Previous Rodda Award Winners

2009 Rodda Award Winner:
My Father's Paradise: A Son's Search for His Jewish Past in Kurdish Iraq
by Ariel Sabar

My Father's Paradise: A Son's Search for His Jewish Past in Kurdish Iraq by Ariel Sabar and published by Algonquin Books was the winner of the 2009 Rodda Award for adult readers. Based on his own journey to discover his family's history, Sabar travels through history to discover his Kurdish-Jewish roots. He writes his story based on exquisite research as well as with a sensitivity combining faith and family. Some of his other credentials include covering the 2008 U.S. presidential campaigns for the Christian Science Monitor and serving as a former staff writer for the Baltimore Sun and the Providence (RI) Journal.

2008 Rodda Award Winner:
Sleep In Peace by Ingrid Hess

The Rodda Award Committee is delighted to announce Sleep in Peace by Ingrid Hess and published by Herald Press as the winner of the best children’s book for 2008.

Emerging from a strong field of nominations, our winning entry combines a well-written story and beautiful illustrations as it nurtures young children with good spiritual values.

2007 Rodda Award Winner
A Friend At Midnight by Caroline B. Cooney

CSLA's Rodda Award Committee is happy to announce that the winner of the Young Adult Award for 2007 is A Friend At Midnight by Caroline B. Cooney. In the book, a teenage girl learns difficult lessons about forgiveness.

Ms. Cooney, who makes her home in Westbrook, Connecticut, is the writer of numerous books for young adults, as a visit to her web site will show you. The Rodda Award was formally presented at CSLA's national conference in Philadelphia.

2006 Rodda Award Winner
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson

At its 2006 conference in Greensboro, North Carolina, CSLA proudly presented its inaugural Rodda Award to author Marilynne Robinson for her moving novel, Gilead. The award, which began with nominations received from CSLA members, was presented in recognition of the way in which Gilead contributes significantly to spiritual growth through excellent writing.

Marilynne Robinson was not able to receive the award in person due to a family wedding, but she sent moving remarks that were read at the CSLA conference in her absence.