The William C. Morris Award, given out by the American Library Association, might just be one of my favorite awards. Given to a newbie author writing for teens, I have so much fun trying to figure out which five of the pile of debut novels will be judged the most awesome of the year!
The 2012 Morris Finalists:
The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson
Princess Elisa is 16, extraordinarily self-conscious, awkward, and the opposite of athletic - but she is the Bearer of the Godstone, the champion chosen once each century. The novel opens with her just married off to the king of Joya and not at all sure about her future. I'm reading this one now, and so far it's a delicious mix of political intrigue, spies, battles, and sandstorms.
Paper Covers Rock by Jenny Hubbard
16-year old Alex is racked by guilt after the drowning death of a friend. Set at an exclusive boarding school, this one's been compared to classic novel A Separate Peace.
Under the Mesquite by Guadalupe Garcia McCall
Lupita is the oldest of eight children. When her mother is diagnosed with cancer, she must step up and take care of not just her mother, but her siblings too. Written in verse, I've been anxiously waiting for this one to come in for awhile!
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
Lina is 15 and looking forward to art school - until she and the rest of her Lithuanian family are ripped from their home in the middle of the night and deported to a concentration camp in Siberia during World War II. This heartbreaking, eye-opening novel of survival, love and hope (and based on the experiences of the author's family) shines a light on a long covered-up part of history.
Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley
In Cullen's sleepy Arkansas town, nothing ever happens. Until his seventeenth summer - with the inexplicable return of an extinct woodpecker, the death of his cousin Oslo and the disappearance of his little brother, Cullen's world is suddenly turned upside down.
More info on the Morris award, including past years' nominees and winners, here!
Megan
(who can't wait to spend my Sunday morning with a pile of pancakes finishing The Girl of Fire and Thorns!)
The 2012 Morris Finalists:
Princess Elisa is 16, extraordinarily self-conscious, awkward, and the opposite of athletic - but she is the Bearer of the Godstone, the champion chosen once each century. The novel opens with her just married off to the king of Joya and not at all sure about her future. I'm reading this one now, and so far it's a delicious mix of political intrigue, spies, battles, and sandstorms.
16-year old Alex is racked by guilt after the drowning death of a friend. Set at an exclusive boarding school, this one's been compared to classic novel A Separate Peace.
Lupita is the oldest of eight children. When her mother is diagnosed with cancer, she must step up and take care of not just her mother, but her siblings too. Written in verse, I've been anxiously waiting for this one to come in for awhile!
Lina is 15 and looking forward to art school - until she and the rest of her Lithuanian family are ripped from their home in the middle of the night and deported to a concentration camp in Siberia during World War II. This heartbreaking, eye-opening novel of survival, love and hope (and based on the experiences of the author's family) shines a light on a long covered-up part of history.
In Cullen's sleepy Arkansas town, nothing ever happens. Until his seventeenth summer - with the inexplicable return of an extinct woodpecker, the death of his cousin Oslo and the disappearance of his little brother, Cullen's world is suddenly turned upside down.
More info on the Morris award, including past years' nominees and winners, here!
Megan
(who can't wait to spend my Sunday morning with a pile of pancakes finishing The Girl of Fire and Thorns!)