Annal:2003 Bram Stoker Award for Work for Young Readers

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: Book 5 of Harry Potter

J.K. Rowling

• 2004 Anthony-Young Adult winner
• 2003 Stoker–Youth winner
• 2004 Prometheus finalist
• Score: 26.54

“I say to you all, once again—in the light of Lord Voldemort’s return, we are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided. Lord Voldemort’s gift for spreading discord and enmity is very great. We can fight it only by showing an equally strong bond of friendship and trust.”

So spoke Albus Dumbledore at the end of Harry Potter’s fourth year at Hogwarts. But as Harry enters his fifth year at wizard school, it seems those bonds have never been more sorely tested. Lord Voldemort’s rise has opened a rift in the wizarding world between those who believe the truth about his return, and those who prefer to believe it’s all madness and lies—just more trouble from Harry Potter.

Add to this a host of other worries for Harry…

Even Odder: More Stories to Chill the Heart

Steve Burt, Jessica Hagerman

• 2003 Stoker–Youth nominee
• Score: 6.53

15 Creepers for Classrooms, Campfires and Car Trips. For Young Adults and Adults. Sequel to Odd Lot: Stories to Chill the Heart, which won the Benjamin Franklin Award (silver) for Best Mystery/Suspense, the ForeWord Award honorable mention for Best Horror, Writer’s Digest’s Honorable Mention for Best Genre Fiction, and had 6 stories named honorable mention in Year’s Best Fantasy & Horror. The author is also a double Ray Bradbury award-winner.

The Oracle Betrayed: Book One of The Oracle Prophecies

Catherine Fisher

• 2003 Stoker–Youth nominee
• 2003 Whitbread-Children's shortlist
• Score: 12.53

They might not know what the future holds, but they know they hold it in their hands.

Mirany, the newly appointed attendant to the Speaker, is untested, in fear for her life, and keeper of the god’s secrets.

Seth, an ambitious scribe toiling in the shadow of the pyramid, has discovered the secret labyrinths and underground passages to the tombs.

Hermia, the Speaker, interprets the words of the god and twists his wishes to suit her treachery.

General Argelin, the cunning leader in league with the Speaker, intends to dictate the choosing of the new ruler Alexos, the quiet boy, is fated to rule the land—unless his enemies succeed in their plot.

Oblek, the foolish musician, may be the only person who can keep Alexos alive.

The Jackal, the black-market tomb raider, will strike like a scorpion if anyone interferes with his scheme to rob the sacred catacombs.

The Wolves in the Walls

Neil Gaiman

• 2003 Greenaway Medal honor
• 2003 Stoker–Youth nominee
• Score: 12.53

There are sneaking,
creeping, crumpling
noises coming from
inside the walls.

Lucy is sure there are wolves living in the walls of their house—and, as everybody says, if the wolves come out of the walls, it’s all over. Her family doesn’t believe her. Then one day, the wolves come out.

But it’s not all over. Instead, Lucy’s battle with the wolves is only just beginning.

A Stir of Bones

Nina Kiriki Hoffman

• 2003 Stoker–Youth nominee
• Score: 6.53

Fourteen-year-old Susan Backstrom seems to have a charmed life-she’s smart and beautiful, the only child of wealthy, attentive parents. But there are secrets inside her expensive house that Susan would never tell. One day, at the library, she overhears their housekeeper’s son talking with some friends about sneaking into a nearby abandoned house. Much to her own surprise, Susan very much wants to join them-and soon she’s part of the best secret of all. The house has a resident teenage ghost. More important than that, the house itself is a living, supernatural thing, able to serve as a magic conductor. With the help of five new friends-three humans, one ghost, and House, Susan has what she needs to transform her life, if she dares. A Stir of Bones is the stand-alone prequel to acclaimed fantasist Nina Hoffman’s award-winning adult novels A Red Heart of Memories and Past the Size of Dreaming. It is every bit as remarkable, warm, and heartwrenching.