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National Book Award Winner and Nominees
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From: Megan Schliesman <schliesman_at_education.wisc.edu>
Date: Tue, 23 Nov 2010 16:03:42 -0600
I read the National Book Award winner and nominees over the course of 2010, and each one of them has been memorable:
Mockingbird was one of the early books I read. I thought the voice was incredibly distinctive. There have been a number of memorable books in recent years featuring a child or teen who falls somewhere on the autism spectrum. I thought this one stood out for its incredible honesty in portraying some of the more challenging aspects of Caitlyn's personality and also how hard she is working to meet the everyday challenges as well as extraordinary change in her life. There were elements of this book that were less successful for me, but Caitlyn's voice and characterization stood out strongly.
One Crazy Summer was one crazy, remarkable, joyful read--such a vivid portrait of place and people and a time in history. I always think it's amazing when a children's book can leave me as an adult reader wholly satisfied and yet feeling I would eagerly welcome the opportunity to read it all over again from an adult perspective--not because there was anything missing in the book as it is, but because the book makes it clear there is another story that could be told. And I find it delightful to reflect on this book as it is, and intriguing to consider the story from the mother's perspective.
Ship Breaker offered up a vision of the future that was breathtakingly, believably disturbing. I didn't want to pick this book up, and then I couldn't put it down as I was drawn into this account of a post-global warming breakdown of society in which each day is a struggle for survival for Nailor--one that makes moral choices anything but easy.
Lockdown offers a look at the present that is breathtakingly, believably disturbing. Reese's experiences in the juvenile justice system were chilling. Overcoming the perception of those who have already decided who and what he is--criminal, lost cause--he benefits from the guidance of one or two individuals who believe in him and try to help him see he has the power to affect his own future by the choices he makes, but he is also dogged by racism, prejudice, poverty and the threat of violence very step of the way. Every scene felt achingly real, whether they were full of action or reflection. I liked Reese so much, and I think Walter Dean Myers taps into something essential that is too easily buried or lost in kids whose lives are so hard and who don't believe they have choices: the desire to be loved and respected, to do the right thing, to be given a chance.
And then there is Dark Water. I read this one just last week and though it was amazing--beautiful writing and an incredibly compelling plot in a story that touches on so many themes--poverty and classism, racism and prejudice, friendship and families. Laura McNeal captures character, setting, scenes and emotions with vivid language and descriptions that are like true gifts--unexpected and perfect. I thought the character of Pearl is one of the finest portraits of adolescence I've read in a long time. There is something unformed and therefore so very real about her. She's smart and yet knows so little, even as she feels and cares so much--whether she wants to or not.
Megan
Megan Schliesman, Librarian Cooperative Children's Book Center School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison 600 N. Park Street, Room 4290 Madison, WI 53706
608/262-9503 schliesman_at_education.wisc.edu
www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/
Received on Tue 23 Nov 2010 04:03:42 PM CST
Date: Tue, 23 Nov 2010 16:03:42 -0600
I read the National Book Award winner and nominees over the course of 2010, and each one of them has been memorable:
Mockingbird was one of the early books I read. I thought the voice was incredibly distinctive. There have been a number of memorable books in recent years featuring a child or teen who falls somewhere on the autism spectrum. I thought this one stood out for its incredible honesty in portraying some of the more challenging aspects of Caitlyn's personality and also how hard she is working to meet the everyday challenges as well as extraordinary change in her life. There were elements of this book that were less successful for me, but Caitlyn's voice and characterization stood out strongly.
One Crazy Summer was one crazy, remarkable, joyful read--such a vivid portrait of place and people and a time in history. I always think it's amazing when a children's book can leave me as an adult reader wholly satisfied and yet feeling I would eagerly welcome the opportunity to read it all over again from an adult perspective--not because there was anything missing in the book as it is, but because the book makes it clear there is another story that could be told. And I find it delightful to reflect on this book as it is, and intriguing to consider the story from the mother's perspective.
Ship Breaker offered up a vision of the future that was breathtakingly, believably disturbing. I didn't want to pick this book up, and then I couldn't put it down as I was drawn into this account of a post-global warming breakdown of society in which each day is a struggle for survival for Nailor--one that makes moral choices anything but easy.
Lockdown offers a look at the present that is breathtakingly, believably disturbing. Reese's experiences in the juvenile justice system were chilling. Overcoming the perception of those who have already decided who and what he is--criminal, lost cause--he benefits from the guidance of one or two individuals who believe in him and try to help him see he has the power to affect his own future by the choices he makes, but he is also dogged by racism, prejudice, poverty and the threat of violence very step of the way. Every scene felt achingly real, whether they were full of action or reflection. I liked Reese so much, and I think Walter Dean Myers taps into something essential that is too easily buried or lost in kids whose lives are so hard and who don't believe they have choices: the desire to be loved and respected, to do the right thing, to be given a chance.
And then there is Dark Water. I read this one just last week and though it was amazing--beautiful writing and an incredibly compelling plot in a story that touches on so many themes--poverty and classism, racism and prejudice, friendship and families. Laura McNeal captures character, setting, scenes and emotions with vivid language and descriptions that are like true gifts--unexpected and perfect. I thought the character of Pearl is one of the finest portraits of adolescence I've read in a long time. There is something unformed and therefore so very real about her. She's smart and yet knows so little, even as she feels and cares so much--whether she wants to or not.
Megan
Megan Schliesman, Librarian Cooperative Children's Book Center School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison 600 N. Park Street, Room 4290 Madison, WI 53706
608/262-9503 schliesman_at_education.wisc.edu
www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/
Received on Tue 23 Nov 2010 04:03:42 PM CST
