Chronicles of a Book Evangelist

Link Trove #16

Good Company by Dana Ray

I'm slowly trying to wade back into the blogoshere, and I can't help but thinking over and over again, "WOW, have I missed a lot!"  I'm also very surprised at the number of blogs I used to keep up with on bloglines.  Here are a few links to some things that really struck me in my playing catch-up:

• All that laying on the couch and in bed these past few months left plenty of time for light reading...which, or course, quickly led to numerous 99 cent downloads of books that looked interesting but fluffy.  (I mean, really, you can't buy twelve full priced books in one day!)  The unintended result of my bargain nook shopping was a substantial increase in the number of so called "new adult" books I was reading.  Not being active with my usual blog and news sources, I was also doing this reading in a sort of vacuum.  It was very interesting to come back only to have both Stacked (also here) and A Chair, a Fireplace & a Tea Cozy (followed up here and here with more to come) go into very in depth discussions of the genre and many of the issues I was finding while reading it.

• The Cybils 2012 Finalists were announced on Tuesday; and, again, it was really cool to see how many of the finalists I had read -- even being out of the loop the last third of the year.  I was especially happy to see And All the Stars by Andrea K Höst in the Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction category, and both Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein and I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga in the Young Adult Fiction category.

• I was also very excited to see that Rachel Hartman's Seraphina is a finalist for the 2013 Morris Award.  It's always wonderful to see books you love get recognition!

• Finally, bitch magazine compiled a list of 100 Young Adult Books for the Feminist Reader.  Though looking for books with strong female leads (or at the very least positive portrayals of females within them) has always been on my radar as a reader, I must admit that it is usually, if not on the back burner, at least on the side burner.  I think it is the natural outcome of being surrounded by a large family of teenage boys and having a knack for finding the books that lure reluctant teen boys to read.  (Part of why I also enjoyed this article that encourages authors writing for teen boys.)  However, as my daughter gets older she also gets persistently more determined in her quest for "girl heroes" in the media she consumes.  It makes me simultaneously swell with pride for her and become comsumed by my feelings of my own inadequacy to guide her.  I was appalled by how few books on the list I had heard of, much less read (only 15!)

2012 Edgars Winners

When I first heard about the 2012 Edgars Nominations, I had read surprisingly few of the nominations in Juvenile, Young Adult, and short stories.  Wouldn't you know that the one Young Adult book I didn't get around to reading was the winner!

Best Juvenile:

Icefall by Matthew J. Kirby

Best Young Adult:

The Silence of Murder by Dandi Daley Mackall

Best Short Story went to "The Man Who Took His Hat Off to the Driver of the Train" - Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine by Peter Turnbull (Dell Magazines).

Honestly, the best part of the Edgars this year (aside from finding some great new reads from the nominees list) was watching Maureen Johnson and Neil Gaiman tweet through the banquet.

For the full list of award winners see here.

Link Trove #8

First Thing First: Teens, GO VOTE for your favorite books, author and illustrator in the Children's Choice Book Awards.  The nominees this year are:

Teen Book of the Year
Clockwork Prince: The Infernal Devices, Book Two by Cassandra Clare (Margaret K. McElderry/S&S)
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor (Little, Brown) 
Divergent by Veronica Roth (Katherine Tegen/HarperCollins)
Passion: A Fallen Novel by Lauren Kate (Delacorte/Random House)
Perfect by Ellen Hopkins (Margaret K. McElderry Books/Simon & Schuster)

Author of the Year
Jeff Kinney for Diary of a Wimpy Kid 6: Cabin Fever (Amulet Books/Abrams) 
Christopher Paolini for Inheritance (Knopf) 
James Patterson for Middle School, The Worst Years of My Life (Little, Brown) 
Rick Riordan for The Son of Neptune (The Heroes of Olympus, Book 2)(Disney Hyperion) 
Rachel Renée Russell for Dork Diaries 3: Tales from a Not-So-Talented Pop Star(Aladdin/S&S)

Illustrator of the Year
Felicia Bond for If You Give a Dog a Donut (Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins)
Eric Carle for The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse (Philomel/Penguin)
Anna Dewdney for Llama Llama Home With Mama (Viking/Penguin)
Victoria Kann for Silverlicious (HarperCollins) 
Brian Selznick for Wonderstruck (Scholastic)

VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!

Now that is done, on to the links!

• This video of The Exquisite Book looks awesome! (via Fuck Yeah, Book Arts!)

From Goodreads: “In The Exquisite Book, one hundred indie artists play an ingenious version of the Exquisite Corpse drawing game. Each adorns a page with artwork having seen only the page of the artist immediately prior and using a single horizon line to connect the two. Some continue the “story” quite literally while others build on the previous page in more fanciful ways. This astonishing volume’s format is as unique as its content, with each of the book’s ten chapters residing on a ten-page accordion pull-out, allowing readers to view the art continuously. With an illustrated foreword by Dave Eggers, and art from such luminaries as James Jean and Jill Bliss, this charming book is, simply, exquisite.”

• I really enjoyed this article from Tor about Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate series.  It reminded me of what Micheal Stipes said when REM retired, 'the skill in attending a party is knowing when it's time to leave.' I have enjoyed every book in the series thus far, and am glad she won't drag it out past its natural conclusion.  (I think it helps to know that there is a new spin off series - The Finishing School - in the works, though!)

• Finally, I know it has been a while since I talked about the banning of books used in the  Mexican American Studies program in the Tucson Unified School District.  It is wonderful that there are still groups of people fighting this just as strongly as when it first happened.  The Librotraficante Caravan is "a bus filled with about 60 Latino writers, artists, activists and students 'smuggling' Latino-themed books to Arizona."  According to My San Antonio, the librotraficantes ("book trafficers") will be participating in a series of events in six different cities between Houston and Tucson.  Tony Diaz, organizer of the tour, wrote this excellent opinion piece explaining his reasons for starting this tour, 'For me, this was a cultural offense on the same level as denying Rosa Parks a seat at the front of the bus.'  A video from their website: 

Just in case you couldn't tell from the video, Diaz says the caravan's "use of words such as 'trafficking, 'underground' and 'smuggling'--and its use of 'tricked-out taco trucks' to deliver them--has captured imaginations" with targeted satire: "It's meant to expose how unfair the law is." (Found via Shelf Awareness)

Link Trove #4

 

 

If my TBR list were not digital, this is very much what it would look like.  It is awesome (but also a little overwhelming) to be swamped with so many books that I really can't wait to read!  So, until next week (when I will have at least four reviews) I leave you with some interesting links:

• This Tumblr has images of literary characters created by using law enforcement composite sketch software.  Quite a few of them are pretty creepy, and not at all how I pictured the characters. (via bookshelves of doom)

•  The recent ban on the Mexican American Studies (MAS) program in Tucson, Arizona, is still very much on my mind.  Sherman Alexie's response was just spot-on; and Samantha Mabry's post was very moving.  Teacher groups across the U.S. are launching a "No History is Illegal" campaign as a response and are encouraging a month of solidarity teach-ins. The No History is Illegal website offers a "guide that includes sample lesson plans from the MAS curriculum as well as creative ideas and resources for exploring this issue with students."

• I know I am guilty of a few of these 20 Common Grammar Mistakes That (Almost) Everyone Makes.  

• If I didn't already love Margaret Atwood, these Rules For Writers would have won me over.  (We pencil-lovers must stick together.)

•   Neil Gaiman screams like a lunatic after winning the SFX award. (via tor)

• I was surprised to learn how many publishers are opting out of providing e-books to libraries.  The picture below is one Librarian's response:

2012 Cybils Winners

The 2012 Cybils Winners were announced on the 14th, and I was pleasantly surprised by some of the winners.  

 Young Adult Graphic Novel

Book Description: 

Anya could really use a friend. But her new BFF isn't kidding about the "Forever" part . . .

Of all the things Anya expected to find atthe bottom of an old well, a new friend was not one of them. Especially not a new friend who's been dead for a century.

Falling down a well is bad enough, but Anya's normal life might actually be worse. She's embarrassed by her family, self-conscious about her body, and she's pretty much given up on fitting in at school. A new friend--even a ghost--is just what she needs.

Or so she thinks.

Spooky, sardonic, and secretly sincere, "Anya's Ghost "is a wonderfully entertaining debut from author/artist Vera Brosgol. "Anya's Ghost" is a 2011 "Kirkus" Best Teen Books of the Year title. One of "School Library Journal"'s Best Fiction Books of 2011.One of "Horn Book"'s Best Fiction Books of 2011.

Young Adult Fantasy and Science Fiction

Book Description: 

Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That's fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother Lugh is around. But when a monster sandstorm arrives, along with four cloaked horsemen, Saba's world is shattered. Lugh is captured, and Saba embarks on an epic quest to get him back.

Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the world outside of desolate Silverlake, Saba is lost without Lugh to guide her. So perhaps the most surprising thing of all is what Saba learns about herself: she's a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. And she has the power to take down a corrupt society from the inside. Teamed up with a handsome daredevil named Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks, Saba stages a showdown that will change the course of her own civilization.

Blood Red Road has a searing pace, a poetically minimal writing style, violent action, and an epic love story. Moira Young is one of the most promising and startling new voices in teen fiction.

 Young Adult Fiction

Book Description: 

I AM NOT STUPID FUNNY.
I AM STUPID FAST. 
My name is Felton Reinstein, which is not a fast name. But last November, my voice finally dropped and I grew all this hair and then I got stupid fast. Fast like a donkey. Zing 
Now they want me, the guy they used to call Squirrel Nut, to try out for the football team. With the jocks. But will that fix my mom? Make my brother stop dressing like a pirate? Most important, will it get me girls -especially Aleah? 
So I train. And I run. And I sneak off to Aleah's house in the night. But deep down I know I can't run forever. And I wonder what will happen when I finally have to stop.

 

 

 

 

I have never heard of the fiction winner, so I will have to do something about that.  For a full list of all the winners, go here.

Link Trove #3

• Author Hannah Goodman has put together a magazine of YA stories written by various authors in the first issue of Sucker Magazine, and you can download it here. 

• Kelly at Stacked has a follow up post Doing Our Part: Nominate Titles for YALSA's Lists & Awards where she links to the nomination forms and gives some general ideas for how and why to nominate your favorites books for awards.

• School Library Journal's 2012 Battle of the Kid's Books has begun.

• This article from The New York Times on literacy and education of the world's poorest children has both devastating and hopeful statistics to relay.  Save the Children's new program, Literacy Boost, sounds awesome.  From the article:

"The most innovative part of the program is the work outside the classroom.   The goal is to expose children to reading as much as possible.  This often starts with simply maximizing children’s exposure to print  — in some places, the only writing a child sees is what the teacher puts on the blackboard.

 "In a few places, Save the Children has worked with local publishers or nongovernmental groups, or even government ministries, to print books.  But more commonly, the program depends on an ingenious solution —  the books are homemade.  Sometimes adults write down favorite stories, but often the authors are children."

• The New York Times has an interesting debate which starts with the question Should Parents Control What Kids Learn at School?

• This article entitled Libraries, Sexual Content and the Internet: Striking a Balance Between Rights, Access, And Comfort from the Huffington Post was pretty interesting.  It didn't tell me anything earth-shatteringly new, but was still well worth the read.

• In yet another New York Times article, Julie Bosman details the future of Barnes & Noble, both digital and print.  If you are still on the fence about which e-reader to buy, I would consider giving it a read.  (I purchased a Nook after reading the article.)

• The Electronic Frontier Foundation gives a short and sweet explanation of What Actually Changed in Google’s Privacy Policy.

Link Trove #2

•  The surviving members of Monty Python are set to make a new film entitled Absolutely Anything, and Robin Williams will be joinging the cast.  (Okay, I realize that this bit of news is only tangetially related to book news in that Terry Jones has written some books - one of which I'll be talking about in a few weeks, but...MONTY PYTHON! ROBIN WILLIAMS!  NEW MOVIE!!!)  Ahem.

• Some of the quotes on this list of 10 Shakespeare Quotes you Use Every Day suprised me.  (via Wendy of The Midnight Garden)

• This list of Rescue Etiquette from Mark Twain is just hillarious. (Short answer: Fiancées first, Mothers-in-Law last.)  

• The Lorax has Gone Green.  Way to go Mr. Well's 4th Grade Class! (via Retro Housewife Goes Green)

Their delightful thank you:

“Thank you so much for all your support.
We needed Universal to be a good sport.
We are the changers, the changers that say,
“Thank you so much on this glorious day!
You helped us a ton,” we needed to say,
“We couldn’t have done it any other way.”

• Even being a fan of Sherlock, I had no idea that the #BelieveinSherlock Movement had gone quite so far.  I particularly liked this bit of Emily's explanation, "The resonance that Sherlock’s apparent departure has with fans across the globe should perhaps not be surprising at all: when Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote “The Final Problem” with every intent of killing off his most famous creation, fans wore black armbands to mark his passing and sent angry letters to the author. And that was over a century ago. Today, the power of the internet has ensured a wildfire of protest and a groundswell of love and support." (via tor) 

• This letter from Roald Dahl to a fan is beautiful.  (And the following one from Jessica Morley, Age 6, had me snorting with laughter.) (via The Guardian)

• Stacked had an interesting post about when we fail to do our part to get the books we love nominated for awards.  I had no idea the nomination process was open to the public - shame on me, and I will do better next year.

• John Green's The Fault in Our Stars has been optioned to Fox 2000.  I have mixed feelings about this - love the book but not sure how it can be made into a movie that doesn't just turn to cheese.  (via bookshelves of doom)

• StoryLine Online  has videos of actors, such as Betty White, reading children's books.  Some are absolutely adorable. (via Apartment Therapy)

 

Nominees and Medals and Awards. Oh, My!

It's that time of year again where the wise powers-that-be reflect on the previous year, trying to ascertain who among the many author and illustrators and which books are particularly deserving of honor or mention.  Some years I get to feel really smug, having read many of them and predicting their success.  This year?  Not so much.

The Edgar Awards

The list of Edgar nominees for 2012 are now out, and I have only read a few of the Juvenile and Young Adult Nominees.  The winners will be announced 4/26/2012.  For a full list of the nominees, see here.

 

Best Juvenile

Horton Halfpott by Tom Angleberger (Abrams - Amulet Books)
It Happened on a Train by Mac Barnett (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers)
Vanished by Sheela Chari (Disney Book Group - Disney Hyperion)
Icefall by Matthew J. Kirby (Scholastic Press)
The Wizard of Dark Street by Shawn Thomas Odyssey (Egmont USA)

 

Best Young Adult 

Shelter by Harlan Coben (Penguin Young Readers Group - G.P. Putnam's Sons)
The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson (Penguin Young Readers Group - G.P. Putnam's Sons)
The Silence of Murder by Dandi Daley Mackall (Random House Children's Books - Knopf BFYR)
The Girl is Murder by Kathryn Miller Haines (Macmillan Children's Publishing Group - Roaring             Creek Press)
Kill You Last by Todd Strasser (Egmont USA)

I was also happy to see that Neil Gaiman's "The Case of Death and Honey" - A Study in Sherlock was nominated for best short story, and I can't wait to get my hands on the critical biography Detecting Women: Gender and the Hollywood Detective Film by Philippa Gates (SUNY Press).

 

 

 

 Youth Media Awards

The American Library Association (ALA) today announced the top books, video and audiobooks for children and young adults – including the Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, Newbery,   and Printz awards.  For the full list of 2012 award winners, see here.