By: Kara Schaff Dean,
on 3/27/2010
As I've already mentioned, vacation is well and truly over, and it's time to get down to business. Top of my agenda was catching up with School Library Journal's Battle of the Kids' Books, and this afternoon I devoted a chunk of time to the job. I had 8 first round and 2 second round matches to digest, and what fun reading it made! Handbags were at the ready as some favorites toppled early: fan
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By: Lizzy Burns,
on 3/26/2010
Oh, how a vowel will matter. The LAST Olympian versus The LOST Conspiracy.
Angela Johnson makes a decision that pleases Fuse #8.
Let's just say, that if this was being done in a arena, for the next match? Fuse would be on one side, face painted to match the jacket cover, chanting "LoCo! LoCo!"
While I would be cosplaying it up in my mid 19th century garb, dress and all, responding "CharMa! CharMa!"
Yes, I know this is brief, but better a short post than no post at all!
By: Lizzy Burns,
on 3/24/2010
Tales From Outer Suburbia
Lester is up front about his likes, or should I say, dislikes: "There is an element of time travel in the novel, and I don’t like books or movies in which time travel is an important element." Dear Reader, this is NOT one of those reviews where the reviewer says, "I don't like time travel books but I loved this one!" (I originally wrote, "but OMG I loved this one" and then could not, in any, way, shape, or form, imagine Julius Lester OMG'ing.)
Tales from Outer Suburbia moves on; but it wasn't just time travel that worked against When You Reach Me. Quite simply, Lester liked one book more than the other. One book left him exhilarated and eager to read more; and that book, Suburbia, moved on.
And that, Dear Reader, is what happens in a Battle. One book wins; one book does not; and in the end... There Can Be Only One.
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© Elizabeth Burns of A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy
By: Lizzy Burns,
on 3/23/2010
Anita Silvey's choice: The Storm in the Barn
And the book moving on up is....
But first.
Both of these books involve a marriage of text and illustration; and Silvey takes that element of the books very, very seriously. Talking about the font seriously. Silvey also shows how to write critically about a book; this is not a "bad review," but the best example of a review that examines the various parts of a book, from design to text.
But, most interestingly, Silvey says "I have very strong biases about presenting history to young readers. Unless a work is obviously historical fiction, I prefer for writers to focus on what we believe to be fact—rather than to blend fact and fiction. Because I grew up in a family than never allowed the truth to get in the way of a good story, I myself from age three on wanted to know what was true and what was invented—both in my books and in life. I think many young readers, particularly the picture book set, have the same need."
First -- let me point out how Silvey explains states her bias, explains it, and then proceeds.
Second -- I have to say, I agree with much of what Silvey says.
Except that, for me at least, I don't mind the blending of fact and fiction (because, hello, we are talking fiction books!) as long as it's pointed out in end notes to the book. Otherwise, you get to the end and wonder -- what was real? Oh, you can assume perhaps that the child/teen lead character was invented. Figure out that some of the emotions and dialogue are guesses and conjecture. But if a time period is compressed? Figures that never knew each other meet?
Basically -- if a reader was to take a test (or be having a discussion with people they respected) and used their knowledge remembered from the book to answer the test (or engage in intelligent discussion) and it would turn out they were wrong? Because the book mixed fact and fiction? The reader should be told in an endnote.
Of course some things don't need to be explained! "Endnote: this book supposes that King Richard III was a warlock who time traveled to 1925. That is fiction" isn't needed. But to change King Richard's birthyear from 1452 to 1460 and his mother from Cecily Neville to Margaret of Anjou? That should be told.
Anyway.
Who triumphed? The Storm in the Barn, and Silvey nicely acknowledges both Matt Phelan and his team in reaching that decision.
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© Elizabeth Burns of A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy
By: Lizzy Burns,
on 3/22/2010
Peace, Locomotion or A Season of Gifts?
That is the question judge Cynthia Kadohata faced. Kadohata speaks frankly about books, explaining that, for her, Peace, Locomotion tells instead of shows: "That’s the age-old problem of telling instead of showing, and it happens too often in what is overall a fine book." In his comment, Jonathan Hunt observes that the problem could be sequelitis; that what was told here was shown in the first book.
As for Gifts, Kadohata observes that Peck succeeds by playing to his own strengths: "It could be that Woodson took more risks than Peck, that he simply knows what he does best, and he did it in A Season of Gifts. But why not do what you do best? It’s a lovely, lovely book and a joy to read. A Season of Gifts it is."
It's a fascinating question, and one that arises often when talking about art. When someone does something well and they do that over and over, they are sometimes accused of not stretching enough, of not moving outside their comfort zone. When someone does do something different -- something risky -- and it fails, they sometimes are given more credit just for trying even if they did not succeed. Frankly, though, many readers don't care about the intent of the artist and want the book, the movie, the song to deliver, whether its what the artist does best or is something new and different. It's nice to see that Peck is rewarded for knowing what he does best, continuing to deliver, and continuing to write excellent books as he does so.
Kadohata does a fab job of giving us a question to mull over on our blogs.
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© Elizabeth Burns of A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy
By: Lizzy Burns,
on 3/18/2010
Lips Touch, full of kisses and longing and romance and fantasy.
The Lost Conspiracy, the book voted "most likely to be bought by fans of the TV show who cannot be convinced there is no hidden code in the book." (Psst... word on the street if if you read the 1st word twice, then the 2nd, then the 3rd, and so on through the Fib sequence you find the secret to the Island. Don't tell Sawyer)
The Judge: Helen Frost.
The fact that Frost chose The Lost Conspiracy to move on up is really beside the point.
Because here is how Frost ends her decision: "Christina Rossetti has not only rolled over in her grave, but climbed up out of it, and here she comes now, marching down the road with Cactus and Evie. They’re bringing her up to speed on the Internet, blogs, comments. . . . They keep walking, thinking. Where would Kizzy be? With the Beautiful Boy, Jack Husk, of course, but where? They need help. And look—someone is approaching to offer it. Who are these two? Ah…it’s Hathin and Arilou. Arilou is scoping out the cemetery, leading the others right to the young lovers."
Yes. Like any so many readers before (and since), Frost wanted a different ending. And wrote it. And then included characters from RL (real life) and The Lost Conspiracy. Friends, I give you: an alternate ending crossover fanfiction with real person fanfiction. I am just so happy!! If only I had had this example back when Carlie and wrote When Harry Met Bella. Because if Helen Frost does it, it has to be right!
Ahem.
Want to know what else is made of awesomesauce? Frost is such a good sport, she commented over at all our comments to the decision!
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© Elizabeth Burns of A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy
By: Lizzy Burns,
on 1/2/2010
The cover controversy about the School Library Journal November issue continues!
Very short version: a bunch of bloggers (including me) posed on the cover of SLJ (November issue).
A bunch of people wrote into SLJ (December issue) saying "drinking is wrong! showing librarians drinking is wrong! showing librarians who work with children drinking is wrong! doesn't anyone think of the children?"
See my recap at my post, God Grant Me the Serenity.
Many people (thank you all!) commented at the SLJ website in support of the cover, as well as in support of the idea that drinking is a legal activity and all the people on the cover are of legal drinking age and this publication is for adults, so what is the big deal?
Others commented that drinking is legal but just as wrong as smoking, having guns, or posing for Playboy.
Some of you wonderful people actually put pen to paper and wrote to SLJ (January issue), so now we have Letters to SLJ: Electric Boogaloo, with people both defending the cover and wondering at the original letter writers.
I especially like Patricia Verrett who says "perhaps giving the impression that alcohol and blogging are connected is erroneous, but aren’t we all adults?" Because yes, drinking while blogging usually does not end well. Ms. Verrett of Texas goes on to say, "The rest of us live in the real world, where a gathering of peers or connection by blog, with or without adult beverages of choice, are key factors that keep us motivated to serve students to the best of our ability."
If Ms. Verrett is at ALA Midwinter, I hope to be able to have a drink with her (whether it be wine, soda or water!), because she hits the nail on the head when it comes to blogs and librarians who serve children and teens: they keep us connected, which motivates us to be better librarians.* Though I'm afraid to let her know that in real life, my usual shoe of choice is either Dansko or Doc Martens.
*I also think that book blogging makes us better readers. But that's a whole other issue!
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© Elizabeth Burns of A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy
By: Lizzy Burns,
on 12/6/2009
In which I was more clever with photoshop.
Peter at Collecting Children's Books has created an alt-School Library Journal cover for those who want a different type of bar. Two words: Got Milk?
School Library Journal is collecting send-ups, so if you have one, post it at SLJ Cover Send Ups. There's already a great SLJ Teen cover!
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© Elizabeth Burns of A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy
By: Lizzy Burns,
on 12/1/2009
You may recall that I was on the cover of November's School Library Journal with some lovely ladies. If you don't recall, dude, it was only last month!
For your viewing pleasure, the cover. And for your reading pleasure, my posts on the story (This Blog's For You) and being on the cover (The Story Behind the Photoshoot).
Of course, I was interested in what people had to say about the cover. Heard some very nice things about the photograph. Had some great conversations with people about blogs and blogging inspired by the story. Was even recognized for being on the cover! (OK, it was at a school library conference but it still counts!)
And so it was with great eagerness I saw that yay, it was December, so the December SLJ would be online and I could read the letters!
Um. Yeah.
Here's the link to the letters: Some Readers Couldn't Stand Our November Cover. Now We Need A Drink. I know that people are more inclined to write a letter to complain than to praise, but it would have been nice had there been a positive letter amongst the others. And let me shout a big "THANK YOU" to those who are leaving positive comments to the letters article.
It's a little ironic that on the day I post a book review praising the portrayal of someone with alcoholism for being well-rounded and fair (Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr), I read these letters.
Having a drink in my hand? Really? (For the record... sugar water with colored dye to give the photo a bit of "pop" since we were largely in gray, white and black.) And as I read on, I thought of a line from one of my favorite movies.
"look at you... you have a baby. in a bar."
Being shocked at a baby in a bar? One thing. Being shocked at grown ups in a bar? A bit different; and I don't find anything inappropriate with either a librarian or a blogger being in a bar or having a drink. (Tho, speaking seriously -- don't drink and blog. You'll regret it. The post lives on in RSS).
And as for the "oh no substance abuse! drinking!"
I have friends and family who are Friends of Bill W. So, yeah, it's not something I take lightly. I'm not putting up anything else that will go against what that second "A" stands for. But remember -- keep coming back. It works if you work it!
Those Friends of Bill W. have seen the cover and liked it and got it. Got the Mad Men aspect, the idea of this being a visual representation of online community of people who rarely meet up in person. Anyway. So I asked someone close to me (anonymous, remember?) about this, forwarding the links, and I got this text back: "tell them u love the sober peeps too."
And I do! I love the sober peeps! And the peeps who aren't!
So, let's turn this into something POSITIVE.
Hey, guys, lets do what bloggers do and m
By: Lizzy Burns,
on 11/2/2009
Or books, blogs, and what I wore.
If you've seen the cover of the November 2009 School Library Journal, or read it, you'll have had the pleasure of seeing me not once but twice!
The first photo is the cover; the second is with the article, This Blog's For You.
Betsy Bird (aka Fuse #8 Production) emailed me asking me if I wanted to come up to NYC for the cover. As luck would have it, I had no outreach, visits, or meetings scheduled for that day; and the people at MPOW allowed me the time to do this (thanks!!).
The bloggers in the photo: Monica Edinger aka Educating Alice, Cheryl Klein aka Brooklyn Arden, Elizabeth Bird aka Fuse #8, Jennifer Hubert Swan aka Reading Rants.
Then, the big worry. What would I wear? Those of you who know me in real life know my usual uniform outside of work is jeans, Doc Martens or Dansko shoes, and a T shirt and sweater. In work, it's very J.Crew lite, with trousers and cardigans. Quickly we decided that we wanted a grown up look, something dressy, something, dare I say it, Mad Men.
In other words... I was looking for an excuse to go shopping. And I had been handed that excuse on a silver platter.
So, for you fashionistas out there, after much trying on of clothes, I went with the Wool Seamed Dress from Ann Taylor: "A flattering sheath dress in wool with stretch for a perfect fit. Jewel neckline. Sleeveless." Color: Dark Heather Gray. In addition to looking good, it was very, very comfortable, which is what I wanted for the train ride to and fro NYC, not to mention finding the photoshoot.
Wanting to add a bit of color, I indulged in the Perfect Luxe Scarf, also from Ann Taylor, color Raspberry Ice, which you can see in the cover. The sweater in the second photo is from J.Crew; last summer, maybe the summer before, so no link or details on that. Shoes are Franco Sarto, The Artist's Collection; they are black, peep toe, with a buckle decoration. I bought them this past summer, so, alas, no link to photo for you. Jewelry: the pearls I got for High School graduation (thanks, Mom!). Hair is by DeJensen, and whenever my hair looks good, it is because of them. I did my own makeup. I also bought all these clothes myself.
The photo shoot was at The Globe, 158 East 23rd Street, New York, NY. It was my type of bar; tons of old-school details, hard wood, tin ceilings, you know the drill.
This is actually my second photo shoot with SLJ. Back when I wrote Curl Up With a Cup of Tea and a Good Blog for SLJ (February 2007), I blogged about the Photo Shoot.
There were a few differences this time around. First, I wasn't involved in the setting up of the lights this time around! SLJ had a few people there, who were assisting with that type of thing so I got to chat with the other cover ladies. Second, this time around I had the benefit of years of viewing America's Next Top Model (thanks to Carlie and Melissa for introducing me!) Thus I could smile with my eyes and watch my elbows.
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© Elizabeth Burns of A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy
By: Karen Strong,
on 10/12/2009
Amy Bollwan is a blogger on the School Library Journal’s website and has been hosting the Writers Against Racism series.
I think it’s an important series and due to popular demand, Amy is continuing the series featuring writers of all races and backgrounds who want to end prejudice and racism. It’s been very enlightening to read.
I especially loved reading some of my writer friend interviews, such as Kelly Starling Lyons,
Paula Chase Hyman, Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich, Varian Johnson, Don Tate, Mary Ann Rodman, and Neesha Meminger to name a few.
I learned so much about them and their experiences. I also learned that every experience is unique in itself and how it affects the writer’s world view.
You should definitely go over and read the other posts featuring writers from all backgrounds and cultures. The series focuses on these writers’ experiences with racism and how it has affected their lives, but most importantly, what they are doing to eradicate it.
By: Lizzy Burns,
on 6/11/2009
School Library Journal's BookExpo America 2009: ‘Catching Fire’ Tops the Kids' Books Buzz List talks to real! live! people! about what books they "have" to read.
Who are these real! live! people!? Well, me for one. "Scott Westerfeld’s Leviathan (Simon Pulse) also topped the list for Liz Burns, a youth services consultant for the New Jersey Library for the Blind and Handicapped. “Leviathan was one of the two books I waited online for to get signed,” says Burns, also the voice behind the popular kid lit blog, A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy."
And lookee here...another familiar name to Tea Cozy readers, Carlie Webber. "By far, the book my colleagues and I talked about the most was Catching Fire,” says Carlie Webber, a young adult services librarian for New Jersey’s Bergen County Cooperative Library System. “We’re dying to know what happens next, and a lot of us librarians are having friendly arguments as to whether Katniss will eventually ride off into the sunset with her longtime friend Gale or with Peeta, her fellow Hunger Games winner.”"
And there is also Laura Lutz: Going Bovine by Libba Bray (Delacorte), who breaks out of her Gemma Doyle trilogy with her latest book, a laugh-out-loud comedy about a teen diagnosed with Mad Cow disease and whose quirky cover has “captured the attention of even the adult selectors I work with,” says Laura Lutz, a children's materials specialist at New York’s Queens Library and the blogger behind Pinot and Prose.
OK, I think any more quotage and I'll be in trouble with the copyright police. Go over and check it out for yourself. I know I'm shifting books on my TBR pile!
By: Beth Brezenoff, Senior Editor,
on 6/2/2009
Oh, I love it when one of my books is mentioned in one of the big magazines. This article at SLJ features books about summer camp, including our very own Claudia Cristina Cortez in Camp Can't.
I never went to camp as a girl. (I did--nerd alert!--go to gifted and talented day camp, which I'm guessing is not at all like sleepaway camp...) But I always loved reading about other kids' camp experiences. Camp seemed like this cool place where anything could happen. My husband, however, was not a fan of his sleepaway camp, so it will be interesting to see whether we send our little boy. Luckily, we have a few years to think about it.
The photo shoot for the Camp Can't cover was fun. The designer really had get creative to come up with a concept that would show the reader that Claudia was at camp and having kind of a hard time. Since the Claudia covers each use one photograph, it was difficult to figure out a photo that would communicate that simply. I love what the designer came up with--to me, it shows that Claudia's roughing it, and her hiking shoes prove that she's working hard. We also struggled with the title, but I love the end result--in this book, Claudia struggles with a lot of difficulties, like bullies, annoying little kids, problems with her friends, and trying hard to pass the swimming test. For a while, it really does seem like she "can't" get it right.
Did you go to camp? Love it, hate it? Should I send my kid, if he wants to go?
More soon!
Beth
By: Lizzy Burns,
on 6/1/2009
As of this very instant moment, when you go to the School Library Journal website, you see this lovely photo.
Yes, that's the incredible panel I was on at SLJ's Day of Dialog; from L to R, it's Laura Lutz of Pinot & Prose, me, Cherly Klein of Brooklyn Arden, Libba Bray, and Betsy Bird of Fuse #8.
Here is the link to the actual SLJ article on the Day of Dialog. The panel itself was tons of fun; the people at DoD were awesome; and how can I not love an article that begins with, "When Betsy Bird and Liz Burns speak, people listen." There will be no living with me now.
More about SLJ's Day of Dialog from Rasco From RIF.
Twitter posts tagged for SLJ DoD.
© Elizabeth Burns of A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy
By: Kara Schaff Dean, the Yankeerat,
on 5/18/2009
Way back in March, librarian and School Library Journal blogger Elizabeth Bird put out a call for nominations for a list of the 100 best picture books. On 2 April she started listing the results in order from 100, with the number one selection announced last week. Between her well-researched, informative poll results and the Battle of the Kids Books, which was taking place at the same time, SLJ
By: Lizzy Burns,
on 4/30/2009
The Hunger Games
Who would have thought that Judge Chris Crutcher could be so heartless as to send the Lincolns packing. Have you no shame, sir?
But despite reading HG kicking & screaming ( I don’t read fantasy. With the exception of Cormac McCarty’s The Road, I don’t read “After the fall” literature either. So I opened The Hunger Games cursing School Library Journal for asking me to participate in the Battle of the Books and cursing my editor for telling me I should do it ), HG won for one simple reason.
No, the Everdeen Sisters did not show up at his house and threaten him. Simply put, HG "was just a hell of a yarn."
This leaves Lois Lowry in the position of deciding between Octavian and Katniss. I, for one, cannot wait! One raised in a literary tradition; the other raised in survival. Both outsiders in their world; both fighting for life; both suffering under governments where they have no voice.
© Elizabeth Burns of A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy
By: Lizzy Burns,
on 4/30/2009
Anderson's Book About Slavery
Which, sadly, means that Anderson's Book About Slavery
Judge Linda Sue Park shares an interesting opinion about bathroom reading and sticky stories. No, I'm so not kidding.
One of the reasons I like blog discussions of books is because people go into such detail as to why, personally, they like the book. It's one reason why a blog review isn't quite the same as a journal review. And it's easily one of the reasons I like the BoB decisions; authors sharing, intimately, what makes a story work for them as a reader.
Judge Park says, "I am the most selfish of readers. The implicit question behind all of my reading is, What’s in it for me?" An instant classic quote.
Oh, this round has two authors? Named Anderson? Writing about slavery? You want to know which book actually won?
The one with the Revolutionary War setting.
© Elizabeth Burns of A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy
By: Lizzy Burns,
on 4/23/2009
What, you thought I would go with the girl-fight joke instead?
Judge Nancy Werlin read Graceling
Werlin is the only Round 2 Judge who not only discusses books that did not advance; and gives them high praise; she basically says the other books should have advanced.
THEN, to add the drama, Werlin says her decision was easy-peasy. OK, I made up the easy-peasy part; she actually said: "Those match-ups would have been tough. This one isn’t, even though I must say it’s shamefully unfair to have to compare these two very different books. But it’s like Sherman marching to the sea; it’s like Katsa against Po. There’s no question of the outcome. The Lincolns wins over Graceling."
No question, dear readers. NO QUESTION. Werlin, like Judge Pierce, speaks critically about the books and the writing. (Note to readers and authors: a critical reading of a book, discussing the writing as Werlin does, is NOT a bad review).
Also the good? In talking about The Lincolns, Werlin talks about the writing, not the history: "The material was presented clearly, beautifully, fully, and with respect for the reader’s intelligence and understanding."
What does this mean for next week?
Judge Linda Sue Park, with Octavian and Chains;
Chris Crutcher, with Hunger Games and The Lincolns.
While this is all about individual preferences, it is interesting to observe we have two historical fiction books, a dystopian fantasy, and non-fiction.
© Elizabeth Burns of A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy
By: Lizzy Burns,
on 4/19/2009
Next up in the SLJ Battle of the Books: YA fantasy Graceling
And Tamora Pierce becomes the bravest judge thus far.
No, really. Most judges praise both books; then make their decision.
Pierce flat-out points flaws in The Underneath*: a meandering story line, loss of dramatic tension, a middle-grade book with YA elements. (She does praise the beautiful language.) I'm not saying I agree or disagree with Pierce; I am saluting her, standing on my chair and applauding and cheering, for taking a critical approach to this Battle. I was beginning to feel we'd have too much of a love-fest, and would soon have judges talking about flipping coins.
*What about Rachel Cohn and her statements about Frankie? She calls both books excellent, and phrases almost all of what she says in what she personally likes/doesn't like about Frankie, rather than the book itself; and that the Ship ultimately triumphed because of the artwork.
© Elizabeth Burns of A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy
By: Lizzy Burns,
on 4/19/2009
Oh, man. Sometimes online humor and sarcasm and trying to be funny just doesn't travel well... hence I decided not to make any really, really bad jokes about how the The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary
So, simply, on the last match up of round 1, Lincoln defeats Nation. Tho I'm sure a lot of you had already printed up your newspapers with Nation defeats Lincoln.
So far, two of the Printz Honor Books move forward; and two fall.
In my continued interest in WHY decisions were made, Ann Brashares goes for effort. The Lincolns shows more effort than Nation. What with it being non-fiction and all. A fiction book that doesn't show effort....isn't that usually a good thing? Huh.
You know, if I were an author looking at these decisions for clues to write the bestest book ever, I'd be confused right now.
Your teen self should like it...it should show effort...it should break hearts...all while blowing the lid off the genre, feature a scrappy underdog, be scholarly, and let's not forget, shake up our expectations. Oops, I haven't posted on Graceling/Underneath yet. So, that standard, too.
© Elizabeth Burns of A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy
By: Lizzy Burns,
on 4/17/2009
And in another SLJ BoB upset, We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball
Oh Frankie, Frankie, Frankie. Nobody loves you. I'm beginning to think that even if the Bassetts had been open to girls, you wouldn't have been asked to join.
Why?
NOBODY LOVES YOU.
Maybe Bod
Part of why this whole Battle is fun, fun, fun, is that any one of the original sixteen books would make a great winner. Seriously. Which leaves us not saying, "OMG a book was robbed" but rather looking at the whys... why did one Judge decide one thing? How different are the standards being used by the different Judges?
Judge Rachel Cohn states her criteria for her decision up front: "what young readers actually enjoy reading." And goes with We Are the Ship. Because Cohn, as a teen, would have preferred that book. Which shocks all guessers who were thinking, hm, Cohn writes books about teenage girls for teenage girls!
Now, given my defense of Frankie during the Tournament of Books, I bet you all just sat down with your popcorn and put your feet up, expecting me to go to town on this one. Does whether or not ones loves the main character of a book means anything about how well written the book is? Is a book about kids at a prep school automatically less than other books with "more serious" subject matters? Does it change when the main character herself is not the typical preppie, because of her gender and religion? Etc.
Cohn makes it a bit hard for one to counter her arguments by discussing these things; unless, of course, you KNEW teen Rachel and are right now emailing her about her teen reading habits (OMG Rachel you totally would/would not have read x y or z), you really cannot argue with those reading preferences. Teen Rachel wants not just nonfiction, but nonfiction about sports; about the Negro League; with a folksy, kind narrator; and with wonderful artwork. We are the Ship delivers all that.
Cohn, like the other judges, is up front and honest and transparent about why she chose the book she did. We can (and will!) agree or disagree with the standard she used.
And all I can think of is Sarah Jessica Parker in The Family Stone
© Elizabeth Burns of A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy
By: Lizzy Burns,
on 4/15/2009
The SLJ Battle of the Books posts keep coming, fast and furious.
Tender Morsels
Judge Meg Rosoff tries to trick us – first she goes on and on about all that is good about Here Lies Arthur. It's not just another King Arthur retelling, not just another view at an old story. Instead, it causes the "reader to re-evaluate the way myths are made and history is told." Much like we have to re-evaluate how to read a decision, what with all this praise heaped up for a book that doesn't win.
Could Tender Morsels compete with Here Lies Arthur, Rosoff wonders.
It does, and then some.
Rosoff's reasons for selecting Tender Morsels are clear: "I was reading something utterly astonishing – beautifully written, brave, uncompromising, highly uncomfortable – but astonishing." It "blows the lid off the genre". Which, bottom line, is the basis for Rosoff's picking a winner -- not just what is a good book, or a great book, but what "blows the lid off the genre?
And then Rosoff makes me laugh, at the thought of handing Tender Morsels to a twelve-year-old, in her Team Edward t-shirt. Hmmm… do they make Team Bear t-shirts?
One final note: Interestingly, just like Rachel Cohn, Rosoff mentions her teen self, and whether her teen self would have liked the book.
(While I have a brief moment on the Internet, I still have iffy SLJ connections. So once again, I'll edit once that clears up).
© Elizabeth Burns of A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy
By: Lizzy Burns,
on 4/15/2009
In the next SLJ BOB matchup: Chains
The partial surprise here is that the judge is Elizabeth Partridge, known for her non-fiction. Those of us trying to play "guess the Judge's decision" rather than "who we want to win" may be surprised that she went for the novel. But, who better to appreciate historical fiction than someone who knows the facts?
Partridge clearly likes both books and respects the craft that went into both books, making her decision that much harder. Partridge's transparency in her thought process makes it clear that these judges are not taking the easy way out; but are giving it a lot of thought.
So what basis does Partridge use to pick one over the other? "I’m more interested in a scrappy underdog heroine than a war hero." Oh, Americans. We do love our underdogs, don't we? And, while technically, George Washington was an underdog for a good part of his life, let's concentrate more on the good luck of his elder brothers dying without heirs, a marriage to a rich widow, and ultimate triumph in war & politics as opposed to his being the younger son of a second wife and the general in a war whose end was not obvious.
It's no surprise that in this type of battle, a judge's own preferences will weigh in more than other factors. Something has to be used to pick one over the other. Partridge is refreshingly honest about what she likes, rather than masking personal bias in a seemingly-objective standard. She goes with the main character who holds her interest. What will happen when Chains goes against a main character just as interesting?
( I don't know if it's me or the School Library Journal site, but I'm having a devil of a time connecting. When I do, I'll fix the links).
© Elizabeth Burns of A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy
By: Lizzy Burns,
on 4/11/2009
School Library Journal has an interview with E. Lockhart, wherein she mentions Tea Cozy, especially the posts on the Tournament of Books (here and here).
A reminder for fans who live in NJ and are librarians: E. Lockhart is on a panel Wednesday afternoon at the NJLA Conference.
© Elizabeth Burns of A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy
By: Kara Schaff Dean, the Yankeerat,
on 3/30/2009
Well this sounds fun--and in time for National Library Week, too. School Library Journal is hosting its first annual (so huzzah! there will be more) Battle of the Books. They have lined up an impressive list of last year's choice titles, as well as an all-star panel of judges. You can follow the progrss of the battle at their BotB Blog. I've read enough of the books on the list to be able to
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I'm not just saying this because he picked Charles and Emma, I swear (and thank you for the lovely comment), but I thought Anderson's critique was so brilliantly done and witty and wonderful. It awed me. The rest, as they say, would be gravy. They don't really say that, but...you know. I'm so impressed with him; I am now his biggest fan!
I am an unashamed Anderson fan girl, as I have mentioned on this blog on more than one occasion. He had me at "Handel, Who Knew What He Liked".