Catching up on the matches from this past week! So, Moonbird v. Seraphina, Judged by Marie Lu. My prediction: “Lu has written fantasy, Seraphina is fantasy.” What did Lu decide? Lu noticed the obvious similarity between the two: “Upon closer inspection, however, I actually found quite a bit of similarity between the two. After all, [...]

Next up, Liar and Spy v Splendors and Glooms as judged by Franny Billingsley. My prediction? “Prediction: Splendors and Glooms just seems more like Billingsley’s type of book, for some reason. We’ll see!” OK. I am giggling madly here, because, and you just will. not. believe. it, but, let’s cut to the chase: “I have [...]

Now up: Jepp Who Defied the Stars v Starry River of the Sky, judged by Adam Gidwitz. My prediction: “Starry River of the Sky. I’ve read neither book and am quite stumped, to be honest. Because I picked the first book in the pairs, above, I went with Starry River of the Sky because it’s [...]

Can I just say, first, how much I’m adoring the artwork for the individual matches? Now, onto Judge Deb Caletti’s decision for The Fault is in Our Stars v Temple Gradin. What was my prediction? “The Fault in Our Stars. I have read neither book, but Caletti is a young adult author and Fault is [...]

Another decision came down last week: Endangered v Three Times Lucky, Judge Kathi Appelt. As you recall, my prediction was “Endangered. Appelt has written about animals. Endangered has animals.” So, what did Appelt say about the animals? “This uncertainty is apparent in every move she makes, with the exception of her almost psychotic attachment to [...]

Code Name Verity v Titanic was judged today by Margarita Engle. My prediction was Code Name Verity. Now, it’s been an exciting day — The Veronica Mars Movie Project Kickstarter, the Death of Google Reader, a new Pope — and amid all that, even more terrificness because as hoped/dreamed/wished, Code Name Verity advances! Let’s take a [...]

The first match has been decided! Bomb v Wonder, judged by Kenneth Oppel. My guess: “Prediction: Bomb. I have not read Wonder, and since Oppel has written historical fiction, I thought, hey, he might like the history book.” Long story short? I WAS RIGHT!!!! Let me gloat for having a perfect record of guessing in [...]

While in the past I have made SLJ BoB predictions, I have never shared them publicly. This year, I am going to show you just how bad I am at “guess the winner.” For full information on all titles and judges, check out the School Library Journal’s Battle of the Kids’ Books webpage. If I’ve [...]

In SLJ BoB, one book goes against another, with a celebrity author judge deciding who will move up to the next round, with the final round being the two surviving books. So, it’s all about the judges, right? Right. And wrong. Those of us following SLJ BoB have some input into who makes it to [...]

Do you know what time it is? It’s time for School Library Journal’s Battle of the Kids’ Books, aka BoB! Why, what is BoB? Excellent question. Sixteen children’s and teen books from the prior year are selected; each title “battles” the other, with a celebrity judge reading the two books and selecting a winner. Those [...]