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Results of the CCBC Printz Award Discussion
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From: Kathleen Horning <horning>
Date: Thu, 04 Dec 2003 14:28:40 -0600
Twenty-eight middle and high school librarians and teachers met on Monday night to discuss several books eligible for this year's Michael Printz Award for outstanding literary quality in a book for young adults. We had quite an interesting assortment of books this year, and all agreed that it seemed to be the "Year of the Voice" in YA fiction. We ended up with a tie for first place. the results are listed below:
Winner (Tie):
A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly. (Harcourt) -- We appreciated the multilayered, seamless plot based on a true event, and the accurate portrayal of rural life and the limited roles of women from all social classes in the early 20th century. Mattie's love of words played out subtly in the theme of the importance of language that resonated throughout the book. Excellent characterization; Mattie was a true adolescent who grew in believable ways. Overall an extremely compelling and powerful book.
True Confessions of a Heartless Girl by Martha Brooks. (U.S. edition: Melanie Kroupa Books / Farrar, Straus & Giroux) -- Excellent portrait of a community and the interdependence of people living within it. Unusual narrative structure forces readers to slow down to notice the small details of everyday life. All of the characters were well?veloped and realistic. Great use of nature imagery throughout that reinforced the notion of the community as a complex organism.
Honor Books:
Buddha Boy by Kathe Koja. (Frances Foster Books / Farrar, Straus & Giroux) -- positive portrayal of an artistic kid. Justin's voice rang true in his struggle to do the right thing. The writing was lyrical and the story original and refreshing.
Fat Kid Rules the World by K.L. Going. (Putnam) -- Excellent portrayal of a highly self-conscious teenager and of a quirky charismatic musical genius who both need each other and have something to offer each other as well. Secondary characters complex and well?veloped as well. Funny, self?precating voice of the central character offered insight into his pain and inner psyche.
Complete list of books we discussed:
Begging for Change by Sharon G. Flake. Jump at the Sun/Hyperion, 2003.
Buddha Boy by Kathe Koja. Frances Foster Books/Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2003.
Cuba 15 by Nancy Osa. Delacorte, 2003.
Fat Kid Rules the World by K.L. Going. Putnam, 2003.
Getting the Girl by Markus Zusak. U.S. edition: Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic Press, 2003.
A Northern Light: A Novel by Jennifer Donnelly. Harcourt, 2003.
Out of Bounds: Seven Stories of Conflict and Hope by Beverley Naidoo. U.S. edition: HarperCollins, 2003.
True Confessions of a Heartless Girl by Martha Brooks. U.S. edition: Melanie Kroupa Books/Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2003.
Kathleen T. Horning, Director Cooperative Children's Book Center University of Wisconsin-School of Education 4290 Helen C. White Hall 600 North Park St. Madison, WI 53706
horning at education.wisc.edu Voice: 608&3721 Fax: 608&2I33 www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/
Received on Thu 04 Dec 2003 02:28:40 PM CST
Date: Thu, 04 Dec 2003 14:28:40 -0600
Twenty-eight middle and high school librarians and teachers met on Monday night to discuss several books eligible for this year's Michael Printz Award for outstanding literary quality in a book for young adults. We had quite an interesting assortment of books this year, and all agreed that it seemed to be the "Year of the Voice" in YA fiction. We ended up with a tie for first place. the results are listed below:
Winner (Tie):
A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly. (Harcourt) -- We appreciated the multilayered, seamless plot based on a true event, and the accurate portrayal of rural life and the limited roles of women from all social classes in the early 20th century. Mattie's love of words played out subtly in the theme of the importance of language that resonated throughout the book. Excellent characterization; Mattie was a true adolescent who grew in believable ways. Overall an extremely compelling and powerful book.
True Confessions of a Heartless Girl by Martha Brooks. (U.S. edition: Melanie Kroupa Books / Farrar, Straus & Giroux) -- Excellent portrait of a community and the interdependence of people living within it. Unusual narrative structure forces readers to slow down to notice the small details of everyday life. All of the characters were well?veloped and realistic. Great use of nature imagery throughout that reinforced the notion of the community as a complex organism.
Honor Books:
Buddha Boy by Kathe Koja. (Frances Foster Books / Farrar, Straus & Giroux) -- positive portrayal of an artistic kid. Justin's voice rang true in his struggle to do the right thing. The writing was lyrical and the story original and refreshing.
Fat Kid Rules the World by K.L. Going. (Putnam) -- Excellent portrayal of a highly self-conscious teenager and of a quirky charismatic musical genius who both need each other and have something to offer each other as well. Secondary characters complex and well?veloped as well. Funny, self?precating voice of the central character offered insight into his pain and inner psyche.
Complete list of books we discussed:
Begging for Change by Sharon G. Flake. Jump at the Sun/Hyperion, 2003.
Buddha Boy by Kathe Koja. Frances Foster Books/Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2003.
Cuba 15 by Nancy Osa. Delacorte, 2003.
Fat Kid Rules the World by K.L. Going. Putnam, 2003.
Getting the Girl by Markus Zusak. U.S. edition: Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic Press, 2003.
A Northern Light: A Novel by Jennifer Donnelly. Harcourt, 2003.
Out of Bounds: Seven Stories of Conflict and Hope by Beverley Naidoo. U.S. edition: HarperCollins, 2003.
True Confessions of a Heartless Girl by Martha Brooks. U.S. edition: Melanie Kroupa Books/Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2003.
Kathleen T. Horning, Director Cooperative Children's Book Center University of Wisconsin-School of Education 4290 Helen C. White Hall 600 North Park St. Madison, WI 53706
horning at education.wisc.edu Voice: 608&3721 Fax: 608&2I33 www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/
Received on Thu 04 Dec 2003 02:28:40 PM CST
