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2004 favorites
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From: Jonathan Hunt <jhunt24>
Date: Sat, 04 Dec 2004 17:48:13 +0000
So many good books this year. Here's just a small sampling of my favorites.
Middle school- THE FIRE?TERS by David Almond . . . His best book since SKELLIG and my personal favorite. Time and place are so vividly rendered here via beautiful language and breathtaking imagery that it was virtually an out-of-body experience for me.
THE SEA OF TROLLS by Nancy Farmer . . . Wonderful as always. A long novel, but a very well paced one. I may have liked THE HOUSE OF SCORPIONS just a little bit better, but I think that ending was more problematic.
THE OUTCASTS OF 19 SCHUYLER PLACE by E.L. Konigsburg . . . Ditto. Wonderful as always. What's with the late burst of creativity? Her last three books are among her best.
THE SUNBIRD by Elizabeth Wein . . . I wish more people knew about this one. It did pick up a couple of starred reviews, but perhaps because it's the latest book in a series (yet each book stands alone). Great historical fantasy. An intoxicating blend of Arthuriana and Africana with a dash of classical Greek legend thrown in for good measure.
NO LAUGHTER HERE by Rita Williams-Garcia . . . A small gem of a book. Beautiful writing, wonderful characters, and a thoughtful examination of female genital mutilation. Was there a more heartbreaking line in all of children's literature this year then: They took my button away. I don't think so.
High school- DOING IT by Melvin Burgess . . . I know this book has come in for a lot of criticism (much of it quite inarticulate, I must add--and no Monica, Roxanne, Judith, Janet, and Linda, this barb is not directed at you), but I think the style of the book is perfectly suited for what Burgess is doing here--the delicate balancing act between humor and the more prurient aspects of the teenage male psyche. Would that all YA writers could be as fearless.
KING OF THE MIDDLE MARCH by Kevin Crossley-Holland . . . A masterpiece. A wonderful conclusion to the Arthur trilogy. Love the dual strands and the way they resonated with each other. Love the way the plot seemingly meandered in and out of every aspect of medieval life. Love the way Arthur is constantly asking questions about values and ethics and morals.
THE YEAR OF SECRET ASSIGNMENTS by Jaclyn Moriarty . . . Wow! Who knew chick lit could appeal so much to boys? Or that it could be so well written? The characters are marvelously distinct and the plotting is quite sophisticated with the various pairings of letters. Very well done.
SAMMY & JULIANA IN HOLLYWOOD by Benjamin Alire Saenz . . . This may be the best book of the year and you'd never know it because it's from a small press and got very little buzz and review attention, but if this should win the Printz, you heard it here first.
NO SHAME, NO FEAR by Ann Turnbull . . . The best historical novel of the year, the best romance, and a refreshing paean to the indomitable will and faith of a persecuted people.
Jonathan
Received on Sat 04 Dec 2004 11:48:13 AM CST
Date: Sat, 04 Dec 2004 17:48:13 +0000
So many good books this year. Here's just a small sampling of my favorites.
Middle school- THE FIRE?TERS by David Almond . . . His best book since SKELLIG and my personal favorite. Time and place are so vividly rendered here via beautiful language and breathtaking imagery that it was virtually an out-of-body experience for me.
THE SEA OF TROLLS by Nancy Farmer . . . Wonderful as always. A long novel, but a very well paced one. I may have liked THE HOUSE OF SCORPIONS just a little bit better, but I think that ending was more problematic.
THE OUTCASTS OF 19 SCHUYLER PLACE by E.L. Konigsburg . . . Ditto. Wonderful as always. What's with the late burst of creativity? Her last three books are among her best.
THE SUNBIRD by Elizabeth Wein . . . I wish more people knew about this one. It did pick up a couple of starred reviews, but perhaps because it's the latest book in a series (yet each book stands alone). Great historical fantasy. An intoxicating blend of Arthuriana and Africana with a dash of classical Greek legend thrown in for good measure.
NO LAUGHTER HERE by Rita Williams-Garcia . . . A small gem of a book. Beautiful writing, wonderful characters, and a thoughtful examination of female genital mutilation. Was there a more heartbreaking line in all of children's literature this year then: They took my button away. I don't think so.
High school- DOING IT by Melvin Burgess . . . I know this book has come in for a lot of criticism (much of it quite inarticulate, I must add--and no Monica, Roxanne, Judith, Janet, and Linda, this barb is not directed at you), but I think the style of the book is perfectly suited for what Burgess is doing here--the delicate balancing act between humor and the more prurient aspects of the teenage male psyche. Would that all YA writers could be as fearless.
KING OF THE MIDDLE MARCH by Kevin Crossley-Holland . . . A masterpiece. A wonderful conclusion to the Arthur trilogy. Love the dual strands and the way they resonated with each other. Love the way the plot seemingly meandered in and out of every aspect of medieval life. Love the way Arthur is constantly asking questions about values and ethics and morals.
THE YEAR OF SECRET ASSIGNMENTS by Jaclyn Moriarty . . . Wow! Who knew chick lit could appeal so much to boys? Or that it could be so well written? The characters are marvelously distinct and the plotting is quite sophisticated with the various pairings of letters. Very well done.
SAMMY & JULIANA IN HOLLYWOOD by Benjamin Alire Saenz . . . This may be the best book of the year and you'd never know it because it's from a small press and got very little buzz and review attention, but if this should win the Printz, you heard it here first.
NO SHAME, NO FEAR by Ann Turnbull . . . The best historical novel of the year, the best romance, and a refreshing paean to the indomitable will and faith of a persecuted people.
Jonathan
Received on Sat 04 Dec 2004 11:48:13 AM CST
