2023 CDA Book Award Winners
The recipients are:
The CDA Book Awards Committee led by Chair Jocelyn Lance has named the winners:
AWARD
Title:
The Revolutionary Samuel Adams
Author:
Stacy Schiff
About
Samuel Adams was the force behind one of the most effective movements of civil resistance in American history. With sharp intellect, persuasive words, and relentless energy, he galvanized public outrage after the Boston Massacre, helped orchestrate the Boston Tea Party, and united scattered colonies into a revolutionary cause. Once an unremarkable son of privilege, Adams became a radical leader so dangerous to the Crown that Paul Revere’s famous ride was to warn him of arrest. Through cunning strategy and unshakable conviction, Adams laid the moral and political groundwork for American independence—and changed the course of a nation.
CITATION
Title:
Wise Gals
Author:
Nathalia Holt
About
In the aftermath of World War II, four remarkable women helped shape what would become the CIA. Adelaide Hawkins, Mary Hutchison, Eloise Page, and Elizabeth Sudmeier—dubbed “wise gals” for their brilliance and wit—were far from the spy novel stereotype. They cracked codes, built global alliances, and gathered high-stakes intelligence, often at great personal risk. As the Cold War unfolded, they challenged the male-dominated intelligence world, insisting on recognition for their expertise. Through courage, innovation, and friendship, they carved out space for women at the heart of U.S. security, leaving a legacy still felt in the shadows of global espionage today.
YOUNG READER
Title:
Tad Lincoln’s Restless Wriggle
Author:
Beth Anderson
Illustrator:
S.D. Schindler
About
Tad Lincoln’s boundless energy annoyed almost everyone but his father, President Abraham Lincoln. But Tad put that energy to good use during the tough times of the Civil War. Abraham Lincoln guided Tad’s wriggle on visits to hospitals, to the telegraph office, and to army camps. Tad greeted visitors, raised money for bandages, and kept his father company late into the night. This special and patient bond between father and son was plain to see, and before long, Tad had wriggled his way into the hearts of others as well. Beth Anderson and S.D. Schindler follow Tad’s antics during the Civil War to uncover the generous heart and joyful spirit that powered Tad’s restless wriggle.