Today we’re looking at poetry finalist Shout (Amazon, IndieBound)! It was reviewed by Round 2 Junior/Senior High Nonfiction judge Anne, who is a voracious reader and blogs at My Head is Full of Books. About Shout, she wrote: I like reading books written in verse, especially when the poetry is good, so I enjoyed my reading experience. I hope this book …
REVIEW: Dreamland
Today’s review comes from Junior/Senior High Non-Fiction Round 1 panelist Heidi, who blogs at GeoLibrarian. She reviewed Senior High finalist Dreamland (Amazon, IndieBound), writing: Dreamland does what all good narrative nonfiction does. It pulls the reader in, making them want to know more. I found the book compelling and powerful, as well as informative. Read the whole review here.
REVIEW: Dig
A. S. King’s Dig (Amazon, IndieBound) was originally nominated in Young Adult Fiction, but has since found a home in Young Adult Speculative Fiction. Before it was moved, Young Adult Fiction panelist Kara, who blogs at Great Imaginations, reviewed it: One thing I do have to mention though is that this is my first A.S. King novel, and it won’t be …
REVIEW: Cracking the Bell
Today we’re featuring the Young Adult Fiction nominee Cracking the Bell (Amazon, IndieBound). Young Adult Fiction chair Gary Anderson, who blogs at What’s Not Wrong, wrote: As Isaiah considers the life-or-death implications of continuing to play football after suffering concussions, Cracking the Bell honors those attitudes while leading young readers to consider how and when to move on and how to …
REVIEW: The Wicked King
We’re featuring Young Adult Speculative Fiction nominee The Wicked King (Amazon, IndieBound) today! Our review comes from Young Adult Speculative Fiction round one panelist Grace, who blogs at GraceGetsBooks. She writes: I read this book over spring break and I read the whole thing in a day. It’s amazing and I cannot wait for The Queen of Nothing, which by the way …
REVIEW: The Downstairs Girl
Young Adult Fiction Round one panelist Susan, who blogs at Blogging ’bout Books and on Goodreads, reviews today’s selection, Young Adult Fiction nominee The Downstairs Girl (Amazon, IndieBound). She writes: There’s a lot going on in this quick, entertaining YA historical. Maybe too much, but it’s still a compelling, fast-paced novel that I enjoyed very much. Read the whole review here. …
REVIEW: Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me
Today we’re looking at Young Adult Graphic Novel nominee Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me (Amazon, IndieBound). Junior/Senior High Nonfiction judge Anne, who blogs at My Head is Full of Books, reviewed it over the summer, writing: Tamaki is a genius at understanding people, specifically teens. Read the full review here.
REVIEW: The Grace Year
We’re featuring a review of Young Adult Speculative Fiction nominee The Grace Year (Amazon, IndieBound) today, done by YA Speculative Fiction (or YA SpecFic as we tend to shorten it around here) panelist Jennifer, who is active on Goodreads. She wrote: If I could have read through my hands covering my face I would have. If you like horror, you’ll …
REVIEW: I Love You So Mochi
We love that our panelists love to read, not just in their own category, but all books! Today’s review comes from Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction panelist Nicole, who blogs at Feed Your Fiction Addiction, and read Young Adult Fiction nominee I Love You So Mochi (Amazon, IndieBound). She wrote: In I Love You So Mochi, author Sarah Kuhn has penned a delightfully …
REVIEW: The Faithful Spy
Today’s featured review was posted on YA Books Central a few months ago by category organizer and Junior/Senior High Nonfiction judge Karen Yingling, a middle school librarian who also blogs at Ms. Yingling Reads. Ms. Yingling reviewed Senior High Nonfiction finalist The Faithful Spy: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Plot to Kill Hitler by John Hendrix: The Faithful Spy is very …