A Dark Horse Race
MotherReader has, as you all know, come up with this groovy challenge to come up with our Five Favorite children's books of various reading levels for 2006. I was just eyeing the Kids Lit list a second ago when something occurred to me. Has anyone else noticed that almost no two lists have had much in the way of overlap? We seem to be experiencing a kidlit year where there is no clear cut This Is The Book Everyone Must Read title.
Except for Fly By Night, of course. Forgive me, but I just had to work that in.
posted by fusenumber8 @ 10:34 AM
8 Comments
8 Comments:
Fuse, is there such a thing as "The Book Everyone Must Read"? I agree, we probably all read all the super-hyped books of the year, but that doesn't mean they are good or that we must like them.
What about "Holes"? I'd put it in that category? Usually there's at least one book with the librarian buzz surrounding it. I'm not talking hyped in terms of marketing. I'm talking hyped in terms of word-of-mouth.
I think you're right, Fuse! Beyond "Rules," which I haven't read yet, there doesn't seem to be a standout book this year.
That being said, there's some overlap this year.
"Duck and Goose" made a few lists, as did "Babymouse," "King Dork," "An Abundance of Katherines," and "Penny from Heaven."
I liked "The Book Thief" and "Fly By Night" a lot, and both are in my top 10s per category, but neither one made my top five--and both for the same reason. I thought they both could have lost 50-75 pages and would have been stronger books for it.
I just wanted to add that I think this is a good sign! It means that there are a lot of good books and we are able to chose the ones that most appeal to us individually for one reason or another beyond the writing itself.
Yes! I noticed that after I posted my list. I was worried about it--thinking maybe I was "wrong" about my picks! Makes it very interesting this year:-)
I feel as though I don't like the big ones everyone likes - King Dork, Fly By Night - and I'm sitting in the corner by the fruit punch while everyone else is dancing.
O dear, Willow---me too!
I just simply couldn't do the heavy lifting involved with Fly by Night (sorry, Fuse8, sorry, sorry! I really really tried, but the book burning razz (first done back in 1066, I think)coupled with a tad too much plutonium-weight writing made me fall off the edge of the planet around Chapter Ten!)
Z
PS--oo, Willow: we'll throw a little gin and tonic in the punch during backwards skate...
Ah well. One can't expect everyone to agree on a single book. Even if that book is the tasty sensational delight that is Fly By Night. And there is always that hugely popular book that "everyone" seems to love, with the exception of the occasional naysayer. I myself was less than enthralled with Dear Miss Breed, but you'll not see me saying so much in a review for fear of having my head removed from my shoulders by my fellow children's librarians.
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