9. The Spellman Files

Lutz, Lisa. The Spellman Files. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2007.

Annotation: When you're in a family of P.I.'s who are constantly investigating one another, life never slows down!

Justification for nomination:

This novel is a great read for any age. YA's will love the perpetual mystery/adventure themes which take the reader from cover to cover. The primary character, Isabel, shares her life from a young age, one which YA's can relate to and appreciate. Younger P.I., Rae, will have YA's signing their family up for the P.I. business. The format of the book is unique and intriguing, keeping readers engaged with every page. The multiple plots spinning throughout the book come together nicely and do not disappoint. I liked that this book isn't totally predictable and I think that's important for keeping the attention of YA readers. The writing evoked through the main character, Isabel, has a twinge of sacasm and honesty and gives a very entertaining point-of-view.

Genre Catergory: coming-of-age, mystery/suspense, edgy, adventure, non-fiction

8. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. New York: Scholastic Inc., 1997.

Annotation: Orphaned at a young age, Harry discovers he is a living legend who will grow to be the world's greatest wizard.

Justification for Nomination:

J.K. Rowling is an imaginitive genius. The first Harry Potter book opens us up to an unknown world, one which readers and lovers of adventure had been long awaiting. The endless wonders and endless mag that Rowling creates through Harry makes the book hard to put down. This series is addicting for all ages; it's not inappropriate for young readers, and it's not too immature for adults. J.K. Rowling created a masterpiece when she brought to life Harry Potter.

Genre: Banned Book/SciFi/Fantasy/Supernatural/ Edgy/Coming-of-age/Non-fiction

7. Turnabout

Haddix, Margaret Peterson. Turnabout. New York: Simon Pulse, 2000.

Annotation:

When you're old and gray, would you choose to die naturally or face the challenge of aging backwards?

Rejection for Nomination:

I'm rejecting this book for nomination because I didn't entirely enjoy reading. I thought the author had a great concept and story line, although the idea of aging backwards became so complex, I became uninterested. The story focusus on two women overy 100 just biding their time in a nursing home when they are entered into a study to start aging backwards- interesting idea for a book- but the story ends up focusing on their lives as teenagers without anyone but each other and it's actually quite depressing. The fact that the story focused on the two girls as teens may appeal to the younger readers and may give them insight and appreciation to their own adolescent lives. I also felt the story could have been better by leaving out so many "rules" to the aging backwards process. Trying to imagine myself as a young adolescent with a wild imagination, I think I could have appreciate this book a bit more as a youth. I liked the way the story read from past to present, alternating the characters point of view. I felt the ending was a bit disappointing and overall the whole idea of the characters forgetting but yet remembering their past wasn't always clear. I wouldn't throw this book in a box, but I wouldn't nominate it for the Printz.

Genre: SciFi/Fantasy/Coming-of-age/Non-Fiction

6. Twilight

Meyer, Stephanie. Twilight. New York: Time Warner Book Group, 2005.

Annotation: Can Bella survive in a relationship with a vampire or is her human blood too much of a temptation for Edward to resist?

Justification for Nomination:

This high school romance is surreal, yet so real within the pages of the book. Edward and Bella have such a passionate relationship; the vampire/human component just makes it all the more sensual. YA readers will be enticed by the energy between the vampire and his girl. This supernatural thriller gives readers the pleasure of slipping into a fantasy world where human laws are broken and vampires are mysterious beings walking among us. Edward is a deep and enigmatic vampire which readers can't help but admire. It's no wonder that this vampire novel is a huge hit among young and not-so-young readers- the characters pull a reader in and entice until the story's end.

Genre: Supernatural, Horror, Vampire, Non-fiction, Coming-of-age, Sci-Fi, Fantasy

5. BANG!

Flake, Sharon. BANG! New York: Hyperion Paperbacks for Children, 2007.

Annotation: A young teen stuck in a society where kids being murdered has become a way of life.

Justification for Nomination:

When crime and murder are the most common occurrences in your neighborhood, it's hard to imagine the world as having anything good to offer. In 13-yr old Mann's neighborhood, kids and teens are forced to live in fear and watch as their family, friends and neighbors die on the mean streets surrounding them. Mann and his friends struggle to cope with their sadness and fear and turn to trouble. The viewpoint in this book is especially important to understand when it comes to understanding at-risk youth. The importance of parenting is stressed- in order for the surviving youth to make it in their crazy world, they need guidance and love. Bang! is an eye-opener for adolescents who are both strangers and veterans of street violence. It gives readers a true dose of reality on the cold-blooded crimes happening in poor urban neighborhoods. This is a must-read for all young adults as they better learn to undedrstand the unfortuante truths of the world around us.

Genre: Multi-cultural, Coming of Age, Non-fiction

4. Life In Prison

Williams, Stanley "Tookie". Life In Prison. San Francisco: Chronicle Books LLC, 1998.

Annotation: Author and inmate, Stanley "Tookie" Williams, is the co-founder of the Crips gang. As a death row inmate, Tookie preaches to youth about the trecherous life in prison, in hopes of steering kids straight.

Justification for Nomination:

The viewpoint of an ex-gang member/inmate living on death row for 21 years is the angle of truth when writing a book about life behing bars. Tookie covers all ground when he tells youth about the day-to-day hell he must endure to survive. With great consideration to a youth's perspective, Tookie tries to compare his prison experiences to an equal punishment a youth may experience in order to relate to his readers. The message being delivered is enough to paint a most dismal and depressing image of prison life and scare youth out of trouble.

Genre Catergory: Non-fiction

3. Tears of a Tiger

Draper, Sharon M. Tears of a Tiger. New York: Simon Pulse, 1994.

Annotation: A high school is stunned by a fatal accident after a teen drinking and driving accidents kills the basketball team's MVP.

Justification for Nomination: Sharon Draper uses a uniquely brialliant writing style in this coming-of-age novel for adolescents. This book has an intriguing mix of newsletters, police reports, journal entries, poems, homework assignments, letters, prayers interchanged with immense dialogue. The teens speak with common slang and the relationships between the characters feel realistic. The story follows the life of Andy, the teen who celebrated a basketball game victory by drinking while driving with his three best friends in his car. The guilt Andy feels after he crashes his car and his best friend dies is the emphasis of the book. Andy's struggle to cope with the loss of his friend is too intense for him to deal with and he heads for tragedy himself. The connections and interactions of the characters make this book a heartfelt read, one that many young people can relate to and learn from.

Genre: coming of age

2. To Dance: A Ballerina's Graphic Novel

Cherson Siegel, Siena. To Dance: A Ballerina’s Graphic Novel. Illustrator Mark

Siegel. Aladdin Paperbacks: New York, 2006.

Annotation: Travel with Siena, a real ballerina in the American Ballet Theatre, and experience the amazing
childhood of a young girl living out her dancing dreams.

Justification for Nomination:
Siena Cherson Siegel does an amazing job telling the story of her childhood as a ballerina in New
York. Her husband, Mark Siegel, does just as amazing of a job illustrating and elaborating on his wife’s every word. This graphic novel is sure to be a favorite among young girls, as most girls can relate to wanting to be a pretty ballerina. Even girls that have no interest in dance will be intrigued by the realistic storyline and detailed graphics which help to tell the author’s story. The author’s true passion for dance is felt throughout the story, engaging readers until the end. Siena doesn’t hold punches; she shares both the ups and downs of her life. This allows readers to connect with her on multiple levels, given young adults and children the image that life isn’t all roses, even for “pre-professional” ballerinas.

Genre Catergory: Graphic Novel

1. My Heartbeat

Freymann-Weyr, Garret. My Heartbeat. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 2002.

Annotation: 14-year-old Ellen is determined to have interesting qualities and relies heavily on the opinions of her older brother and his best friend to define what those qualities should be. Trying to possess such interesting qualities while trying just as hard to become a wallflower at her new prep-school is just about all she can handle on top of uncovering her brother’s possible gay relationship with his best friend.

Rejection for Nomination:

The three teenage characters in this book are anything short of mature in an intellectual sense, but maintain the usual emotional instability like all teens. The central character, Ellen, tells us the story of her ninth grade year while experiencing some intense life issues. She prefers not to have friends, but to immerse herself in the fascinating worlds of her 17-yr-old brother Link, and his best friend James. The two boys are high-achievers who enjoy foreign films and intellectually stimulationg conversation while evaluated eachother and the world around them as if most of the world has much to be desired if they were not accepted into a prestigious university. The two boys are competetive with one another which keeps them connected, but a little too much so that they have a hard time not fighting. Ellen loves that she has always been included in the boys' activities and conversations, even though she's usually just an observer. She thinks very highly of Link and James and is especially concerned with their opinion of her. She's in love with James in a romantic sense and in love with her brother and proud of who he is. When she begins her freshman year at the boys' prep-school, a classmate suggests the boys are like a couple- leaving Ellen to wonder. Ellen questions the boys about this one night and Link storms out in denial and leavs Ellen and James as two. For the remainder of the book, Ellen and James form a sort-of romantic relationship, although James is very open about liking men and having slept with three of them. Ellen finds herself more concerned about re-uniting the two boys and investigating what it is to be gay. Ellen father pays Link to have a girlfriend, further confusing Ellen on why it's bad to be gay. In the end, James and Link become civil, but don't entirely re-kindle their former realtionship. Ellen and James have sex and he decides to go off to a German art school. No matter how loving and romantic the author wanted this storyline to be, it seemed to be ruined by the ending encounter between Ellen and James. I thought this book was very well-written and showed positive emphasis on the importance of education, teenage relationships and soul-searching, but didn't necessarily like the sexual contribution. Because of that one aspect, I have to reject nomination for this Printz book.

Genre Catergory: Printz Award Winner