2024 NATIONAL MEDAL
for Museum and Library Service Finalist
I last saw my father twenty-seven years ago; I was seventeen. I remember eating breakfast- Rice Krispies. He entered the kitchen and said, "Don't know why you bother going to school- you're just gonna get pregnant and drop out." Having endured a lifetime of abuse, I could no longer cry- I laughed, and thought: it would be my luck God, ever non-existent to my pleas, would perform another Immaculate Conception, proving him right.
I’ll get a really good wine for my big date tonight. It took me a few weeks to get up the nerve to ask her out. I see her almost every day at work; I never have any trouble talking with anyone but for some reason I get nervous when I am with her and never know what to say. I’ll use the wine as an ice breaker so hope she likes it.
He finally asked me out. I was thinking of asking him out but could never get up the nerve. I see him almost every day at work; I never have any trouble talking with anyone but for some reason I get nervous when I am with him and never know what to say. I wonder what drink I could order tonight that I could use as an ice breaker.
The diamond was gone. The blue diamond, which brought out the beautiful light in Helena's eyes. The perfect diamond that Maya had been saving for months for. Everything is ruined. This is a sign, thought Maya. It isn't meant to be. I should let her go.
Helena carefully wrapped the blue diamond she had been saving for for months. It is perfect. It reflects the light in Maya's beautiful blue eyes.
Money is tight, so I couldn't throw a party. I could only afford him a worn teddy bear from Goodwill for a gift. I burned the cake. I wish I could do better by him. He only turns five once.
(On the playground) "I had the best birthday ever! I got to spend the whole day with Mommy, I got the bear I've been wanting, and she made me my favorite chocolate cake!"
“This traffic stinks. I’ve been inching up for the last 45 minutes and will be really late for my interview. I don’t even have a number to call. I’m gonna be really late. There’s an opening – I could swerve around the two cars in front of me and move up a little. Here goes. Oh S - - t! TRUCK COMING RIGHT TOWARD…"
When I was a kid we played touch football in the street. There were always some parked cars on our “field.” When the ball ended up under a car someone would crawl under it to get the ball. One day after he crawled out and stood up he noticed dog s - - t all over his hand and ball and yelled while dropping the ball: “Holy s - - t!"
An irresistible debut set in London during World War II about an adventurous young woman who becomes a secret advice columnist-a warm, funny, and enormously moving story for fans of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and Lilac Girls
Afflicted with a chronic debilitating condition, Suzette Jensen nevertheless brought Hanna into the world, pleased and proud to start a family with her husband Alex. Estranged from her own mother, Suzette is determined to raise her daughter with the love, care, and support she was denied. Now seven-years-old, Hanna has yet to utter a word, despite being able to read and write. Defiant and anti-social, she refuses to behave in kindergarten classes and must be homeschooled. But Hanna is becoming more aggressive every day-- only behaving when she's with her father.
