Texas Library Associaton Maverick

The Texas Library Association has inaugurated their first Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List.

“Together with YALSA’s annual Great Graphic Novels for Teens list, the Maverick list should serve as a valuable resource for all librarians seeking graphic novels that are both age-appropriate and high quality.”

The list is for grades from 6 – 8, 6 – 12,  9 – 12 and adult titles for young adults. Fiction, non-fiction and manga titles are included. Titles on the list must be published within 2 years prior to the list. The Maverick Reading List is meant to explore the variety of books currently available and encourage reading for pleasure. The books on the list can be published outside of the US but must be widely available.

I was going to wait and write a short review of James Kennedy’s first book Order of the Odd-Fish but I can’t. It’s too delectable. I am enmeshed in this book. If you’ve read it or are reading let’s talk. I’m on page 133 and loving the ride!

Order of the Odd-Fish by James Kennedy

This has been one exciting year! I met my favorite Oklahoma Governor, George Nigh, shook hands with S.E. Hinton and read the most wanted book of the year; “Catching Fire” the sequel to “Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins.

Former Governor George Nigh hosted the Center for the Book’s Oklahoma Book Awards this year.(http://www.odl.state.ok.us/ocb/09win.htm) If you’ve never heard him in person, you should. He is very witty and is never boring.

I briefly shared the stage with him as I presented Anna Myers the Children’s Award for her book “Spy”. The book is a historical fiction much as Myers “Assassins”. “Spy” tells the story of a young boy who becomes friends with Nathaniel Hale. Readers can identify with Jonah and learn about how the country was divided between their loyalties to the King of England or standing on their own.

Meeting and shaking hands (my right hand, btw) with S.E. Hinton at OLA was a real thrill. Anyone who has read and loved her early books about teens knows the joy of being able to meet the author who brought the stories to life. She spoke a lot about the making of the movies and the actors. And, I have to agree, the Twilight actors are no comparison to the Outsiders actors.

As a treat, I brought my two girls to meet and hear Hinton. As they are too young too read her teen books, they were more impressed with the dinner. The actually asked to leave so they could go to bed! I’ve reminded them several times that they will thank me later.

If you haven’t read “Hunger Games” yet, why not? This book is a roller coaster ride of action and drama. The story is set in a post-apocalyptic future where the country, or at least part of it, is separated into districts with each district producing or manufacturing a particular service. The Capitol keeps a tight control of the people in the districts through hunger and fear. Each year the districts must enter two tributes, a teen boy and girl, into the Games.

“Catching Fire” picks up the pace of the first book and takes you on yet another ride. If your teens like the Alex Rider books or the James Patterson’s Maximum Ride books they will like “Hunger Games” and “Catching Fire”. I’ve read the Alex Rider books and I found Collins pacing and dialogue to be much better than Anthony Horowitz. Both, however, can write an action scene worthy of filming.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

“Catching Fire” will be available for purchase September 1st. The publishers moved the date up just in time for the holiday weekend.

Sherman Alexie’s book The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian won the 2007 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature.

The 2007 Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction is Green Glass Sea by Ellen Klages (Viking, 2006, ISBN 0-670-06134-4, Gr. 5-8). This was announced January 17, 2007. Penguin Young Readers Group put out a press release about the book and the author (pdf). I haven’t read this yet. Have you?

ALA has announced the award winning books and videos for youth. You can read the list on their web site or view the video. I’ve read some of these books already, and really enjoyed them.

Which of these have you read or do you want to read?