Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Awards and Praises!

The 2006 Cybils Awards have been announced! Go here to see descriptions of the winners in all categories.

Fiction - Picture Books:
Scaredy Squirrel
by Melanie Watt
Kid's Can Press

Fiction - Middle Grade:
A Drowned Maiden's Hair
by Laura Amy Schlitz
Candlewick Press

Fiction - Young Adult:
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Knopf Books for Young Readers

Non-Fiction - Picture Books:
An Egg is Quiet
written by Dianna Aston; illustrated by Sylvia Long
Chronicle Books

Non-Fiction - Middle Grade and Young Adult:
Freedom Walkers
by Russell Freedman
Holiday House

Poetry:
Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow
written by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Beth Krommes
Houghton Mifflin

Fantasy and Science Fiction:
Ptolemy's Gate
by Jonathan Stroud
Hyperion: Miramax

Graphic Novels - Ages 12 and Under:
Amelia Rules, vol. 3: Superheroes
by Jim Gownley
Renaissance Press

Graphic Novels - Ages 13 and Up:
American Born Chinese
by Gene Yang
First Second

I'd like to elaborate on the winner in the YA fiction category (which I was a judge for). All of our short-list YA fiction books were wonderful, and here's what we had to say about this one....
Young Adult Fiction:
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Knopf Books for Young Readers
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist gives us a glimpse into one iconic night of new love. This fast, fun story is filled with heartache and romance, fear and discovery, and a healthy mix of sadness and exhilaration. The narrative gives the alternating perspectives of Nick (supplied by Levithan) and Norah (supplied by Cohn); these narrative voices ring true from the moment Nick and Norah first meet, through the starts and stops of discovering one another and figuring out how to trust in the feelings and each other and themselves. We loved the pace of the story, the development of the lead and supporting characters, and the music and city which served as the perfect backdrop to Nick and Norah's fabulous night.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for posting, Nancy, and for keeping up enthusiasm for the Cybils today. And thanks for all your hard work in selecting the winner in YA Fiction. There were five great books to choose from, and I think that you all did a wonderful, thoughtful job with it. Thanks!

Tracey said...

Lovvely post