From: Jonathan Hunt <jhunt24>
Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 15:43:20 +0000

Printz Picks . . .

POSTCARDS FROM NO MAN'S LAND by Aidan Chambers . . . I could go on--and have gone on-? nauseum about this book, but I will only here say that I agree with Gregory Maguire's assessment of the book as the mature work of a mature novelist.

THIS LAND WAS MADE FOR YOU AND ME by Elizabeth Partridge . . . Arguably the best written book of the year. (I must have passed over the undocumented feelings Ginny mentioned earlier.) Forget the Sibert which this one seems very likely to win; if this doesn't break through to Newbery and/or Printz recognition it will be a crying shame (although I do think it's a much more comfortable fit in the Printz).

I'm also really fond of THE LIGHTKEEPER'S DAUGHTER, THURSDAY'S CHILD, HOLE IN MY LIFE, JINX, BRONX MASQUERADE, and GINGERBREAD.

Newbery Picks . . .

THE HOUSE OF THE SCORPION by Nancy Farmer . . . This is definitely a flawed novel, but I think its ambition compensates, in large part, for those flaws.
  This would be my choice for the Newbery (and many of my students would agree).

BEFORE WE WERE FREE by Julia Alvarez . . . A big thanks to Carol Edwards for putting this one on our mock Newbery list. I don't think I would have read it otherwise. Oh, I just loved it! So deeply did I care for Anita that I found myself hoping--hoping beyond hope--that her father and uncle would escape, yet knowing at the same time that El Jefe's body was found in the trunk, that it was completely unrealistic to expect such an escape. Like SCORPION, this book fits comfortably in both the Printz and Newbery fields. I also wouldn't be surprised to see it take home some other prizes such as the Americas, the Pura Belpre, the Scott O'Dell, or the Jane Addams.

A CORNER OF THE UNIVERSE by Ann Martin . . . Another historical novel with a lovable, winning heroine. I agree with all the praise heaped on this one.

I'm also really fond of THE SAME STUFF AS STARS, PHINEAS GAGE, and CORALINE.

And my students also like LOSER, RUBY HOLLER, DILLON DILLON, KEEPER OF THE DOVES, and HOW I BECAME A WRITER AND OGGIE LEARNED TO DRIVE.



Jonathan

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Received on Tue 31 Dec 2002 09:43:20 AM CST