And the Winner Is

There were a slew of fabulous books for children and young adults published last year. Two of my favorites recently won ALA awards.


When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead won the Newbery Medal. This is a wonderful mystery dealing with time, friendship, and the challenges of growing up. Sixth-grader Miranda has to unravel a series of mysterious events, and she takes us along for a thrilling journey.

Libba Bray’s Going Bovine won the Michael L. Printz Award. Going Bovine is difficult to describe in a few sentences. Our hero, Cameron, is a 16-year-old with mad cow disease. He engages in a quest to save himself and the world with the help of Gonzo, a hypochondriacal dwarf; Balder, a Norse warrior who disguises himself as a garden gnome; and Dulcie, a pink-haired angel in fishnets and combat boots. Their adventures take them across the country, and, along the way, they meet a variety of bizarre characters. Will they save the world, or is the whole journey a figment of Cameron’s fevered brain? This hilarious book will keep the reader turning the pages to find out.