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: Don’t Even Think About It
Today’s review comes from Cybils Young Adult Speculative Fiction panelist Liviana, who blogs at In Bed With Books. She read nominee Don’t Even Think About It, by Sarah Mlynowski earlier this year and wrote: Sarah Mlynowski’s newest novel, Don’t Even Think About It pulls off a very neat trick: it’s written in fourth person. It’s a little disorienting at first, but then I …
Review: Blood of My Blood
Today’s review of the day is the third in the I Hunt Killers series, and Young Adult Fiction nominee Blood of My Blood, by Barry Lyga. The review is by Young Adult fiction panelist William, who is one of the bloggers at Guys Lit Wire. He writes: This question of nature versus nurture is made explicit in Barry Lyga’s Blood …
Review: The Port Chicago 50
Today’s review of the National Book Award nominee, and Young Adult Non-fiction nominee The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights, by Steve Sheinkin comes from round one panelist Danyelle. She blogs at Bookshelves in the Cul-de-Sac and did a nonfiction round-up over the summer. About The Port Chicago 50, she writes: Sheinkin is one the best writers …
Review: Noggin
Today’s review is of YA Speculative fiction nominee and National Book Award finalist Noggin, by John Corey Whaley. Our reviewer is YA speculative fiction round one panelist, and librarian Karen who blogs at Teen Librarian Toolbox. She writes: This book is not at all what I expected, but it IS a richly emotional look at coming of age and coming …
Review: Fat Boy vs. the Cheerleaders
Today’s review of Fat Boy vs. the Cheerleaders by Geoff Herbach comes from YA Fiction round one panelist Mindi. She’s a junior high literary coach who blogs at Next Best Book in her spare time. Of Fat Boys, she writes: Have you ever read a book that made you feel slightly uncomfortable because you know that it’s not that far off from the …
Review: I am Malala
Today’s review of the day comes from Aaron, who blogs at Coffee for the Brain, which is a fantastic blog name. A teacher and Cybils YA Nonfiction round one panelist, Aaron is a busy guy, but has managed to find time to read the children’s edition biography of the Nobel Peace Prize winning Malala Yousafzai, I am Malala. He writes: Malala …
Review: In Real Life
Easy Reader/Early Chapter Book chair Katie who blogs at Story Time Secrets has today’s review. She recently reviewed Graphic Novel nominee In Real Life, by Cory Doctorow, writing: It can be very easy to forget that a person lives behind every avatar, screen name, and online account, and Anda’s experiences playing Coarsegold drive home that fact in a powerful way. This …
Review: Girls Like Us
Author and blogger Lyn reviews at The Pirate Tree, along with a handful of other bloggers interested in children’s literature and social justice issues. A first round Young Adult Fiction panelist, Lyn reviewed nominee Girls Like Us by Gail Giles. She writes: Gail Giles’s narrative alternates between Biddy and Quincy as they tape-record their tumultuous first months together—a time when Quincy …
Review: The Family Romanov
Blogging at The Fourth Musketter , librarian and Young Adult Nonfition panelist, Margo specializes in historical fiction for young people. She reivews Young Adult Nonfiction nominee The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia, by Candace Fleming, writing: Fleming expertly weaves together the intimate life of Russia’s last czar and his family with the saga of the revolution brewing …