ALA Award Predictions

As most wannabe authors can tell you, the ALA is handing out their awards tomorrow morning. Unfortunately, I will be working, and teaching isn't exactly a job that lends itself to hanging out on the Webosphere all day. (Unless you've been doing it for thirty years. Then you're pretty much untouchable.) For those of you lucky enough to have one of those jobs, (or no job at all) you can watch the action (and I use that term lightly. After all, we are talking about librarians.) here or you can read live updates here.

While most writers prefer to wait until after the ALA announces their winners to complain about the picks and mock the judges, I am going to put myself on the line by attempting to pick the winners of the Newbery, Caldecott (even though I rarely read picture books), and Printz. Also, since this is my blog, I will tell you who ought to win.

Now obviously I have not read every single book, but neither have the judges. Admittedly, I have not even read all of the "contenders." I will not let this stop me. I haven't seen any of the Academy Award nominees either, but that Slumdog Millionaire looks like a winner to me. (See how easy that was?) I will however put an asterisk next to those books I have not read. Transparency and all that.

And so...my predictions and picks for the 2009 Newbery, Caldecott, and Printz awards:

Newbery Award

ALA's Winner: The Underneath

My Winner: The Underneath

Honor Books: The Hunger Games* and Waiting For Normal

(And no, I can't believe I haven't read The Hunger Games either, because it sounds right up my alley.)

Other books I think are deserving: Savvy and Shooting the Moon


Caldecott

ALA's Winner: We Are the Ship* (It just sounds like a winner, ya know?)

My Winner: ?

Honor Books: In a Blue Room* and Wave*

Hey, I told you I don't read picture books.


Printz

ALA's Winner: The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing: Traitor to the Nation, Vol. II (Wow, what a mouthful. Would someone kindly suggest to Mr. Anderson that, while he is brilliant, it might do to shorten his titles. Ya know, to something like Feed or Thirsty. Something like that.)

My Winner: The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks

Honor Books: Nation* and Trouble

Other deserving books: The Adoration of Jenna Fox and Graceling*


There. I've now exposed myself to your scathing rebuttals and mocking commentary when the actual awards are announced tomorrow and I'm proven to be a nimcompoop. Oh, and since we're here, let's just get this out of the way right now:

2010 Printz Pick: Sophomore Undercover (Duh.)

Twilight Quote of the Day:

"I was selfish, I was hurtful. I tortured the ones I loved."

--Bella, Eclipse, p. 517