Day: January 6, 2010

Judging the Cybils YA Fantasy & Science Fiction

| Tasha

Yippee!  My part of the Cybils process has arrived.  And wonderfully, they created two judging panels for the Fantasy and Science Fiction category.  One set for middle grade and one set for YA. 

I’ve read over half of the finalists.  I have one that I’m not crazy about, three yet to read, and three favorites!   It is always exciting to see what comes out the winner! 

Here are the YA Fantasy & Science Fiction Finalists

Candor by Pam Bachorz

The Demon’s Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan

The Dust of 100 Dogs by A. S. King

Fire by Kristin Cashore

Lips Touch by Laini Taylor

Sacred Scars by Kathleen Duey

Tiger Moon by Antonia Michaelis

 

And make sure you check out the finalists in the other Cybils categories too!

Easy Readers & Short Chapter Books
Fantasy & Science Fiction (Middle Grade)
Fiction Picture Books
Graphic Novels
Middle Grade Fiction
Non-Fiction Middle Grade/YA
Non-Fiction Picture Books
Poetry
Young Adult Fiction

Faith

| Tasha

Faith by Maya Ajmera, Magda Nakassis, and Cynthia Pon

Through photographs, this book tells the story of many faiths, allowing glimpses into each of them.  The book celebrates the many faiths, tying them together through similarities but also revealing their differences too.  Cultures and religions are highlighted here in a book that children will see themselves in and also learn about others too. 

The photographs here are clear, vivid and capture moments of prayer and devotion with grace.  Each photograph is accompanied by at least the name of the religion and the country the photo was taken in.  Other photographs have a brief sentence that explain the image a bit further.  This brevity makes the book read simply and easily.  Larger text on each page carries the flow of the book, giving each set of pages a theme where we can see our commonalities and differences and celebrate both side by side.

Highly recommended, this is a book about religion that children will innately understand.  It is ideal to start discussions or quietly examine on your own.  Appropriate for ages 4-7.

Reviewed from library copy.

Google Books offers a preview of the entire book, so you can see the photographs yourself!

Magic Under Glass

| Tasha

Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore

Release date February 1, 2010.

Nimira dances for a pittance as a trouser girl until she is hired by Hollin Parry.  Parry, a sorcerer, hires her to sing with his newly acquired automaton which plays the piano when wound by a key in its back.  Nimira is the last in a line of girls that have been hired to be the singer, but the others fled because they thought the automaton was haunted.  Left alone with the automaton, Nimira discovers that it is trying to communicate with her though it cannot speak and cannot move unless wound.  Through the use of an alphabet chart on the keyboard, Nimira realizes that the automaton contains the trapped spirit of an elven prince.  Though Parry is courting her, Nimira and the fairy prince become closer and fall in love.  But more danger is swirling around them, as political intrigue, personal danger, and horrors of the past come together.

This slim volume holds an enticing story of love, betrayal and magic set in an alternate historical world.  Nimira is a wonderful character who hails from another land and offers great perspective on the setting.  She is feisty, intelligent and caring, just what any heroine of a love story should be.  The love triangle of Parry, Nimira and the elven prince is delightfully drawn against the setting of danger and sorcery.  To its credit, this book is wonderfully light despite its dark content.  It reads quickly and will have readers looking for the next book in the series to find out what happens.

A light fantasy of magic and love that explores dark desires and sinister motives at the same time.  Appropriate for ages 13-16. 

Reviewed from ARC received from publisher.

2010 Scott O’Dell Award

| Tasha

Thanks to Read Roger for announcing the winner of the 2010 Scott O’Dell Award:

The Storm in the Barn by Matt Phelan, which is a brilliant choice!