This year I plan to read all the GA Book Award Nominees and provide a “one stop” resource for teachers who would like to use these books in their classrooms. I will be posting links to author Web sites, teacher’s guides, and related Web links. I hope to make this an unbiased resource, so I will not be providing my own review of the books–other than recommending it as a read aloud (or not).
Greetings from Nowhere 
Summary: In North Carolina’s Great Smoky Mountains, a troubled boy and his mother, a happy family seeking adventure, a man and his lonely daughter, and the widow who must sell the run-down motel that has been her home for decades, meet and are transformed by their shared experiences.
Author Web Site: http://www.barboconnor.com
A Brief Self Description on Macmillan Books Web Site
Greetings from Nowhere, Author Blog
Teacher Guide: From Teacher Section of Author Web Site (pdf)
Related Links: Great Smoky Mountains
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Photos and Multimedia: National Park Service Web Site
North Carolina’s Smoky Mountains
Related Links: North Carolina Attractions Referenced in Story
Ghost Town in the Sky, Maggie Valley (Cowboytown)
Maggie Valley Attractions
Read Aloud Recommendation: Because of the alternating perspectives of the story (Aggie, Willow, Loretta, and Kirby), students may need a graphic organizer in order to keep their perspective as the story is read aloud. This book would be most appropriate for students in grades 5 and up. Personally, I think this book would be best read on an individual basis, so that the reader can take his or her time understanding how the stories and lives of the characters intertwine. This story, about wounded people who help each other heal, is not the best choice for reading aloud.