libraries, according to a release.
"A Boy at War: A Novel of Pearl Harbor" is the story of 14-year-old Adam, who is caught in the midst of the Japanese attack while fishing with his friends off Honolulu on Dec. 7, 1941. In the chaotic aftermath, Adam tries to find his father, a naval officer who was serving on the USS Arizona when the bombs fell.
"Lightning Thief" by Rick Riordan was the runner-up for this year's award and will receive the 2007 Nene Honor Book Award.
The annual Nene Award is sponsored by the Hawaii Association of School Librarians, the Hawaii Library Association, the Friends of the Library of Hawaii, Barnes & Noble and Scholastic Books.
Student winners of this year's Nene Award essay, poster, performing arts, and digital arts contests based on the theme of 2006 award winner, "Eragon," were honored at a ceremony last month.
THE WINNERS
ESSAY CONTEST
Grade 4: Alecia Griffin, Aikahi Elementary School
Grade 5: Katherine Seth, Aikahi
Grade 6: Christianne Michel, Maryknoll School.
POSTER CONTEST
Grade 4, 1st Place: Travis Kim, Mililani Ike Elementary
Grade 5, 1st Place: Tyler Marks, Maryknoll
Grade 6, 1st Place: Kara Kozuma, Maryknoll
PERFORMANCE CONTEST
1st place: Austin Neuberger and David Neuberger, Lanikai Elementary
DIGITAL ARTS CONTEST
Grade 4, 1st place: Chassy Ann Inouye and Julia Worley, Maryknoll
Grade 5, 1st place: Chloe Fortuna, Maryknoll