From AwardAnnals
Results of the National Book Award in the year 1982. For a ranked list of books, try an honor roll:
Words By Heart
Ouida Sebestyen
Lena can recite the Scriptures by heart. Hoping to make her adored Papa proud of her and to make her white classmates notice her “Magic Mind,” not her black skin, Lena vows to win the Bible-quoting contest. But winning does not bring Lena what she expected. Instead of honor, violence and death erupt and strike the one she loves most dearly. Lena, who has believed in vengeance, must now learn how to forgive.
Westmark
Lloyd Alexander
Set in the medieval-like kingdom of Westmark, this is the story King Augustine and Queen Caroline, who are so distraught over the disappearance of their daughter that they have allowed their kingdom to fall into the hands of their evil chief minister, Cabbarus. Cabbarus, desperate to keep the people unaware of his evil acts, has required government approval for any printed material to be published in the kingdom. When an idealistic young printer named Theo agrees to do a print job without getting prior permission, he begins a lifetime’s adventures.
