Random Musings of a Bibliophile

There are books that reader me loves and teacher me exalts in. The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth LaBan is such a book. As Duncan enters The Irving School for his senior year he is worried about three things: what dorm he's assigned, what treasure has been left by the previous occupant, and his looming Tragedy paper. The Tragedy paper is the Irving equivalent of a senior thesis and Duncan, more of a Math than English lover, is concerned. There are a lot of traditions at Irving and a big one is that the departing seniors leave a treasure for the upcoming seniors occupying their rooms.  Duncan is dismayed to find that he is assigned the one room no one wants. The room that Tim, the Albino kid, had the year before. On the desk he finds his treasure: a stack of CD's and a letter: Dear Duncan, When I was told you'd be living in this room, I have to be honest, I couldn't believe it.  Maybe you can guess what I'm going to say, but I''m going to tell you anyway....

I can't say I'm happy since this means Code Name Verity lost. I am happy that if it had to lose it lost to No Crystal Stair rather than The Fault in Our Stars . Even if Frank Cottrell Boyce's reasons for choosing No Crystal Stair over it had me shaking my head in confusion. I vehemently disagree with a couple things Boyce had to say: I don't think the treatment of torture in Code Name Verity was flip and I felt Julie's torment powerfully. I also laughed when he said the death in The Fault in Our Stars was a "nasty surprise". No it wasn't. I knew exactly what was going to happen in that book the moment I read the synopsis. I do think No Crystal Stair is a deserving book and I'm happy to see it get more recognition. The best part of this year's Battle was the kid commentators. They came through with well written and intelligent critiques when the majority of this year's judges failed at this. I think we need to have the kids judge this ...

Sigh. No surprises in Lynne Rae Perkins's decision. I can't say I'm pleased, but I'm also not surprised. Those of  us who haven't drunk the John Green Kool Aid can only shake our heads and mutter. Perkins did at least give a decent reason for her choice and I liked how she pointed out faults she found with both books. Fault laments the prospect of oblivion, of living and dying and leaving no trace.  And then concludes that it might not be such a bad thing.   Bomb tells us about individuals who did leave a trace, and how some came to feel deep regret, or at least ambivalence, about having done so. I enjoyed reading the decision for this written by James Patterson. Which marks the first time I can say I've enjoyed reading something he's written. This seriously made me like him so much more and will think of him far more fondly in the future. Is it too late for us to redefine who we’re calling heroes in this country? Can’t the booksellers, the l...

Sigh. I wanted Code Name Verity to win this, but I adore Bomb as well and it is nice to see a non-fiction title move on. I have to say though that I was saddened and angered by this decision. Not due to its outcome, but due to the way Donna Jo Napoli wrote it . It wasn't so much a comparison of the strengths or weaknesses of the books as it was two really long summaries with a short apples and oranges paragraph at the end that said nothing significant. (I was really hoping Roger Sutton would cure the judges of that ridiculous analogy.) If one of my students wrote this I would give it back and make them do it over. For two such powerfully moving books to be given such cursory treatment is just wrong. Also, " I won’t say how, because how is what makes this book such a powerful heart-breaker, and if you haven’t yet read it, I won’t spoil it for you. " What was that??? Too late by that point. Martine Leavitt mentions in her decision that she had a hard time feeling...

Battle Five Winner: I was rooting for Jepp, Who Defied the Stars but I truly loved both books and don't think either one has received enough recognition. It is also nice to see a MG pick move on to Round Two. Adam Gidwitz's decision went on and on and on. (I skimmed a lot and found myself wishing he would get to the point sooner rather than later. I have this feeling when reading his books too. His style of writing and my style of reading are just not meant for each other.) Still, gems like this one can be found: So the sentence-level work is very effective. Her chapters, and the stories that interrupt them, are also expertly crafted; Lin manages her pacing and our expectations so that each chapter break makes us smile or sigh. Battle Six Winner: Oh so sad. I love Liar & Spy . I still feel Splendors and Glooms is more book than is necessary and would have benefited from being shortened. Still it is a wonderfully Gothic and creepy, with an excellent villain. Th...

I know I said I was going to wait until the end of Round One and only do one reaction post combined with my Round Two hopes and predictions this year. But then I realized that would be the longest post ever and that  there's a reason I always do two Round One posts. This works better for me. It is a good thing that BoB usually aligns perfectly with my kids' three week Spring break. That way I don't have to feel guilty about checking it first thing in the morning rather than starting school. Battle One Winner: I was counting on Kenneth Oppel to make this decision. I get why people love Wonder and want to get it into the hands of kids. I have done my share of pushing that book-with mixed results. Bomb is an extraordinary work of narrative non-fiction, riveting and informative. As Oppel said in his decision : Intercutting multiple plot lines, Sheinkin tells of the story of the making of the atomic bomb with all the urgency and pacing of a Jerry Bruckheimer movie......

Battle of the Books begins on Tuesday!!!! My anticipation level at this point is pretty high. I get ridiculously excited about this every year. Usually I have one book that I love and want to see win, and one that I want to see go down quick. That is not the case this year. While I do have a favorite, I also have several other books I love in the battle. And I didn't loathe any of them. I sort of don't know what to do with that. Here is a quick look at my rating stats for the 16 books in the competition. 5 stars: 5 4 stars: 9 3 stars:  2 That doesn't mean there is still not plenty of angst about favorites happening here. Because I do have definite thoughts about certain match-ups. And while there is no book inspiring the feelings of loathing in me that some in the past have, there is one I would rather not see win. Anyway here are MY picks for Round One. And this  year I'm going to try my hand at predicting what the judges will pick as well. It should be funny ...

The Undead Poll for the 2013 SLJ Battle of the Books is open! What does this mean to you? It means that you can now vote for the book you would like to see most in the final round, in case by some misguided judging strange twist of fate it should be defeated in an earlier round and not be able to go on. Let us say  you are a fan and you really want to see a certain book win. Like this one:  What do you do? First go to this page of the SLJ site. Second, click where it says "enter voting vault here". It will take you to a survey site with a list of all 16 books with little circles next to them like bubbles on a multiple choice test. Third, click on the circle next to Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein. Be sure you don't click on any of the other circles. That would mean you were voting for the wrong book. Finally, click on the submit button on the bottom of the page and it will take you to another page assuring you your vote has been counted. You must t...