Every year, Indiana holds a book competition called The Eliot Rosewater Indiana High School Book Award. It is an
award given to one of about 20 books nominated each year. All votes are due on the last Friday of April every year. The winner is announced the following Wednesday.
Students from Indiana high schools, public libraries and homeschoolers who have read any of the nominated books are able to rate them. Kids who are in grades 9-12 are encouraged to read the nominated books and rate them. Any school can participate if they make sure at least 12 of the nominated books are available at the school, provide an online link or paper form for voting, and report the voting results to the Rosie Award Committee on time. Public libraries must also provide at least 12 of the books and encourage students to vote online to participate.
The Rosie Award promotes independent reading for high school students and reading across the curriculum. It also creates cooperation between school administrators, teachers and public librarians. Students also get a feeling of competition with the award, wanting their favorite of the books to win. There is a book for everyone who wants to read. Many genres are chosen for the books each year and there is a wide variety of options. If there is a student or book lover who wants new things to read, these book nominations might be for them.
