Non-Fiction

The Frog Scientist
by Pamela S. Turner; illustrated by Andy Comins
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Nominated by: Laurie Thompson

The Frog Scientist covers the ongoing research of biologist Tyrone Hayes into the effects of atrazine on frogs. Atrazine is the most commonly used pesticide in the United States, but Hays has discovered that exposure to atrazine causes “some of the male frogs to develop into bizarre half-male, half-female frogs.” His careful development, both in the lab and the wild, of experiments researching diminishing frog populations is an example of science at its best.

Author Pamela S. Turner shows the control Hayes and his assistants exert over their experiments so there can be no questions when their results are determined. For this real-world example of textbook standards alone, The Frog Scientist would be a winner. That Turner makes the biologist’s very compelling personal story key to the book’s narrative raises it above similar titles in the field. Teens will find the heavily illustrated volume visually appealing but more significantly be intrigued by this powerful example of significant science at work. It’s nonfiction writing (and photography) at its best, and incredibly inspirational to boot.

Graphic Novel

Gunnerkrigg Court: Orientation
by Tom Siddell
Archaia Press
Nominated by: Paradox

Strange happenings at a mysterious British boarding school involving magic. A talented student who seems to have unique and special abilities. And the dark past of the characters’ parents has come back to haunt them all. These elements, which may on the surface seem so familiar, are brought together in fresh and inventive ways in Gunnerkrigg Court. Tom Siddell has published nearly 300 pages of his webcomic in this first collection, and the length really allows for the reader to absorb the entire spectrum of adventures presented here: protagonist Antimony Carver and her growing assortment of friends have humorous, creepy, action-packed and mysterious storylines, all of which allow us to see the different facets of Annie’s complex and fascinating world. It also puts lots of meat on the bones of those seemingly overly familiar story elements, to tell tales both unexpected and new.

Fantasy & Science Fiction

Fire
by Kristin Cashore
Dial
Nominated by: Jenny Moss

As her homeland of the Dells descends into civil war, Fire struggles with changing relationships and her own dangerous powers. If she misuses her gifts, she runs the risk of turning into her psychotic and amoral father. But if she doesn’t use them at all, her beloved kingdom and the royal family she has come to love may be lost forever. Nobody combines the fantasy and romance genres like Kristin Cashore. With preternaturally beautiful monsters and unruly children, psychic powers and very human power struggles, her masterfully crafted worlds are close enough to ours to make sense and different enough to captivate.

Fire herself is a dynamic character, a mix of vulnerability and strength, and she is surrounded by others who challenge and support her, especially in the character of Brigan, one of the few who sees beyond her stunning beauty to the complex young woman beneath. Throughout the book, Fire learns to see the people she loves in shades of grey, and in the process learns to accept her own virtues and flaws. Out of all the books we read, this is the one at the top of everybody’s list. It’s great, start to finish, with appeal for both boys and girls, and the moment you finish it you’ll want to read it again.

Young Adult Fiction

Cracked Up to Be
by Courtney Summers
Macmillan
Nominated by: Robin Prehn

Cracked Up to Be, Courtney Summers’s debut novel, is a page turner that is sure to please. Once a model student and cheerleader, Parker Fadley has given up that life and turned instead to drinking and failing classes. But what could have caused this sudden change? Spare writing, carefully placed flashbacks, and strong character development create an intense and fascinating read, while the mystery unfolds. Whether or not you fall in love with Parker, her story will not soon be forgotten.

…

A list of all winners, including those in the children’s and middle grade categories, can be found here.

Thank you to all the hard working panelists and judges.  I know I really enjoyed the opportunity to judge for the graphic novel category and I’m looking forward the book offerings of 2010.

On to the whole reason for this post, Shauna Cross’ book Derby Girl.  Friday I was working on our most current inactives list for teen fiction.  For nonlibrarians, inactives lists give you titles of items that have not been checked out for a specific amount of time, in my case, one year.  Guess what showed up on my inactives list?  That’s right, Derby Girl.  I honestly can’t say I was too surprised.  I had seen it languishing on the shelf but the cover is bright and eye-catching so I left it there just in case but now here’s the proof that maybe it should be weeded; it hadn’t circulated April 2008.  I was ready to weed it but with my new found love of roller derby I had to at least read the description first and, color me surprised when, what do you know, Derby Girl is Whip It!  This book that has already been weeded at a majority of branches across our library system is the source of the movie that has recently inspired a new bout of fangirldom in me.  Doret let me know that the book is being released in paperback by Macmillan this fall.  Macmillan’s description taught me that Derby Girl was a YALSA BBYA and Quick Pick as well as a NYPL Book for the Teen Age.  Why is this book on my inactives list?  Why was it on inactives lists across the 40 some branches of my library system?

Now that I’ve gotten this far, I should probably tell you what the book (and movie) is about, if you don’t know already, so you can help me ponder these questions.  Derby Girl stars Bliss Cavendar, an indie-rock chick who is stuck in small town Texas, obviously not a good match.  Trying to find her place in the world, she learns about and falls in love with roller derby and joins a team.  Bliss has the very typical teen problems with her too-traditional parents, friendships, boys, and identity.  To me, this sounds like it would be a decently popular book.  Again, my question: why is this on my inactives list?  It’s not that old!  Is it the cover, which isn’t my favorite but isn’t horrible?  Is it because people (i.e. teens) don’t know about roller derby?  Is it because they see skates and think “lame,” though I know some teens who are still avid skaters?  Or is it just one of those things?

Bottom line, I checked my branch’s copy out because I wanted to read it and save it from being sold at a Friend’s sale just yet.  I’m going to suggest that other teen librarians in our system to keep their copies at least until after the movie comes out because there might be a popularity surge depending on how well-received the movie is.  I will continue to ponder the “why isn’t this book being checked out but that piece of crap book over there goes out all time time” question.  And I will  remain a roller derby fangirl.

Check out all of the winners here.  There are some not surprising winners — The Graveyard Book and The Hunger Games for the Middle Grade and YA Fantasy categories respectively — and some titles I can’t wait to read, like the London Eye Mystery, MG Fiction winner, and The Year We Disappeared, Nonfiction MG/YA, whose story I just saw last night on 48 Hours (I think that’s the show’s name).

I had an awesome time participating in the Cybils this year.  Remember, if you are a fan of the Cybils and are interesting in purchasing one or more of the winners, use the links to Amazon on the Cybils page and some of the procedes of your purchase will help support the Cybils!

Winner:

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta (review by Trisha @ the Ya Ya Yas)

Honors:

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks by E. Lockhart (review by Bookshelves of Doom)

Nation by Terry Pratchett (review from Guys Lit Wire)

Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan (review by Reading Rants!)

The Astonishing Live of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II by M.T. Anderson (um, no review because I couldn’t find one on any of my normal channels — i.e. my trusted sources, so check it out on Amazon)

For a full list of all the Youth Media Award winners, click here.  My highlights — Yeah for Graveyard Book (Newbery winner) and Savvy (Newbery honor), neither of which I’ve read yet but both of which I’ve heard awesome things about and hope to convince the teachers of the fledgling middle school bookclub to choose as bookclub selections, and yeah Curse as Dark as Gold as the first Morris Award winner.

Here are the five finalists:

• Curse as Dark as Gold by Elizabeth Bunce
• Graceling by Kristin Cashore
• Absolute Brightness by James Lecesne
• Madapple by Christine Meldrum
• Me, the Missing, and the Dead by Jenny Valentine

I have only read Graceling but Madapple and Me, the Missing, and the Dead are on my to-read pile.  I’m not doing very well with reading award finalists or winners so far this year.

Also, check out the interview with Judy Blundell.

1. Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer
2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling
3. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
4. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
5. Maximum Ride: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports by James Patterson
6. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
7. The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray
8. Extras by Scott Westerfeld
9. Before I Die by Jenny Downham
10. Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson

The first two aren’t surprising.  I thought Diary of a Wimpy Kid was for a younger audience but it is extremely popular so I guess I shouldn’t be too shocked to see it on the list.  I am happy to see Vampire Academy so high on the list.  It is my absolute favorite teen vampire series but I wasn’t sure it was as popular as some of the others that I don’t like as much, for example, the House of Night series.  I am also happy to see Before I Die on the list.  I, sadly, have not read it yet but I’ve heard great things about it.

For more information on Teens’ Top Ten, click here.

• Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
• The Underneath by Kathi Appelt
• What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell
• The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
• The Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp

I haven’t read any of these (three have yet to be released) though The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks has been on my must read list for some time now…as I mentioned in this post.  My library owns The Underneath and What I Saw and How I Lied so I have them on hold.  It will be interesting to see who wins!