My Friend Dahmer by Derf Backderf. Abrams Comic Arts. 2012. Personal copy. Graphic Novel. Alex Award Winner. It’s About: A graphic novel memoir by Derf Backderf, a classmate of Jeffrey Dahmer. This is not the story of a serial killer; it is a look at the childhood and teen years of Jeffrey Dahmer, before his [...]
Alex Winners: Where Are They Now?
By on July 8, 2013
As I sat at home last weekend, not going to ALA and the Alex Awards Program, I started thinking about how many books by former Alex Award winners we’ve looked at this year. In my head, it seemed like a lot, but I thought I should actually crunch the numbers. So, here they are, for [...]
2013 Alex Award Program, ALA Annual
By on July 4, 2013
On the Sunday morning of ALA, I attended the 2013 Alex Awards program. Three of the ten winning authors spoke – Derf Backderf, My Friend Dahmer Julianna Baggott, Pure Robin Sloan, Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore Each author spoke for 10 minutes, followed by Q&A with the audience and a signing, with the books donated by [...]
Thoughts on Alex: Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore
By on March 1, 2013
Thoughts on Alex: Caring is Creepy and Girlchild
By on February 14, 2013
Thoughts on Alex: One Shot at Forever
By on February 12, 2013
Chris Ballard’s One Shot at Forever is one of the three books on the Alex Awards this year that we declined to review. In the comments of our Alex Reactions post, John Sexton explained why: I believe the last time a sports themed book received Alex recognition was in 2007 when the committee i served [...]
Thoughts on Alex: Quick Picks
By on February 6, 2013
Our astute reviewer Amy Cheney noticed on Facebook that two of the ten Alex Award titles this year were also on the Top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, and said: This might be the first year EVER that two books made both the Alex Awards and Quick Picks. Ross’ book [Juvenile in [...]
Best of 2012 compilation
By on February 5, 2013
There are three sources for the annual best of the best adult books for teens: Booklist Editors Choice Adult Books for Young Adults (listed here; blogged about here), the Alex Awards (listed here; blogged about here), and right here at AB4T – our Best Adult Books 4 Teens, 2012. YALSA has also released the 2013 Alex [...]
Alex Award Reactions
By on January 28, 2013
MARK: Congratulations to all of the 2013 Alex Award winners, and to the wonderful committee. Later this week, Angela and I will probably be dissecting the list in a little more detail, but for now, we just want to get up some first reactions. First, and most importantly to me, in your face, Angela! I [...]
Extremely Scientific Predictions of the Alex Awards
By on January 17, 2013
MARK: Back before the 2011 Alex Awards were announced, Angela said she “would never presume to predict the Alex winners”, but this year I’ve convinced her to help me go ahead and presume away. So today we offer our combined random guesses, er . . . informed predictions as to what might make the 2013 [...]
Adult Books 4 Teens Blog Relaunches
By on November 15, 2012 Leave a Comment
Starting today, November 15: a revamp of SLJ’s Adult Books 4 Teens blog, with a new focus and an additional co-editor.
