[dinalapomy101 Posts: 1,875 Status: Offline Happy writing to all!]

Christine, YES to MIDWINTER BLOOD! I really enjoyed that book and do think it fits the "Printzy" feeling I've gotten from recent award trends. Marcus Sedgwick has also been Printzed before for REVOLVER, which I LOVED. I would not be surprised to see this book on the list.

(FYI, the books I think might win are not necessarily books that were my faves of 2013. To see those, you can check out my blog: http://deenaml.livejournal.com/333454.html)


ETA here's a blog post on STACKED with some more Printz predictions -- I guess I need to read SEPTEMBER GIRLS! It also does a good job of talking about Rainbow Rowell's books and explaining what I was trying to say about "Printzy." http://www.stackedbooks.org/2014/01/2014-printz-predictions.html

[TracyH Posts: 669 Status: Offline]

My vote for Newbery is One Came Home. And I loved Black Helicopters, even though it was sad. It was crazy unique and so well written. I'm always sad to be on the west coast and miss the announcements

[Shannywriter Posts: 507 Status: Offline Believe in yourself and never give up]

ETA here's a blog post on STACKED with some more Printz predictions -- I guess I need to read SEPTEMBER GIRLS! It also does a good job of talking about Rainbow Rowell's books and explaining what I was trying to say about "Printzy." http://www.stackedbooks.org/2014/01/2014-printz-predictions.html

That is a great post so thanks for sharing here! I tried to read September Girls but I couldn't get into it and it's rare for me to give up reading any book. Maybe I will try again.

Tracy. I know what you mean! I rely on Twitter to keep me updated, if I remember to check it!

[dinalapomy101 Posts: 1,875 Status: Offline Happy writing to all!]

I haven't read ONE CAME HOME -- I am woefully behind on MGs this year.

I grabbed SEPTEMBER GIRLS from my lib...but it is below others that I must read first...I'll give it a shot when I reach it.....

[TracyH Posts: 669 Status: Offline]

I forgot all about September Girls! And Counting by 7's is another good option. I have never, ever been right in my predictions, so now I'm wondering if I might be cursing these books!

[Betsy Posts: 2,106 Status: Offline PICKY EATERS]

Well?  (I'm surprised that this thread has been so quiet.)


Thoughts? Observations? Disappointments?

[olmue Posts: 3,560 Status: Offline]

Delighted by Mr. Wuffles (which I thought was very well done artistically PLUS extremely kid-friendly; the awards aren't always to books kids like) and also Journey. (I haven't read the winner, but the cover looks nice. )

Happy to see Rose Under Fire on there as well as Doll Bones (well written, kid-friendly, plus while it's about growing up, it isn't one of those books that ends with "and then there wasn't any more magic, ever again," which always annoy me). Sad that All the Truth That's in Me didn't even get a mention. Ditto Counting by 7s and Far, Far Away.

[TracyH Posts: 669 Status: Offline]

This was a good year for kid-friendly books in the Newbery category. It always makes me happy to see those types of books win, but I would have liked to see a wider range of middle grade represented. See You at Harry's, for instance - which I forgot to mention earlier. Or Counting by 7's - both favorites of my twelve-year-old extremely reluctant reader. 6-8th grade is middle grade territory, too.

So happy about One Came Home!

[mrh Posts: 4,826 Status: Offline www.marciahoehne.com]

Overall, I'm satisfied. I hadn't heard of PAPERBOY, but it's in my TBR list now.


Surprised that NAVIGATING EARLY was in the Printz category age-wise. Maybe I'm misremembering, but I thought it was MG.

[dinalapomy101 Posts: 1,875 Status: Offline Happy writing to all!]

I am happy to report that I was wrong and ELEANOR & PARK got a Printz Honor!!! Yay!!!

MIDWINTER BLOOD won the gold.

The other 3 I haven't read, and might read two of them.

Here's the winners!

http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/27/living/newbery-caldecott-awards-2014-kate-dicamillo-books/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

[dinalapomy101 Posts: 1,875 Status: Offline Happy writing to all!]

My library has NAVIGATING EARLY in with the MG books, as do most in my library system, so I was also surprised by that, but I haven't read it.

Ditto Olume above, except I haven't read JOURNEY. I was thrilled to see FLORA & FLAMINGO on the Caldecott list!

At least ALL THE TRUTH THAT'S IN ME is on the Edgar list.....

[Shannywriter Posts: 507 Status: Offline Believe in yourself and never give up]

 I'm happy for E&P!

Sorry, I can't help saying this, but the teacher and mom in me wants more award love spread around, like if an author has already won it, its someone else's turn.
I can't wait to read all of your recs!

[Stephanie J. Blake Posts: 1,542 Status: Offline]

I loved Paperboy. Not really feeling it for Dollbones or The Year of Billy Miller. I can appreciate the choices, but there were some really great MG novels out there this time. As with everything in publishing....so subjective.
Really was hoping for some wildcard in the Caldecott's. Like....Bob Shea's Unicorn Thinks He's Pretty Great! I love that book.

[dinalapomy101 Posts: 1,875 Status: Offline Happy writing to all!]

Shanny -- that is why I love the Morris Awards -- bc they must go to a debut author. I agree that the others can be predictable bc the same authors win multiple times, and while they might be great books, I like to try new things, too.

Steph -- UNICORN was hilarious and fantastic!

[Mike Jung]

I'm happy that ELEANOR & PARK got a nod, and my son and I are big fans of Brian Floca, so I was happy to see LOCOMOTIVE honored as well. I would have loved to see BLACK HELICOPTERS and THE SUMMER PRINCE recognized, because they're both stunningly good books that are unlike anything else I've read.

[Whizbee Posts: 265 Status: Offline]

I loved MIDWINTER BLOOD, although I understand that it would be nice to see someone win who hasn't *just* won. Still, it's fascinating and deserves the recognition it got.

I was really glad E&P got an honor--so good! I would have given it the top award if it were up to me.

I read KINGDOM OF LITTLE WOUNDS and thought it was beautifully written, but I'm not exaggerating when I say that every chapter was about death, unwanted sex, or bathroom use. It's one of those that is definitely a big accomplishment (seriously, the prose is great) but is not the most reader-friendly book out there for teens.

[AnneB Posts: 3,797 Status: Offline]

Haven't read may of these but yeah, Black Helicopters rules. Probably too dark for awards judges, though, who probably are all past the age of 21. I suspect if the judges had been kids... Where is Blythe these days, anyway? She has been awfully quiet around here!

[Amanda Coppedge Posts: 417 Status: Offline]

Blythe is active on twitter. Lots of people mentioned Black Helicopters as their Printz prediction and she was very honored and flattered