National Book Award Finalists

And we have finalists! With yesterday’s announcement of the National Book Award Finalists in the Young People’s Literature category it’s really starting to feel like awards season. Last month, Karyn wrote about the longlist, observing that social conscience seemed to be a common thread among the nominees. Now that we’re down to five titles, her theory’s been reinforced.

Here’s the list… with commentary!

Eliot Schrefer, Threatened — When this made the NBA longlist Karyn wondered if we needed to re-add it to our Printz t0-read pile. Two stars, little to no buzz; we felt okay leaving it out but now that it’s an NBA finalist should we revisit that decision? If anyone has compelling arguments or defense, we’re all ears!

Steve Sheinkin, The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights — The last time we covered Sheinkin, Bomb was his NBA finalist (along with Eliot Schrefer’s Endangered; hey, it’s like we’ve time traveled back to 2012!). Although Bomb didn’t win that year–William Alexander’s Goblin Secrets emerged victorious–it still won a kajillion awards and lots of praise. I haven’t read Port Chicago yet, but I’m certainly looking forward to it.

John Corey Whaley, Noggin — I was kind of let down by Noggin but as I noted last week, John Corey Whaley is a master of teen boy speak and his work in this novel is excellent.

Deborah Wiles, Revolution: The Sixties Trilogy, Book Two — It hasn’t been on my radar because it seems to skew young, but four stars! 

Jacqueline Woodson, Brown Girl Dreaming — Another one that’s most definitely middle grade so not on our Printz to-read list. It is, however, one of three books this year that’s earned six stars. Sarah already reviewed This One Summer and I promise we’re getting to that other six-star book next week.

Because the National Book Award is so different from the Printz it’s hard to speculate based on these finalists, but shiny awards are always exciting so let’s talk NBA. Thoughts? Outrage? Ambivalence? Is anyone else really impressed at how accurate Karyn’s “social conscience” theme turned out to be? (Yup, they all fit).

Filed under: Books to look for