Good morning!

And now the part we’ve all been waiting for, with YALSA pres Candice Mack.

HERE IT IS

Palms are sweaty. So nervous.

<breathes>

ONLY TWO HONOR BOOKS WHAT WHAT WHAT

Out of Darkness, yes, ok, totally deserved.

And Ghosts! He did it AGAIN.

YAY BONE GAP!

(And hey, we ALL predicted it!)

Now back to children’s. Will only update if it’s super exciting.

ENYA

Joy is very very happy right now. (Almost as happy as I was for Simon.)

Morris:

Stakes are going up. I have some feelings invested in this one! Mostly I am all Simon in my loving at this moment and really really want it to be recognized.

I am really happy right now.

(And I met her yesterday on the exhibit floor and she’s utterly delightful, so definitely go see her this morning.)

MAE:

(I never have a prediction but it’s always so exciting to see which beloved great in our field gets this)

David! I know all I do is gush in this liveblog but oh boy does he deserve this. Boy Meets Boy alone deserves it, really. Such a seminal books for so many of my readers for so many years. And he gives his time and energy ceaselessly and is just good people. I am really happy right now.

CSK
Joy is pulling hard for Jason Reynolds, which would be awesome. But we both think X probably has it bagged.

Jerry Pinkney! YES!

And Last Stop! It’s the only one of the three honors I know but it’s a great one!

All American Boys for an honor! YAY Jason Reynolds!

AND BOY IN THE BLACK SUIT! Is this historic? Two honors in one year?

AND X, which we all predicted.

Now, the winner…

Oh wonderful! These are younger than my normal reading but I am so glad to see this get the award! Rita Williams-Garcia is a treasure and we are so lucky every time she writes a book.

Stonewall now. No guesses for this one — so many possibilities.
Oh! Christopher Barzak!
And George — no surprise but yes to this one, so perfect for the target age.
Wait, is the Konigsburg a YA? I thought that was a middle grade?

Schneider up first! I will know none of these.

Oh, Sean Qualls! Love his art.

Middle grade, another one I haven’t read but that cheer was for real! AND The War that Saved My Life! This one I have heard lots about.

YAYAYAYAYAY! Oh, yay!

Unlikely Hero is not at all unlikely for this — it’s perfect! And it’s such a great read. So happy that I read this and so happy that it’s been recognized.