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Current Winners, all 32 Finalists, and a full list of Nominees
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Minnesota Book Artist Award
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APRIL 19, 2010 - The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library is pleased to announce the winners of the 22nd annual Minnesota Book Awards. In addition to winners in eight categories, the Book Awards presented the Readers’ Choice Award, which was selected by over 2,000 online voters from across Minnesota. A sold-out crowd of nearly 750 people attended the gala award ceremony on Saturday, April 17, hosted by Marianne Combs, Arts Desk reporter from Minnesota Public Radio.
Announced at the gala, the winners of the 2010 Minnesota Book Awards are:
Award for Children’s Literature, This imaginative book describes the changing colors of the seasons with beautiful poems and vivid illustrations. Color becomes more than just what you see; it becomes something that you can hear and smell – something that has its own thoughts, feelings, and actions. Joyce Sidman is the author of several books of poetry including Songs of the Water Boatman and Other Pond Poems which won the Caldecott Honor. |
Award for General Nonfiction, I Go to America traces the story of writer Mina Anderson, who emigrated from Sweden to Wisconsin and then to the Twin Cities where she worked as a domestic servant. It explores her move to rural Mille Lacs County where she and her husband worked a farm, raised seven children, and contributed widely to rural Swedish community life through her poetry, fiction, and letters to Swedish American newspapers. Joy K. Lintelman is a professor of history at Concordia College in Moorhead. |
Award for Genre Fiction, In 1933, Frank “Jelly” Nash was suspected of masterminding a daring robbery of gold bars, and left the treasure somewhere in St. Paul. Two graduate students and two thugs are in competition to find the legendary stash of gold. Rushmore McKenzie, a retired St. Paul policeman, gets involved in the search for the treasure – and also a killer – when the hunt turns deadly. David Housewright has won both an Edgar and a Minnesota Book Award for his crime fiction. | Award for Memoir & Creative Nonfiction: Suspenseful, touching, humorous, tragic, and powerful are just a few of the words that could be used to describe Kent Nerburn’s captivating story of his journey to help an elderly Native American man discover what happened to his long lost sister. Nerburn brings light to the complicated friendship between a white American and a Lakota Indian, and the reader is allowed a private and extraordinary glimpse into the life and wisdom of a tribal elder. Kent Nerburn has written a dozen books on spirituality and Native themes, including Chief Joseph and the Flight of the Nez Perce which was featured on the History Channel. |
Award for Minnesota, sponsored by Xcel Energy: The author recounts the amazing story of Goliath’s Cave in southeastern Minnesota, discovered by recreational cavers in the 1980s. With a mix of adventure, suspense, politics, science, discovery and wonder, Opening Goliath takes readers to a subterranean wilderness where exploration and preservation sometimes coexist – and sometimes collide. Cary J. Griffith is a freelance writer who specializes in writing about the outdoors. | Award for Novel & Short Story: This sweeping and astonishing novel tells the story of Lilith, a slave on a Jamaican sugar plantation who possesses a dark power. A group of slaves who call themselves the “Night Women” are plotting a revolt and assume Lilith’s powers will be the key to success. However, as Lilith begins to assume her identity, she chooses a different path which poses a threat to the conspiracy. Marlon James teaches literature and creative writing at Macalester College. The Book of Night Women was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award for fiction |
Award for Poetry: In this collection, the poet invokes, invites and revises Walt Whitman’s civil war poems through contemporary and female perspectives. The poems bridge the gap between past and present, loss and reclamation through passionate lyrics full of clarity, imagination and sureness of vision. Jude has received many national and international awards, including a Minnesota Book Award in 2007 for The Curator of Silence. | Award for Young People’s Literature, Peter Augustus Duchene is a ten year old orphan who is training to be a soldier in the city of Baltese. He was told his parents and sister are dead, but after a visit to a fortuneteller, he discovers his sister is alive. The fortuneteller tells Peter an elephant will lead him to her, which seems a bit silly and improbable at first; however, when an elephant magically appears, Peter vows to take the elephant and find his sister. Kate DiCamillo won the Newbery Medal for her book The Tale of Despereaux. |

The Readers’ Choice Award, sponsored by Pioneer Press and TwinCities.com:
Honor Bright: A Century of Scouting in Northern Star Council
by Dave Kenney - published by Northern Star Council, Boy Scouts of America*
This captivating and richly illustrated collection consists of stories and photographs of the Boy Scouts of America’s first century in central Minnesota and western Wisconsin. From the start of the Boy Scout Movement in 1910 to the Scouts’ contributions to the nation’s war effort in the 1940s, to the growth of Scouting in the 2000s to serve one hundred thousand young people each year, this book covers everything. Dave Kenney is a freelance writer specializing in Minnesota history.
* Indicates a Minnesota-based publisher
Back to top Click here to see all past Minnesota Book Awards finalists and winners by year.
Chosen on Saturday, January 30, by 24 judges from around the state, the finalists in the following categories are:
JUMP TO CATEGORY:
Children’s Literature
General Nonfiction
Genre Fiction
Memoir & Creative Nonfiction
Minnesota
Novel & Short Story
Poetry
Young People’s Literature
Children’s Literature, sponsored by Books For Africa:
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The Longest Night |
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Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors |
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Song of Middle C |
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Stampede! Poems to Celebrate the Wild Side of School |
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General Nonfiction, sponsored by Minnesota AFL-CIO:
Drink This: Wine Made Simple |
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I Go to America: Swedish American Women and the Life of Mina Anderson |
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Journeywell: A Guide to Quality Aging |
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Richard Parkes Bonington: The Complete Paintings |
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Genre Fiction, sponsored by Wellington Management, Inc.:
Frag Box |
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Jelly’s Gold |
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Rough Country |
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The Silent Governess |
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The Bullhead Queen: A Year on Pioneer Lake |
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Going Blind: A Memoir |
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Kevin Kling’s Holiday Inn |
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The Wolf at Twilight: An Indian Elder’s Journey through a Land of Ghosts and Shadows |
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Minnesota, sponsored by Xcel Energy:
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Honor Bright: A Century of Scouting in Northern Star Council |
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| Jewel of Como: The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory Leigh Roethke and Bonnie Blodgett This beautiful and fascinating book commemorates the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory at Como Park in St. Paul, and the changes and additions it has undergone since its design in 1915. It also depicts the Conservatory’s major roles as both a sanctuary for plants and a show house for visitors to explore and highlights the work of the donors and volunteers who have helped it endure. Leigh Roethke, the author of several books, lives in Minneapolis and teaches art history at Saint Paul College. Bonnie Blodgett lives in St. Paul and has also written several other books. She is a regular garden columnist for the St. Paul Pioneer Press and Midwest Home. |
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Minneapolis in the Twentieth Century: The Growth of an American City |
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Opening Goliath: Danger and Discovery in Caving |
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The Annunciations of Hank Meyerson, Mama’s Boy and Scholar |
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The Book of Night Women |
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A Travel Guide for Reckless Hearts |
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The Turtle Catcher |
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Faith Run |
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I Wish I Had a Heart Like Yours, Walt Whitman |
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Skirmish |
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Unrest |
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Young People’s Literature, sponsored by 3M Company:
Crows & Cards |
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Lucy Long Ago: Uncovering the Mystery of Where We Came From |
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The Magician’s Elephant |
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The Sky Always Hears Me and the Hills Don’t Mind |
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Award winners will be announced at the 22nd Annual Minnesota Book Awards Gala on Saturday, April 17, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, in downtown Saint Paul. The opening reception begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by the awards ceremony at 8 p.m. Tickets are $40 and are available by clicking here or calling 651-222-3242.
All Minnesotans are invited to take part in voting for the Readers’ Choice Award. During the month of March, readers can visit TwinCities.com to choose one of the Minnesota Book Award finalists from all eight categories. The finalist with the most votes will be awarded the Readers’ Choice Award at the Gala. The award is sponsored by the Pioneer Press and TwinCities.com.
Two special awards for contributions to the literary and artistic community in Minnesota will be given on April 17, as well. Wilber H. “Chip” Schilling is the recipient of the third annual Book Artist Award, presented with Minnesota Center for Book Arts (MCBA). Schilling is the owner of Indulgence Press, which specializes in hand-bound, letterpress printed fine press books, artist books, and limited edition fine art prints. He has lectured at many universities, juried for several arts organizations, and currently teaches workshops at MCBA. A reception featuring Schilling’s work will be held on Friday, February 26, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at MCBA, in the Open Book Literary Arts Center. The Kay Sexton Award, sponsored by Common Good Books, honors a lifetime contribution to the literary community, and will be announced later in February.
All Minnesotans are invited to take part in voting for the Readers' Choice Award each year in the weeks leading up to the Minnesota Book Awards gala. Please, only one vote per person.
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In spring of 2010, more than 2,000 readers visited Twin Cities.com to vote for their favorite among the 32 Minnesota Book Award finalists. The Readers’ Choice Award went to Dave Kenney for his book, Honor Bright: A Century of Scouting in Northern Star Council, published by Northern Star Council, The Boy Scouts of America. The book was nominated for a Minnesota Book Award in the Minnesota category. |
Previous Winners:
| 2009 Minnesota Book Awards Readers' Choice Award: Kao Kalia Yang – The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir - Published by Coffee House Press |
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2008 Minnesota Book Awards Readers' Choice Award:
Jill Kalz – Farmer Cap -
Published by Picture Window Books
2007 Minnesota Book Awards Readers' Choice Award:
Matthew Sanford – Waking: A Memoir of Trauma and Transcendence - Published by Rodale
Nominated book titles, their publishers and authors are listed below.
JUMP TO CATEGORY:
Children’s Literature
General Nonfiction
Genre Fiction
Memoir & Creative Nonfiction
Minnesota
Novel & Short Story
Poetry
Young People’s Literature
Children's Literature
Alfred Noble: The Man Behind the Peace Prize (Sleeping Bear Press), by Kathy-jo Wargin. Zachary Pullen, Illustrator
Always (Paula Wiseman Books/Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing),
by Alison McGhee. Pascal Lemaitre, Illustrator
B is for Battle Cry: A Civil War Alphabet (Sleeping Bear Press), by Patricia Bauer.
Illustrated by David Geister
Ballyhoo Bay(Paula Wiseman Books/Simon & Schuster), by Judy Sierra. Derek Anderson, Illustrator
The Bee Book: Where Dreams Begin (Outskirts Press), by Michael Willert. Michelle Dziatzko, Illustrator
Big Brother Has Wheels (Beaver’s Pond Press), by Patrick “Paddy” Mader. Andrew Holmquist, Illustrator
The Christmas Baby (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers/Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing), by Marion Dane Bauer. Richard Cowdrey, Illustrator
A Farm Country Halloween (Beaver’s Pond Press), by Gordon W. Fredrickson. Michaelin Otis, Illustrator
The Glass Monkey (Calyx Press Duluth), by Cecilia Lieder
If I Were a Farmer: Nancy’s Adventure (Beaver’s Pond Press), by Gordon W. Fredrickson. David Jewell, Illustrator
Henrietta Stays Out All Night! (Tom Broadbent), by Tom Broadbent. Lisa Kosmo, Illustrator
The Longest Night (Holiday House), by Marion Dane Bauer. Ted Lewin, Illustrator
Miss Little’s Gift (Candlewick Press), by Douglas Wood. Jim Burke, Illustrator
Monkey with a Tool Belt and the Noisy Problem (Carolrhoda Books/Lerner Publishing Group), by Chris Monroe
Moose on the Loose (Sleeping Bear Press), by Kathy-jo Wargin. John Bendall-Brunello, Illustrator
Muktar and the Camels (Henry Holt and Company), by Janet Graber. Scott Mack, Illustrator
No Snow for Christmas (Picture Window Books), by Jill Kalz. Sahin Erkocak, Illustrator
Once Upon a Time: Writing Your Own Fairy Tale (Picture Window Books/Capstone Publishers), by Nancy Loewen. Christopher Iyles, Illustrator
Princess Candy Sugar Hero (Stone Arch Press), by Michael Dahl. Jeff Crowther, Illustrator
Q.T. Patootie (Mirror Publishing), by Sally A. Scheckel
Red Sings from Treetops (Houghton Mifflin Children’s Books), by Joyce Sidman. Pamela Zagarenski, Illustrator
Song of Middle C (Candlewick Press), by Alison McGhee. Scott Menchin, Illustrator
Stampede!: Poems to Celebrate the Wild Side of School (Clarion Books), by Laura Purdie Salas. Steven Salerno, Illustrator
Start Saving, Henry! (Viking/Penguin Young Readers Group), by Nancy Carlson
Think Happy! (Carolrhoda Books/Lerner Publishing Group), by Nancy Carlson
The Twelve Days of Christmas in Minnesota (Sterling), by Constance Van Hoven.
Mike Wohnoutka, Illustrator
The Ugly Duckling: The Graphic Novel (Capstone Press), by Martin Powell. Aaron Blecha, Illustrator
Y is for Yowl!: A Scary Alphabet (Capstone Press), by Laura Purdie Salas
Zinc Alloy Coldfinger (Stone Arch Books), by Donald Lemke. Douglas Holgate, Illustrator
General Nonfiction
Absinthe and Flamethrowers: Projects and Ruminations on the Art of Living Dangerously (Chicago Review Press), by William Gurstelle
Ambassadors from Earth: Pioneering Explorations with Unmanned Spacecraft (University of Nebraska Press), by Jay Gallentine
Approaching God: The Way of Abraham Joshua Heschel (Liturgical Press), by John C. Merkle
Bridge to the Afterlife: A Medium’s Message of Hope & Healing (Llewellyn Worldwide), by Troy Parkinson
Coached for Life (Bronze Bow Publishing), by Ed Flaherty and Jack Uldrich
The Courage of Faith: Some Philosophical Reflections (Liturgical Press), by Steven T. Ostovich
The Crooked Mile: Through Peak Oil, Biofuels, Hybrid Cars, and Global Climate
Change to Reach a Brighter Future (Demontreville Press Inc.), by Kevin Clemens
Cultivating Hope: Weekly Readings to Open Your Heart and Mind (Hazelden), by Karen Casey
Damn Good Food: 157 Recipes from Hell’s Kitchen (Borealis Books/Minnesota Historical Society Press), by Mitch Omer and Ann Bauer
Drink This: Wine Made Simple (Ballantine Books), by Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl
Feisty Lydia: Memoirs of a German War Bride (Minnesota Heritage Publishing), by Edna Thayer
Glass Ceilings & 100-Hour Couples: What the Opt-Out Phenomenon Can Teach Us about Work and Family (The University of Georgia Press), by Karine Moe & Dianna Shandy
Good Grief: Finding Peace After Pet Loss (Healy House Books), by Sid Korpi
The Happy Medium: Awakening to Your Natural Intuition (Llewellyn Worldwide), by Jodi Livon
Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day: 100 New Recipes Featuring Whole Grains, Fruits, Vegetables, and Gluten-Free Ingredients (Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin’s Press), by Jeff Hertzberg, M.D. & Zoё François
Homilies for Weekdays: Solemnities, Feasts, and Memorials (Liturgical Press), by Don Talafous
The Hooked X: Key to the Secret History of North America (North Star Press of St. Cloud), by Scott. F. Wolter
I Go to America: Swedish American Women and the Life of Mina Anderson (Minnesota Historical Society Press), by Joy K. Lintelman
Intriguing Owls: Exceptional Images and Insight (Adventure Publications), by Stan Tekiela
Invasion Biology (Oxford University Press), by Mark A. Davis
Journeywell: A Guide to Quality Aging (Beaver’s Pond Press), by Trish Herbert
K-9 Nation Biscuit Book: Baking for Your Best Friend (Minnesota Historical Society Press), by Klecko
Launching Your Teen into Adulthood: Parenting Through the Transition (Search Institute Press), by Patricia Hoolihan
Learning from the Children: Reflecting on Teaching (Redleaf Press), by Cindylee Villareale
A Man’s Way Through the Twelve Steps (Hazelden), by Dan Griffin, M.A.
The Northlands Winter Greenhouse Manual: A Unique, Low-Tech Solution to Vegetable Production in Cold Climates (Garden Goddess Publications), by Carol Ford & Chuck Waibel
Norwegian Handknits: Heirloom Designs from Vesterheim Museum (Voyageur Press), by Sue Flanders and Janine Kosel
A People’s History of the Hmong (Minnesota Historical Society Press), by Paul Hillmer
Prairie Homestead to Wall Street: A History of the Jones Family and Metropolitan Financial Corporation (Hobar Publications/Finney Company), by Hiram M. Drache
Psychic Empowerment for Everyone: You Have the Power, Learn How to Use It (Llewellyn Worldwide), by Carl Llewellyn Weschcke & Joe H. Slate, Ph.D.
Richard Parks Bonington: The Complete Paintings (Yale University Press), by Patrick Noon
Road Show: Art Cars and the Museum of the Streets (Fulcrum Publishing), by Eric Dregni and Ruthann Godollei
We Will Have Gained Ourselves: Narrative Experiences of African Women Pursuing Higher Education in the United States of America (North Star Press of St. Cloud), by Mumbi Mwangi
Winners Persevere (Matthew R. Crowe), by Matthew R. Crowe
You Can’t Do That!: Marv Davidov, Nonviolent Revolutionary (Nodin Press), by Carol Masters & Marv Davidov
Genre Fiction
The Black Minute (North Star Press of St. Cloud), by Christopher Valen
Blue Bells of Scotland (Gabriel’s Horn Publishing), by Laura Vosika
Cold Lonely Courage (Black Rose Writing), by Soren Paul Petrek
Deadly Stillwater (Beaver’s Pond Press), by Roger Stelljes
Devils Island (Echelon Press Publishing), by Carl Brookins
Eggs Benedict Arnold (Penguin/Berkley Prime Crime), by Laura Childs
First Come Twins (Harlequin), by Helen Brenna
Frag Box (Poisoned Pen Press), by Richard A. Thompson
From the Outside (Harlequin), by Helen Brenna
A Grand Ol’ Murder (North Star Press of St. Cloud), by Brian Landon
Harvest of Souls (E-Booktime, LLC), by Michael Wayne
Heaven’s Keep (Atria Books/Simon & Schuster), by William Kent Krueger
Hogdoggin’ (Bleak House Books), by Anthony Neil Smith
In the Dark (Minotaur Books/St. Martin’s Press), by Brian Freeman
Jelly’s Gold, (Minotaur Books/St. Martin’s Press), by David Housewright
Magic & Madness (North Star Press of St. Cloud), by Amy Gregg
Minnesota Cold (North Star Press of St. Cloud), by Cynthia Kraack
The Mirror and the Mask (St. Martin’s Press), by Ellen Hart
Missing Mark (Doubleday/Random House), by Julie Kramer
The Mormon Conspiracy: A Flying Adventure (Seitview Publishing), by Dale M. Seitzer
Murder on Warbler Weekend (North Star Press of St. Cloud), by Jan Dunlap
Next Comes Love (Harlequin), by Helen Brenna
Rough Country (G.P. Putnam’s Sons), by John Sandford
The Second Death of Goodluck Tinubu (HarperCollins), by Michael Stanley
September Fair (Midnight Ink/Llewellyn Worldwide), by Jess Lourey
The Sharing Knife (Eos), by Louis McMaster Bujold
Secrets (North Star Press of St. Cloud), by David P. Holmes
Sherlock Holmes: In Search of the Source (Xlibris Corporation), by Jeff Falkingham
The Silent Governess (Bethany House Publishers/Baker Publishing Group), by Julie Klassen
Then Comes Baby (Harlequin), by Helen Brenna
Thy Father’s Will (Kirk House Publishing), by Kirsten Jacobson Stasney
Where’s Billie? (Nodin Press), by Judith Yates Borger
Wicked Prey (G.P. Putnam’s Sons), by John Sandford
Wormwood, Nevada (St. Martin’s Press), by David Oppegaard
Memoir & Creative Nonfiction
Assembly Required: Notes from a Deaf Gay Life (RID Press), by Raymond Luczak
The Bullhead Queen: A Year on Pioneer Lake (University of Minnesota Press), by Sue Leaf
The Daughter of L’arsenal (SterlingHouse Publisher, Inc.), by Jacqueline Regis
Eat the Grapes Don’t Fight the Battles (Beaver’s Pond Press), by Craig R. Johnson
Everything Happened in Vietnam: The Year of the Rat (Blue Moon Publishing), by Robert Peter Thompson
Farther Up the Mountain: The Death of a Son (Tasora), by Phyllis Jensen Campbell
Fujiyama Trays & Oshibori Towels: Recalling a Time When Passenger Flight was an Adventure and the Boeing Stratocruiser Ruled the Skies (Lady Skywriter Publications), by Anne Billingsley Kerr
Gentle Trekking: This Wide Land, One Café at a Time (Bearly Artworks Publishing), by Victor John Faith
Getting a Jump on Life: 90 Years of Flying in the Face of Obstacles, Overcoming Hardships and Making My Own Way (North Star Press of St. Cloud), by Aileen Fritsch and Jacqueline Mosio
Going Blind (State University of New York), by Mara Faulkner, OSB
I’m Sorry You Feel That Way: The Astonishing but True Story of a Daughter, Sister, Slut, Wife, Mother, and Friend to Man & Dog (G.P. Putnam’s Sons/Penguin Group), by Diana Joseph
In a good and perfect World…I’m still IMPERFECT and other opinions (SUZ Z Enterprises Incorporated), by Suzi Otto
In Pursuit of Joy (Eloquent Books), by Gary Green
It’s Uphill Most of the Way Down: A Journey of Adventure and Faith (Tate Publishing and Enterprises), by Jodi L. Raisl and Dr. Barry L. Lane
It Was Quite a Ride: Moving Through the Twentieth Century (North Star Press of St. Cloud), by Bonnie Graham
Kevin Kling’s Holiday Inn (Borealis Books/Minnesota Historical Society Press), by Kevin Kling
Knife Island: Circling a Year in a Herring Skiff (Nodin Press), by Stephen Dahl
Knitting the Threads of Time: Casting Back to the Heart of Our Craft (New World Library), by Nora Murphy
Let My Words Be Sweet Upon You: Messages from Grandmother God (North Star Press of St. Cloud), by Emma Hofstede
Lost and Found: A Memoir of Mothers (North Star Press of St. Cloud), by Kate St. Vincent Vogl
Never Trust a Thin Cook and Other Lessons from Italy’s Culinary Capital (University of Minnesota Press), by Eric Dregni
The Nine of Us: A Lighthearted Memoir (AuthorHouse), by Jerry Hines
Purge: Rehab Diaries (Seal Press), by Nicole Johns
Spirits Out of Time: True Family Ghost Stories and Weird Paranormal Experiences (Llewellyn Worldwide), by Annie Wilder
Tenacity Well Directed: The Inside Story of How a Publishing House Was Created and Became a Sleeping Giant in Its Field - Well, Not Exactly (First Avenue Editions/Lerner Publishing Group), by Harry Lerner
Varmints in My Vinegar Cup: A Childhood at Gillette State Hospital 1945-1950 (Duluth Benedictine Books), by Lucille Geisinger
Walking on Air in a Field of Greens: An Italian-American Collage (Nodin Press), by Emilio DeGrazia
The Wild Garden: A Journey of Loss and Renewal (North Star Press of St. Cloud), by Peter P. Bundy
The Wolf at Twilight: An Indian Elder’s Journey through a Land of Ghosts and Shadows (New World Library), by Kent Nerburn
What the Poem Wants: Prose on Poetry (Carnegie Mellon University Press), by Michael Dennis Browne
Minnesota
50 Years of Music: The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra (Nodin Press), by Dave Kenney
61 Gems on Highway 61 (Adventure Publications), by Kathryn Mayo and William Mayo
Ant Farm: Glimpses of Daily Life in Minnesota (Nodin Press), by Ben Garvin
The Children Remember: Stories of Minnesota Children During World War II (North Star Press of St. Cloud), by Sharon Schulte
The Dakota Uprising: A Pictorial History (Beaver’s Pond Press), by Curtis A. Dahlin
Historic Photos of Minnesota (Turner Publishing), by Susan Marks
Home: Tom Arndt’s Minnesota (University of Minnesota Press), by Tom Arndt
Honor Bright: A Century of Scouting in Northern Star Council (Northern Star Council, Boy Scouts of America), by Dave Kenney
I Love Brett Favre, I Hate Brett Favre (Triumph Books), by Ross Bernstein
Jewel of Como: The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory (Afton Historical Society Press), by Leigh Roethke and Bonnie Blodgett
Legacies of Faith: The Catholic Churches of Stearns County (North Star Press of St. Cloud), by John Roscoe and Robert Roscoe
Legendary Homes of Lake Minnetonka (Minnesota Historical Society Press), by Bette Jones Hammel. Karen Melvin, Photographer
Maroon & Gold Forever: Celebrating 125 Years of Gopher Football (Bernstein Books), by Ross Bernstein
Minneapolis in the Twentieth Century: The Growth of an American City (Minnesota Historical Society Press), by Iric Nathanson
The Minneapolis & St. Louis Railway: A Photographic History (University of Minnesota Press), by Don L. Hofsommer
Minnesota County Fairs: Kids, Cows, Carnies, and Chow (University of Minnesota Press), by Susan Lambert Miller
Minnesota Prints and Printmaker: 1900-1945 (Minnesota Historical Society Press), by Robert L. Crump
Mr. Environment: The Willard Munger Story (Cloquet River Press), by Mark Munger
The Neighborhood by the Falls: A Look Back at Life in Longfellow (Longfellow Community Council), by Eric Hart
Opening Goliath: Danger and Discovery in Caving (Borealis Books/Minnesota Historical Society Press) by Cary J. Griffith
Power & Stride: The Nancy Burggraf Story (Pogo Press/Finney Company), by Merrie Sue Holtan
Recounting Minnesota: Blogging the Al Franken Election Saga (Melange Press), by Carl “WineRev” Eeman
Subterranean Twin Cities (University of Minnesota Press), by Greg Brick
Suburban Dawn: The Emergence of Richfield, Edina and Bloomington (Richfield Historical Society), by Frederick L. Johnson with Thomas U. Tuttle
The Twins at the Met (Beaver’s Pond Press), by Bob Showers
Walking Twin Cities (Wilderness Press), by Holly Day and Sherman Wick
Wildflowers of the Boundary Waters: Hiking Through the Seasons (Minnesota Historical Society Press), by Betty Vos Hemstad
Novel & Short Story
Abercrombie Trail (North Star Press of St. Cloud), by Candace Simar
Abraham Lincoln in New Orleans (Rae Katherine Eighmey), by Rae Katherine Eighmey
The Annunciations of Hank Meyerson, Mama’s Boy and Scholar (Hooded Friar Press), by Scott Muskin
The Book of Night Women (Riverhead Books/Penguin Group), by Marlon James
A Christmas Blizzard (Penguin Group), by Garrison Keillor
Dieter Stumpf: A Man Imprisoned by War (Turnpike Press of Northfield), by Jim Reiley
Encampment: A Novel of Race and Reconciliation (Melange Press), by Carl Eeman
Eve (Bantam Books), by Elissa Elliott
Every Boat Turns South (The Permanent Press), by J.P. White
German for Travelers: A Novel in 95 Lessons (Coffee House Press), by Norah Labiner
The Grass: A Young Man’s Journey to the Korean War (North Star Press of St. Cloud), by Paul Zerby
Heading North (North Star Press of St. Cloud), by Joseph Van Nurden
Heartache & Sin (BookSurge Publishing), by Charles Soto
The Hospital for Bad Poets (Milkweed Editions), by J.C. Hallman
Jennifer Johnson Is Sick of Being Single (HarperCollins), by Heather McElhatton
Men with Their Hands (Rebel Satori Press/Queer Mojo), by Raymond Luczak
My Life with Stella Kane (Regal Crest Enterprises), by Linda Morganstein
Pike Point and the Good Lord’s Earth (Author House), by Greg Suhonen
Pilgrims: A Wobegon Romance (Penguin Group), by Garrison Keillor
The Red Convertible: Selected and New Stories (HarperCollins), by Louise Erdrich
Remedies (G.P. Putnam’s Sons/Penguin Group), by Kate Ledger
Retribution (North Star Press of St. Cloud), by Dean Urdahl
The Rose Variations (Soho Press), by Marisha Chamberlain
Somewhere in Lorraine (Capio), by Capio
Total Oblivion, More or Less (Spectra, an imprint of Random House), by Alan DeNiro
A Travel Guide for Reckless Hearts (Borealis Books/Minnesota Historical Society Press), by N. M. Kelby
The Turtle Catcher (Houghton Mifflin), by Nicole Helget
When to Go into the Water (Sarabande Books), by Lawrence Sutin
Whiskey Heart (New Rivers Press), by Rachel L. Coyne
Whiteout (Beaver’s Pond Press), by Brian Duren
Poetry
Ace (The Word Works), by Richard Carr
All This and More: New and Selected Poems (Nodin Press), by Carol Connolly
Before You Know It: Prose Poems 1970-2005 (Will o’ the Wisp Books), by Louis Jenkins
Between (Nodin Press), by Morgan Grayce Willow
Bird Eating Bird (Perennial), by Kristin Naca
Ceremonies of the Spirit (Plain View Press), by Wendy Brown-Báez
The Chain Letter of the Soul: New and Selected Poems (Milkweed Editions), by Bill Holm
Coal Mountain Elementary (Coffee House Press), by Mark Nowak
Cool Auditor (BOA Editions), by Ray Gonzalez
Dark Dreaming, Global Dimming (Red Dragonfly Press), by Joe Paddock
The Dark Honey: New & Used Poems (Clover Valley Press), by Ellie Schoenfeld
Driving Gravel Roads (Red Dragonfly Press), by Jim Johnson
Faith Run (The University of Arizona Press), by Ray Gonzalez
Fallibility (New Rivers Press) by Elizabeth Oness
Flying (Nodin Press), by Beverly Rollwagen
God Drops and Loses Things (Liturgical Press), by Kilian McDonnell
The Gravity of Flesh (Nodin Press), by Jill Breckenridge
I Wish I Had a Heart Like Yours, Walt Whitman (University of Notre Dame Press), by Jude Nutter
Love or Lust (Two Harbors Press), by Ott Lukk
Obama Rising (North Star Press of St. Cloud), by Larry Christianson
Once Upon a Neighborhood (North Star Press of St. Cloud), by Evelyn D. Klein
The Plum-Stone Game (Ahsahta Press), by Kathleen Jesme
Radioactive City (Bellday Books), by Richard Robbins
Rock Worn By Water (Plain View Press), by Florence Chard Dacey
Stompin’ at the Grand Terrace: A Jazz Memoir in Verse (Blueroad Press), by Philip S. Bryant
Stone Poems (Starhaven), by Douglas Skrief
Skirmish (Graywolf Press), by Dobby Gibson
South of Contrary (North Star Press of St. Cloud), by Larry Christianson
Unrest (Graywolf Press), by Joanna Rawson
Writer’s Block: Poetry and Food for Thought (AuthorHouse), by Carlotta Arradondo, Chance Arradondo, and K. Caprice Arradondo
Young People's Literature
Batman: The Man Behind the Mask (Stone Arch Books), by Michael Dahl. Dan Schoening, Illustrator
The Bracelet (North Star Press of St. Cloud), by Betsy Johnson-Miller
Chrissa (American Girl Publishing Co.), by Mary Casanova
Chrissa Stands Strong (American Girl Publishing Co.), by Mary Casanova
The Civil War: An Interactive History Adventure (Capstone Press), by Matt Doeden
Climate Fever: Stopping Global Warming (Compass Point Books/Capstone Press), by Rachael Hanel
Crows & Cards (Houghton Mifflin), by Joseph Helgerson
Drive Me Crazy (Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing), by Erin Downing
The Geek Girl’s Guide to Cheerleading (Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing), by Charity Tahmaseb & Darcy Vance
The Gifted Kids’ Survival Guide (Free Spirit Publishing), by Judy Galbraith
Girl Talk: 52 Weekly Devotions (Zondervan Press), by Lois Walfrid Johnson
How to Draw 104 Cartoons with Gary Harbo (Kutie Kari Books, Inc.), by Gary Harbo
Let’s Meet a Marine Educator! (Winward Publishing, an imprint of Finney Company),
by Tasha Jacobson
Lucy Long Ago: Uncovering the Mystery of Where We Came From (Houghton Mifflin Children’s Books), by Catherine Thimmesh
The Magician’s Elephant (Candlewick Press), by Kate DiCamillo. Yoko Tanaka, Illustrator
Mudville (Random House Children’s Books), by Kurtis Scaletta
The Painting that Wasn’t There (Stone Arch Books/Capstone Publishers), by Steve Brezenoff
The Phantom of the North Shore (North Star Press of St. Cloud), by John Koblas
The Secret History of Lake Amikota (North Star Press of St. Cloud), by Jody G. Russell
The Secret of Zoom (Henry Holt Books for Young Readers), by Lynne Jonell
The Sky Always Hears Me and the Hills Don’t Mind (Flux/Llewellyn Worldwide), by Kirstin Cronn-Mills
Superman: The Shrinking City, (Stone Arch Books), by Michael Dahl. Gregg Schigiel and Lee Loughridge, Illustrators
TANGO: The Tale of an Island Dog (Bloomsbury U.S.A.), by Eileen Beha
The Tear Collector (Walker & Company), by Patrick Jones
Toby Martin: Pet Detective (Cambridge Books), by Barbara Grengs
Top of the Order (Fiewel and Friends/Macmillan), by John Coy
The White Witch (Roaring Brook Press), by Janet Graber
Will Spring Come? (Royal Fireworks Press), by Esther Allen Peterson
Zillah’s Gift (Beaver’s Pond Press), by Lois West Duffy
RBC Wealth Management presents the Minnesota Book Awards – a project of The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library, in consortium with the Saint Paul Public Library and the City of Saint Paul. Outreach partners and supporting organizations include: 3M Company; Anchor Trust; Beaver’s Pond Press; Books For Africa; Capstone; Coffee House Press; Common Good Books; Lerner Publishing; The Loft Literary Center; MELSA; Milkweed Editions; Minnesota AFL-CIO; Minnesota Center for Book Arts; Minnesota Crime Wave; Minnesota Educational Media Organization; Minnesota Library Foundation; Minnesota Licensed Beverage Association; Red Balloon Bookshop; Saint Paul Almanac; Wellington Management, Inc.; Xcel Energy. Media sponsors include Minnesota Public Radio (MPR); Pioneer Press and TwinCities.com; Saint Paul Neighborhood Network (SPNN); Swank Audio Visuals; Twin Cities Public Television (TPT) – Minnesota Channel. Generous support has been provided by The Boss Foundation; Harlan Boss Foundation for the Arts, Huss Foundation, The Katherine B. Andersen Fund of The Saint Paul Foundation; City of Saint Paul - Cultural STAR Program; Minnesota Department of Education—State Library Services.