While in the past I have made SLJ BoB predictions, I have never shared them publicly.

This year, I am going to show you just how bad I am at “guess the winner.” For full information on all titles and judges, check out the School Library Journal’s Battle of the Kids’ Books webpage. If I’ve read a book, I’ll look to the review the initial time I mention the book.

Round 1, March 12 – 21

Bomb v. Wonder, Judge Kenneth Oppel. Prediction: Bomb. I have not read Wonder, and since Oppel has written historical fiction, I thought, hey, he might like the history book.

Code Name Verity v. Titanic, Judge Margarita Engle. Prediction: Code Name Verity. I adore Verity, and hope that Engle does, also. I mean, she writes historical fiction, right?

Endangered v. Three Times Lucky, Judge Kathi Appelt. Prediction: Endangered. Appelt has written about animals. Endangered has animals.

The Fault in Our Stars v. Temple Gradin, Judge Deb Caletti. Prediction: The Fault in Our Stars. I have read neither book, but Caletti is a young adult author and Fault is a young adult book, plus everyone who reads it loves.

Jepp, Who Defied the Stars v. Starry River of the Sky, Judge Adam Gidwitz. Prediction: Starry River of the Sky. I’ve read neither book and am quite stumped, to be honest. Because I picked the first book in the pairs, above, I went with Starry River of the Sky because it’s the second title.

Liar and Spy v. Splendors and Glooms, Judge Franny Billingsley. Prediction: Splendors and Glooms just seems more like Billlingsley’s type of book, for some reason. We’ll see!

Moonbird v. Seraphina, Judge Marie Lu. Prediction: Seraphina. Lu has written fantasy, Seraphina is fantasy.

No Crystal Stair v. The One and Only Ivan, Judge Catherine Gilbert Murdock. Prediction: The One and Only Ivan, because Mr. Schu likes Ivan so much and that’s as good a reason as any.

Round Two, March 22 – 27

Bomb v. Code Name Verity, Judge Donna Jo Napoli. Prediction: The power of Code Name Verity compels me to say it will be selected.

Endangered v. The Fault in our Stars, Judge Martine Leavitt. Prediction: The Fault in Our Stars, because, well, John Green.

Starry River of the Sky v. Splendors and Glooms, Judge Thanhha Lai. Prediction: No idea, coin toss gives it to Splendors and Glooms.

Seraphina v. The One and Only Ivan, Judge Paul Griffin. Prediction: Griffin likes animals, right? So he’ll select The One and Only Ivan.

Round Three, March 28 – 29

Code Name Verity v The Fault in our Stars, Judge Lynne Rae Perkins. Much as I adore Verity, I think Perkins will be swayed by The Fault in our Stars.

Splendors and Glooms v The One and Only Ivan, Judge James Patterson. Neither seems like Patterson’s books, but I’m going to go with The One and Only Ivan. Call it intuition. (Edited to add: I kept going back and forth on this one, which is why I originally had this with one title…. while a different one appeared in Round Four. Fixed.)

Round Four, April 1

The Fault in our Stars v. The One and Only Ivan v. the Undead Winner (my prediction, Code Name Verity), Judge Frank Cottrell Boyce. Prediction: Code Name Verity.

So, that’s me! Have you posted your predictions? Any thoughts?