2015 PNBA Book Awards

A Boat, A Whale & A Walrus
Renee Erickson
Seattle, WA

Please do judge this book by its cover! The lovely artisan feel is sustained throughout Erickson's celebration of food, the places we eat it and the people with whom we enjoy it. A unique gift for anyone who loves cooking, community, and the simple pleasure of doing things well.

Sasquatch Books                                                                                                                       Shelftalker
All the Light We Cannot See
Anthony Doerr
Boise, ID

A story of beauty in dark places and courage in the midst of horror. Doerr's tale circles in on itself like the intricate snail shells Marie Laure runs her fingers over again and again. Beautiful sentence after beautiful sentence, this is a book you will remember and recommend, again and again.

Scribner / Simon & Schuster                                                                                                     Shelftalker
Falling From Horses
Molly Gloss
Portland, OR

Bud is a 19-year-old who's tired of the rodeo circuit and out of options since his parents lost the family ranch. He sets out from his southeastern Oregon home to become a stunt rider in 1930s Hollywood, but it's a friendship he strikes up with an aspiring screenwriter along the way that proves to be his life's greatest ride.

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt                                                                                                       Shelftalker
If Not For This
Pete Fromm
Missoula, MT

Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis just as her adult life begins, Maddy faces life and family challenges and milestones with an ever deteriorating body and a fierce sense of humor. Through her distinct—and very stubborn—voice, Fromm tells a story of the things that weigh us down and the drive to lift those things, even when we know it's not possible.

Red Hen Press                                                                                                                            Shelftalker
Jackaby
William Ritter
Springfield, OR

Fiddleham, New England, 1892. The first week on the job for fresh off the boat Abigail Rook as assistant to the charismatic, eccentric, and incredibly endearing paranormal detective R.F. Jackaby throws her into a world of myth, mystery, intrigue and excitement. Ritter has imagined characters that appeal to both boys and girls and a story to be adored by all.

Algonquin Young Readers                                                                                                         Shelftalker
Strange & Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender
Leslye Walton
Seattle, WA

A heartbroken woman turns into a canary. A kiss on the neck leaves a mark that only slowly fades through the years. A child is born with the wings of a bird. Walton puts us under a dreamlike spell, balancing a rich magic with the stark reality that we all sometimes take the fall in life and love.

Candlewick Press                                                                                                                       Shelftalker