My daughter is entering 9th grade & needs to pick an awarding winning book for summer reading.  Everything we found seems to be on the dark side.  Any suggestions? 

I am not sure what you mean by award winning, but my daughter is going into 9th and this summer she is reading The Hobit, Watershipdown, The Hunger Games, The Book Theif, and 13 Reasons Why.

Recently she has read and enjoyed To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Night by Elie Wiesel, Homeless Bird by Gloria Whelan, and Number the Stars by Lois Lowry.

And this was a great mystery she just read - A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly - it is award winning - says the back of the book.

Not sure if it's award winning, but my daughter (also going into 9th) really liked Matched by Ally Condie.  Will ask her for other recommendations later.

Karen - what did she end up reading?

She ending up reading the Hunger Games and loved it!

Yep, they were great, my whole book club ( and a few of the husbands) read them too!

For more ideas check out these award lists from the 2012 Reading challenge.

3. Michael L. Printz Award   Info
4. William C. Morris YA Debut Award   Info              
5. Boston Globe-Horn Book Award   Info
6. Cybils Award   Info
7. Young Reader's Choice Award   Info