The battle is nigh.
On Monday, March 13th, sixteen acclaimed 2010 books for young readers will go head to head in School Library Journal‘s third annual Battle of the Kids’ Books. Inspired by The Morning News Tournament of Books these literary contenders are paired off bracket-style and judged by a distinguished group of writers. R. L. Stine, Richard Peck, Karen Hesse, and Laura Amy Schlitz are just some of the remarkable decision-makers in this year’s exciting event. Every weekday over the next few weeks you can read their smart and thoughtful match decisions.
While seeing which book a particular judge decides to advance is understandably exciting, it is what they have to say about the two they are considering and how they say it that is most enthralling. Understanding the serious play that is involved, each one is considerate and clever and it is their elegantly penned decisions that are the heart and soul of the Battle.
This year’s contenders are:
Sugar Changed the World by Marc Aronson and Marina Budhos
Keeper by Kathi Appelt
They Called Themselves the K.K.K. by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword by Barry Deutsch
A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz
Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan
The Odyssey by Gareth Hinds
Trash by Andy Mulligan
As Easy as Falling Off the Face of the Earth by Lynne Rae Perkins
The Dreamer by Pam Munoz Ryan
The Cardturner by Louis Sachar
The Good, the Bad, and the Barbie by Tanya Lee Stone
The Ring of Solomon by Jonathan Stroud
A Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner
Countdown by Deborah Wiles
One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia
One of the creators of the event, here’s what I had to say in a recent press release:
Each year I’m completely energized by the Battle of the Kids’ Books. The judges always outdo themselves in smart, witty, and insightful decisions getting me to look at each contender in new ways. It is just fun to work together to keep the Battle of the Kids’ Books entertaining, stimulating, and most of all—fun.
Sponsored by HarperCollins Children’s Books and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, this year’s Battle of the Kids’ Book is shaping up to be the best one yet.
Also at the Huffington Post
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