A blogging throwback to Nonfiction Monday starring 4 great High School nonfiction books of 2024

 Back in the day in the golden age of children's book blogging, we used to have Nonfiction Monday.  I'm doing that today, becuase I'm the chair of this year's high school non-fiction category of the Cybils Awards (after being Elementary/middle grade speculative fiction for the past few years, I thought it was time to turn that category over to a fresh chair, and happily Katy of A Library Mama has stepped up to the challenge, so it's in good hands).

So this summer I've been getting a head start on HS fiction, and here are a few of the excellent books I've read so far!

In a nod to labor day, I'll start with Shift Happens: The History of Labor in the United States, by J. Albert Mann (Harper Collins, 2024)

I generally consider myself to be well informed history wise, but there was So Much in this book that I didn't know about and have never thought about. Lots of really disturbing information about people struggling against the forces of capitalism throughout US history that was eye opening and thought provoking.   The author does a great job telling the stories vividly and without beating the reader over the head with, makes it clear how the struggles of our counties works and the oppression of those getting rich of their blood and sweat still reverberate today.

American Wings: Chicago's Pioneering Black Aviators and the Race for Equality in the Sky, by Sherri L. Smith and Elizabeth Wein (Putnam Young Readers, 2024)

Another one in which I learned an awful lot, not just about the history of aviation and the black men and women who fought hard against oppression to win their wings, but about American (and also Ethiopean) history.  What I loved especially about this one is how the authors made the people they wrote about come to life without putting words in their mouths or us inside their heads.  A truly engrossing read!

Shackled: A Tale of Wronged Kids, Rogue Judges, and a Town that Looked Away, by Candy J. Cooper (Calkins Creek, 2024)

When a Pennsylvania judge and his cronies have a financial interest in a for profit juvenile detention center, it is not a surprise that the number of kids sent to be locked up for minor infractions skyrockets. This is the true story of how the lives of more than 2,500 children were sacrificed for their greed, and how their hideous scheme was discovered and brought to an end.  It is horrific (the poor kids, and their poor parents who were powerless to save them), but also a gripping read.

Hurdles in the Dark: My Story of Survival, Resilience, and Triumph, by Elvira K. Gonzalez (Roaring Brook Press, 2024)

This autobiographical account of the author's determination to overcome the myriad challenges of her life and win a college athletic scholarship for hurdling reads like a gripping novel.  From her impoverished childhood to her mother's kidnapping (she has to find $40,000 to get her back), her brief time in juvie where she vows she'll someday write the story of her life, on to finding a coach who believes in her, but who turns out to be grooming her, and then at last to college, it is riveting, horrific, moving, and powerful. I am so glad she came out of it all and has shared her story with the world.

These are just a few of the books of that will be eligible for this year's High School Nonfiction category.  If you think they look like something you'd like to read, do consider applying to be a HS nonfic panelist!  The deadline is September 7th, and all the information is here at the Cybils website.  And if you have any questions about applying, or the amount of reading required, or anything else, please let me know!

Five reasons why you might want to apply to be a Cybils judge in elementary/middle grade speculative fiction!

The call for this years Cybils Awards panelists has gone out, and anyone who reviews or talks about kids and ya books on line (blog, you tube, Goodreads, etc.) is welcome to apply to be part of the fun and excitement!

The Cybils Awards includes many different categories of books (ranging from picture books to YA fiction), and each category has it's own set of panelists. The first round panelists narrow all the nominated books down to a shortlist of 5-7 books, and then a second group had to pick the final winner. Anyone in the world can nominate a book in each category; some categories end up with lots of books and some with fewer (elementary/middle grade speculative fiction is around 110-130, on the higher end).

So in essence, the first round involves lots and lots of reading, and lots of emails exchanged with co-panelists chatting in a friendly and companionable way about what we like, what we don't like, what we find amusing, what we find irritating, and how hard it will be to narrow it down to seven books. In the second round, with only seven books, there's less banter and more intense thought about the relative merits of the books. The two criteria we use in judging are good writing and lots of appeal for the target audience (diversity is not a explicit criteria, but does factor in to the target audience appeal).

I'm the category chair for elementary/middle grade speculative fiction (roughly books for 8-12 year olds), and if you are reading my blog, this might well be the group of books that you enjoy the most too! I am always so happy to welcome new folks into the judging, and so to encourage you who haven't done it before, I offer--

Five reasons why you might want to apply to be a Cybils judge in elementary/middle grade speculative fiction!

1. The books are really really good this year. (I say this every year, and every year it is true, but this year they are perhaps even really, really, really good).

2. It makes fall a lot more fun when you are a first round panelist. I love the excitement of the nomination period, the fun of marking books read in the spreadsheet, the wild placing of library holds  and the arrival of review copies (mostly digital these days, but some still physical). I love having a forum in which I can honestly share with no holding back what I really think about books; it is very companionable.

3. You will find new authors to love, and you will become extremely knowledgeable about the middle grade spec. fic. books of the past year.

4. You will make new friends and quite possibly be inspired to review more.

5. As the category organizer, assembling the panels is part of my job, so this reason why you should apply is somewhat selfish. I want lots and lots of people to apply so that I can have new participants along with reliable veterans, and so that the panels can have lots of different view points represented. I take up one of the seven available slots in the first round because I'm the Lead Reader, but that still leaves six, and five more for the second round....

If you still have doubts, let me reassure you that it is less work than you might think!

There will probably be around 120 books nominated in EMG Spec Fic. This might seem like a lot of books to read, but remember, you'll probably have read a fair number of them already (if you haven't, you must not like MG spec fic, so you wouldn't be applying). Also each book only Has to be read by 2 panelists, and since I plan to read all the books, that takes pressure off of others. And also if it is clear to you before finishing a book that you could not support it being shortlisted, you don't have to finish it but can still mark it as read.

Though the nominating period ends October 15, you can start reading just as soon as you get the invitation email from me in mid September, giving you three and half months for reading (the shortlists must be assembled by the end of December). On the other hand, if you are having a baby, starting a new job, planning on spending the month of December snowbound with no internet access, or moving house this fall, the second round might be a better fit for you!

Things that I look for when gathering panelists:

Obviously, I really want people who know and love EMG Spec Fic; this is the most important thing to demonstrate when you apply! (Do not include a link to a review in which you say "I don't really like middle grade fiction, but I liked this book" or some such, which really has happened a few times in the past). I want a mix of parents, educators, librarians, and authors. I want a range of viewpoints; I'd love diverse panelists. . And I want panelists who are able to think clearly and critically about what makes for a good mg spec fic book and who are willing to enjoy sharing their opinions.

So here's the link to the application page on the Cybils website. Please apply! (you get to put three categories you're interested in, ranked...you could put EMG spec fic for all three if you wanted.  Nb--picture books are the most popular first pick; graphic novels and High School non-fiction always would welcome more applicants.  EMG spec fic is somewhere in the middle....

If you are on the fence about applying, please feel free to email me at charlotteslibrary at gmail.com with any questions or concerns.

Diverse YA speculative fiction books not yet nominated for the Cybils Awards

The Cybils Awards are chosen by panels of book reviewers in a variety of children's and YA book categories, based on two criteria--quality of writing, and reader appeal.  Diversity isn't a criteria, but we at the Cybils love it when diverse books are well represented in the pool from which we choose our shortlisted books--we can't have diverse finalists if the diverse books aren't there to begin with.

So in the hope that the pool of YA speculative fiction books, in which I'm a first round panelist this year, is as diverse as can be, here's a list of books that haven't been nominated yet.  Some obvious books aren't on this list, because they've been nominated.  You can see the whole list of what's been nominated here.  

Eligible books are those published for teens from October 16 2017 to October 15 2018 in the US and Canada, and easily available.  This category accepts ebook only publications (not all do).

Disclaimers
--I haven't read most of these books, so I can't vouch for how good they are.
--I did a cursory check to make sure they were eligible, but not with the attention the category organizer will pay in making the call, so I could be wrong
--I don't know most of the authors, so I was going by names and pictures and could well have made mistakes

Please let me know if I missed any!  I went through the Goodreads list of 1000 or so YA books of 2018, but I lack the time to try to find the fall 2017 books, so if you know of any, please add them in the comments!

Blanca and Roja, by Anna- Marie McLemore (now nominated!)

Smoke in the Sun (Flame in the Mist #2), by Renee Ahdieh

Shadowsong (Wintersong #2) by S. Jae-Jones

Inferno (Talon #5), by Julie Kagawa

The Astonishing Color of After, by Emily X.R. Pan  (now nominated!)

Chainbreaker (Timekeeper #2), by Tara Sim  (LGBTQ)

The Timingila, by Shon Mehta

Isle of Blood and Stone (Tower of Winds #1), by Makiia Lucier

Djinn, by Sang Kromah

Reflection (Twisted Tales #4), by Elizabeth Lim  now nominated

The Initiation, by Chris Babu

Shadow of the Fox (Shadow of the Fox #1), by Julie Kagawa now nominated

Wildcard (Warcross #2), by Marie Lu (now nominated!)

Inkmistress (Of Fire and Stars #0.5), by Audrey Colthurst (LGBTQ)

A Thousand Beginnings and Endings, by Ellen Oh

Alpha (The Infinity Divistion #3), by Jus Accardo

The Beast Player, by Nahoko Uehashi

Restore Me (Shatter Me, #4) by Tahereh Mafi

Fighting Fate (Joining of Souls #2), by Shaila Patel

A Blade So Black, by LL McKinney (now nominated!)

Please nominate these and any other great YA speculative fiction books you've read in the past year!

Here's where you go to nominate.

Public nominations close October 15, 2018.  Let me know if you have any questions!

Five reasons to apply to be a Cybils Judge (with particular referrence to middle grade spec fic)

The call for Cybils panelists has gone out, and anyone who has a website where children's books are reviewed is welcome to apply!  If you are unfamiliar with the Cybils, the jist of it is that there are many categories of books (including middle grade speculative fiction, formerly middle grade science fiction and fantasy), and during the nomination period, everyone in the world is welcome to nominate their favorite books in each category.   Then comes the first round of judging, in which panelists read all (as far as is possible) the books nominated and come up with shortlists, and then comes the second round, in which a different set of panelists reads the shortlists and comes up with a winner.

So in essence, the first round involves lots and lots of reading, and lots of emails exchanged with co-panelists, and the second round slightly less of each, but perhaps more intense.  Books are picked on the basis of good writing and lots of appeal for the target audience.

Here are five reasons why you might want to apply to be a Cybils judge in middle grade speculative fiction!

1.  The books are really really good this year.  I just scrolled through the Kirkus reviews back to October 16 (the beginning of this year's eligibility period) and there are about thirty mg spec fic books with stars (and others to which I'd have given stars).  And I just went through my own list o books read so far, and came up with thirty (!) books I'd be happy to see on the final short list of seven. Good books means good reading, and good, passionate discussion.

2.  It makes fall a lot more fun when you are a first round panelist.   I love the excitement of the nomination period, the fun of marking books read in the spreadsheet, the wild placing of library hold requests and the packages that arrive full of books not obtainable through the library.  I love having a forum in which I can honestly share with no holding back what I really think about books. 

3.  It will make you really really knowledgeable about the middle grade spec. fic. books of the past year.  You will be able to come up with a book for anyone!  It is something you can put on your resume.  It will bring you to the attention of authors and publishers.

4.  You will make new blogging friends and quite possibly be inspired to blog more.

5.  I'm the category organizer for middle grade speculative fiction, which means assembling the panels is part of my job, so this reason why you should apply is somewhat selfish.  I want lots and lots of people to apply so that I can have new participants along with reliable veterans, and so that the panels can have lots of different view points represented.  I take up one of the seven available slots in the first round, but that still leaves six, and five more for the second round....

If you still have doubts, let me reassure you that it is less work than you might think!

There will probably be around 150 books nominated in MG Spec Fic.  This might seem like a lot of books to read, but remember, you'll probably have read a fair number of them already (if you haven't, you must not like MG spec fic, so you wouldn't be applying).    Also each book only Has to be read by 2 panelists, and since I plan to read all the books, that takes pressure of others.   And also if it is clear to you before finishing a book that you could not support it being shortlisted, you don't have to finish it but can still mark it as read.   Though the nominating period ends October 15, you can start reading just as soon as you get the invitation email from me in mid September, giving you three and half months for reading (the shortlists must be assembled by the end of December).    On the other hand, if you are having a baby, starting a new job, planning on spending the month of December snowbound with no internet access, or moving house this fall, the second round might be a better fit for you!

Things that I look for when gathering panelists:

Obviously, I really want people who know and love MG Spec Fic; this is the most important thing to demonstrate when you apply!  (Do not include a link to a review in which you say "I don't really like middle grade fiction, but I liked this book" or some such, which really has happened a few times in the past).   I want a mix of parents, educators, librarians, and authors. I want a range of viewpoints.  And I want panelists who are able to think clearly (at least most of the time, she says, looking at self) and critically about what makes for a good mg spec fic book. 

So here's the direct link to the application form; please apply!

If you are on the fence about applying, please feel free to email me at charlotteslibrary at gmail.com with any questions or concerns! 

Presenting the 2013 Cybils Elementary and Middle Grade Speculative Fiction Panelists!

It was my job this year to choose the 2013 Cybils Elementary and Middle Grade Speculative Fiction Panelists...and after much blog reading and careful thought, I picked 7 newcomers and 5 Cybils returnes.   There were good people I just didn't have room for this year--to you I say, please feel free to try again next year!

Isn't this just a superb line-up of EMG SF readers?  I'm so excited.

First Round

Melissa Fox, Book Nut
www.thebooknut.com
@book_nut

Kristen Harvey, The Book Monsters
http://www.thebookmonsters.com/
@bookgoil

Allie Jones, In Bed With Books
http://inbedwithbooks.blogspot.com
@wearedevilcow

Cecelia Larsen, The Adventures of Cecelia Bedelia
http://ceceliabedelia.blogspot.com
@celialarsen

Brandy Painter, Random Musings of a Bibliophile
http://randommusingsofabibliophile.blogspot.com
@brandymuses

Charlotte Taylor, Charlotte's Library
http://charlotteslibrary.blogspot.com
@charlotteslib

Stephanie Whalen, Views from the Tesseract
http://shanshad1.wordpress.com

Second Round

Gina Ruiz, AmoXcalli
http://amoxcalli.biz
@ginaruiz

Sarah Potvin, Librarian of Snark
http://librarianosnark.blogspot.com
@librarianosnark

Sondra Eklund, Sonderbooks
http://sonderbooks.com
@sonderbooks

Laura Phelps, Bibliothecary Prescriptions
http://bibliothecaryprescriptions.blogspot.com
@elfhelps

Sarah Bean Thompson, GreenBeanTeenQueen
http://www.greenbeanteenqueen.com
@greenbeanblog

Apply to be a Cybils Panelist starting Thursday, or, Why 150 isn't a scary number of books

Panelist applications for the Cybils open this Thursday!  For those who haven't been involved with the Cybils before, and not sure about applying, here's my personal take on how things work (the official information is available at the Cybils website).

WHAT ARE THE CYBILS?

In a nutshell, the Cybils are book awards for children's and Young Adult books and aps, given by panels of volunteer bloggers. Anyone can nominate eligible titles in a variety of subgenres during the nomination period, which runs from Oct. 1 to Oct. 15, 2014.  (Eligible titles are books published for children or teens between Oct. 16, 2012 and Oct. 15, 2013).

The nominated books/aps are evaluated by a first round of 5-7 panelists; at the end of December, these panelists send a short list of 5-7 titles to a second round of panelists, who then have to pick a winner.  The main criteria for judging are audience appeal and literary merit.

Any currently active children's and YA book blogger, who is at least 16 years old, can apply to be a first or second round panelist for any of the following categories:

Book Apps
Easy Readers/Early Chapter Books
Fiction Picture Books
Graphic Novels
Elementary/Middle- Grade Nonfiction
Young Adult Nonfiction
Poetry
Middle Grade Fiction
Young Adult Fiction
Elementary/Middle- Grade Speculative Fiction
Young Adult Speculative Fiction

Some categories have more books nominated in them than others--last year Elementary and MG Speculative Fiction had 150, and Fiction Picture Books, Middle Grade and YA categories had as many, if not more (the YA categories, I think, were pushing 200).   So the time commitment varies considerably.

FOR THOSE THINKING OF APPLYING:

The panels are comprised of returning Cybilians (dependable veterans), and newcomers.  

This year I'm category organizer for Elementary and Middle Grade Speculative Fiction (formerly Sci Fi/Fantasy), which means choosing two balanced, thoughtful, enthusiastic groups of readers--first round readers who aren't daunted by the thought of a 150 or so book list, and second round panelists who will be sharp as all get out when picking the best of the best.

Do not be put off by that 150 number!   It sounds much more scary than it is.

Why, though it is lot of reading, it's not so scary:

--not everybody has to read every book (it's a minimum of two readers for each book).
--not every book you can count as read has to be read in its entirety.
--you'll have read a number of the books already
--panelists know before the nomination period begins that they are panelists, and so the reading period actually begins in the middle of September (there are many books to read that you just know will be nominated).
--In many categories, like E and MG Spec Fic, some books will be very short, fast reads, which helps.

There's no fixed minimum number of books you have to read, and it is not a competition to see who can read the most books--there will be speed readers, and less speedy readers, and both are just fine, as long as there is sincere commitment and effort.  

And of course, if you want to be a second round panelist, it's at most seven books to read.

Why you might want to apply--

It is really, really fun to talk enthusiastically about books you love (and love less well) with like-minded folk.  You can say all sorts of things to your co-panelists that you would never say in public--squeeing, arguing, venting, and gushing are perfectly fine! It is a great way to revitalize your reading.  (It is also a great way to distract yourself from things you'd rather not do, but that might be a reason not to apply...)

You make new friends.  Some of my best blogging friends were fellow Cybilians.

After being a first round panelist, you will have an incredibly broad picture of what's up in the genre. 

You will have a sense of satisfaction from having helped create a resource (the lists of finalists) that lots of people will appreciate.


Why you might not want to apply (particularly for the first round)

If you have a major life commitment this fall--having a baby, starting a new job, buying a house, etc.--you might not want to be a first round panelist (although I've worked with great co-panelists who have done these things while reading furiously!).  Things get a bit intense around Christmas, when the deadline for the list of finalists looms, so you'll need to be able to spare some hours for group discussions/last minute re-reading/careful thought.

If you have a potential conflict of interest (perhaps you are in the book business in some way, or perhaps you have written an eligible book), that would preclude you from being an impartial panelist, you'll want to make sure this is made clear when you apply.

If you don't think it sounds like fun to check your email lots and lots to see what your co-panelists have to say about their reading, and to share your own thoughts, and to check off the books you've read in the spreadsheet, you might want to think it over...You don't have to go overboard, but you should plan on being Present in a meaningful way.

If you live outside the US, you are welcome to apply, but you will have a harder time getting hold of books (if this applies to you, and you think you could manage it, do feel free to explain when you fill out the application form!).

If for some reason you don't have easy access to a public library, you might have a hard time getting books; some books will come from publishers and authors, including ebooks, but many will not.

But in any event,

Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction is the Best Category Ever and the books are really good this year and I hope lots of you apply, although then I will have to make Hard Choices and be sad about not being able to pick everyone....

Which reminds me that it's common knowledge that some categories get lots of applicants (the YA ones, and fiction picture books), and some get lots fewer (poetry, non-fiction, book aps); you might want to keep that in mind when you indicate your choices.  I have no idea how many people put E and MG Spec Fic down as their first choice last year, and I am very curious indeed to see how it plays out!

And if you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments, or email me at charlotteslibary at gmail dot com.

The Cybils Elementary/Middle Grade Sci Fi and Fantasy winners of years past

The 2013 Cybils season is almost here--applications for being a panelist will open on the 15th of August, and close the 31st.  Excited about this as I always am, I thought it might be fun to go back and take a look at the authors who were the winners in the Cybils Elementary/MG sci fi/fantasy from years past, to see what they are up to now!  

 

 

2007  The True Meaning of Smekday written by Adam Rex.   I am rather abashed that I have never read this one, and will try to do so soon... Since 2007 Adam Rex has been busy writing, and illustrating, picture books (such as Frankenstein Takes the Cake, and the illustrations for Neil Gaiman's Chu's Day).  He's also written a YA book, Fat Vampire, and two books of  MG sci fi/fantasy series, Cold Cereal, and Unlucky Charms (which is eligible for the Cybils this year!).

 

 

2008 The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman.  Before it won the Newbery and the Carnegie Awards, it was shortlisted for the Cybils...and Neil Gaiman continues to be Neil Gaiman.  I haven't read the forthcoming Fortunately the Milk (2013) yet, but it looks like a perfectly eligible contender for this year!

 

 

2009 Dreamdark: Silksinger (Faeries of Dreamdark) written by Laini Taylor.  Laini had originally planned to write more books about the Faeries of Dreamdark, and I hope some day she will, but in the meantime she's working on the third book of the YA Daughter of Smoke and Bone Trilogy.

2010  The Shadows (The Books of Elsewhere, Vol. 1) written by Jacqueline West.  Happily for all of us who enjoyed this one lots, Jacqueline West has been busily writing more books in the series; the fourth book, The Strangers, came out in July, making it eligible for this year!

2011 The Cheshire Cheese Cat: A Dickens of a Tale written by Carmen Agra Deedy and Randall Wright.  Since Cheshire Cheese Cat, Carmen Agra Deedy has published The Return of the Library Dragon, for younger readers. 

2012 The False Prince written by Jennifer Nielsen, and yay!  the sequel, The Runaway King, was published this year (making it eligible), and the third book,  The Shadow Throne, is coming March 2014.

 

So if you want to help pick the 2013 winner, in this or any of the various other Cybils categories, do throw your name into the hat this year!  I'm the category organizer for Elementary/MG Speculative Fiction (we've tweaked the name this year), and I'll be putting up a post in the next day or so with all the detais about what being a panelist entails....

 (Hmm... seems that blue and orangy/yellows are the cover color schemes most likely to win.  They do all look very nice together....)

 

And the Cybils Winners are.....

The Cybils Winners have been announced!!!

I was a panelist for middle grade sci fi/fantasy, and helped come up with this shortlist:

A Monster Calls: Inspired by an idea from Siobhan Dowd, by Patrick Ness
Breadcrumbs, by Anne Ursu
Dragon Castle, by Joseph Bruchac
Icefall, by Matthew J. Kirby
The Cheshire Cheese Cat: A Dickens of a Tale, by Carmen Agra Deedy
The Inquisitor's Apprentice, by Chris Moriarty
Tuesdays at the Castle, by Jessica Day George

and the winner (with blurb lifted from the Cybils website) is:

The Cheshire Cheese Cat: A Dickens of a Tale
by Carmen Agra Deedy and Randall Wright; illustrations by Barry Moser
Peachtree
Nominated by: Monica Edinger

The Cheshire Cheese Cat slipped into our hearts like Skilley the alley cat sneaks into Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese. Much more than just a cute, talking animal fantasy (though it is that too), this book has a depth of theme and character and a richness of language that blew us away. Both animals and humans ring true to life and the unique alliance that develops between Skilley and Pip, an uncommonly well-educated mouse, matures and ripens like a tasty piece of cheese. The illustrations scattered through the text are warmly humorous and add dimension to the characters. Charles Dickens has an important supporting role and there are abundant literary allusions and though these may be lost on some younger readers, we believe they will remember and enjoy them again in later life. We feel that The Cheshire Cheese Cat has oodles of kid appeal and that readers will be as charmed as we were by this sweet and funny tale of an unlikely friendship overcoming the odds.

The winner in YA sci fi/fantasy (also lifted from the Cybils website) is

Blood Red Road
by Moira Young
Margaret K. McElderry
Nominated by: Leila Roy

Blood Red Road is one of those books that can be infinitely compared to other stories -- one panelist wrote that it “read like the Harlequin Romance version of Mad Max” -- while still having its own unique voice and style. We’re not sure where an Australian writer living in England learned an Ozark accent. Although we sometimes struggled with it, we admired the way the innovative use of language allows the reader to get into the head of the prickly but ultimately sympathetic protagonist.

Saba’s beloved twin brother Lugh has been kidnapped, and Saba knows it’s up to her to rescue him. This is no easy task in their post-apocalyptic world, where food is scarce and those who can’t fight are easy pickings. Luckily, Saba’s a survivor, and she finds some allies in her quest: a handsome man named Jack, a group of fierce warrior women, and even her own little sister Emmi.

Saba is a wonderfully dynamic character, growing from a sometimes cruel girl with a single-minded purpose into a more mature young woman sensitive to the feelings of those close to her, particularly Emmi. The violent wasteland Saba inhabits is well-drawn and terrifying in the best way. The romance can feel cheesy, but it’s interwoven in a way that doesn’t overpower the story. While the plot is sometimes predictable, we loved that this book takes risks, doesn't talk down to its audience, and takes us on a familiar journey in a style that we don't often see. The combination of voice, character, and fast-paced action make this an appealing book that will keep readers turning the pages.

The full list of winners can be found here; I was very pleased to see Zita the Space Girl winning in middle grade graphic novels!

The Skeleton's Knife, by Joni Sensel

Earlier this week I reviewed The Jewel of the Kalderash, third in a series whose first book I helped shortlist for the Cybils in 2008. By sheer coincidence, today's book, The Skeleton's Knife, by Joni Sensel ( Dream Factory Books, 2011, 270 pages) is also the third in a series whose first book, The Farwalker's Quest, was shortlisted in middle grade sci fi/fantasy back in 2009.

This series as a whole is excellent fantasy/science fiction that I don't hesitate to recommend to upper middle grade (and older) fans of adventure stories, especially ones who do not want anything medievally (ie, castles), or paranormal. It's both thought-provoking and entertaining. I'd recommend starting with the first one, not because this can't be read alone, but there is no particular reason to. Here's my review of The Farwalker's Quest, and my review of the second book, The Timekeeper's Moon.

When The Skeleton's Knife begins, 14 year old Ariel hopes to find peace after a series of adventures that helped bring the beginnings of civilization back to her post-apocalyptic world. But peace is not what she finds. Not only is she torn between her loyalty to old friend, Zeke, and the romantic tension that is building between her and her new friend, Nace (yes, a love triangle....), but the ghost of a man who kidnapped her and almost killed her is troubling her spirit. Gifted with the ability to travel to where she needs to go--she is a "farwalker--Ariel is led to the man's skeletal body, and finds his knife.

Instinctively she knows that she must return the knife to the place where it was made. And so, accompanied by her mentor Scarl, and by Zeke (but not by Nace), Ariel head out on another quest. This time her feet take her to the ocean, where, in a remnant fishing community, she meets new friends, who have dark secrets of their own. To free herself from the curse of the skeleton's knife, and to bring these new friends peace, Ariel must take her darkest journey yet, to a place from which no living person has ever returned.

It's always a lovely thing, to travel again with old friends! This journey did not disappoint. The fine characterization and interesting story made this just as compelling a read as the previous two books. I particularly liked the world-building in this one--the dying community where Ariel travels is a fascinating place. And, in as much as I consider Ariel, Scarl, and Zeke old friends, I was glad that they all got happy endings. True, there was the small issue of the love triangle, but it was handled well, and didn't become a nagging distraction! In fact, this one might be my favorite of the series--the story is smaller in scope, which allows for more concentration on character and slower ratcheting up of tension.

Note on age: there are dark elements in the series as a whole, and some violence, as well as the turn toward romantic entanglements (still fairly nascent, but well on their way to being more). I wouldn't rush to give these books to anyone younger than elevenish.

The first two books in the series were published by Bloomsbury, who (I'm guessing) declined to continue with this one. Thank goodness there are other options available to authors these days-- I'm awfully glad to have been given the opportunity to find out that Scarl, in particular, got a happy ending! I'm mentioning this because I don't want anyone to be deterred by worries that The Skeleton's Knife is anything less than polished and professional.

Over at The Write Path, you can find another review, and a giveaway!

(disclaimer: a copy was sent to me by the author--thanks!)

And final note--Joni Sensel is also the author of The Humming of Numbers, a historical fantasy set in early Medieval Ireland. It was think about this book last night that made me decide to create my historical fantasy list, because I wrote my review of it ages ago (here), and it's a book that many of you all who read my blog today might be glad to know about.

The ones that got away--four mg sff books that didn't make the shortlist

Although I'm very fond of the books on the middle grade fantasy/science fiction shortlist for the Cybils, there were (as is always the case) books that I myself loved that didn't (sniff) make it. Here are four that would have made my own personal best list of the (Oct-Oct) year.

The Ring of Solomon, by Jonathan Stroud. I am a huge fan of the demon Baritmaeus, and loved this book to pieces. From my review:

"Oh my gosh I enjoyed this one so very much. Not, so much, the first hundred or so pages, which were mostly Bartimaeus annoying various beings and getting into trouble, because I found Bartimaeus is hard to like when he is just one demon among many. But once Bartimaeus and Asmira get together, the sparks begin to fly! With her to provide a foil for him, Bartimaeus pushes the boundaries of standard cold-hearted demon-ness, and Stroud does a beautifully teasingly tantalizing and oh so engrossing job of making Bartimaeus sympathetic (while still demonic). And he was just the companion Asmira needed to push her out of her box of blind duty and into independent thinking. From kick-ass knife thrower without much personality, she progresses to strong young woman one can really root for."

Season of Secrets, by Sally Nicholls, which tells of a grieving girl who finds herself caught up in the age old magical violence of the changing seasons of the year. Here's what I said about this one: "I think that this is one for those readers who would, if they had to pick either Character or Plot to be marooned with on a desert island, would go with Character.

That would be me, and I thought it was a lovely book. The writing, the characters, and mix of fantasy and reality, and the mix of sadness and hope make this one of my favorites of 2011."

The Ogre of Oglefort, by Eva Ibottson. This book, her last, is my favorite of all Ibottson's books. It all hangs together just ever so delightfully, and is basically the perfect, lightly-diverting younger middle grade fantasy for me in particular. Here's my review, where I explain this in more detail.

And finally, I'd like to give a nod to Mistress of the Storm, by M.L. Welsh. This one was on my anxious list of books that hadn't yet been nominated, along with Season of Secrets; I went with Season, and was very sad that this one didn't find a champion. From my review: "There's a lovely, old-fashioned feel to this book. It's set neither firmly in the past, or in the present--there's no technology, but Verity "feels" like a modern child. The setting has a lovely solidness to it--it's a slightly not quite real place, but real in the story sense, and many of the characters are likewise reminiscent of people one might have met in other stories long ago--in an evocative, rather than an imitative, way (if that makes sense?). Verity is a classic example of the bookish outsider making good, and as such many of us will empathize with her, and cheer her on."

Kids of color in the middle grade fantasy and science fiction books of October 2010 to October 2011

I have read around 130 middle grade fantasy and science fiction books published between October 16, 201o and October 15, 2011. 130 books were nominated for the Cybils, for which I am a first round panelist in mg sci fi/fantasy, and I've read all but 15 of them. When I add to that the books I've read that weren't nominated, I have a nice and fairly comprehensive database.

And one of the things that interests me is the extent to which kids who aren't white get shown and included in this particular genre.

These are the eight books I know of whose main characters are not of white, northern European descent, and who are shown as such on the cover. Darwen Arkwright is stretching it a bit, because he's a silhouette, but his buddy Alexandra is shown as the African American girl she is, so I let Darwen be part of this cluster.

I read two books which included non-white characters in supporting roles, and showed them on the cover.







And I read five books with non-white characters (all clearly of African ancestry, or described as having dark, or brown, skin), that showed them on the cover, but in a somewhat ambiguous way.



Edited to add: I had meant to include The Boy at the End of the World, by Greg van Eekhout, in this category, but that picture got lost in my struggle with Blogger. Here's the author talking about the portrayal of the main character on the cover. Thanks for the reminder, Doret!

Additionally, there was one book, Zinnia's Zaniness, by Lauren Baratz-Logsted, whose protagonist looked to me as though she could be Hispanic, although I didn't see any mention of ethnicity in the text.

I can think of only two other books (sadly not nominated for the Cybils...I hate it when the good ones don't make it!) that didn't have a Northern European protagonist-- Laurence Yep's City of Ice, and Jenny Nimo's The Secret Kingdom. And I cannot think of a single other important supporting character of color in a book not already mentioned, but I could easily have missed many....especially in books I was really enjoying.

It was, sadly, easy to pull this list together (apart from Blogger being difficult viz formatting). I was not tempted to say "oh goodness there are too many" and throw up my hands.

19 out of circa 130 books nominated.

Please tell me I missed lots????

Torn (The Missing, book 4) by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Today's Timeslip Tuesday is Torn, the fourth book in The Missing Series by Margaret Peterson Haddix (Simon & Schuster, 2011 middle grade, 352 pages), book number 79 in my Cybils reading. This series follows the fortunes of a group of children kidnapped from their proper places in time and space, and placed for adoption with 21st century families. This led to negative temporal ramifications, and operatives from the future had to come back to our present so as to restore time to its rightful pattern. The kids must be returned, and one of these children, a boy named Jonah, along with his sister-by-adoption, Katherine, is sent on various missions back in time to do restoration work.

Unfortunately for Jonah and Katherine (and potentially for the whole world), a rouge time-travel agent has come up with a dastardly plan to foil everything, and create a whole new time line....starting at the beginning of the 17th century.

And so, as Torn begins, Jonah and Katherine find themselves trapped on Henry Hudson's last voyage as he desperately seeks for the fabled northwest passage. Jonah assumes the role of Hudson's son, John (one of the time kidnapped children--disruptions to the temporal scheme of things has mysteriously kept him from returning to his own time). Katherine, who has no part to play, is an invisible lurker.

It's not a pretty place to be. The crew is mutinous, and the food, what there is left of it, is foul. Worse than that, though, is Hudson's insane obsession with finding the northwest passage; it has driven him to erratic cruelty. There are dark secrets on board this doomed voyage--and, because time travel is going all wrong, Jonah and Katherine have no way home. Unless, of course, they can set the past back into its proper channel....

I found this the most gripping of the Missing series. The action is contained, perforce, by the shipboard setting, allowing tension to build nicely, and characterization to be emphasised. There's a real sense of menace and mystery to the story of what happened to the doomed members of the expedition. It's a fact that Hudson, his son, and several other men were set adrift in a small boat, while the mutineers sailed away, and to this already fascinating story Haddix brings twists that heighten the suspense even more.

That being said, issues of a time travel sort took center stage toward the end, and confusion (on my part, and on the kids' part too) clouded things somewhat. The ending was perhaps too-fast paced (it became a what-the-heck grand finale of time-travel mayhem). But no matter. Beginnings and middles of books, especially in long running series, are more important, to my mind at least, than endings.

I think this one is the best time travel story of the lot too--again, I think, because of the constraints imposed by the setting--there was less territory to be explored, and a tighter focus. I wouldn't particularly recommend the other books for their educational value, but Torn would make a great fictional companion to the study of European exploration (it has a fascinating author's note too). I was pleased that I wasn't bothered by any details of shipboard life and culture (this could be a case of ignorance being bliss, but I think Haddix did a good job). The only time I was kicked out of the story by disbelief came right at the end, when a time-travelling village of Native Americans was resettled in a nature preserve far in the future....a throwaway bit of loose-end tying up, but one that raised my eyebrows considerably.

Even though I liked this one the best of the series, there's no point in reading it if you haven't read the others--too confusing! The end leaves open the possibility of more books to come, but doesn't demand them. I looked quickly to see if more are planned, but to no avail--does anyone know if there are?

Other time travelers:

Ms. Yingling has a time travel post today too, and Stephanie at Read in a Single Sitting posted a lovely long list of YA time travel books.

You Have to Stop This, by Pseudonymous Bosch

Avid readers of my blog might have noticed that there was no Timeslip Tuesday post yesterday. This is because at nine o'clock on Monday night, I finished You Have to Stop This, by Pseudonymous Bosch (Little, Brown, 2011), which is book five in the Secret Series, at which point I realized that it wasn't the timeslip story I had thought it was. A little investigation showed that I was thinking of the Time Travel Chocolate mentioned in the previous book, This Isn't What It Looks Like. It was too late to quickly read another book from scratch, and Tuesday rapidly became a day in which no blogging was possible (ie, busy with work and family).

And then today, instead of peacefully finishing up this post at the library during lunch break, it was off to the doctor's office with a damaged child (very fortunatly, not concussed and broken, as had been feared. Phew.). Which is why this post didn't go up around noon.

But regardless, I have now read my first Pseudonymous Bosch book, which is also the first book I've received from its publisher for Cybils review. It was fairly easy to pick up what was happening, despite not having read the earlier books. Three kids (Cass, Max-Ernest, and Yo-Yoji) are trying to solve an ancient riddle that will reveal a powerful Secret, and a bad guy who happens to be an immortal ghost type with alchemical powers is trying to stop them.

The key to the secret seems to be the mummy that's the centerpiece of a new exhibit in town....but, since Cass accidentally breaks the mummies finger off the first time she sees it, the three kids are the prime subjects when the mummy himself goes missing. And an adventurous adventure (to Las Vegas) ensues as the kids try to find the mummy again, and unlock its secret, before the bad guy does.

It's a light, fun read--I turned the pages rapidly. Bosch is an intrusive narrator, but politely keeps his intrusions in discrete sections, so that his arch asides and over-the-top interjections do not unduly disturb the flow of the story. Cass and Yo-Yoji never quite became three dimensional to me (probably if I'd read books 1-4 my feelings would have been different), but I found Max-Ernest (a quintessentially socially awkward geek type) very engaging.

Likewise, because I haven't read the first books, I have no idea if this is a satisfying conclusion to the series as a whole. The story seemed fairly self-contained, though, so I didn't feel as though I were lost at sea.

Some of the many puns were funny; others not so much.

Basically, I'm going to have to conclude that this is a great book for its intended audience of pun and adventure loving kids....and go back and read the first four! Especially the fourth, which really does seem to be about time travel...maybe...I hope!

Thank you very much, Little, Brown, for supporting the Cybils by sending review copies!

The Cybils Middle Grade Science Fiction and Fantasy Panel

The Cybils middle grade science fiction and fantasy panel was announced yesterday, and I'm thrilled to be a part of the first round of judging. Here are my fellow panelists:

Anamaria Anderson
Books Together

Donalyn Miller
The Book Whisperer

Justin Colussy-Estes
Guys Lit Wire

Sarah Mulhern Gross
The Reading Zone

April Conant
Good Books & Good Wine

Rebecca Newland
My Reading Frenzy


Please keep the nominations coming! (there were 150 books nominated in mg sff last year--will there be that many again????)

The nominations for the Cybils are open (and--when is an animal story fantasy?)

Head over to the Cybils now to nominate your favorite books from the past year!

1. published in the US or Canada only.
   
2. published Oct. 16, 2010 to Oct. 15, 2011;
3. widely available for public sale. Titles available only from book clubs or publisher websites are not eligible, for example, as we cannot obtain copies easily.
4. aimed at the youth market up to age 18. Books marketed to adult readers that may also appeal to teens are not eligible.

Here's a question I have-- when is a book with sentient animals acting as Persons and effecting the course of human events fantasy? The Cheshire Cheese Cat, which I just reviewed, has been nominated in straight middle grade; I think it's fantasy. After all, one of the mice knows how to read. Charlotte's Web--fantasy? (spiders who read) Black Beauty--not fantasy? (none of the horses knows how to read) Thoughts????

Congratulations to The Shadows, winner of the 2010 Middle Grade Sci Fi/Fantasy Cybils Award!

The Cybils Award winners have been announced, and the winner of my own category of middle grade sci fi/fantasy is THE SHADOWS, Books of Elsewhere 1, by Jacqueline West! Of all the books on the shortlist, this is the one I would have loved most as a child. Here's what I said back when it came out last summer:

"Olive's new home is huge and old and neglected, filled to the brim with all the furniture, clothes, paintings, and miscellany of its previous owner. Her mathematician parents, living in their own world of number-fill fun, thinks its a perfect place (the library the size of a small ballroom was a definite selling point). But as eleven-year old Olive begins to explore, she finds that it is a house with secrets--dark ones--painted into the many pictures that are fixed immovably onto its walls. A house that came with remarkable cats who serve an agenda of their own--one they aren't telling Olive. A house with gravestones built into its basement walls.

When she realizes that the old glasses she found tucked away into a drawer actually let her enter the paintings, and met the painted people within them, Olive finds herself in the midst of a mystery that defies logic. Step by step she begins to unravel the dark secrets behind the paintings...but the cats aren't being as helpful as they might be (are they even on Olive's side?) and as Olive's understanding of her new home's secrets grows, so to does her understanding that she is in terrible danger from an evil force that she may unwittingly be bringing back from the dead.

This is an absolutely lovely read for the connoisseur of fantasy for the young. There's the wonderful setting--I'm a sucker for an old house stuffed chock full of Stuff. There's Olive, who's an ordinary child. Not a scrap of magical ability. Smart and self-reliant and very likable, but not so as to be Special. Not a Chosen One--just a kid stumbling into magic, and trying to figure it out--giving the sense that this story could happen to any of us. And Olive doesn't meet a boy whose older and smarter and braver, with whom romance in the future is a possibility. Instead she meets a boy who's younger and needier and not immediately appealing. Another ordinary (well, in character, at least) kid.

Then there's the story itself, with all the mysteries of the paintings for the reader to explore along with Olive. West's writing carries things along just swimmingly, with enough description to make things come alive in vivid detail without hindering the build-up of tension. I enjoyed it tremendously, and recommend it highly, and eagerly anticipate the next book (although, for those tired of series-es (serii?) this ends nicely and is self-contained). In essence, it's Return to Goneaway, by Elizabeth Enright (a great favorite of mine), with a fascinating dark fantasy element.

Age range: It's scary, but not graphically violent. No "YA" content. So just fine for fourth graders on up, including other grown-up lovers of mg fantasy.

Note on animals: although the cats are front and center (which pleases me, as I am on Team Cat, there is also a dog, who, if you like dogs, is a very nicely dog-like one)."

I was one of the panelists who created the shortlist, and I'm glad I didn't have to choose!

Please head over to the Cybils website to see the other winners, and perhaps order them, to show publishers that the Cybils Awards help promote great books!

The Cybils Elementary and Middle Grade Sci Fi Fantasy Shortlist!!!!

For the past few months, I and my fellow panelists have been busily burrowing our way through the 150 books nominated for the Cybils Awards in the Elementary/Middle Grade Sci Fi Fantasy category!

And here (drum roll) is our beautiful Shortlist, as officially announced five minutes ago over at the Cybils Website:

Call, The (The Magnificent 12)
by Michael Grant
Katherine Tegen Books
Nominated by: Ben

Michael Grant has crafted a great beginning to a new series that is guaranteed to leave you wanting more action, more plot development, more laugh-out-loud humor and the next book in the series. The Call follows a 12-year-old boy named Mack who is just a "medium" regular old boy with nothing special about him. However, he soon learns he is one of 12 Magnifica and it is up to him to track down the other eleven kids to stop the evil forces. This book will have you reading right through until the end as you come across some interesting characters and some scenes that may cause you to squirm. Through it all you will find yourself laughing along with the adventures of Mack. --Aaron Maurer

Dead Boys, The
by Royce Buckingham
Putnam Juvenile
Nominated by: Mike Schoeneck

When Teddy moves to a desert community, he makes a lot of new friends, but they are all dead! Victims of a tree mutated by toxic waste into a vicious killer, the boys all perished ten years apart, and if Teddy can’t help them rest in peace, he may be next tasty snack for the maniacal tree. This creepy tale is packed with action, suspense, sly humor and an environmental message as well. --Karen Yingling

Dragonbreath: Attack of the Ninja Frogs
by Ursula Vernon
Dial
Nominated by: Debbie Nance

This second tale of the young dragon, Danny Dragonbreath, is full of hilarious enchantment that should delight the fantasy reader of any age. When Suki, a Japanese exchange student, is beset by Ninja Frogs, Danny and Wendell, his geeky iguana pal (who's fallen hard for Suki), travel with her to mythical Japan to find out what's going on. Danny thinks it's the greatest thing ever to be in the thick of real Ninja action, Wendell's worried about Suki, and as for Suki herself--she just wants to be a comic-book reading veterinarian, preferably a veterinarian who isn't being stalked by Ninjas...Not only is this a laugh-out-loud story, with smart, snappy dialogue and endearing characters, but Vernon's many illustrations, including panels that carry the story forward, are masterpieces of comic art. --Charlotte Taylor

Fever Crumb
by Philip Reeve
Scholastic
Nominated by: Gwenda Bond

Fever is a foundling, adopted as an infant girl and educated by the Order of Engineers, all male, who live in the head of a giant statue. But she has other memories, too--ones that aren't hers, that arise on her first assignment outside the head. Who is Fever Crumb, and why do people want her dead? This prequel to Philip Reeve's Mortal Engines quartet, set in a future London that bears the traces of our own in its language ("Who gives a blog?") and technology, introduces a new series. Yet smart, original, and full of memorable images--of paper boys, and movable fortresses, and a head full of bald engineers--Fever Crumb also stands alone. --Anamaria Anderson

Ninth Ward
by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Little, Brown
Nominated by: Hallie Tibbetts

Twelve-year-old Lanesha has always seen the ghosts of New Orleans, including that of her mother who died in childbirth. While she thinks often about the Uptown family that’s abandoned her, her heart belongs to her caretaker Mama Ya-Ya, the Ninth Ward where they live, and her dreams of becoming an engineer. This gripping, magical portrait of the days before, during and after Hurricane Katrina follows Lanesha as she and her friend TaShon battle real-life dystopian conditions to save their own lives (and their dog, Spot). The result is a powerful survival story that will haunt young readers. --Gwenda Bond

Reckless
by Cornelia Funke
Little, Brown
Nominated by: Angela

Jacob Reckless never intended for his younger brother, Will, to learn about Mirrorworld. He had been keeping it secret since discovering the enchanted portal shortly after their father's disappearance. But when an enchantment causes Will to slowly turn to stone, Jacob realizes he can no longer afford to keep the magic of the land a secret. Accompanied by a shape-shifter and Will's girlfriend, Jacob sets out to find the antidote before his brother's transformation is complete. Cornelia Funke deftly intertwines familiar fairy tales and characters into an action-packed quest tale full of political rivals, jealous lovers and deadly monsters. --Nicole Signoretta

Shadows, The (The Books of Elsewhere, Vol. 1)
by Jacqueline West
Dial
Nominated by: Sandra Stiles

After being forced to move into an old Victorian household with her Math nut parents, 11-year-old Olive discovers an amazing secret, stuffed into a dresser drawer is a pair of spectacles that allows Olive to climb through the pictures on the walls and into another world that is strangely similar to the real world, right down to the houses and neighbors. However, Olive quickly realizes there are a lot of hidden secrets contained within the old house like why a mysterious cat follows her around, why none of the pictures on the wall can be moved and who is the child Morton who lives inside the mysterious world known as Elsewhere. This first book in the Books of Elsewhere series, weaves a dark tale of mystery, adventure and a battle against a darker power that is determined to turn the lights out on Olive’s world for good. --Cindy Hannikman

Which one do you like best?

And then there's the YA Sci Fi/Fantasy shortlist, which is full of books I didn't expect to see, but includes some favorites of mine (although it is missing a few books I had hoped to see sob sob):

Brain Jack, by Brian Falkner

Guardian of the Dead, by Karen Healey

Plain Kate, by Erin Bow

Pod, by Stephen Wallenfels

Rot & Ruin, by Jonathan Maberry

Ship Breaker, by Paolo Bacigalupi

The Wager, by Donna Jo Napoli

Congratulations to all the authors! Now the books will make their way to the second round panelists, who will have the virtually impossible task of picking one winner....to be announced in February.

Thanks, Fellow Panelists, Sheila Ruth, our sff leader, and Anne Levy, Cybils Administrator, and special thanks to all the publishers and authors who sent us books!

(The links in this post take you to Amazon, where the Cybils Awards will earn a small commission from any purchases. That commission will be used to buy awards for the winners...)