The supernatural is a common thread in this year’s winners of the William Allen White Children’s Book Awards.
“Small Spaces,” written by Katherine Arden, was the children’s choice for grades 3-5. “Ghost Boys,” penned by Jewell Parker Rhodes, won the award for grades 6-8.
“Small Spaces” is about a pair of children who rescue a book from a river, but the tale told in the rescued book may be more truth than fiction. “Ghost Boys” tells the story of 12-year-old Jerome, who was shot after his toy gun was mistaken for a real weapon and learns from the ghost of Emmett Till, a Black teenager who was lynched for allegedly flirting with a White woman.
The book award program began in 1952, making this the 69th celebration of the award. This will be presented virtually for the second straight year, with the ceremonies taking place Oct. 1-2.
