Out on a Limb: Printz Picks to Date
RSSJonathan Hunt
In any given year there are a dozen titles that could win the Printz Award, given by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) for a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature. Chime (Dial) by Franny Billingsley, an honor book with six The past several years have offered truly outstanding crops of nonfiction, and although the Printz committee doesn't recognize this genre very often, there is no shortage of worthy books this year, most of them about disasters of one kind or another. Darkhorse candidates are what make Printz speculation so fun. We can all tabulate what book received how many starred reviews, or keep track of the buzz. But it's often the book without either that seems to charm the committee. For my da
Jonathan Hunt has worked as a teacher and librarian, and is widely recognized as an expert in children's and young adult literature. He has judged the Newbery Medal, the Printz Award, the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and the Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards; he reviews and writes for Horn Book Magazine and blogs for School Library Journal; and he presents seminars for the Bureau of Education & Research on the Best Young Adult Books of the Decade. This article originally appeared in School Library Journal’s enewsletter SLJTeen. Subscribe here. I can't wait to read "Daughter of Smoke and Bone" I loved "Lips Touch..."
There aren't many good narrative nonfiction books published for young adults. 2 of the 3 books Mr. Hunt lists (Trapped and Amelia Lost) were published for children and are really too young for the Printz. If there were more good YA nonfiction books, I'm sure they'd be considered! The nonfiction coming out this year has been outstanding!
But I disagree about Chime. The writing seemed
reminiscent of DiCamillo's The Magician's Elephant in
that she seemed to be writing for someone other than the
child, "the intended audience". Chime moved slowly and
was wholly predictable and repetitive.
What do you think of Okay for Now? * = Required information
But this year there is only one title that should win, one title that stands head and shoulders above the rest: Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers) by Laini Taylor. It is a masterful fantasy with unique world-building, unforgettable characters, and an exquisitely crafted plot layered with suspense and surprise. The book ends with a cliffhanger, but answers most of our questions, just not the most compelling one: what happens next!
Anya's Ghost (First Second) by Vera Brosgol is an exceptionally strong graphic novel, and in any other year it might be my top pick. It's the story of a teenage girl, ashamed of her Russian heritage, who is haunted by a ghost that subtly changes over the course of the story from meek to manipulative to malevolent, bringing a sense of genuine horror to this ghost story. First Second struck gold several years ago with American Born Chinese. Can it happen again? I think so.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention a pair of books already recognized by the Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards. Blink & Caution (Candlewick) by Tim Wynne-Jones, the winner in the Fiction and Poetry category, is a smart combination of literary fiction and genre fiction, a thriller with uncharacteristically fine prose coupled with a deep insight into the human condition.
starred reviews, is another genre hybrid-fantasy, horror, romance-that is sure to play well to the post-Twilight supernatural crowd. It's been a long time coming-a dozen years, in fact-but it was worth the wait.
Trapped (Atheneum) by Marc Aronson relates the relatively recent story of the Chilean miners. Bootleg (Flash Point) by Karen Blumenthal discusses the Prohibition era and its legacy. Amelia Lost (Schwartz & Wade) by Candace Fleming is a biography of Amelia Earhart with a special focus on her mysterious disappearance.
And Flesh & Blood So Cheap (Knopf Books for Young Readers) tells the story of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. If the Printz doesn't recognize these don't be surprised to see other awards (Newbery, National Book Award, Sibert, YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction) pick up the slack.
rkhorse pick, I'm going with Recovery Road (Scholastic) by Blake Nelson. Two teens meet in drug rehab, feel a mutual attraction, but can never quite seem to hook up afterward. They remain friends, nevertheless, and support each other in their efforts to stay sober-but one of them doesn't make it. It's a bittersweet romance with a heartbreaking conclusion and superb character development.
Reader Comments (4)
Posted by Casle Portner on August 25, 2011 02:31:04PM
Posted by Alison on August 26, 2011 01:08:15PM
Posted by The Brain Lair on August 26, 2011 07:41:53PM
