Youth Media Awards Announced ...

The ALA just announced the Youth Media Awards and the Full List is available through School Library Journal.  Firekeeper's Daughter received multiple awards and here is the list for the

Alex Awards

Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki

The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin

The Witch’s Heart by Genevieve Gornichec

The Library of the Dead by T.L Huchu

How Lucky by Will Leitch

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell

Malice  by Heather Walter

Lore Olympus, Vol. 1 by Rachel Smythe

Crossing the Line: A Fearless Team of Brothers and the Sport That Changed Their Lives Forever by Kareem Rosser

Best Books of 2020

Here (in no particular order) is our annual compilation of some of the “Best of the Year” lists:

100 notable books of the year from The New York Times: There is also a top ten list on their site and links for children’s books. Once again, remember that you can access these and other articles from The New York Times by following directions on the library’s ClassLinks page. If you set up your account a year ago, you may need to renew – see a librarian with any questions.

Best of 2020 from School Library Journal; Looking specifically for Young Adults, several titles are on my “to read” list, including: Clap When You Land and Sanctuary. I have already reviewed others on the list like Jennifer Niven’s Breathless.

Plus professional choices from Publishers Weekly OR Kirkus Reviews. Kirkus helpfully shows best fiction by a variety of categories (e.g., get your book group talking; read during the pandemic; debut authors). The mystery and thrillers I have enjoyed: All the Devils are Here, Dead Land, and One by One. Separate lists are provided for non-fiction and once again across several categories for best teen books.

And Goodreads has released its Choice Awards across several categories for 2020: https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-books-2020   This is always a “go to” list since reader votes and word of mouth have built interest.   

LibraryReads: Primarily for public libraries, listed top favorites for 2020: https://libraryreads.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Voter-Favorites-2020-Flyer.pdf   

Name a publication and you are likely to find a best book list. For example, The Washington Post offers several lists, but I really liked their columnists’ take (published later in the month) on what each had read or watched during the pandemic – it is very fun and eclectic (Great British Baking Show, anyone?). The Wall Street Journal has a best of 2020 list for books as well as for music, television and more.

National Public Radio lists 1000s of titles (from 2020 and earlier years) and shows their covers in a fun, interactive way. Have fun exploring the list of titles selected for PBS’ Now Read This book club.  In the process, please do not forget to consult the Indie Next List - recommendations from independent booksellers.

More ideas from National Book Awards or local public libraries like Chicago Public Library offer recommendations -- with suggestions for all ages. And from organizations like The Greater Good Science Center or Teaching for Change’s Social Justice Books for all ages and from individuals (BarackObama, Bill Gates – and avid readers amongst your own friends and family).

There is plenty of overlap and some delightful selections on these lists. Ah, so many books and so little time. Enjoy!!! Happy Reading!! Catch up on reviews in the New Year as we Continue the Conversation.

Book Groups

I recently attended a session at The Book Stall led by the Between the Covers Book discussion leaders. As a group, we talked about different reading personalities and what makes for a good discussion.

They suggested numerous titles for book groups, including: The Mars Room, Mothering Sunday, The Fact of a Body, Educated, You Think It, I’ll Say It, Reading with Patrick, The Immortalists, and A Gentleman in Moscow (on my own to be read list due to numerous recommendations), The Ninth Hour, The Friend, The Great Believers, and Exit West which is being considered for our Global Voices Senior English class. Other suggestions like Sing, Unburied, Sing, A Deadly Wandering, Killers of the Flower Moon, and The Devil and Webster might work as selections for the Good and Evil Senior class, too.

Attendees added some titles like these: Red Notice, The Submission, Nothing to Envy, Ginny Moon, Lucky Boy, The Storm, The Ensemble, and Who is Vera Kelly? 

And in addition, The Wall Street Journal recently offered suggestions, especially for online book clubs: 

http://girlsnightinclub.com/book-club/

http://andrewluckbookclub.com/ - Andrew Luck offers rookie or veteran selections and interviews with authors

https://modernmrsdarcy.com/

https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/179584-our-shared-shelf - focus on feminist works

The American Library Association provides numerous resources at their Book Club Central site (or here for a top 10 list). Plus, don’t forget Now Read This from NPR, PBS and The New York Times or The Great American Read.

Yes, so many books … so little time … Enjoy! 

Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan

I have been waiting to post about MANHATTAN BEACH by Jennifer Egan because it was chosen as the One Book Two Villages novel for Winnetka-Northfield Public Library District, but this seems a good time since tickets are going on sale today (June 1) for the upcoming Fall events with an author visit. In addition, there are several activities in the next few weeks that are related to the book’s themes and that offer free registration: After Hours kick-off on Friday, June 8, Airborne on D-Day in the evening on June 13, and Women of World War II Saturday, June 16. A book group discussion (here is the publisher’s guide) is scheduled for early August – see the library website or call for more details.

MANHATTAN BEACH is a work of historical fiction and first introduces readers to 11 year old Anna and her father Eddie Kerrigan as they visit the mansion of Dexter Styles, a man with ties to illegal activities, in mid-1930s New York. Part of the motivation for Eddie to get involved in dubious dealings is the need to support Anna’s sister, Lydia, who has severe disabilities. The story moves on to wartime and the Brooklyn Naval Yard where Anna works and seeks to be the first woman diver involved with repairing ships.  Egan skips back and forth in a somewhat disjointed manner with views from each of the main characters, adds suspense to the story, and explores themes involving family, role of women, resilience, identity and even the impact of technology, making this title (although lengthy at 430+ pages) a possible selection by more mature readers for Junior Theme.

MANHATTAN BEACH received starred reviews from Booklist, Kirkus, Library Journal and Publisher Weekly although, frankly, the comments are more mixed from readers on Goodreads and other review sites. Perhaps this is related to expectations and similarities/differences to Egan’s earlier work A Visit from the Goon Squad which won the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and National Book Critics Circle Award for fiction.  Personally, I am eager to participate in the local programs and to share reactions about this title and the historical eras it covers.