SCPL Teen Blog!

The Michael A. Printz award winners were announced last week! This award recognizes books that exemplify literary excellence in young adult literature. Each year, there is one winner and up to four honor books. This year’s winner is:

 
Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley

Witty, sardonic Cullen Witter agonizes over the disappearance of his beloved brother, Gabriel, while everyone else in his stiflingly dull Arkansas town thrills to the apparent return of a long-extinct woodpecker. Kidnapping, bromance, arcane religious texts, and ornithology collide in this ground-breaking coming-of-age tale.

 

 The four Printz honor books this year are:

 
Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler

In this beautiful piece of bookmaking, heartbroken movie obsessive Min Green dumps a box of relationship ephemera on ex-love Ed Slaterton’s porch, each item attached to a raging, loving, insecure and regretful letter explaining how each memento contributed to their breakup.

 
The Returning by Christine Hinwood

A large cast of characters from two fictional kingdoms recover from a drawn-out, brutal war in a portrait both sweeping and specific as it explores the ramifications of the conflict on Cam, the only one who lives to return to his village.

 
Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey

Spurred by the mysterious death of a schoolmate, Charlie confronts racism and his fears as he learns about family, friendship and love in the oppressive heat of small-town 1960s Australia. Silvey weaves themes of freedom and loyalty with moments of humor in this wrenching novel.

 
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

 A bloody, intoxicating horse race on the Island of Thisby is the backdrop for this atmospheric novel. The heart-pounding story pits two teens against death – to win is to survive.

We’re entering our second month of Teen Winter Reading, where you can win great teen books, earbuds, or maybe even a Kindle Fire! Haven’t gotten started yet? Don’t worry, there’s still plenty of time. All you have to do to enter is read and review a book—simple enough, right? Review forms are available at all SCPL locations, or you can submit your entry online. We’ll draw weekly winners who will receive earbuds and a book, and after Teen Winter Reading ends on February 29^th, one lucky teen will win a Kindle Fire. You’ve got a little under two months to enter as many reviews as you can, so keep reading!