For a variety of reasons (including some truly great conversations with my former coworkers and beloved friends at Children’s Book World) I cannot stop thinking this, so I am writing it down here:

I think WHEN YOU REACH ME by Rebecca Stead is a serious Newbery contender, and is my first true pick of the year.

Also, a vacation update: I DID read THE RULES OF SURVIVAL by Nancy Werlin and BLOOM by Elizabeth Scott, but neither was in galley and both have been on my shelf for a long time and will be reviewed eventually. BUT I have also read an entire adult book, the title of which escapes me for some reason despite the fact that I enjoyed it, and am about a third of the way through THE THIRTEENTH TALE, which is SO FREAKING GREAT. I bought it in November 2007 (yes, the receipt was still tucked inside) and I can’t believe it took me this long to read it.