SLS BoB 2014: Round One

The battle commences on Monday. I did a prediction post earlier this week, but this is where I will do my typical breakdown of the entire round with my hopes and dreams for each outcome. I still haven't read Midwinterblood. My library still hasn't purchased a copy. At all. I don't even know what to do with that given it just won the Printz and we have all his other books. I didn't buy it because I thought for sure they would have it by now, and I had to buy two of the other books. I'm a girl on a budget. Ah well. 15/16 is not bad. Better than some previous years.

Links are to my reviews.

Monday, March 10

All the Truth That's In Me versus The Animal Book

Judge: Vaunda Nelson

My Pick: All the Truth That's In Me

I had some MAJOR issues with All the Truth That's In Me. (My review will post on Monday. I just finished it yesterday.) However. The Animal Book, while delightful, is basically a coffee table book for kids. I'm sure we need some of those. But if I'm choosing, I will always go with something that has story and character. And my issues with All the Truth That's in Me had nothing to do with character and story. Loved both.

Tuesday, March 11

Boxers and Saints versus A Corner of White

Judge: Yuyi Morales

My Pick: A Corner of White

The frustrating thing about the alphabetical order is often my favorites all go against each other in the first round. Such is the case with this one. I love both of these books for different reasons, but in the end I love A Corner of White more. It is a divisive book. You have to be willing to go with Moriarty's sense of whimsy and many are not willing to do that. If you are, it is a wonderful treat of a book.

Wednesday, March 12

Doll Bones versus Eleanor & Park

Judge: Lauren Oliver
My Pick: Doll Bones
Another case of I-hate-ABC-order. Both of these books are favorites, but my true heart is with the Middle Grade. Always.

Thursday, March 13

Flora & Ulysses versus Far Far Away

Judge: Sarah Mlynowski
My Pick: Flora & Ulysses
I am not a huge fan of Flora & Ulysses, and I'm honestly a bit amused by the Newbery Curse. Normally I would go with wanting any other book to win simply because it amuses me so. But my desire to see the curse continue is far outweighed by my LOATHING of Far Far Away.

Friday, March 14

Hokey Pokey versus March Book One

Judge: Tom Angleberger
My Pick: Hokey Pokey
Yeah. You read that right. I would choose Hokey Pokey to go forward. Just because I didn't LIKE it (at all) doesn't mean I can't recognize it as well done. And I thought March was a bit lacking. It's a good historical book, but rather boring it many places. So much exposition in a graphic novel should be illegal.

Monday, March 17

Midwinterblood versus P.S. Be Eleven

Judge: Mac Barnett

My Pick: P.S. Be Eleven

I haven't read Midwinterblood, but even if I had I think I would still want P.S. Be Eleven to move on. Because Middle Grade. And also it is wonderful in every way.

Tuesday, March 18

Rose Under Fire versus The Thing About Luck

Judge: Malinda Lo
My Pick: Rose Under Fire
I DNFed The Thing About Luck because I was bored. Not only did Rose Under Fire not bore me, it moved me to tears with its beauty, heart, and courage.

Wednesday, March 19

The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp versus What the Heart Knows

Judge: Sheila Turnage
My Pick: The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp
It takes a rather exceptional poetry book for me to fall in love with it, and What the Heart Knows didn't do much for me. I really enjoyed True Blue Scouts and that says something because it also takes a rather exceptional animal story for me to fall in love.

Agree? Disagree? Let me hear your thoughts!

Comments

Brenda said…

I don't envy the judges, but it will be fun to see if your predictions come true.

March 7, 2014 at 3:04 PM

Serafina and the Black Cloak

Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty is a thrilling tale of mystery and adventure set at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC in 1899. Having lived in Asheville and visited the house several times, there was no way I was going to pass up a chance to read this. (Also it's MG fantasy, always a bonus for me.) Serafina lives in secret in the basement of the Vanderbilt's spacious vacation home. She has lived there most of her life. Her father worked on the house as it was being built and is the mechanic who runs the massive generator and keeps the electricity going. Serafina is the chief rat catcher, slipping through the halls of her massive home secretly and quietly. She is light on her feet, sees well in the dark, and is quick enough to catch the vermin and keep them out. Serafina knows she if different and strange. Her father insists she stay hidden. But all that changes when one night Serafina witnesses a horrible crime. A little girl, a guest in the house, is fleein

Shorter Musings MG Fantasy

Here are some shorter musings on recent MG fantasy reads. Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack This book is fun. It is a book full of adventure, an obvious bad guy, some more complicated morally gray area characters, and a strong, brave heroine. It is also a book about friendships, community, and fighting for what is right. All things that usually work for me really well. While I enjoyed this, I did feel it was a little overlong and there were certain plot points at the end I didn't love. However, there were things I thought were done really well, such as Anya's Jewish faith and the idea that power needs to be challenged. In the end it was a middle of the road read for me, but it is one I will certainly be recommending to dragon and fantasy adventure lovers I know! R is for Rebel by J. Anderson Coats This is tough because I usually really like Coats's books. I had such a hard time with this one though on so many levels. It's difficult to get into because t

Favorite Kissing Scenes

When thinking of a favorite things post I could do for February I decided it would have to be kissing. I've already done couples and I was feeling in the mood to do something fluffy and Valentine's related. So kisses it is. I read more MG than YA, and the YA I read tends to not focus on romance so this was actually harder than I expected it to be though a few jumped into my head right away. (And one of my choices does actually come from a MG book. One is adult. Gasp!) The actual scene from the book is quoted followed by my thoughts. The king lifted a hand to her cheek and kissed her. It was not a kiss between strangers, not even a kiss between a bride and a groom. It was a kiss between a man and his wife, and when it was over, the king closed his eyes and rested his forehead against the hollow of the queen's shoulder, like a man seeking respite, like a man reaching home at the end of the day . - The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner Turner doesn't write the

Shadowshaper

Shadowshaper by Daniel José Older is everywhere. Best of lists. Award buzz. Blogs everywhere. It's one of those books everyone is reading and talking about. I had it on my TBR but decided I definitely needed to read it before the year was out just so I could weigh in on one of the most talked about books of 2015 if asked. It is deserving of every good thing said about it. Every. One. Sierra was looking forward to a relaxing summer break. Her plans involved hanging out with her friends and painting. They did not involve being chased by zombie like creatures and threatened by a magical power connected to her family's heritage she has never heard of. When murals begin fading all over her Brooklyn neighborhood, Sierra is perplexed. When her grandfather, who had a stroke, begins to apologize and starts repeating strange phases and insisting Sierra get the help of a boy she barely knows to help her finish her mural, Sierra is concerned but mostly about her grandfather. Then at a

The Field Guide to the North American Teeanager

The Field Guide to the North American Teenager by Ben Philippe is a book I picked up on a whim at the bookstore when it first came out. I liked the cover. I thought it had an engaging premise. I went into it with a healthy does of trepidation because the execution could have gone so terribly wrong. Fortunately, Philippe is an excellent character writer, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent reading about Norris's adventures in Texas and high school. High school junior Norris Kaplan's life is ruined by his mother when she takes a job that requires them to leave the only home he has ever known in Montreal, Quebec. Moving is always hard, but Norris knows for him it will be harder than it's ever been for anyone else. Norris is moving to Texas. He will be a Canadian living in Texas. Not just a Canadian. A French Canadian who speaks fluent French. And not just your average run-of-the-mill French Canadian. A black son of Haitian immigrant parents French Canadian. If Norris has

Random Musings of a Bibliophile

Search This Blog