From: Lulu Delacre <luludela>
Date: Thu, 04 Dec 2003 08:39:29 -0500

I am gratified to see several of the books that became National Book Award Finalists, for the Young People's Literature Award 2003, mentioned in the discussion.

As you may already know Polly Horvath's THE CANNING SEASON won the prize. It is hilarious, the characters are extraordinary, fresh, and real. The other finalists were beautifully crafted THE RIVER BETWEEN US by Richard Peck, exquisitely written LOCOMOTION by Jacqueline Woodson, highly original BREAKOUT by Paul Fleischman, and AN AMERICAN PLAGUE by Jim Murphy. This last book I didn't see mentioned, and it should be read. It is a riveting account of the 1793 yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia, at the time the city was capital of the US.

I would have to say all five are favorites of mine.

Lulu Delacre, National Book Award Judge for 2003 Author/ Illustrator of RAFI AND ROSI, and ARRORRO MI NINO: LATINO LULLABIES AND GENTLE GAMES ( both Spring 2004)
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Received on Thu 04 Dec 2003 07:39:29 AM CST