Planet Esme Does My Favorite Cybil Winner

Esme Codell is back from wherever she disappeared to and I am happy to report that the first book she has reviewed on her return is 2006 Cybil Middle Grade Fiction Award winner A Drowned Maiden's Hair. Ms. Schlitz's book is required reading, pookies. Someday I'm going to begin the Fuse #8 Bookclub (where everyone does not, as it turns out, get a free car), and we can all read primo books like this one in our spare time. Until then, check out Esme's review.

Where Were You When You DIDN'T Receive "The Call"?

Everyone likes to talk about what one author or another was doing when they got the infamous call telling them that they won the Newbery Award. No one, to the best of my knowledge, has ever had the guts to say what they were doing when they didn't receive The Call. Chalk one up to Esme Codell for unapologetic gutsiness. She didn't get The Call but that doesn't keep her from writing a damn funny piece on her blog Planet Esme about her lack of Callness. What's more, I think she makes an excellent assessment of the surprise non-winners. Again, not something anyone's really sat down and organized till now. Kudos to youdos, Esme.