Mock Printz Results! (and real Printz too)

Well, the day we YA types have been waiting for has come and gone... we now know which title has captured the prestigious Printz Award for 2009, and who we thought would win at our Mock Printz Event.

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

Now, their version

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?

How to Be Bad-- E. Lockhart, Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle

How to Be Bad is written by three popular YA authors: E. Lockhart who also wrote Fly on the Wall, The Boyfriend List, The Disreputable History of Frankie Landue-Banks (fab fab fabulous book!), and more. Sarah Mlynowski penned the Bras and Broomsticks books, and Lauren Myracle is known for her TTYL books. Each author takes on a character and the chapters of this book are narrated by three different female characters.

Honestly, this book isn't about how to be bad... mostly it is about how to be a good friend. The three gals, Jesse, Vicks, and Mel take a road trip to Miami to Chase down lost boyfriends, see giant stuffed alligators, and to visit the smallest police station in the entire world. This book is not fine literature, but you could tell the authors had fun writing it together. I would recommend this book to teen girls who are looking for a beach or bathtub read. While there are some serious issues that come up (cancer, poverty, religious zeal), mostly How to be Bad is about three girls having fun.