Kent State University's Reinberger Children's Library Center is proud to announce the new members of the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction Selection Committee. The committee is responsible for choosing the best historical fiction books for young readers each year. We are excited to welcome the new members and look forward to seeing the winner they choose for this year's award.
2027 O'Dell Committee
CHAIR: Kate Davis, Programming and Inclusive Services Consultant, Prairie Lakes Library System
Davis is the Programming and Inclusive Services Consultant at the Prairie Lakes Library System in southeastern Wisconsin. A recognized leader in youth librarianship, she currently serves as Chair of the Wisconsin Library Association's Youth Services Section. Her expertise in literary evaluation is reflected in her extensive award committee service, including the 2026 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction Committee, the 2025 Batchelder Award Committee, and the CLEL Bell Awards for Outstanding Early Literacy (2022–present). She has also reviewed picture books, beginning readers, and middle-grade fiction for *School Library Journal* and was selected to participate in the ALSC 2022 William Morris Book Evaluation Seminar. Outside of her professional work, Davis enjoys watercolor painting, baking, training her sheepadoodle, Sundae, and spending time with her family.
Mariah Smitala, Youth Services Librarian, Hedberg Public Library
Mariah Smitala is a Youth Services Librarian at the Hedberg Public Library with a passion for library collections. In addition to managing a variety of children's collections at the library, she volunteers with the Diverse BookFinder, identifying books featuring BIPOC characters for inclusion in its catalog. She also writes reviews for *School Library Journal* on middle-grade and young adult fiction and served on the publication's Best Books Middle Grade Committee in 2024 and 2025.
Jeni Schomber, Public Library Consultant, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Jeni Schomber is a Public Library Consultant for the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, bringing more than 29 years of library experience to her work. She provides statewide leadership and consultation on public library services and youth services. She has led and collaborated on numerous initiatives supporting libraries and library workers by promoting inclusive practices and fostering collaborative environments where diverse voices are heard and valued. Deeply committed to advancing equitable, transformative, and sustainable experiences, Schomber works to empower Wisconsin libraries to best serve their communities. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, visiting her local coffee shop, walking her dog, and biking Wisconsin's scenic trails with her husband.
Hannah Hermann, Youth Services Librarian, Southeastern Wisconsin
Hannah Hermann currently serves as a Youth Services Librarian in southeastern Wisconsin. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, she spent more than a decade in education, fostering critical thinking and creativity among students in grades 4K through eighth grade. An avid reader, Hermann continues to nurture her lifelong love of history and historical fiction.
Christina Dorr, Retired Librarian and Children's and Young Adult Literature Scholar
Christina Dorr is a retired librarian with 32 years of experience in public, college, and primarily school libraries. She also taught as an adjunct instructor at The Ohio State University and Kent State University for nearly 20 years, gaining the unique experience of teaching students from preschool through graduate school. For more than 25 years, she has written numerous articles, columns, and book reviews and co-published three books on children's and young adult literature. She has presented nationally and internationally and leads seminars for the Bureau of Education and Research. Dorr holds a Ph.D. in Children's and Young Adult Literature and Literacy from The Ohio State University.
Her book committee experience includes several statewide committees in Ohio and New York, as well as national service on the Notable Children's Books Committee, the Geisel Award Committee, the Coretta Scott King Award Jury, the Youth Stonewall Committee (including serving as chair), the YALSA Nonfiction Award Committee, and the 2020 Caldecott Committee.
Mandy A. Cenker, Ph.D., Educator and Program Director, Kent State University
Mandy A. Cenker, Ph.D., is an educator and program director at Kent State University with extensive experience in curriculum leadership, youth literacy, and community-based educational initiatives. She has worked across PK–12 and higher education settings and has supported student voice and historical understanding through her leadership with Power of the Pen, a statewide creative writing program for middle school students. Her work reflects a strong commitment to inclusive, historically grounded learning experiences for young people.
Stephanie Raub, Ph.D., District Librarian/Media Specialist, Newbury Local School District
Stephanie Raub is the District Librarian/Media Specialist for Newbury Local School District in Newbury, Ohio. She is a graduate of Kent State University's School of Information, where she earned her Master of Library and Information Science degree, with certification in School Library/Media for grades K–12. She also holds a degree in Elementary Education from Ohio University.
Rebecca Rissman, Children's Author
Rebecca Siegel (Rissman) is a critically acclaimed children's nonfiction author. Three of her books have received Starred Reviews in Booklist, including To Fly Among the Stars (Scholastic 2020), which was also named a Mighty Girl’s Book of the Year, and one of the National Science Teaching Association’s Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students. Loch Ness Uncovered (Astra, 2024) was a YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, a 2025 NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Book Winner, listed in New York Public Library Best Books for Teens 2024, included in the 2025 Texas Topaz list, and has been named a Virginia Readers Choice 2025-2026 title. It has also been optioned for a feature film. Her most recent title, How The Ghost Army Hoodwinked Hitler (Peachtree, 2025), received a starred PW, is a JLG pick, and has been named to the 2026 Illinois Reads list. She lives in Chicago with her husband and two daughters.
Julia Schroeder, Librarian/Media Specialist, Atrium School
Julia Schroeder is a graduate student at Kent State University, where she is pursuing her M.L.I.S. in School Library Media K–12. She holds an M.Ed. in Literacy and Second Language Studies and brings 14 years of experience teaching middle and high school English, including four years teaching internationally. She currently serves as the librarian at Atrium School, a progressive PreK–8 independent school in Watertown, Massachusetts. She believes in the power of historical fiction to bridge past realities and future possibilities
The Scott O'Dell Award was established in 1982 by children's author Scott O'Dell to encourage authors to write about historical fiction for young readers. The award is administered and funded by the O'Dell family.
About Kent State University School of Information’s Reinberger Children’s Library Center
The Reinberger Children’s Library Center at Kent State University is a research facility that serves as a community for diverse and passionate individuals who are committed to advancing interdisciplinary research in the field of children’s literature and youth services. The center's mission is to promote inclusive and culturally responsive literature that honors and reflects diverse lived experiences and enhances children’s learning while fostering their growth as global citizens.
The Reinberger Center's special collections include over 40,000 children's books, original picturebook art, posters, and related ephemera, as well as resources for those serving, studying, or creating for young people across multiple disciplines. The collection is particularly unique because it includes the Marantz Picturebook Collection, which is a one-of-a-kind collection of picturebooks cataloged and shelved by artists.
The Reinberger Center offers two fellowships, the Jacqueline M. Albers Guest Scholar in Children’s Literature Fellowship and the Kenneth and Sylvia Marantz Fellowship. These fellowships allow national and international scholars to use the Reinberger Center's collection as a springboard for their research.
Additionally, the Reinberger Center offers volunteering opportunities, special projects, and internships for both graduate and undergraduate students interested in advancing their professional/research skills. The center also hosts a Writer/Illustrator-In-Residence program that gives writers and illustrators the opportunity to use the Reinberger Center's resources as inspiration for their own work.
If you are interested in connecting with the Reinberger Center or learning more about the programs they offer, please contact Michelle Baldini at mbaldini@kent.edu.
