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[CCBC-Net] Printz Awards
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From: Dean Schneider <schneiderd>
Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2007 12:52:06 -0600
I thought this was an incredibly strong year for teen reads. The Book Thief is now one of my all-time favorite books, so good we - my wife and my 20-year-old son and I - listened to the CD (14 hours, 11 CDs) on our drive all of the way to NYC and back at Christmas time. Not the cheeriest of holiday reads, but powerful. I had read the book for the first time over a year ago and was totally taken by it - a powerful, innovative, and philosophical work. Granted, it is an older YA novel and was published as an adult novel in Australia, but a good, motivated reader from 7th or 8th grade and up could read it.
And I thought Octavian Nothing was amazingly strong, too, and again for the older, motivated YA audience. And what a nicely made book this is, one of those books that feels good in your hands. (Thanks, Candlewick!) Rather than being dismissive of these books - "oh, they're really for adults" - we should count ourselves blessed that there are so many good books being written for that audience (and disappointed that so few high school teachers know about them or teach them). What a rich, complex study of the dehumanizing effects of slavery and the mindset that perpetuated slavery.
An Abundance of Katherines is a fine book - quirky, funny, and totally engaging in a different way from The Book Thief and Octavian Nothing and, like Looking for Alaska, for an older YA audience. And like the above books, a reason to cheer the abundance of books that challenge older teen readers in many good ways.
American Born Chinese is challenging and sophisticated and fun at the same time. It ought to introduce more readers to the world of graphic novels and their possibilities.
Surrender is the one book I had not read prior to the awards and still have not read, but judging by the company it's keeping with these other winners, it must be good.
It is a wonderful opportunity to try to keep up with all of the major awards - from the Geisel Award for beginning readers through the Printz Award for YA and the Alex Award for adult books accessible to teens - and come to appreciate, even when disagreeing at times, the range of fine books available and the work of writers, illustrators, publishers, publicists, librarians, teachers, parents, and award committees who are a partnership in connecting children with good books.
Dean Schneider
Ensworth School
Nashville, TN 37205
schneiderd at ensworth.com
Received on Wed 21 Feb 2007 12:52:06 PM CST
Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2007 12:52:06 -0600
I thought this was an incredibly strong year for teen reads. The Book Thief is now one of my all-time favorite books, so good we - my wife and my 20-year-old son and I - listened to the CD (14 hours, 11 CDs) on our drive all of the way to NYC and back at Christmas time. Not the cheeriest of holiday reads, but powerful. I had read the book for the first time over a year ago and was totally taken by it - a powerful, innovative, and philosophical work. Granted, it is an older YA novel and was published as an adult novel in Australia, but a good, motivated reader from 7th or 8th grade and up could read it.
And I thought Octavian Nothing was amazingly strong, too, and again for the older, motivated YA audience. And what a nicely made book this is, one of those books that feels good in your hands. (Thanks, Candlewick!) Rather than being dismissive of these books - "oh, they're really for adults" - we should count ourselves blessed that there are so many good books being written for that audience (and disappointed that so few high school teachers know about them or teach them). What a rich, complex study of the dehumanizing effects of slavery and the mindset that perpetuated slavery.
An Abundance of Katherines is a fine book - quirky, funny, and totally engaging in a different way from The Book Thief and Octavian Nothing and, like Looking for Alaska, for an older YA audience. And like the above books, a reason to cheer the abundance of books that challenge older teen readers in many good ways.
American Born Chinese is challenging and sophisticated and fun at the same time. It ought to introduce more readers to the world of graphic novels and their possibilities.
Surrender is the one book I had not read prior to the awards and still have not read, but judging by the company it's keeping with these other winners, it must be good.
It is a wonderful opportunity to try to keep up with all of the major awards - from the Geisel Award for beginning readers through the Printz Award for YA and the Alex Award for adult books accessible to teens - and come to appreciate, even when disagreeing at times, the range of fine books available and the work of writers, illustrators, publishers, publicists, librarians, teachers, parents, and award committees who are a partnership in connecting children with good books.
Dean Schneider
Ensworth School
Nashville, TN 37205
schneiderd at ensworth.com
Received on Wed 21 Feb 2007 12:52:06 PM CST
