Printz
I’m going to be honest and say that I thought last year’s winner, Going Bovine, was dreadful. I mean really, really bad. Clearly this is a minority opinion, and I know many people see lots of greatness in the book, but I disliked it intensely. My dislike of last year’s winner informs my predictions for this year. And by that I mean: I fear that a book I really disliked will take the prize. And that book is…
The Last Summer of the Death Warriors, by Francisco X. Stork. We did a round robin review of this one awhile ago, which you can read here. Oh my gosh it bored me almost to tears. But literary merit, which is how the Printz committee defines the term “best,” often equals boring.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Incarceron, another boring book and one of my predictions from our previous post, took the prize either. The same goes for Will Grayson, Will Grayon, which I haven’t read. Jennifer Donnelly’s Revolution, another book I haven’t yet read, is also an easy choice to contend for the Printz.
Morris
Nonfiction
I’m always of two minds when it comes to these sorts of awards. There’s the ones that the committees will like, and there’s the ones I’d like.
Printz
For me, it seems these titles are the realistic top choices:
In my own Printz world, these would see time on the honors or winner list:
I’ve read a lot of books this year — something like 215 at this point — and so few have really stood out as what the Printz committee seems to dig (though even that is something completely mysterious into itself). But if I were a betting woman, my money would be on one of the first four I liked. The Green/Levithan might edge out the others because they’re librarian darlings. If you’ll notice, my list looks remarkably similar to the list I had earlier. Publishers are on to putting out some of their strongest, most award-worthy titles earlier on in the year, so it’s not super surprising.
On a sidenote (maybe someone can clue me in): why did the title of Stolen change when it came to the US from Chicken House? Our US version does not include the subtitle “A Letter to My Captor.”
Non-Fiction
It seemed like a pretty weak year for non-fiction this year, but maybe I say that as someone who doesn’t really select teen non-fiction anymore and thus don’t read it as much. But when the list was announced, one title stood out to me as a front runner:
I have no real reason other than it’s Susan Campbell Bartoletti, and I have loved her non-fiction in the past. This one’s gotten a lot of positive buzz, even outside the librarian world.
Morris
I was a little surprised at some of the picks this year. It seems I’m in a rare position, having actually read many of the titles short listed. There were a number of titles I’m bummed didn’t make the list, including Harmonic Feedback, You, The Mockingbirds, and Split. Many of the titles appear to have come out of left field and many titles that seemed like natural fits didn’t make the cut. I get that it’s a balance of titles, authors, genres, publisher sizes and whatnot (I’ll save that rant for another post) but alas. I wasn’t super impressed with a couple of the titles I did read, particularly on the “appeal” factor for this award. However, one I have enjoyed and think could eke it out is:
I like a good historical fiction, and by good historical fiction, I mean it has to be really good. This one? It’s good. I think it has the potential to suck in non historical fiction readers, and it’s interesting to read a book set in 1926 that isn’t about flappers, the growth of consumerism (it’s subtle), or about wealth. It’s different in a good way.
Since I’m not versed enough in other areas of ALA awards, I’ll defer those thoughts to the lovely Jen.
What I hope will win and what I think will win are in odds for some of these categories. However, in the spirit of the game, I figured I’d share both choices!
I have not yet read any of the Morris nominees, but based on the premise alone, along with reviews I have read, I’m going to take a stab in the dark and choose The Freak Observer. I do wish that the committee had recognized one of my favorite reads of the year, Anna and the French Kiss, which perfectly balanced sparkling humor, three-dimensional characters, serious issues, and sizzling chemistry.
Again, I have read none of these nominees. However, based on reviews alone, I agree with Kelly and choose They Called Themselves the KKK.
Will win: Without a doubt, the book to beat is Rita Williams-Garcia’s One Crazy Summer, which many believed was robbed of the National Book Award. While I did like this book, I didn’t have the love that many others feel toward it. Regardless, Williams-Garcia’s book was marvelously written.
Honor books I wouldn’t be surprised to see: Kathryn Erskine’s Mockingbird, Laurie Halse Anderson’s Forge, Kathi Appelt’s Keeper, and Pam Munoz Ryan’s Dreamer. I would love to see Sharon Draper’s magnificent Out of My Mind get a Newbery Honor nod, although I’m predicting it will win the Middle School Schneider Award (for “a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences.”)
Will win: The two strongest contenders I have seen are either Deborah Underwood’s The Quiet Book or Kevin Henkes’ My Garden.
Personally, I believe that either could take the top prize or gain a honor. I’m also rooting for Mo Willems’ lovely Knuffle Bunny Free, which perfectly (and tear-jerkingly) wrapped by Trixie’s story.
And I think Jonah Winter’s Here Comes the Garbarge Barge could definitely also merit an honor.
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