Tomorrow’s the announcement of the Newbery, Caldecott and Printz Awards (plus a bunch of others, but no one ever runs mock contests for those). I thought I’d write up some quick predictions along with my personal pick in each of the three categories. Please keep in mind that I don’t usually think about these as deeply as committee members have to, and that I have very strong opinions and always want books I LOVE to win (and they rarely do). I also want the books to be age-appropriate and heavily readable, and would like it if more genre writing won.
Anyway!
NEWBERY
What I would pick as Supreme Ruler: I don’t know if I liked anything as much as I liked THE PENDERWICKS ON GARDAM STREET, which is that incredibly rare sequel that is just as good as its predecessor. THE PATRON SAINT OF BUTTERFLIES which I thought was just tremendous, or maybe Lois Lowry’s THE WILLOUGBYS, which I enjoyed so thoroughly. Or Neil Gaiman’s THE GRAVEYARD BOOK. I’ve heard THE HUNGER GAMES mentioned but I think that’s YA (and I don’t think it will win anyway, despite how much I loved it). WAYS TO LIVE FOREVER was beautiful but so, so depressing.
What will probably win: THE UNDERNEATH. Ugh. Seriously. An UGH choice. Beautifully written? Absolutely. What a talent Kathi Appelt has. But SO RELENTLESSLY GRIM AND DEPRESSING. It’s about kittens and a dog, sure – and graphic abuse and deathdeathdeath and violence and a scary, scary, SCARY man. It’s supposed to be for 9-12. If I’d read this in the 4th grade I would have been terrified. As an adult I was kind of terrified. Did I mention the snake?
I’ve heard a lot of people talking about THE PORCUPINE YEAR and I’d be so thrilled if that won instead. I haven’t read it yet, but I love Louise Erdrich. Some people have talked about Wendy Mass’s EVERY SOUL A STAR, which was nowhere near as good as JEREMY FINK AND THE MEANING OF LIFE, so I doubt that’s a contender. CHAINS may get an honor but I don’t feel like it’s going to win.
CALDECOTT
What I would pick as Supreme Ruler: WE ARE THE SHIP by Kadir Nelson. It’ll probably win the Coretta Scott King, but it should win the Caldecott. No, it doesn’t have supreme marriage of text and art – but the art is amazing. The way he captures light is exquisite. My fun pick is DINOSAUR VS. BEDTIME, which I think had perfect art for the text – but it really is way too funny to win. Other books I loved: A KITTEN TALE, GRACE FOR PRESIDENT, WHAT TO DO ABOUT ALICE?, IN A BLUE ROOM.
What will probably win: well, maybe WE ARE THE SHIP. It’s supposedly a frontrunner. WABI SABI will probably win, though.
PRINTZ
What I would pick as Supreme Ruler: GRACELING or CHALICE – but genre writing so rarely wins. Or TROUBLE by Gary Schmidt, who should have won the Newbery last year for THE WEDNESDAY WARS (no, an Honor wasn’t good enough for me; it was my favorite middle grade book of the year). I loved THE HUNGER GAMES but I don’t think it’s a Printz winner. BLACK BOX was really, really well done and might snag an Honor. THE ADORATION OF JENNA FOX is another one that might snag an honor. I’d enjoy seeing Kelly Link win for PRETTY MONSTERS.
What will probably win: the terrifying, graphic TENDER MORSELS, which I think should have been published as an adult book. Margo Lanagan is undoubtably a terrific writer, but the story is hard to push through and even harder to read. Or maybe OCTAVIAN NOTHING VOL. II by M.T. Anderson, which by all accounts would deserve it (I’ve still got book 1 on my to-be-read pile). Or it could be THE DISREPUTABLE HISTORY OF FRANKIE LANDAU-BANKS or PAPER TOWNS, both of which I liked well enough but neither of which I loved. I’ve heard THE LAST OF THE HIGH KINGS mentioned, and I haven’t read it, but I did love THE LAST POLICEMAN.
In any event, we’ll know early tomorrow morning!
