Call Me Athena: Girl from Detroit by Smith, Colby Cedar Andrews McMeel Publishing Nominated by: Alyssa Colman Call me Athena is an enchanting verse novel in multiple voices that captures the reader into the tumultuous time period of the 1930s in Detroit as well as World War I. The different time periods and voices are woven together with lyrical and …
2021 Finalists: High School Nonfiction
Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask: Young Readers Edition by Treuer, Anton Levine Querido Nominated by: Deb Nance at Readerbuzz Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians but Were Afraid to Ask: This candid, conversational, illuminating text invites readers to ask questions and question assumptions about Native American culture, history, and lived experience. …
The 2019 Cybils Finalists!
It’s January 1st, our favorite day of the year: The day in which all round one panelists breathe a huge sigh of relief (and we express our heartfelt thanks!), and which everyone (from the authors and illustrators to the fans to the round two judges) eagerly watches to see what’s made the cut. First off — because we know you’re …
The 2018 Cybils Finalists!
It’s January 1st, our favorite day of the year: The day in which all round one panelists breathe a huge sigh of relief (and we express our heartfelt thanks!), and which everyone (from the authors and illustrators to the fans to the round two judges) eagerly watches to see what’s made the cut. First off — because we know you’re …
2017 Cybils Finalists
2017 was a difficult year, all around. Participation was down (we had to put Audiobooks on hiatus!), several judges and category chairs had personal or family crises, and we had issues with getting access to all the books. It wasn’t easy for the Cybils this year. However, we rallied — we had 1426 books nominated across all the categories — we …
The 2016 Finalists
I feel intimidated writing this post this year; it’s usually the domain of our illustrious co-founder and overlord, Anne Levy. But 2016 has been a hard year for everyone, and that includes Anne. So I’m writing this in her stead. Thank you for being understanding! A few numbers, to begin with: We had 1163 books nominated, across all categories. Out …
The 2015 Finalists
Given our colorful logo at the top of this page, I keep thinking it’s been ten years since Cybils rolled out its very first roster of finalists. It’s actually been nine – but this is our 10th contest, inclusive. My 8th grade Algebra I teacher, Mr. Cloutier, is somewhere shaking his head in my direction at my stubborn innumeracy. I’m …
The 2014 Finalists
My very first day of first grade was also the day my school district desegregated. It was 1969, and my grandmother had told me I’d be going to school with “colored children”. A new box of Crayola crayons sat in my school kit, and my little six-year-old self fully expected to see the same glorious rainbow of colors among the …
The 2013 Finalists
Happy Cybils New Year! Really, when all the confetti is swept up, the champagne bottles put in recycling, and your hangover nursed back to a semblance of sobriety, what else is there? Us, that’s what! We’re back again with another list of books that kept our panelists riveted through the holiday season. We sifted through more than 1,300 books and …
The 2012 Cybils Finalists
Dear Book Nerds: You already know why you’re here. It’s not for the fab party, the football scores or to watch the ball drop. No, you won’t find Cybilians indulging in those overly exhuberant displays of normalcy. Hanging out at the Cybils site is by far the best New Year’s tradition, and here are just a few reasons why: You do not have to …