Last year for the entire year, there were only 2 titles that got 6 stars. This year, we’re already at 5. Now, two of those are picture books that I think we can call ineligible by audience, but the other three are Code Name Verity, The Fault in Our Stars, and Seraphina – all easily eligible.

5 star books there were 11 total last year and we’re only at 4 this year (with two picture books again leaving The Brides of Rollrock Island and Moonbird by Hoose which is on the lower edge of the age range, but still solidly there).

4 star books however show 34 total for the entire year last year, but we’re already at 35 for this year. Of those 35, 15 or 16 are probably in the age range.

Looks like a good year for stars. I’m interested to hear if people still feel like there’s not so much out there Printz-wise or if things have moved up in people’s estimation since whenever that comment was made (I looked for it, but could not find it – I hope I didn’t imagine it!). Numbers of course are subject to any errors I might have made and this is all keeping in mind the discussion we’ve had of stars vs. Printz and the little to no correlation between them, but since we’re still using the 3 star rule for auto-contenders I thought this might be of interest.