100 Scope Notes
Nina Lindsay, September 27, 2010 | Uncategorized
We’ve tentatively decided on Sunday, December 12 for our live Mock Newbery discussion in Oakland CA…with a reading list ETA at Halloween. A quick refresher on the Newbery process: A brand new committee forms each year, charged with considering eligible books from that year only…not to be compared to other books by the same author, […]
Nina Lindsay, January 21, 2010 | Uncategorized
Many of you who followed the Almost Astronauts kerfuffle in all its permutations here may have been surprised to see it swipe the Sibert. Jonathan remarks: I could have seen a dozen books winning outright which is why I refused to make a prediction here. ALMOST ASTRONAUTS has taken a beating on this blog in […]
Jonathan Hunt, January 20, 2010 | Uncategorized
ARBUTHNOT So many possibilities. Who would you want to hear? I think the appeal of an author or illustrator is really sexy, but oftentimes I think the editors give even better speeches, and librarians . . . If K.T. Horning’s speech was anything like her CLNE lectures! It seems obligatory that if you’ve won two Newbery […]
Jonathan Hunt, December 9, 2009 | Uncategorized
No, this post is not about Albert Marrin‘s YEARS OF DUST or accuracy in nonfiction. It’s about fantasy fiction, broadly defined, so maybe the headline should read LIAR, FIRE, CATCHING FIRE. As excellent as LIAR by Justine Larbaelstier and FIRE by Kristin Cashore may be, however, both are too old for the Newbery. HEROES OF THE VALLEY […]
Jonathan Hunt, November 14, 2009 | Uncategorized
I‘m still pondering our discussion of LIPS TOUCH . . . FROM CHILDHOOD TO ADOLESENCE The Newbery criteria famously leave the term "distinguished" vaguely defined so that (a) each committee can strive toward a working definition and because (b) it allows for flexibility should notions of what constitutes distinguished literature change over the course of time. Similarly, I think that […]
Jonathan Hunt, October 16, 2009 | Uncategorized
STITCHES AND THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD There has been a fair amount of whining and whinging online about the selection of STITCHES as a National Book Award finalist in the Young People’s Literature category. Now I am probably in the minority on this (yet again!), but I find it all completely misguided. The National Book Foundation […]
Jonathan Hunt, October 12, 2009 | Uncategorized
We recently discussed the slower pacing of THE EVOLUTION OF CALPURNIA TATE, how it may have just as many events as other historical fiction titles (RIOT, A SEASON OF GIFTS, and THE BROTHERS STORY), but how the author uses at least twice as many words. She does use beautiful language, but it slows the story considerably. We also already […]
Jonathan Hunt, October 2, 2009 | Uncategorized
Wendy pointedly asked the following question: "If a book is racially insensitive does that affect its distinguishedness? The very best literature aims to explore what it means to be human, and since the human condition includes being racially insensitive, it stands to reason that the very best literature will challenge us to think and […]
Nina Lindsay, December 22, 2008 | Uncategorized
Thanks for the thoughtful comments on my last brief post. Anonymous said to "Washington Post Ripples" "I think that what Roger was saying is that maybe the public perception isn’t all wrong and is really pointing to an underlying problem with the award. Maybe the age limit needs to be changed, maybe the criteria needs […]
Nina Lindsay, December 8, 2008 | Uncategorized
What an interesting exercise to read Charlotte’s Web again, which I think I probably haven’t done since fourth grade… even though I feel I “know” it from the movies and numerous cultural references. I found it distinguished in characterization and in language…though somewhat flawed in narrative. White’s characters are instantly compelling and complex—even side […]
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A Fuse #8 Production
by Betsy Bird
Teen Librarian Toolbox
by Amanda MacGregor
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