First, our version:
My library district, in conjunction with the local schools, hosted our first Mock Printz event. We had a great turnout, and these are the titles we selected as winners:
Mock Printz Winner
- The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
Mock Printz Honor Books
- Madapple by Christina Meldrum
- Hunger Games by Susanne Collins
Official Printz Winner
- Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
Official Printz Honor Books
- The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II, The Kingdom on the Waves by MT Anderson
- The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
- Nation by Terri Pratchett
- Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan
So you probably have read what I thought about Jellicoe Road, as I blogged about it last November. Honestly, I am a bit surprised it was chosen as the Printz winner, but I do agree it was well written and a good piece of literature. I have been left wondering, however, if it's actually a YA book. In a way, it feels more like an adult book with teen characters. What do you think?
If I, HydroJen, official BookEnvy author extraordinaire could pick the books for the Printz award, this is what I would have chosen: Madapple by Christina Meldrum for the overall winner, and honors would go to The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E Lockhart, Pretty Monsters by Kelly Link, and The Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp. But that's neither here nor there, right?
2 comments:
That's funny, I had the same feeling about Madapple. I thought it was an adult book that had teen characters so someone decided it should be YA. I thought it was very well written and am surprised it didn't get a Printz nod, but I'm not convinced it's a YA book.
I felt pretty sure that Octavian Nothing II would get some Printz love, but I can't thank you enough for not making us slog through it!! :) sarah
It's taken me a while to get my thoughts in order, but, as an admitted Jellicoe Road fangirl, here's why I think it's a teen book, not adult:
1) The structure and Marchetta's storytelling is sophisticated, but the story is told in the first person present tense. There's no distance between the narration and the action, and Taylor is not looking back at her teen years. We're reading everything as it happens to her.
2) Ultimately, it's about a search for self/identity. Along the way, Taylor takes on responsibilities, becomes less self-centered, and learns to, or allows herself to, form relationships with others. I think these are all common themes in YA books. If I had to categorize it, I'd call Jellicoe Road a coming of age story.
Trisha
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