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.

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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.

As I mentioned, I am a judge on the graphic novel panel this year and I’m in good company.  Here are my fellow panel members:

Panel Organizer: Liz Jones, Liz Jones Books

Panelists (Round I Judges):

Alyssa Feller, The Shady Glade
Maggi Idzikowski, Mama Librarian
Liz Jones (see panel organizer)
Nicola Manning, Back to Books
Kim Rapier, Si, se puede! Yes we can
Gina Ruiz, AmoXcalli
Alysa Stewart, Everead

Judges (Round II):

Walter Biggins, The Quiet Bubble
Justin Colussy-Estes, Guys Lit Wire
Sarah Sammis, Puss Reboots
Sarah Stevenson, Finding Wonderland
Casey Titschinger, Bookworm 4 Life

Also, check out Liz discussing what makes graphic novels unique and what makes a great graphic novel.

I’m looking forward to another great Cybils!

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!

• Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway
• The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
• I Know it’s Over by C. K. Kelly Martin
• Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
• Sweethearts by Sara Zarr
• Ten Cents a Dance by Christine Fletcher
• Thaw by Monica Roe

Some are a surprise to me, others not at all but I am really excited to dig into judging!

Check out all the finalists here.  I was particularly happy with what I saw in the Fantasy and Science Fiction category, especially in the Middle Grade portion of the category, though there are great books to be found in all of the finalists.

We meet young Helmuth on October 27, 1942 on his 264th day in a Nazi prison.  It’s a Tuesday and the executioner works on Tuesday.  Will this be Helmuth’s Tuesday?

What has Helmuth done to land himself here, waiting in the cold, dank cell for death.  Helmuth thinks back to how he got here, back to Germany right after World War I, back to when Hitler was first voted into power with words of hope and wealth and security for the German people, back to the times when he began to question the words fed to him in school, at home, in the news, back to the point when he made his life-threatening decision.  Helmuth is the boy who dared to question and dared to do something to try to right what he felt was so wrong.

Reaction: This is a powerful book and what makes it so powerful is the reality behind the story, the shocking and thoroughly researched history, and the author’s wonderful ability to weave this story.  I really felt Bartoletti’s attachment to the story and I learned so much from this book.  My limited history classes in no way truly prepared me for what Germany was like during the 1930s and 40s.  I loved the author’s note, where she explained what happened to many of the characters, talked about her interviews with people she characterized in her book, and shared photos of the real Helmuth, his family, his friends, and the room where he was murdered.  I am very interested in reading Bartoletti’s nonfiction book Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hilter’s Shadow, the work that first introduced her to Helmuth’s story.  This is a definite go ahead for my booktalks.  I am really excited to share this one with the students.

The Boy Who Dared is nominated for a Cybils.  I have been avoiding reviewing Cybils books until after the finalists have been announced but I just had to talk about how great this book is at depicting the German side of WWII.

I wish all the panelists happy reading and can’t wait to see which titles will make it to the final round!