News

The State Library of Ohio, Ohioana Library Association, and Ohio Center for the Book are pleased to announce the 20 books selected for the 2019 & 2020 Choose to Read Ohio (CTRO) booklist. CTRO booklists spotlight and celebrate the rich and diverse tapestry of published literature by Ohioans. CTRO promotes reading across Ohio by encouraging Ohioans of all ages to read and share books by authors native to, residing in, or associated with the Buckeye State.

Through a biennial booklist of 20 representative titles for all ages, CTRO encourages libraries, schools, families, book clubs, and others to build communities of readers and an appreciation of Ohio authors, illustrators, and literature.

CTRO booklists follow a two-calendar-year program cycle, but readers are encouraged to read and share any current or past CTRO books at any time. The 2019 & 2020 booklist signifies a 10-year milestone for CTRO. Several Ohio authors and illustrators have been honored with books selected for more than one biennial booklist, including nationally acclaimed author Margaret Peterson Haddix. Under Their Skin marks the third book by Haddix to be selected for the Tweens/Middle Grades category on CTRO booklists. This is the second time for books by authors Mindy McGinnis (The Female of the Species), Dan Chaon (Ill Will), and Cynthia Rylant (Life) to be selected. Things That Surprise You is the first book by Jennifer Maschari to be selected for a CTRO booklist, but her title The Remarkable Journey of Charlie Price was honored as a 2016 CTRO Floyd’s pick.

Previous CTRO booklists have spotlighted titles by Ohio authors and illustrators including Jacqueline Woodson, Susan Orlean, Toni Morrison, Louise Borden, Denise Fleming, Will Hillenbrand, Loren Long, Virginia Hamilton, Angela Johnson, Paula McLain, J. Patrick Lewis, Daniel Kirk, Cinda Williams Chima, Katrina Kittle, and many others.

The 2019 & 2020 booklist was developed by an advisory council representing schools, libraries, and literary organizations, with input from over 55 additional teachers, librarians, and other book lovers.

2019 & 2020 Choose to Read Ohio Booklist

Books for Young Children

The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors by Drew Daywalt, illustrated by Adam Rex

Life by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Brendan Wenzel

Miss Mary Reporting: The True Story of Sportswriter Mary Garber by Sue Macy, illustrated by C.F. Payne

Once Upon an Elephant by Linda Stanek, illustrated by Shennen Bersani

Tomás and the Library Lady by Pat Mora, illustrated by Raúl Colón

Books for Tweens/Middle Grades

Dog Man by Dav Pilkey

Saving Wonder by Mary Knight

Things That Surprise You by Jennifer Maschari

Under Their Skin by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Zoe in Wonderland by Brenda Woods

Books for Teens

American Ace by Marilyn Nelson

Don’t Get Caught by Kurt Dinan

The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis

Good Brother, Bad Brother: The Story of John Wilkes Booth and Edwin Booth by James Cross Giblin

When We Collided by Emery Lord

Books for Adults

Epitaph: A Novel of the O.K. Corral by Mary Doria Russell

Ill Will by Dan Chaon

Lost Cleveland by Laura DeMarco

Showdown: Thurgood Marshall and the Supreme Court Nomination That Changed America by Wil Haygood

Six Days in Cincinnati: A Graphic Account of the Riots that Shook the Nation a Decade Before Black Lives Matter by Dan Méndez Moore

Download the new 2019 & 2020 booklist formatted for printing and sharing.

Each CTRO book features a downloadable toolkit available at no cost. The toolkits are packed with ideas and resources, including an author biography, discussion questions, activities, book jacket and author photos, and links for further exploration of the book’s themes, topics, or setting. Toolkits for CTRO titles up to 2018 are available at https://library.ohio.gov/ctro. Toolkits for the 2019 & 2020 titles will be created and added during summer-fall 2018.

Teachers, librarians, and others graciously offered their time, support, and expertise as CTRO 2019 & 2020 booklist electors, by reading and assessing many nominated books of interest to one or more age groups. The CTRO Advisory Board and partners are indebted to these librarians and educators for their generous participation:

• Alison Huey, Barberton Public Library
• Amy E. Dawson, Cleveland Public Library
• Arin Burton, Lima Public Library
• Audrey Hogan, Warren-Trumbull County Public Library
• Brenda Gehm
• Carol Kapostasy, Private
• Christina Getrost, Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library
• Christina H Dorr, Ph.D., Hilliard City School District/ Kent State Univ.
• Cindy Lombardo
• Connie Cramer
• Courtney Johnson, Columbus City Schools
• Darci Stitt, Warren-Trumbull County Public Library
• Deborah L. Dubois, Mansfield/Richland County Public Library
• Elaine Betting, Lorain Public Library System
• Emmalee Coontz, Akron Summit County Public Library/Maple Valley Branch Library
• Eric Pfeffinger, Toledo-Lucas County Public Library
• Erin O’Reilly-Mazon, Saint Brigid of Kildare School
• Gail Greenberg, Cleveland Metropolitan School District
• Joseph Prince, Bowling Green State University
• Jailynne Cronin, Warren Trumbull County Public Library
• Jan Sandro, Stebbins High School, Mad River Local Schools
• Jan Vaughn, Warren-Trumbull County Public Library
• Janell A. Brown, Ohio State School for the Blind
• Jen Downing, Upper Arlington Public Library
• Jennifer Maschari, St. Brigid of Kildare School
• Jennifer Young, Columbus Metropolitan Library
• Jenny Oney
• Joan Gudorf, Fairborn City Schools
• Joe Prince, Bowling Green State University
• John Jarvey, Cleveland Metropolitan School District
• Judy Ignasiak
• Jutta Swoboda, Lake Ridge Academy
• Karen Hildebrand, Delaware City Schools, retired
• Kathy Halsey
• Kathy Shahbodaghi, Columbus Metropolitan Library
• Katie Porteus, Cardington-Lincoln Local Schools
• Kevin Cordi, Ph.d., Ohio Northern University
• Kimberly Karshner, Lorain County Community College
• Krista Tokarz, Cuyahoga County Public Library Brooklyn Branch
• Laura Griffin, Upper Arlington Public Library
• Lisa Patrick, The Ohio State University
• Marley McDonough, Delaware County District Library
• Mary Plews, Toledo Lucas County Public Library
• Meg Brown, Thurber House
• Megan Chrusciel, Westerville Public Library
• Michelle Garver, Columbus Metropolitan Library
• Michelle Houts
• Miriam Kahn, MBK Consulting
• Pam Magelaner, Denison University Library
• Rebecca Gilsdorf, St. Joan of Arc
• Robin Sanders, St. Bernadette School
• Sarah Granville, Barberton Public Library
• Sondra Presley, The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County
• Stephanie Bange
• Stephanie Miles, Hilliard City Schools
• Terry Lambert, Barberton Public Library
• Therese Phillips, Southwest Public LIbraries / Grove City
• Vicky Schmarr, Delaware County District Library, Orange Branch

CTRO is a project of the State Library of Ohio and the Ohioana Library Association in collaboration with the Ohio Center for the Book and Ohio’s libraries.