Wednesday, January 13, 2010

It's Awards Season

So, you guys know the ALA Media Awards (otherwise known as OMG Newbery! and OMG Caldecott! and Oh There's Others?) are being awarded next Monday? As they've done in the past, the American Library Association is providing a live webcast, not to mention texting and Twittering and Facebooking the proceedings, because us librarians are all down with the new-fangled technology and stuff.

Susan over at Booklights has posted a really great entry about the ALA Awards, going over some past winners that went on to be classics and also a discussion of the many (18!) awards given out and what they're awarded for. Required reading if you want to know why I'm going to be getting up at 5:30 am next Monday. (East Coasters can breathe now: it starts at 7:45 AM for you. Fracking time zones.)

I don't tend to speculate on the award winners, because most of the time I haven't yet read all the hot contenders. A lot of people seem to like The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate for the Newbery this year. I read it and liked it, and it seems the kind of book that the Newbery Committee likes. But you never can tell--we've had a few wacky upsets in the past decade or so.

For the Printz (excellence in YA literature), do I ever want Marcelo in the Real World to get some librarian love. An Honor, at least. Please, Printz Committee? Please?

What do you think/hope/pray will win?

9 comments:

Wendy said...

I'll be disappointed if When You Reach Me doesn't take top Newbery honors, but mostly at this point I'm looking forward to hearing about the honorees I haven't read yet. The only other thing that would disappoint me is if I've already read everything!

Lenore Appelhans said...

Ooh...Monday already! I can't wait.

Melissa said...

Fracking time zones, indeed. At least I can sleep in until 6:30, though it messes with my morning routine. Good thing it's a holiday.

Oh, and the bit about librarians being down with technology? Cracked me up.

No predictions, though. I'm bad at that.

Patti said...

I love to speculate, even when I haven't read the books. Award season is so fun! I think Marcello has a good chance for Printz. Although in my heart of hearts it is Liar. And I'd really really really like Ask and the Answer to get an honor.

Caroline said...

I'm hoping for When You Reach Me for the Newbery and The Lion and the Mouse for the Caldecott. And I would love it if Marcelo in the Real World won the Printz. But what I love most about awards season is that when people make shortlists, there are usually books that I haven't heard of/read, and they get added to my 'to read' pile!

Sarah Stevenson said...

Ooh, webcast...but there's no way I'm getting up that early. I'll just have to find out the winners later. No idea what will win--I feel like I missed a lot of great YA books this year because the ones I wanted to read, the ones I knew were good, were ALWAYS checked out at the library. Once the Cybils judging is over, I'll be all over that library hold list!!

Anonymous said...

Oh the choices are too difficult to predict. I haven't read all the buzzed ones but I really liked Love, Aubrey. My list of TBR grows and grows.

Bibliovore said...

People are talking so much about Love Aubrey. I haven't read it yet but it's been on my list forever. Same with When You Reach Me.

Vasilly said...

I would love for Calpurnia Tate to win the Newbery though I've noticed that many people are hoping When You Reach Me wins it. Fingers crossed that Marcelo wins the Printz.