Winners of the Extensive Reading Foundation 2012 Language Learner Literature Awards

submitted by Philip Prowse, UK

Young learners
Uncle Jack and the Meerkats
Author: Jane Cadwallader
Publisher: ELI Publishing
Illustrator: Gustavo Mazali
ISBN: 978-88-536-0627-3

Judges’ comment:
This story is good for young learners because it is a nice mixture of adventure, fantasy, and reality, with an animal conservation angle. It also has a cool family theme and intelligent child characters. Well-written, nice design, and fun to read.

On-line voters’ comments:
This book tells a very simple story, but it indeed teaches us a lot. What we learn from the book is that we should treat animals kindly and never try to keep them as pets.

I really like this book. It is quite worthy of being read by the youth. This book particularly makes difference in inspiring us to protect the animals and our environment.

This story has a brilliant educational meaning - protecting animals from being hurt by the cruel people and loving the whole world even anything alive

Adolescent and Adult: Beginner
Arman's Journey
Author: Philip Prowse
Illustrator: Paul Dickinson
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 978-0-521-18496-0

Judges’ comment:
This original story is filled with adventure that compels the reader through to the end. The content is especially relevant for adult learners — touching on conflict, economics, prejudice, and romance. The illustrations are supportive of the meaning. There are no exercises to distract from the story.

On-line voters’ comment:
It is good because it has unique background, and I enjoyed his journey, quite adventurous.

Adolescent and Adult: Elementary
Harry’s Holiday
Author: Antoinette Moses
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Illustrator: Mikela Prevost
ISBN: 978-84-8323-858-5

Judges’ comment:
This is an intriguing book, with an excellent plot. The reader is kept on edge, wondering what will happen to Harry. Will he get to go on a holiday?

On-line voters’ comment:
This is a very good book which reflects very common social problems. First sometimes we are unwilling to tell others about something in our home, especially some shabby things. Second, nowadays, many companies just cheat consumers to believe them. And after i finish reading this book, i understand something. So it is a very meaningful book. It is much more profound than it appears to be. It has a happy ending which give us a sense of happiness and hope. The illustrations in this book is very good which go well with the whole story and can arouse readers' interest in reading it.

Adolescent and Adult: Intermediate
A Christmas Carol
Author: Charles Dickens
Retold by: Sean Michael Wilson
Illustrator: Mike Collins
Publisher: National Geographic Learning, a part of Cengage Learning
ISBN: 978-1-4240-4287-6

Judges’ comment:
This version of A Christmas Carol is a graphic novel which has the rare combination of excellent artwork and skillful retelling that can engage readers from start to finish. Graphic novels have the potential to attract students who might not find regular graded readers appealing, and this is a good example of how to make a graphic novel work as a graded reader.

On-line voters’ comments:
Great artwork. Most of us know the story, but this was original, and the ghosts were excellent.

I found this book really amazing. I have heard of this book and have frankly tried to read this novella many a time but never felt like it. I have even seen the BBC movie version but never read the book. I should say that this Graphic Novel version is totally readable and this is the book that I read first in this series of books. I found the glossary with the pronunciation very useful. I would love to read the other classic comics in this series.

Adolescent and Adult: Upper Intermediate and Advanced
Joe Faust
Author: Frank Brennan
Illustrator: Redbean Design Pte Ltd
Publisher: National Geographic Learning, a part of Cengage Learning
ISBN: 978-1-4240-1796-6

Judges’ comment:
This is a gripping story, and a moral tale for our times that speaks across different cultures and societies. As one reader put it, this is a “good story that sends across a very important, influential message”. It is a clever up-dating of the legend of Doctor Faustus, relevant to us all. The Devil has many disguises...

On-line voters’ comment:
The black and white illustrations set the mysterious, moody atmosphere of the story that is very relevant to a Western culture that equates success with wealth and power. This updating of the classic Faust story to focus on a young city trader at an investment company in NYC will generate discussion about values, relationships and personal goals. I liked attention to descriptive detail though I did not like the protagonist.

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