Part of a series to introduce each genre, written by the category chair. Middle grade fiction encompasses a wide range of stories that do not have magical elements and are geared toward the 8 to 12 year old age group. Mysteries, histories, humor, sports, adventure and other tales set in the real world are all part of this category. Readers …

Part of a series introducing each genre, written by the organizer. Comics FTW! The graphic novels category covers a wide range of stories–everything from wordless picture books appealing to the very young to intense, issue-based young adult novels–all of which tell their stories through serial artwork. All of these stories are welcome. We give an award for both the younger …

Part of a series introducing each genre, written by the organizer. The category of Fiction Picture Books would appear clearcut: books that are fictional with pictures. Oh, but that simplicity is deceptive. The genre contains titles for toddlers and third graders, funny stories and moving tales, history and fantasy, traditions and diversity, elegance and silliness, education and entertainment. An amazing …

Part of a series to introduce each genre, written by the category chair. Science fiction and fantasy take us to realms of the imagination: places and times and realities where the rules of life may be different than our own and where the impossible and improbable become real. But good science fiction and fantasy does more than that: it asks, …

Part of a series to introduce each genre, written by the category chair. Last year, as the newbie, I was quite *ahem* straight-laced and literal with my category description. I felt so 6×9 … so traditional chapter-y. So, dare I say it? Easy to read. This year I’m going totally sophomoric! It is what our readers want! Power to the …

Part of a series to introduce each genre, written by the category chair. Look! In your lap! Is it an ebook? Is it a talking book? Is it a movie? No, it really isn’t any of those. You poke it! You shake it! You tilt it! What could this be? Ohhhhh, you say, this is a BOOK APP! Book apps …

Just for the fun of it, the very first two nominations that came in last week were only eleven seconds apart. Hallie Tibbets earns our profound thanks and the number one spot for getting a nomination in at exactly 12:02:26 on Oct. 1. Her nomination was for The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson, a teen fantasy novel. …

You know what I haven't seen much of this year? Lists of stuff to nominate. Some of you like compiling the titles you didn't get to nominate because of the one-book-per-genre rule. Those suggestions are hugely helpful to others. I know I've nominated in YA and SFF and even book apps, but I've no idea what picture book — fiction …

Part of a series introducing each genre, written by the organizer. Science fiction and fantasy take us to realms of the imagination: places and times and realities where the rules of life may be different than our own and where the impossible and improbable become real. But good science fiction and fantasy does more than that: it asks, "What if?" …