Why become a Blue Spruce Book Award Judge
Do you enjoy reading, or listening to, and discussing the latest YA books with friends? Would you like to collaborate with kids in your city and from all over your state, who like to read just as much as you do? Are you in grades 7-12? Want something that looks great on your college resume?!
The world of Young Adult books is exploding now with excitement brought to it by activists, writers, publishers, and diverse readers seeking more from books. Colorado public and school librarians depend on the Colorado Blue Spruce Award to help direct their buying and to engage young adult readers. Make a long-term impact on YA reading in Colorado by becoming a Colorado Blue Spruce Award Judge and being an integral part of the winning books selection process!
The winning book, chosen by the youth judges, will be announced at the Colorado Teen Lit Conference in the spring.
How to Become a Blue Spruce Book Award Judge
Teams are made up of two or more 7-12th grade students. You can join a team that is already started or find a least one friend and ask a teacher, librarian or other adult to be your mentor.
Expectations for individual Judges and Book TEams
Starting in September and ending in April, you will read (at least) three books, make one “book talk” and work with other Colorado Blue Spruce Teams to choose the CBSA winner. Your mentor is a guide, not the leader of your book team. The link to the CBSA discussion and scoring guide to give all teams an opportunity to have parallel conversations is at the bottom of this page. It is your goal to be self-governing. See the calendar below.
Timeline and Goals for Meetings
The following dates are to be used as a guideline. You and your team’s positive experience of this time together as a book team is always our priority.
September/Early October, Local Book Team Meeting: The purpose of this meeting is set expectations for the year and choose at least the first book your group plans to read. If you have a larger book team, the kids might want to split into smaller groups and read several books at the same times. (Any book title your group plans to read must be on or added to the Eligible Books Padlet. Let us know if you need help with this.)
October, Local Book Team Meeting: The goal of your October meeting is to discuss the first book or books. We encourage you to try out the CBSA Book Discussion and Scoring Guide (see below). Then if you have not already done so, choose the next book or books your team will be reading.
November and December Local Book Team Meetings: Discuss the second book or books. Work on deciding which of the two books will be your team’s CBSA nominee. Allow the CBSA Book Discussion and Scoring Guide to focus and deepen your conversation.
January, Local Book Team Meeting: If you have not already decided what book will be your team’s nomination, do that now. Students will write, record, or film a book team book talk to be sent to pil2011@partnersinliteracy.org. These book talks will be due before the end of January. (Exact date for 2024 is yet to be determined.) All book talks will be available to the other book teams and posted on this website. (If you send photos or videos of your students, please make sure that you have permission from your students which comply with your school’s regulations.) Students will use this book talk to be ready to promote their book nominee at the statewide meeting in early February.
Early February, Local Teams Will Gather Together and Meet the Other Teams by Zoom: At this meeting, each team, using their book talk prepared at an earlier meeting, will give a short presentation of (depending on the number of book teams) about 5 minutes on their nominated book. Each team can then decide which of the nominated books will be their third book or books.
February and March Local Book Team Meeting: Discuss and compare your third book to the other (minimum) two books you have read. Evaluate where your team is in the award process. Are you ready to vote on the three books you have read or do you want to peruse the book talks of the other nominated CBSA books? Does anyone want to read more individually, in subgroups or as a whole group? Does anyone want to skim through a book to see how it compares with the others you have read? Mentors, If you have eager readers, encourage them.
Depending on spring break and CMAS schedules, Local Book Teams Will Gather and Meet the Other Teams by Zoom in Early April to discuss and decide on the winning book. Partners in Literacy will schedule the statewide meeting. The purpose of this meeting will be to vote on the winning book of the Colorado Blue Spruce Award.
April: The winning book of the Colorado Blue Spruce YA Book Award will be announced at the Colorado Teen Lit Conference. The Colorado Teen Lit Conference is an event where students and mentors can meet YA authors and other teens that love to read. In 2023, seven CBSA judges announced the winning CBSA and Readers’ Choice book. We are counting on teen judges to announce the winners in 2024!
