Comments on: The Alex Awards, 2012

By: Angela Carstensen

Angela Carstensen — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:52:52 +0000

I agree, Meghan. And it is always fascinating how the conversations, especially in the Midwinter face-to-face meetings, can change the outcome dramatically. This is another reason why publishing a vetted nominations list is such a great idea.

By: Priscille Dando

Priscille Dando — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:59:40 +0000

Love the added bonus of the vetted list and wanted to put in a plug for one of my favorites of the year that is flying under the radar. (It’s on the Alex vetted list and the AB4T Best of.) Blind Sight by Meg Howery is appealing on lots of fronts and is such a smart coming-of-age. I found it very refreshing, and it probably could have been released as YA.

By: Meghan

Meghan — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:47:41 +0000

Although the Committee didn’t have a GN on the list, Frankie Pratt is a non-traditional format and one, I think, teens will really enjoy. It really is amazing how the make-up of the Committee itself shapes the list – librarians who serve a wide range of patrons, in various geographic locations, and differing reading tastes in general produce a similarly eclectic list. In my opinion, it’s one of the great things about books award and selection committees!

By: amy cheney

amy cheney — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:00:34 +0000

p.s. not all nominated titles are on the list posted. the list posted is the vetted list of nominations.

By: amy cheney

amy cheney — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:46:11 +0000

Angela,

Who *are* your teens? (JUST KIDDING!!!)

By: Angela Carstensen

Angela Carstensen — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:30:15 +0000

Amy, I also did not find Lover’s Dictionary to have obvious teen appeal when I read it, but the teens in my library certainly feel differently. And a couple spoke up about it as a favorite recently.

The Night Circus was a student bookgroup pick in October and they had a terrific discussion. 25 students read it. Not all of them adored it, but they all finished it, which was a first.

By: amy cheney

amy cheney — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:09:50 +0000

Thanks for the great summary Angela! Very interesting. I am thrilled that you are saying Lover’s Dictionary has a teen following. I could not see the teen appeal at all, and personally, I think Night Circus is overrated. Maybe it’s the classic case of expecting more because of all the hype and being disappointed.

Now, onto the graphic novels. Vietnamerica is good. But everyone I have talked to has to read it at least 2 times and looks at the key to the characters many times in order to get the thread. It’ kind of muddy in the narrative structure. Zahara’s Paradise on the other hand, has a much clearer narrative structure, is relevant to today and packs a wallop.

My favorites??? Big Girl Small, In Zanesville, Salvage the Bones

I”m with you, Mark on the non-fiction and other formats… but I also respect that these don’t get on the list “just because” and/or the lists aren’t charged to create a balance.

Little Princes, Girls Like Us seem overlooked to me as well. GIrls Like Us has a great cover and clips right along. I think these type of books are difficult to write. that they are immediate, accessible and FUNNY are two highlights of their excellence.

By: Mark Flowers

Mark Flowers — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:17:23 +0000

Angela knows my feelings about AMONG OTHERS – it was probably my favorite book of the year, with clear teen appeal, so I’m disappointed the Alex Awards didn’t recognize it. Otherwise, I too was pretty excited that we had reviewed all of the awarded titles here, and put 3 of them on our best of the year list.

What I find a little irksome is that if I’m counting right, only one of the 10 Alex Awards went to a nonfiction book, and none to graphic novels–we reviewed a ton of NF and GNs that I thought were more than worthy, and while I admit it’s a pet peeve, I do like to see a little balance on these lists (I was similarly troubled by the Printz and Newbery awards not naming any NF). Oh well – now I just have to read all the titles on this list to see if my prejudices hold up.

By: David

David — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:41:59 +0000

Great to see In Zanesville pick up some recognition. It was my favorite traditional coming-of-age novel last year, but seems to have been left off most of last year’s best of lists.