Here's the shortlist:
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Despite good recommendations by Sarah Miller, I'm pretty ambivalent on this one. I think it needed to be tighter and cover a shorter period of time - the plot just flat out draaaaged for me and I felt that it was trying to be a cross-over novel to adult women; that it didn't have a clear sense of its audience and was therefore uneven. Concept was sound and interesting, it just didn't move fast enough for me.
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Love this book. Love. Love, love, love. Strong girl character in the fantasy tradition of Tamora Pierce plus a hot, idealised, love interest? Yeah, I'm predisposed to like that. Add in the fact that the girl has special killing powers? I couldn't get this into my hands fast enough. It lived up to the buzz.
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Haven't read, but have heard great things. I want to read.
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Also haven't read, and have heard mixed opinions, although most have acknowledged it's uniqueness. I can't decide if I want to read.
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I liked this far more than I thought I would. It's very British. Not that that means anything other than it being a reflection of a very strong voice. The more I reflect upon this title, the better I think it is, however, if not thinking terribly hard, I forget it entirely. Weird.
This is just the shortlist - the winner will be announced in January at ALA Midwinter. I like the whole shortlist concept. I wonder if there would be less shock and controversy for the Newbery and Printz if people had a little warning and time to read the books themselves. Or, maybe not.
More here and here.
5 comments:
The only one I haven't read is Absolute Brightness, which I've heard mixed things about.
If I had a vote on this, I'd go with Madapple. Can't say I liked the book, but it was fabulously well-written. That said, I'm going to predict a win for Graceling, just because of the appeal factor. (Although I didn't see this past year's Printz winner and shortlist coming AT ALL, so what do I know?)
Trisha
Madapple was just too bizarre for me. I can't really decide if it's well-written (whatever that means to each individual reader) but it's definitely strongly written. I guess I didn't care much for any of the characters. A cold novel about cold but passionate people.
The only other one I've read is Graceling, and of course I loved it. Those people, I did care about, and wouldn't mind knowing.
Yay for this new award AND the shortlist! Now who should win...
I would have awarded LOOKS by Madeleine George. Yup.
I'm posting anon to say I agree with you about CURSE!
I have only read one of these so far.
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