Hero
1999 An ALA Best Book for Young Adults
1998 Oklahoma Book Award
1998 New York Public Libraries Books for the Teen Age
1999 Nominee, Oklahoma Sequoyah Book List
1999-2000 Black-Eyed Susan Book Award List (Maryland)
2000 Nevada Young Readers’ Award, Young Adult
2000 Texas Library Association TAYSHAS High School Reading List
2000 South Carolina Association of School
Librarians Young Adult Book Award
2003 Alaska Battle of the Books
2004 An ALA Popular Paperback
2010-11 Alaska Battle of the Books alternate

Rough Waters
1999 An ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers
1999 Finalist Oklahoma Book Award
1999 New York Public Libraries Books for the Teen Age
2000 Nominee, Colorado Blue Spruce Award
2000 Nominee, Utah Young Adult List
2000 Nominee, South Carolina Book Award
2000 Young Adult Choice Winner by the International Reading Association
2000-01 Nominee, Children’s Literature Association of Utah Book Award

Head Above Water
2000 An ALA Best Book for Young Adults
2000 Finalist Oklahoma Book Award
2000 Finalist Colorado Book Award
2001 Finalist SD Teen Choice Award
2002 Nominee, Oklahoma Sequoyah Book Award
2001-2002 Nominee, Kentucky Bluegrass Award
2001 Texas Library Association TAYSHAS High School Reading List
2003 Finalist Dolly Gray Children’s Literature Award, sponsored by
International Council for Exceptional Children/Division
on Development Disabilities
2008 YALSA Popular paperbacks

Stetson
2002 Texas Library Association TAYSHAS High School Reading List
2003 ALA Best Book for Young Adults
2002 Nominee, Pennsylvania School Librarians Association Young Adult
Top 40
2003-2004 Nominee, Colorado Blue Spruce Award
2004 Nominee, Utah Beehive Book Award
2003 Nominee, Michigan Library Ass’n Thumbs Up Award
2005 Nominee, Oklahoma Sequoyah Young Adult Book Award
2005 Nominee, Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Award
2005 Nominee, Nevada Young Reader’s Award

Shadow of a Doubt
2004 Nominee, ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers
2003 Parents' Guide to Children's Media
2004 New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age List
2003-4 Nominee, Keystone State Reading Association’s YA Book Award
2004 Honor Book the Society of School Librarians International
2005-2006 Finalist, Utah Beehive Book Award
2005 IRA Young Adult Choice List
2008 YALSA Popular Paperbacks

Out of the Blue
2010 Kansas State Reading Circle Recommended Reading List (top pick,
senior high)
2011-12 Nominee, Eliot Rosewater Indiana High School Book Award
2010 PA School Librarians Ass’n Young Adult Top Forty
2011 Finalist, Heartland Award of Excellence for Young Adult Literature

Testimonials

S.L. Rottman has spoken at numerous conferences (IRA, NCTE, ALA, are a few), and at over 50 schools in seven states. Here are a few things teachers, librarians, and students have had to say about the visits:

Dear Mrs. Rottman,

I wanted you to know what you have done for me. You came to our school just about a few months ago and you changed my life. I always hated reading since I was about six years old. Coming into Newton, I knew about the AR system, and fought to find ways around it, yet finding nothing, I purely didn't get any points. When you visited our school, everyone was reading your books. I didn't get a chance until after you came, and the first book I read was Head Above Water. Usually, it took me weeks to read books, sometimes even months. I read your book in about one week flat. It was probably one of the best books I had ever read. That was how it started. I then read Hero and then Stetson. All in very short time periods, unlike the usual me. I am writing this email mostly to tell you that you have inspired me. Inspired me to read, and maybe even to write. I write mostly poems, but I do have stories in my mind for writing about, although i doubt I will ever get to writing them. I have read many books since then and I read faster, and understand more now. I know have more points than I need for AR. I actually go home, wanting to read my book. So thank you. I also think that you should write sequels to many of your books, and I am awaiting you new book to come out. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Lera (8th grade student)

The ultimate author experience occurred in February, 2005 at Edmond Central Middle School . S. L. Rottman visited our school and interacted with over 600 seventh and eighth grade students. She informed, motivated, and inspired our students to read, write, and discuss young adult literature. Ms. Rottman presented two dynamic assemblies focusing on the writing process, conducted two creative writing workshops that produced original stories from every participant, and joined us for an unforgettable luncheon with over fifty students, parents, and teachers participating. We were surrounded by student-created artwork representing her novels. Students presented readers’ theater presentations based on two of her novels and sang a song inspired by her novel, Hero. The highlight of the luncheon was Susan’s spontaneous sharing of personal anecdotes about her writing experiences.

We were all impressed with her captivating presentation style, her warmth, and her sincere interest in our students. My favorite moment happened after one of the sessions in the media center. When I looked over, she was literally surrounded by students “chatting” and laughing with her as though she were one of them. They truly enjoyed just being in her presence. The often repeated comment after her visit was, “Wow! She was great! She’s the best author we’ve ever had. When is she coming back?” Our principal congratulated our students over the intercom the next day on the way they prepared for and participated in the author activities. She told them this was our most successful author visit, and she looked forward to future books and visits from Ms. Rottman. I second that emotion. We loved reading her books, preparing for her visit, and sharing a day with this gifted author and dynamic presenter.

Caradith Craven, Media Specialist

S.L. Rottman is an amazingly compassionate and open speaker. She shares with students the craziness and dedication it takes to become a successful author while talking about the bigger picture of finding your own voice as a writer. She connected to teens in our community on so many levels, I constantly have teens asking for her books or listing her as their favorite author. I highly recommend her as a guest artist at your school or library.

Amy Shelly

Manager, Youth and Outreach Services
Laramie County Library System

Dear S.L. Rottman:

I wanted to let you know how much our students appreciated your visit to East Bakersfield High School earlier this month. The teachers whose classes participated in your presentation have commented on their students' new appreciation for the process and the hurdles of writing and publishing fiction.

We have had a steady stream of requests for your books ever since your visit and have had to order additional copies to keep up with the demands. And teachers are talking about continuing to use Hero and Stetson with their classes as their supplemental reading in the coming school years.

Thank you for sharing your ideas and experiences with our students.

Best Wishes,

Dawn Dobie
Library Media Teacher
East Bakersfield High School

S.L. Rottman

Author - Speaker - Educator