Comments on: Get Ready, Get Set, READ!

By: Teen Tuesday – Have I Got a List for You! « Social Media @ Whitney Library

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 23:18:16 +0000

[...] [...]

By: Ed Spicer

Ed Spicer — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 22:20:16 +0000

I have done a lot of catch up reading on this blog. Karyn, loved your review of Code Name Verity. I did not have a problem at all with the double tap. I also did not have a problem with the pen. If this were to win, it will not be a universal teen favorite, but it will be a book that AP English classes should adopt. This one will have a lot of cross over appeal for adults. For me the Printz winner comes down to the locked cage death match between this title, Lanagan’s Brides, and Bomb (wouldn’t it be great to have a nonfiction Printz winner?). I picked Lanagan to win before I read Code Name Verity or Bomb. All three are excellent and all are very worthy. I am glad to see your love for Seraphina, which is my pick to win the Morris (but I am happy to say that the Morris Committee has a couple of books that I have not read yet). I also think Seraphina is good enough on its own to attract Printz attention, so if it does not win the Morris, I am hoping that the winner is better (which could mean that two debut books crack the Printz award again this year). It will be very interesting to see what happens in Seattle. Nice job on the blog Karyn, Sarah, and Sophie!

By: Kendall

Kendall — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 14:32:17 +0000

I know we’ll address this more when we get to the Brides blog post, but I just wanted to say how interesting it is to me when I read a book so differently from other people. I completely see where you all are coming from, that the book was narrated by several young adults, and the idea of sexual awakening. Now that I have finished the book, however, and before coming to these comments, I walked away from the book as insight into parenthood. Miskaella’s story was strongest for me when dealing with the Ean situation (don’t want to give spoilers), Bet just the eyes telling of the event with her mother/father and not as a part of the story herself, Dominic was thinking of adult topics of marriage and settling down and was influenced strongly by the idea of having a son and a family more than just sex, Lory coming back was an adult, and Trudle was a mother of many, viewing evidence of M’s other children. Daniel’s chapter was the strongest to me, and while he was definitely a child and YA, the insight into parenthood of both his mother and father was so powerful. in my interpretation, this would make a more moving story to adults than teens (even mature ones). I’m sorry this is so long, I just want to clarify why I asked the question

By: Liz B

Liz B — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 14:18:42 +0000

I regret to say that I probably won’t have all these titles read to participate as fully in discussions as I’d like — I’ll do my best!

By: Tatiana (The Readventurer)

Tatiana (The Readventurer) — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 01:53:00 +0000

What’s interesting is that Lanagan doesn’t specifically write for YA, rather, her publishers (mainly US) choose to publish her works as YA. If this classification is to Lanagan’s advantage is unclear.

By: Wendy

Wendy — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 01:48:51 +0000

That’s all that’s needed for the book to be eligible, but I think Kendall’s question is more regarding how successful a book is at being a work for young adults (regardless of its publication status), which is certainly a valid point of judgment for the award.

I’m hoping we’ll discuss this book at length soon, but yes, agreed with Mark that most of the central characters are young adults–Lory and the second witch, too. And a lot of it is about, like… sexual awakening, I guess you’d call it. I remember being a little startled in the section narrated by the mother where it turns out the father is up to the same tricks as his son, mostly because it seemed like such adolescent behavior.

By: Elizabeth Fama

Elizabeth Fama — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 01:24:56 +0000

I thought that for Printz purposes “published as YA” was all we needed?

By: Mark Flowers

Mark Flowers — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 01:08:46 +0000

@Kendall – I guess I’m confused as how it *isn’t* YA. Probably the majority of the novel is narrated by young adults (the two Daniel sections, Bet Winch, and most of Misskaella’s section, plus maybe Dominic. I don’t remember how old Lory and the second witch-blanking on her name-are, but they’re pretty young too). Lanagan is an established young adult author. It’s written at a high level of comprehension, but still easily within reach of older teens. And it is published as YA.

By: Kendall

Kendall — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 21:18:26 +0000

Hello, I truly enjoy this blog (though I don’t usually comment) and appreciate the depth of the discussions. I am in the midst of reading The Brides of Rollrock Island because of its nomination here, and I was wondering if you would include the “Why is this YA” question when you blog about the book (as you did with Dying to Know You by Chambers). I know Brides was published as YA, and I’m not arguing the point, I am just hoping someone can clarify to me what makes it YA, either in the blog or the comments. Thank you!

By: Hope Baugh

Hope Baugh — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 17:15:46 +0000

Well, drat. I got busy and forgot to vote here. Ah, well. ‘Looking forward to finally reading Code Name Verity! (and others)