2024 NATIONAL MEDAL
for Museum and Library Service Finalist

Adults

The Baker's Secret

After her kind mentor is arrested because of his Jewish heritage, a young baker's apprentice in Normandy engages in discreet resistance activities, baking contraband loaves of bread for the hungry using surplus ingredients taken from occupying forces.

The Radium Girls : the Dark Story of America's Shining Women

The incredible true story of the women who fought America's Undark dangerThe Radium Girls fully illuminates the inspiring young women exposed to the "wonder" substance of radium, and their awe-inspiring strength in the face of almost impossible circumstances. Their courage and tenacity led to life-changing regulations, research into nuclear bombing, and ultimately saved hundreds of thousands of lives.

Her Every Fear

Growing up, Kate Priddy was always a bit neurotic, experiencing momentary bouts of anxiety that exploded into full blown panic attacks after an ex-boyfriend kidnapped her and nearly ended her life. When Corbin Dell, a distant cousin in Boston, suggests the two temporarily swap apartments, Kate, an art student in London, agrees, hoping that time away in a new place will help her overcome the recent wreckage of her life.

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She never knew her father. Mother said very little—only that he was from the city and left during her pregnancy. She had to meet him and had many questions. She ate a last forkful of pizza, rinsed her silverware and hailed a cab.

His last fare of the day was over, and he was tired. After dropping her off, her grabbed a knife and fork and dug into his pizza. 

Good Morning

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.

 

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A Waiting Room

Opening her bag, a woman searched urgently for something. Pulling out a photograph, she stared at it intently as tears streamed down her worn face.
The picture was handed to me. I glimpsed at it in confusion. Curiosity crept inside me but before I could speak, the photo was grabbed violently away and as quick as she arrived, the woman was gone. The picture burned into my memory without any understanding of why.
 
 

He

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.

She

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.  

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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.

 

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