Comments on: National Book Awards: Worth Your Weight in Tiny Food

By: Elizabeth Bird

Elizabeth Bird — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 16:39:22 +0000

I return your kind and loving gesture with a big hug and a reminder that an NBA winner hasn’t won a Newbery since Holes. And love Mockingbird though you may, would you call it the next Holes? Not that I begrudge it its win. She seems like a very nice woman.

By: Ed Spicer

Ed Spicer — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 13:29:37 +0000

KT, Good to hear about Dark Water; it is the only one I have not yet read (it’s in the queue). I loved Ship Breaker and would not be at all surprised if it continued winning awards in January.

My pick for NBA and every other award is ONE CRAZY SUMMER, which I adore (with about five other books not on the NBA list). However, I also appreciate MOCKINGBIRD. I did not have time (and still don’t) to pick apart Betsy’s criticisms (in a kind and loving way), so it pleases me to be able to say, “Neener neener neener” (also in a kind and loving way).

Back to my first graders!

By: Angela K.

Angela K. — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 21:34:36 +0000

Well, the “best” lists serve as a marker of the best distinguished writing of the year. it’s not like the “best” lists focus on just 10 books. If they were shorter, more exclusive lists, I wouldn’t have such a problem with Mockingbird not being on any of them. Out of 60+ books on SLJ’s list, it wasn’t chosen, out of 40+ books on PW it wasn’t chosen, and out of 40+ books on Kirkus’ list it wasn’t chosen. That means that three separate committees of reviewers felt that Mockingbird wasn’t even in the TOP 40 of the year (or TOP 60 for SLJ). So forgive me if I find it incredulous that not only was Mockingbird nominated for the National Book Award, but that it came away with top honors! I had major problems with this book and really did not find it to be anywhere near the “best” of the year.

By: Jennifer Schultz

Jennifer Schultz — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 20:45:32 +0000

“What are the odds of a book being picked for THE National Book Award without getting on ANY of the “best” lists?”

See, I don’t think that’s a bad thing. These lists are good for collection development (which is what I’m using them for now), but to think that a book not on any of these endless “best of” lists doesn’t deserve an award bothers me.

The Higher Power of Lucky was not on SLJ’s Best Books list. Don’t know about the others, but I know that it received very little fanfare when it was published.

By: KT Horning

KT Horning — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 00:10:35 +0000

I hate to sound like a Pollyanna but I thought all of the nominees this year were outstanding books. My personal favorite was “One Crazy Summer” and I was crushed when it didn’t win, but I can see why the judges appreciated “Mockingbird,” too. The judges — being writers themselves (rather than librarians or critics) — may just value different literary accomplishments, and the major accomplishments of “Mockingbird” are voice and point of view. I would argue that Erskine is a writer’s writer.

Betsy, don’t miss the terrific YA NBA nominees. Second to “One Crazy Summer” I loved “Dark Water.” I think it may be the best YA book I’ve read this year.

By: Linda Urban

Linda Urban — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 23:00:14 +0000

Angela K — I understand your personal opinion of Mockingbird. I just want to add that one of the great things about award committees is that sometimes, when a small group of people have to consider a mess of books side by side, they discover something wonderful that the reviewers missed. One of my favorite middle grade novels is Cynthia Lord’s book RULES which, if I remember correctly, got lovely reviews upon release — but not a single star. I’m very grateful that the Newbery committee had its own fresh take on that novel and gave it the recognition it deserved.

By: Angela K.

Angela K. — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 20:23:47 +0000

I know Mockingbird received two starred reviews. I already mentioned that above. And I know that the committee doesn’t pick books based on others’ opinions/reviews. But, just for it even to be on the nomination list is somewhat incredible, when you realize there are SEVERAL other books this year that have received 4 and 5 starred reviews from professional journals, and many of these also appeared on the “best of the year” lists. I don’t EVER base the quality of literature on Amazon reviews based on the fact that anyone can write them – you have to consider the source. Many had a lot of problems with Mockingbird, myself included, and was just shocked when it was nominated, and became absolutely dumbfounded when it won. For a whole committee to say that it was the best book of the year was just incredible to me, and not in a good way.

By: Linda Urban

Linda Urban — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 20:18:51 +0000

Golly. I flat-out loved this book and I’m delighted for Kathy Erskine.
I’m also glad that the NBA finalists often highlight a different crop of books than the Newbery and Printz do. There aren’t many awards for young people’s lit that actually reach the notice of the mainstream press and I’m thrilled that the difference usually displayed between the two committees means that more books are recognized.

By: kd

kd — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 20:13:30 +0000

And the above should read “from before its publication *date*” meaning that the journal reviews which would have been written before the book was even in stores.

By: kd

kd — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 20:10:30 +0000

@ Angela K — Mockingbird received a starred review from Kirkus and if I am not mistaken, from at least one other leading review journal. BEST OF lists, of course, don’t include all starred books, but it’s not like Mockingbird was panned by all the review journals and then went on to sneak in by its pinkie nail to win the NBA. From before its publication, there were plenty of people in love with this story.