Today’s review comes from Teen Librarian YA Fiction judge Megan who blogs at YA? Why Not?. Back in August, Megan reviewed YA Fiction finalist I’ll Give You the Sun, by Jandy Nelson, writing: I’ll Give You the Sun is a stunningly beautiful story. Noah and Jude are vibrant, complex, and flawed characters. They leap off the page and come alive. Read …
Revew: Be a Changemaker
Today’s review is YA Non-fiction finalist Be a Changemaker, by Laurie Ann Thompson, reviewed by judge Louise over at The Nonfiction Detectives where she blogs with Book App chair Cathy. Louise wrote: I found this “how-to handbook” very useful. Thompson uses simple, direct language to explain how to take something you are passionate about and turn it into a reality. Readers will …
Review: Brimsby’s Hats
One of my favorite things about Fiction Picture Book panelist Dawn’s blog, My Thoughts Exactly, is her Friday Five roundup. Most Friday, she features a list of 5 books (or things) she’s been reading (and loving). And during Cybils season, those roundups are usually of the books she’s reading. She highlighted Fiction Picture Book finalist Brimsby’s Hats, by Andrew Prahin. Dawn …
Review: Harlem Hellfighters
For those in the U.S.: Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day! I was thinking that we’d feature something to do with the Civil Rights movement today. I found several books among our nominees that would fit, including YA Nonfiction finalist The Freedom Summer Murders, by Don Mitchell; Fiction Picture Book Nominee Knock Knock, by Daniel Beaty and Bryan Collier; but …
Review: The Meaning of Maggie
Middle Grade Fiction panelist Jennifer is not only a long-time, hard-working panelist, but is also the managing editor of 5 minutes for Books, which highlights everything from picture books through adult fiction. Over the summer, she reviewed Middle Grade Fiction finalist The Meaning of Maggie, by Megan Jean Sovern, writing: The Meaning of Maggie is a fun heartfelt book. I love …
Review: Boys of Blur
Today’s featured review is of Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction finalist Boys of Blur by N. D. Wilson. It was featured on quite a few blogs, but I think EMFSF panelist Brandy, blogging over at Random Musings of a Bibliophile said it best: The imagery and descriptiveness of the book are pretty much perfect. As I read, I felt like I …
Review: Firefly July
Today’s review of the day comes from Poetry panelist Kelly, who blogs at Writing and Ruminating. Back during National Poetry month, she reviewed Poetry finalist Firefly July by Paul B. Janeczko and illustrated by Melissa Sweet. Kelly wrote: Most of the poems fall into the “imagist” category: full of clear, sharp language, and conveying a clear snapshot description of the poem’s …
Review: Feathers: Not Just For Flying
Today’s review comes from Carol, a round one Elementary/Middle Grade Nonfiction panelist, who blogs at Carol’s Corner. She reviewed finalist Feathers: Not Just for Flying, by Melissa Stewart, writing: Great for a lesson on birds, animal adaptations, metaphor, or capturing information on illustrations! Or just plain reading and enjoying! Read the rest of the review here.
2014 Finalists: The Ones that Got Away
Every year, our panelists read hundreds of books (generally). Which means, every year, when they as a group narrow the books down to finalists, there are some that don’t make the cut. Here are some posts by panelists highlighting great books in their categories that didn’t quite make the cut. Kim at Si, Se Puede highlights some of her favorite …
The 2014 Finalists
My very first day of first grade was also the day my school district desegregated. It was 1969, and my grandmother had told me I’d be going to school with “colored children”. A new box of Crayola crayons sat in my school kit, and my little six-year-old self fully expected to see the same glorious rainbow of colors among the …