My 2011 Award Predictions (Vegas is Missing Out) Updated W/ Link to Winners

If you are reading this now. All the winners have been announced and I pretty much suck at making predictions. Someone won't me going to Vegas anytime soon and that person is me.

Check out all the 2011 Winners

I am stunned and very disappointed that They Called Themselves the kkk, was not honored at all.

I can't believe I forget about Bryan Collier's beautiful illus. for Dave the Potter. (duhhh)

I thought I couldn't do worse than last year when I only guessed one Printz correctly. This year I got zero right. Second year my favorite to win, didn't even honor.

I was happy that new author Duncan Tonatiuh won an illus. honor for his debut Dear Primo I reviewed it early in the year and loved the illustrations. Tonatiuh was kind enough to answer a question about his artistic style


On Monday Jan. 10, the ALA announce Youth Media awards Below are my predictions on what I think/want to win.

The Belpre Award
Narrative Winner - The Dreamer by Pam Munoz Ryan
Honors- Sun Tortilla by Jennifer Cervantes Red Umbrella by Christina Gonzalez, Floating on Mama's Song by Laura Lacamara, The Tooth Fairy Meets El Raton Perez by Rene Colato Lainez., Side by Side - Monica Brown

I am pretty sure I have listed too many honors, but I can't bring myself to remove one. Here's a quick confession, I couldn't get into the Dreamer. I tried to read it twice. I have it as my winner because so many people loved it.

Illustration Winner - Chavela and the Magic Bubble illus by Magaly Morales
Honor - Mr Mendoza's Paintbursh illus. Christopher Cardinale , Me Frida illus. by David Diaz, Floating on Mama's Song by Yuyi Morales

Chavela and the Magic Bubble came out in March 2010, yet mines is still the only amazon review. What's up with that?


Caldecott Medal -
Art&Max by David Wiesner
The Boy in the Garden by Allen Say

Wiesner and Say are always good guesses. Visually both of these books are amazing. Though overall I am pretty clueless this year when it comes to the caldecott.

Coretta Scott King Award
Author Winner - One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams Garcia
Honors - Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes, Ruth and the Green Book by Calvin Alexander Ramsey, Finding Family by Tonya Bolden

Illustrator award winner - A Place Where Hurricanes Happen illus by Shadra Strickland
Illustrator honors - Skit-Scat Raggedy Cat - illus. by Sean Qualls and Sit In - illus by Brian Pinkney

I loved Ruth and the Green book by Ramsey illus by Floyd Cooper. I think both author and artist deserve a medal for it. Though looking back on past winners, I have not seen a book that's gotten both the author and illustrator award. I went with Ramsey since the story was new and well told.

Sit In by Andrea Pinkney illus. by Brian Pinkney could've gone either way as well.

John Steptoe New Talent Author Award - 8th Grade Superzero by Olugbemisola Rhuday -Perkovich.

I am still not sure about this one. At first I was going to go with Good Fortune by Noni Carter, which I really liked. It was a wonderful debut. But there are many YA novels about slavery. However I would like to see an author recognized for a great debut of a different experience. Plus Reggie rocked those Dora Explorer shoes.

Newbery Award
Winner - One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams Garcia
Honors - Countdown by Deborah Wiles, Night Fairy by Laura Amy Schiltz, Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes

The only thing I think I know for sure, its going to be one or the other - Rita Williams Garcia or Jewell Parker Rhodes. The chances are very slim that one will win and the other honor or both honor.

Yet, I can't help but have both on my list.

I've heard some people say Countdown can't win because of the photographs. But I don't think
the text is dependent on the photographs.

Night Fairy - Is simply beautiful.


Sleepers (coming out of nowhere to honor) -
How I Nicky Flynn Finally Got a Life and a Dog by Art Corriveau,
Boneshaker by Kate Milford,
My Havana by Rosemary Wells

Corriveau's novel is really well done. I think having so many novels with female protagonist in the running will work in its favor. The same goes for My Havana, since that also features a male protagonist. Earlier in the year I wasn't sure about Boneshaker but now I think has a very good chance of coming out of nowhere to honor.


Printz Award
Winner - Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta
Honors - Compromised by Heidi Ayarbe, A Love Story Starring My Dead Best Friend by Emily Horner, Split by Swati Avasthi, Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John

Sleepers - Heist Society by Ally Carter, Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld, When the Stars go Blue by Caridad Ferrer

The only thing I know for sure - If Finnikin of the Rock doesn't at least honor, I will be very very surprised. That book is so freakin good. The rest I have no idea but I do feel good about my choices.

Below are awards I am guessing for the first time.

Alex Awards
The Alex Awards are given to ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults, ages 12 through 18. The winning titles are selected from the previous year's publishing. The Alex Awards were first given annually beginning in 1998 and became an official ALA award in 2002.

Winners - The Lock Up Artist by Steve Hamiliton, The Girl Who Fell From the Sky by Heidi Durrow, Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor, Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self by Danielle Evans, True Spirit by Jessica Watson, Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok , Vida by Patricia Engel, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by NK Jemisin, Diamond Ruby by Joseph Wallace

Check out this interview I did with Danielle Evans at Color Online. Evans answers are so good.

I decided to include the Alex Award in my predictions since I am familiar with a lot of books with YA crossover appeal. So if like last year I only get one Printz correct, this can make my average look better.

I've included the Schneider and Sibert Award for the same reason.

Schneider Award
The Schneider Family Book Award is a new addition to the American Library Association’s Media Youth Awards. The award is donated by Dr. Katherine Schneider, and honors an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences. Three annual awards are presented for the best Teen, Middle School and Children’s Book. The American Library Association administers the Awards, and each recipient receives $5000 and a framed plaque. Winners are announced at the ALA Midwinter Meeting.

Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John
Out of my Mind by Sharon Draper
My Brother Charlie by Holly Robinson Peete

Sibert Award
The Sibert Award honors the most distinguished informational book published in English in the preceding year for its significant contribution to children’s literature.

Winner - They Called Themselves the kkk by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
Honors- Sugar Changed the World by Marc Aronson and Marina Budhos, Ballet for Martha by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan and The War to End All Wars by Russell Freedom

Vegas is seriously missing out. Some good money could be made if people where allowed to bet on these awards. The house would always have the advantage.

Favorite Books of 2010 Two A Day

Favorite Books of 2010, the fifth and final day.

10 Books That Made Me Laugh the Most
1 Popularity Papers by Amy Ignatow
2 Smile by Raina Telgemeier
3 Griff Carver, Hallway Patrol by Jim Krieg
4 Operation Redwood by S. Terrell French
5 Hereville: How Mirka Got her Sword by Barry Deutsch
6 Dragonbreath : Curse of the Were- weiner by Ursula Vernon
7 Fast and the Furriest by Andy Behrens
8 Hold Me, Closer Necromancer by Lish Mcbride
9 Scrawl by Mark Shulman
10 Doodlebug by Karen Romano Young

10 Favorite MG/YA Debuts
1. Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves
2. Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey
3. Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes
4 Split by Swati Avasthi
5 How I Nicky Flynn Finally Got a Life and a Dog by Art Corriveau
6 8th Grade Superzero by Olugbemisola Rhuday- Perkovich
7 The Secret Life of Ms. Finkleman by Ben H. Winters
8 What Momma Left Me by Renee Watson
9 Tortilla Sun by Jennifer Cervantes
10 The Red Umbrella by Christina Gonzalez

Camo Girl - Kekla Magoon

Camo Girl by Kekla Magoon

Ella has recently started the 6th grade and everything has changed. Before Ella was best friends with Zachary and Millie. Now Millie has moved on, leaving Ella and Zachary to be the outcast. Both are teased for different reasons. Ella because she's the only Black girl in her class. The taunts are worse because Ella has white splotches on her face. Some of Ella's classmates call her camo face.

Zachary is picked on for always creating imaginary worlds. Sometimes Ella plays along. Zachary becomes Zachariah, and Ella becomes Eleanor. These new personalities can handle the taunts.

Ella's voice is strong and realistic. Author's are asking a lot of their main characters when they are required to carry the story. There are other well rounded characters like Zachary, Ella's grandmother and mother but in the end it comes back to Ella and she carries the story with ease.

When Bailey James, a new kid starts at school, I felt Ella's loneliness of being the only Black student.

"Bailey James. I say his name in my mind a few times. First to myself, then as if to others:Yeah, Bailey James. You, know, the other black kid. The other black kid. Bailey James is looking around the room. I haven't had time to worry what he'll think. I'm too shocked, too busy looking. to try to hid my face. His glance lands on me moves on. Returns. Moves on. Returns. My heart is all but leaping. Then his face breaks. Bailey James smiles at me. Actually smiles. Then he gives this little nod as if to say. Yeah, I'm here. You're not alone. I lay my head on the desk, in case I start to cry." (arc)

I love that Magoon doesn't ignore race and nor is it the focal point. Ella being the only Black student is just a part of the story. There's so much more going on, like Ella missing her father, wishing her mother didn't have to travel for work, or being self conscious about her face.

It seems that Ella and Zachary have nothing in common with the very popular Bailey. In the end Magoon reveals a common thread that will touch readers hearts. Ella lives with her grandmother while her mother is traveling for work. One of my favorite parts of the story is the three women family dynamic when the mother is home. Camo Girl is simply a very good and well told story.

Read the first chapter

A starred Kirkus Review

Favorite Books of 2010 Two A Day

Favorite Books of 2010 Day 4

10 Favorite Female Protagonist
1.Delphine, Cecile and Fern - One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams Garcia
2.Evanjalin -Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta
3.Lanesha - Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes
4.Hanna - Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves
5.Flory - Night Fairy by Laura Amy Schlitz
6.Piper Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John
7.Soledad - When the Stars Go Blue by Caridad Ferrer
8.Sweet - Sweet, Hereafter by Angela Johnson
9. Delana - Finding Family by Tonya Bolden
10 Ruthie -8th Grade Superzero by Olugbemisola Rhuday Perkovich

10 Favorite Male Protagonist
1 Finnikin from Finnikin in the Rock by Melina Marchetta
2 Tod - Scrawl by Mark Shulman
3 Nicky - How I Nicky, Finally Got a Life and a Dog by Art Corriveau
4 Jace - Split by Swati Avasthi
5 Reggie - 8th Grade Superzero by Olugbemisola Rhuday Perkovich
6 David - Pull by B.A. Binns
7 Kevin -Shakespeare makes the Playoffs by Ronald Koertge
8 Bobby -Bobby the Brave (Sometimes) by Lisa Yee
9 Sam - Hold Me Closer Necromancer by Lisa McBride
10 Jace - Stringz by Michael Wenberg

Slice of Cherry - Dia Reeves

Slice of Cherry by Dia Reeves
I loved Reeves YA debut Bleeding Violet. It was original, strange and beautiful. Slice of Cherry has the same qualities, the only other thing they have in common is the setting of Portero, TX.

Kit and Fancy are sisters who do everything together. They've become even closer after their father is a convicted serial killer, known as the Bonesaw Killer. The sisters hate can't be bothered people. Kit the oldest, loves stabbing them . Fancy has a taste for violence as well. At a Juneteeth celebration, Fancy learns something very important. Soon the sisters are killing a few carefully selected victims, without leaving any evidence.

The Turner brothers, Ilan and Gabriel are able to put a little distance between Kit and Fancy. Gabriel the youngest, catches Kit's eye. Fancy finds herself being closely watched by Ilan.

When I first picked up Slice of Cherry, I'll admit I put it down a few chapters in. That was all my fault because I was expecting something like Bleeding Violet. But Slice of Cherry is its own thing, and just as out there.

When I focused solely on the Kit and Fancy's relationship, and their need for blood, I loved it. Reeves easily pulls off three dimensional serial killing sisters. Part of the beauty of this book lies in the moments when we get to see Kit and Fancy as individuals and returning to the strange city of Portero didn't hurt. The ending was unexpected and ridiculously good.

Read the first chapter