{"id":18444,"date":"2013-03-09T22:07:29","date_gmt":"2013-03-10T03:07:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=18444"},"modified":"2013-03-09T23:58:34","modified_gmt":"2013-03-10T03:58:34","slug":"slj-bob-is-here","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=18444","title":{"rendered":"SLJ BoB is Here!"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s that time of year! School Library Journal’s Battle of the Books<\/a> is starting up! (I keep hearing this rumbling that other tournaments happen in March, but I’ve never heard about anything so exciting.)<\/p>\n

What is SLJ’s Battle of the Books? The stellar Battle Commanders<\/a> and Commentator<\/a> choose 16 of the best children’s books of the previous year and arrange them in tournament brackets. The judges<\/a> are distinguished children’s and young adult authors. Their tales of their travails while judging are my favorite part of the battle (unlike Roger Sutton<\/a>). The judges usually manage to make an entertaining and brilliant commentary, playing off themes or styles from the books they judged.<\/p>\n

And until tomorrow, you can still vote in the Undead Poll<\/a> for one book, if slighted by the judges, to come back from the dead for the Big Kahuna Round at the end.<\/p>\n

But enough about the details! Let’s talk about the books!<\/p>\n

This year, by the time the books were announced, I’d read 15 of the 16 books, a new record. (No, I take that back. I was halfway through Bomb<\/em>.) I still haven’t read Endangered<\/em>, but it’s next on my TBR pile, so I might (maybe?) finish it before its match on March 14.<\/p>\n

What’s more, not only have I read 15 of the books, I’ve reviewed all 15. Now, I only review books I like, and in previous years, let’s just say that I did not review all of the Battle books. Okay, a few of the reviews are not glowing. But I still liked them enough to review them. What’s more, out of the fifteen I’ve read, nine made my 2012 Sonderbooks Stand-outs<\/a>. Two of the remaining six (Bomb<\/a><\/em> and Three Times Lucky<\/a><\/em>) I didn’t read until 2013, but they are highly likely to be 2013 Sonderbooks Stand-outs. So it’s pretty clear I like their choices this year.<\/p>\n

Here are the first round match-ups with my pick listed first:<\/p>\n

Match One, judged by Kenneth Oppel:
\nWonder<\/a><\/em> vs Bomb<\/a><\/em>
\n\"\"<\/a>This one’s a toughie. Bomb<\/a><\/em> is probably the more excellently crafted book. But, doggone it, hasn’t it gotten enough awards? The Sibert, the YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction, Newbery Honor, oh my! Shouldn’t Wonder<\/em> at least win a round in Battle of the Books?<\/p>\n

Mind you, whichever book wins Match One, I want to win the first round only<\/em>, because look what’s in the second match:<\/p>\n

Match Two, judged by Margarita Engle:
\nCode Name Verity<\/em><\/a> vs. Titanic: Voices from the Disaster<\/a>
\n\"\"<\/a>Sorry, Titanic<\/em>. I liked you enough to name you #3 Sonderbooks Stand-out<\/a> in Children’s Nonfiction. But Code Name Verity<\/em> was my favorite book read in 2012, and that hasn’t changed. Yes, this was also my pick in the Undead Poll, but I don’t really want it to win that way. I want every judge to acknowledge its brilliance. However, I realize not all judges are so perspicacious. We shall see how they do in acknowledging greatness.<\/p>\n

Match Three, judged by Kathi Appelt
\nThree Times Lucky<\/a><\/em> vs. Endangered<\/em>
\n\"\"<\/a>Yes, I realize this isn’t fair, since Endangered<\/em> is the one book I haven’t read yet. But I have a soft spot for Three Times Lucky<\/em>, and I find myself hoping I don’t like Endangered<\/em> as much. (Though it would be fun to see Endangered<\/em> go up against The One and Only Ivan<\/em> in a later round. If only for the cartoon SLJ’s artist would draw.)<\/p>\n

Match Four, judged by Deb Caletti
\nThe Fault in Our Stars<\/a><\/em> vs. Temple Grandin<\/a><\/em>
\n\"\"<\/a>Again, I’m sorry, Temple Grandin<\/em>. It’s not that I don’t like nonfiction. But I did think The Fault in Our Stars<\/em> was wonderful. And this is another case where I’d like to see a stellar book get a bit more recognition. I notice The Fault in Our Stars<\/em> was #9 in Teen Fiction on my Sonderbooks Stand-outs, but Temple Grandin<\/em> was #8 in Children’s Nonfiction. So I have to admit that #9 in Teen Fiction is higher in my affections than #8 in Children’s Nonfiction. So sue me.<\/p>\n

Speaking of Stars:<\/p>\n

Match Five, judged by Adam Gidwitz
\nStarry River of the Sky<\/a><\/em> vs. Jepp, Who Defied the Stars<\/a><\/em>
\n\"\"<\/a>My affection for Starry River of the Sky<\/em> is mingled with admiration for what a sweet person Grace Lin is, since I got to hear her speak at KidLitCon last year. But I also not only read Starry River of the Sky<\/em>, I also listened to it, and that made me appreciate its structure and craft even more than the first reading. Jepp<\/em>? Well, I did review it, and I only review books I like…. But I want Starry River of the Sky<\/em> to come out of this match shining.<\/p>\n

Match Six, judged by Franny Billingsley
\nLiar & Spy<\/a><\/em> vs. Splendors & Glooms<\/a><\/em>
\n\"\"<\/a>I don’t think my ranking here will surprise anyone. Liar & Spy<\/em> was a 2012 Sonderbooks Stand-out<\/a>, but Splendors & Glooms<\/em> was not. Now, Splendors & Glooms<\/em> is much more similar to Franny Billingsley’s books, all atmospheric and creepy and magical, than Liar & Spy<\/em> is. But my first year when I tried to predict Battle of the Books choices by thinking judges would pick books similar to their own, I got them all wrong. My current theory is that judges are quicker to see flaws in books like their own, or are perhaps extra admiring of someone who pulls off a book they could never write. So I hope Franny Billingsley will agree with me.<\/p>\n

Match Seven, judged by Marie Lu
\nSeraphina<\/a><\/em> vs Moonbird<\/a><\/em>
\n\"\"<\/a>Okay, I admit, this time it looks like I’m simply choosing fiction over nonfiction. Because Moonbird<\/em> was a 2012 Sonderbooks Stand-out<\/a>, but Seraphina wasn’t. And Moonbird<\/em> was #9 in its category, and Seraphina<\/em> was in a much tougher category, fantasy for teens. I’d always have a hard time rooting against a good fantasy novel for teens.<\/p>\n

Match Eight, judged by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
\nThe One and Only Ivan<\/a><\/em> vs. No Crystal Stair<\/a><\/em>
\n\"\"<\/a>Sorry, but no contest here. Count me an Ivan<\/em> fan. Again, my ranking in Sonderbooks Stand-outs<\/a> is telling: The One and Only Ivan<\/em> was #2 in Children’s Fiction, but No Crystal Stair<\/em>, while reviewed, was not a Stand-out.<\/p>\n

On reflection, I’m pretty lucky with the first round — few of my favorites are pitted against one another. But I’m setting up to be much more upset if any of my favorites lose!<\/p>\n

Now, I’ll make new predictions for Round Two, but just a run-down on how it would go if I got to judge all the matches:<\/p>\n

Code Name Verity<\/em> would win every match in which it appears.<\/p>\n

The Fault in Our Stars<\/em> would win the second round before succumbing to Code Name Verity<\/em>‘s brilliance. Though I must admit, I’d cheer for Mo if Three Times Lucky<\/em> pulled off a win.<\/p>\n

In the bottom half of the tournament, I’m almost counting on one of my favorites not advancing, so I won’t have to choose between Starry River of the Sky<\/em> and Liar & Spy<\/em>, though I’d probably go with Starry River of the Sky<\/em>. But I would want Ivan<\/em> to win all its matches until it faces Code Name Verity<\/em>.<\/p>\n

For the book coming back from the dead, I’m hoping it won’t be necessary for Code Name Verity<\/em> to be resurrected, making it a match-up with Code Name Verity<\/em>, The Fault in Our Stars<\/em>, and The One and Only Ivan<\/em>, with, you know it, Code Name Verity<\/em> coming out on top. (It’s gotten enough Honor! Time to WIN!)<\/p>\n

But believe me, I don’t expect the judges will see it my way. They never do!<\/p>\n

How about you? What are your picks? (Links to blog posts are good, too!)<\/p>\n

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