PW's Best Books of 2009

Hedgetrimmer · Nov 8, 2009

I came across this list compiled by Publisher's Weekly. It's their list of best children's books of the year. Thought I would share.

http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6704596.html

MsJudy · Nov 8, 2009

thanks, Hedge. I added a few more to my TBR list!

Smish · Nov 8, 2009

JudScotKev said:
thanks, Hedge. I added a few more to my TBR list!

Me too! I already had Shiver and Wintergirls on my TBR list, but none of the others.

Smish

MsJudy · Nov 8, 2009

One thing I noticed--the list seems heavy on the YA end, not so much MG, from what I can tell by the blurbs. Or it's edgy MG, anyway.

I wonder if that's a bias on the part of the PW critics, or a dearth of quality MG published this year? (dearth is the right word, isn't it???)

Toothpaste · Nov 8, 2009

I really hope it isn't reflective of a dearth of quality MG this year, as my second one was published in January

.

I've noticed lately a bias against MG in the world of children's books in the same way YA gets considered lesser than Adult books. When I tell someone, for example, in query letter hell that actually, no their book is MG not YA, I often get quite a defensive response as if MG is the last thing anyone wants to write. Le sigh.

Ah well, I did a panel this year with Tamora Pierce about YA books (as the one MG author). And she said she believed that MG was actually where most of the innovation was these days, so I will hold onto that.

Exir · Nov 8, 2009

Where does this bias come from? Never understood it. Okay, adult fiction writers snubbing YA and MG is somewhat understandable, but writers of children's books having the same bias just makes no sense.

Hedgetrimmer · Nov 9, 2009

I think it's possibly more representative of where we are as a culture. MG is void of cursing, sex, romance, drugs, violence. The stories are morally replete. But look at the TV shows and movies that take center stage these days. They fulfill America's desire for sensationalism. YA does the same thing. I've had agents candidly tell me that quiet MG doesn't sell. Another agent wrote me a personalized rejection last year stating that publishers are increasingly resistant to morally sound and uplifting MG.

Kitty Pryde · Nov 9, 2009

Interesting list. I was excited about "Dinotrux", but when I sat down to read it, I was actually pretty disappointed. "Wintergirls" was beyond amazing. Ooh, and I really want to read "Going Bovine". Both my local library and my local bookstore are very heavy on romance-with-supernatural-critters in the YA section, and very heavy on cookie-cutter-ish fantasy in the MG section. I say cookie-cutter because none of it really jumps out at me as being original or much of a fun read (except for a few AWer's books that I saw!).

Hedgetrimmer · Nov 9, 2009

I heard long before the list came out that Marcelo in the Real World is a great read, although the excerpt I read on Amazon didn't grab me right away. Maybe I was just tired. I'll have to give it another try.

I read some good reviews about The Curious Garden some time ago and have been meaning to put a book transfer in to my local branch. I also like Loren Long's illustrations and plan to give Otis a read. He did a fantastic interpretation of Whitman's When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer.

Viking Horse · Nov 9, 2009

Yeah, MG vs. YA seems to be a never-ending tug-of-war for the spotlight, and I think Twilight won this round in the absence of Harry Potter. And, as was said, supernatural romance stories especially seem to be on the rise.

I read a bit of Shiver, but that didn't really grab me either. Of course, I'm probably not the intended audience - I didn't much care for the Twilight saga when I eventually read it (but I'm giving the Morganville Vampires a shot, based on more AW recommendations). Interesting list, though.

Hillary · Nov 10, 2009

I scanned the PBs, and I've only read the Day-Glo one. I thought that was odd, since I've now read over a HUNDRED PBs sent from publishers (and the self-published *shudder*) for consideration for an award. (I'm not considering them, so my opinion doesn't matter.) But I really figured I'd have read a few more on the list by now!

And.. To be honest? I wasn't that impressed with the The Day-Glo Brothers. It was all right. Adequate. But it wasn't great by any stretch of the imagination, and I've read a few books that are PURE magic from 2009. And none of them are on the list!

Odd.

kellion92 · Nov 10, 2009

Interesting list. I haven't read any of them yet, although a few are on my TBR list.

I thought that editors in particular were looking for more great MG these days, as Toothpaste said. MG seems far more varied than YA, and thus the room for innovation.

ETA: Oops, I read Catching Fire. I am a big fan of those books.

MJWare · Nov 10, 2009

I've thought about marketing my Upper-MG manuscript as YA, just for the reason's stated here. But, I think in the long run it would hurt more than help.

I read Hunger Games (good, but not great), but the reviews for Catching Fire seemed poor. Anyone read it???

JoeEkaitis · Nov 12, 2009

Hedgetrimmer said:
. . . quiet MG doesn't sell.

Truer words . . .well, you know.

The day may not be far off when some publisher will be hailed as bold and inventive by marketing an obscenity filled, sex charged tome as a middle reader, and the floodgates will open at the other houses.

Hedgetrimmer · Nov 12, 2009

JoeEkaitis said:
The day may not be far off when some publisher will be hailed as bold and inventive by marketing an obscenity filled, sex charged tome as a middle reader, and the floodgates will open at the other houses.

I wouldn't be the least bit surprised.

PW's Best Books of 2009

Hedgetrimmer

What happened, just there?

MsJudy

Smish

Reads more than she writes.

MsJudy

Toothpaste

THE RECKLESS RESCUE is out now!

Exir

Out of the cradle endlessly rocking

Hedgetrimmer

What happened, just there?

Kitty Pryde

i luv you giant bear statue

Hedgetrimmer

What happened, just there?

Viking Horse

Devil in the Top Hat

Hillary

Neural Trailblazer

kellion92

A cat may not look at a king

MJWare

Kidlit gang, Junior member.

JoeEkaitis

Certified Gray Haired Geek

Hedgetrimmer

What happened, just there?