"The Strange Case of Origami Yoda" by Tom Angleberger has been chosen by the children of Hawaii as the winner of the 2014 Nene Award. The Nene Honor Book Award (runner-up) is "Wonder" by R. J. Palacio.
The annual Nene Award is presented to the favorite fiction book based on a vote by the children of Hawaii in grades 4 through 6. This year, a total of 6,308 students from 73 public libraries, private and public schools statewide voted.
Linda Jackson, the daughter of Nancy Brooks, who began the Nene Award, was a special guest and made the announcement this morning before an audience of more than 400 invited dignitaries, students, teachers, and other guests at the 50th Anniversary Nene Award Presentation Ceremony at Sacred Hearts Academy Auditorium.
"The Strange Case of Origami Yoda" is a humorous story about Dwight, a self-described "loser," who talks to his sixth-grade classmates via an origami finger puppet of Yoda. If that weren't strange enough, the puppet is uncannily wise and predicts the date of a pop quiz, guesses who stole the classroom Shakespeare bust, and saves a classmate from popularity-crushing embarrassment with some well-timed advice.
Student contest winners of digital works, essays, creative writing, and posters celebrating "The Strange Case of Origami Yoda," were honored at the ceremony. The winners and honorable mentions of five categories include:
Persuasive Category – Essay: 6th Grade Winner: Kolby Ross of Kaneohe Elementary; 6th Grade Honorable Mention: Aisha Yamamoto of Kaneohe Elementary; 5th Grade Winner: Malia Quinn of Kaneohe Elementary; 4th Grade Winner: Cassidy Furutani of Kaneohe Elementary; 4th Grade Honorable Mention: Dillon Shintani of Kaneohe Elementary.
Interpretive Category – Creative Writing: 6th Grade Honorable Mention: Phoenix Ferriman of Maryknoll; 6th Grade Honorable Mention: Reece Kadota of Maryknoll.
Persuasive Category – Digital Media: 6th Grade Winners: Annabella Thornbury and Jade Tolentino of Holomua Elementary.
Interpretive Category – Digital Media: 6th Grade Winners: Darcie Billena, Taven Lorenzo and Xavier Petty of Holomua Elementary. 6th Grade Honorable Mentions: Isabella Johnson of Sacred Hearts Academy; Naia Lum and Tiffany Tanaka of Sacred Hearts Academy; 5th Grade Winners: Catherine Choi, Hailey Shi, and Kayci Yang of Maryknoll; Kate Ruiz of Sacred Hearts Academy; 5th Grade Honorable Mentions: Yukiko Hughes of Maryknoll; Austin Chun, Logan Choo, Chance Otsuka of Maryknoll; 4th Grade Winners: Chay Cunningham, Caela Caberto, Allison Kanenaga of Maryknoll; 4th Grade Honorable Mention: Olivia Colte of Mililani 'Ike Elementary.
Persuasive Category – Poster – 6th Grade Winner: Min Yi Chen of Kaneohe Elementary; 6th Grade Honorable Mentions: Tiana Goudreault of Kaneohe; Brendan-Jae Acob Supnet of Maryknoll; 5th Grade Honorable Mentions: Kacie Kato of Mililani 'Ike Elementary; Megan Choi of Mililani 'Ike Elementary; 4th Grade Honorable Mentions: Alaina DeGray of Kaneohe; and Katie Kimura of Mililani 'Ike Elementary.
Perma-Bound Books will donate a copy of the 2014 award-winning titles to each participating public library and school.
The annual Nene Award is supported by the Hawaii State Public Library System and State Department of Education. Sponsors include the Friends of the Library of Hawaii, Sacred Hearts Academy, Hawaii Association of School Librarians, Hawaii Library Association, Perma-Bound Books, Scholastic Book Fairs, and Follett Library Resources.
Nicole Goff, School Librarian at Mid-Pacific Institute, is the 2013-2014 Nene Award Committee Chairperson.
Photo is courtesy of HSPLS
