Award Books 2014

So the American Library Association Awards were announced yesterday, and I am pretty excited about the choices they made.  I am really happy for the Michael Printz Award winner Marcus Sedgwick and his book Midwinter Blood.  I read this book over the Christmas Holiday on recommendation from popular book reviewer Michael Cart.  The cover of the book did not really make me want to read it; it looked a little "vampire-ish" and that is not something that really catches my fancy...thank you Twilight phenomena.  The book really drew me in, though.  It grabbed my interest in history as the book starts in the future, but then skips back in time with each passing section.  Admittedly, I kept waiting for a vampire relationship to jump off the pages and bite me, but it never happened.  The story, to me, was so much more about a special place on this earth with special people and magics, than it was about any one character.  I really recommend this book and I am pleased with the award choice.
I am also happy to see that Rita Williams-Garcia won the author award for the Coretta Scott King Award for her book P.S. be eleven.  I have not read this book, but I have really enjoyed other books by Williams-Garcia such as One Crazy Summer and Jumped.
Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina is a book that I have looked at several times and has intrigued me won the Pura Belpre Award. This inspires me to want to read the book that appears to have a theme of bullying and school related relationships.
Finally, I am really excited to read the Caldecott winner Locomotive written and illustrated by Brian Floca.  First, I love picture books and second, I have not been disappointed by a Caldecott winner in a long time, so I feel confident it will be enjoyable.
What are some of your favorite books from 2013?  Did any of the awards miss the boat in your opinion?  Let me know by commenting below.

The Top 10 (or so)

The results are in and the top book of the first semester at IVC high school is Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why.  It is no surprise that this book, an Abraham Lincoln Book Award Nominee, that addresses relationships we have with others is the most popular book.  I would not be surprised if it shows up in this spot this semester as well.



A very close second and third are Suzanne Collins Catching Fire and Mockingjay, respectively.  If you are wondering, The Hunger Games shows up in a large group tied for ninth on the list.  Rounding out the top five are John Flanagan's The Ruins of Gorlan and Mary Higgins Clark's mystery The Lottery Winner Alvirah and Willy Stories.

Some other notable titles that I was pleased to see out being read are: The Maze Runner, The Graveyard Book (one of my favorite books), Graceling, and The Hobbit.  Also, another Abraham Lincoln Book Award Nominee made a showing in the top 10 as Alexander Gordon Smith's Lockdown came in sixth.

A Favorite Book

"Children's literature is the most important literature of all because it has the capacity to change people, to open their eyes; it's part of the growing process."  Neil Gaiman.  Neil Gaiman is one of my favorite authors and his book, The Graveyard Book, is one that I frequently recommend to students in the library.  It was by far the best book I read in 2010 topping even my first reading of The Hunger Games!
While listening to NPR this evening, I discovered a segment called "NPR's Back-Seat Book Club" and Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book was being discussed.  A natural choice with Halloween on Monday.  He had so many interesting things to say that I won't repeat here because I encourage you to click on this link to read the NPR story and listen to the interview.
After listening, you will want to definitely want to check out the book.  Enjoy!