2012 Best Books Overlap
The Bulletin Blue Ribbons are here which means that we have a full complement of best books lists. Here’s what the overlap looks like . . .
6 lists–
THIS IS NOT MY HAT
THE FAULT IN OUR STARS
CODE NAME VERITY
5 lists–
LIAR & SPY
AND THEN IT’S SPRING
Z IS FOR MOOSE
MOONBIRD
4 lists–
NO CRYSTAL STAIR
JIMMY THE GREATEST
GRAVE MERCY
WONDER
WE’VE GOT A JOB
EXTRA YARN
SPLENDORS AND GLOOMS
ISLAND
THE RAVEN BOYS
BEYOND COURAGE
3 lists–
THE DIVINERS
IN A GLASS GRIMMLY
ASK THE PASSENGERS
THE BRIDES OF ROLLROCK ISLAND
SON
EVERY DAY
PENNY AND HER DOLL
LITTLE WHITE DUCK
THE MISEDUCATION OF CAMERON POST
CHUCK CLOSE: FACE BOOK
ABRAHAM LINCOLN & FREDERICK DOUGLASS
DODGER
GREEN
SERAPHINA
KEEPING THE CASTLE
MY BOOK OF LIFE BY ANGEL
DRAMA
THREE TIMES LUCKY
I HAVE A DREAM
A HOME FOR BIRD
BOMB
BITTERBLUE
2 lists–
LULU AND THE DUCK IN THE PARK
BOOT & SHOE
HOMER
OCEAN SUNLIGHT
UNSPOKEN
THE BEAR IN THE BOOK
DREAMING UP
A CERTAIN OCTOBER
TITANIC
ELECTRIC BEN
FIRE IN THE STREETS
OH NO!
A BLACK HOLE IS NOT A HOLE
LIFE IN THE OCEAN
IT JES’ HAPPENED
COLD SNAP
TWELVE KINDS OF ICE
NEVER FALL DOWN
LITTLE DOG LOST
MILES TO GO FOR FREEDOM
BROTHERS AT BAT
FINAL FOUR
JUMP INTO THE SKY
LOOKING AT LINCOLN
THE BROKEN LANDS
SLEEP LIKE A TIGER
GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE DINOSAURS
CHILDREN AND THE WOLVES
STARRY RIVER OF THE SKY
SADIE AND RATZ
FIFTY CENTS AND A DREAM
ONE TIMES SQUARE
THE BEETLE BOOK
THE MIGHTY MARS ROVERS
WHO COULD THAT BE AT THIS HOUR?
TIGER LILY
THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN
THE SPINDLERS
THE WICKED AND THE JUST
THE IMPOSSIBLE RESCUE
MY NAME IS PARVANA
THE MIGHTY MISS MALONE
ARISTOTLE AND DANTE DISCOVER THE SECRETS OF THE UNIVERSE
THE FAIRY RING
SUMMER OF THE GYPSY MOTHS
THE GIRL WITH BORROWED WINGS
Biggest Losers: CROW which got four starred reviews, but made not one single best books list. Ditto for THE LIONS OF LITTLE ROCK with three stars, but no lists.
Biggest Winners: Team Nonfiction which placed a whopping 22 titles on this composite list, not including nonfictionish titles like NO CRYSTAL STAIR, LITTLE WHITE DUCK, TWELVE KINDS OF ICE, NEVER FALL DOWN, I HAVE A DREAM, and LITTLE DOG LOST.
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About Jonathan Hunt
Jonathan Hunt is the Coordinator of Library Media Services at the San Diego County Office of Education. He served on the 2006 Newbery committee, and has also judged the Caldecott Medal, the Printz Award, the Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards, and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. You can reach him at hunt_yellow@yahoo.com
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Great list! When I first saw ‘The Fault In Our Stars’ showing up on best books lists from The New York Times, Time Magazine, Entertainment Weekly and other review sources that don’t traditionally focus on YA books, I started collecting data from other sources as well, to see just how many best lists it appeared on. I settled on 12 lists, from traditional review sources like SLJ to book retailers to mainstream media. ‘The Fault In Our Stars’ was on every single one, a remarkable achievement for a young adult novel, earning it the top spot on the CA Library List of the Top 10 Books of 2012! http://calibrary.edublogs.org/2012/12/30/top-10-books-of-2012
Interesting list! I thought Lions of Little Rock would show up on more lists. I love the top three! Can’t wait to see what wins SOON!
I also want to note some books that made two lists but which haven’t been mentioned here, either in a post or on the comments. FIRE IN THE STREETS by Kekla Magoon which is a sequel to THE ROCK AND THE RIVER which was discussed here a couple years ago and JUMP INTO THE SKY by Shelley Pearsall who won the Scott O’Dell previously for TROUBLE DON’T LAST. THE BROKEN LANDS, on the other hand, has at least been mentioned in the comments. Anybody want to make a pitch for any of these?
My sister Laurie has mentioned JUMP INTO THE SKY in the comments, but I haven’t read it yet.
Oh, yeah, I think I vaguely remember now. Also, MR. AND MRS. BUNNY: three stars, no lists. 🙁
MINETTE’S FEAST by Susanna Reich
SPIRIT SEEKER by Gary Golio
I know we’ve been lackadaisical about our picture book coverage this year, but these picture book biographies both got three starred reviews. Comments?
Fun fact: Susanna Reich and Gary Golio are married.
I bought MINETTE’S FEAST and enjoyed it, but then wondered which of my students would. Although biographical it ends up in fiction.
Both Crow and Lions of Little Rock are on Betsy Bird’s list of 100 Magnificent Children’s Books. I look forward to the day when that list takes its place among the official lists.
http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2013/01/01/100-magnificent-childrens-books-of-2012/
Even though this year I’ve read more Newbery-possibilities than ever before, I’m alarmed by the number of middle-grade books on Betsy’s list that I haven’t even HEARD of. Maybe some are ineligible, but still, I think I may end up with some new books to read after the announcements.
Jeannie Mobley’s debut novel, KATERINA’S WISH also received three stars. It was included on Betsy Bird’s list. (Full disclosure: I’m Jeannie’s literary agent.)
For more about THE FAULT IN OUR STARS’s inclusion on adult best of the year lists, mentioned by Eric Bateman, see this article in Publishers Lunch:
http://lunch.publishersmarketplace.com/2013/01/the-final-lists-announcing-the-best-of-the-best-of-2012/
Whew! Finally got the spreadsheet finished for the year. It’s all updated and my info matches Jonathan’s posted info except I show The Girl With Borrowed Wings and Summer of the Gypsy Moths both making 2 lists. I also think Adam Rapp’s book is The Children and the Wolves as opposed to Children of the Wolves (although that does bring the classic Julie of the Wolves to mind!).
Here’s a link again if anyone wants to browse through on their own:
http://ow.ly/fs615
Star vs. best list comparisons – Seraphina got 6 stars, but only made 3 best lists. Genre bias against fantasy? Crowded fantasy field this year? An example of a book that’s great, but not a best? Starry River of the Sky went from 5 stars to 2 lists. Lulu and the Duck in the Park went from 5 stars to 2 lists (bias against early reader/chapter books stacking up against older titles?). Crow was far from the only title with 4 stars that didn’t make any lists although it is probably one of the only Newbery contenders to do so. Other 4 star,no-listers include:
Black Dog by Pinfold (a picture book)
Dying to Know You by Chambers (older end of YA)
The Giant and How He Humbugged America (crowded non-fiction field this year may have kept it off the lists? This is probably the only other Newbery contender in this 4star/nolist category)
Santa from Cincinnati (holiday picture book)
There is No Dog (YA)
Traction Man and the Beach Odyssey (picture book)
Fun fact: The Bulletin was the lone hold out on giving And Then It’s Spring a star, but put it on its best list leaving SLJ as the lone hold out in the best lists!
Agreed. I had both SUMMER OF THE GYPSY MOTHS and THE GIRL WITH BORROWED WINGS on my previous list. I’ve changed the list above to reflect that.