Always be a first rate version of yourself...: Morris Award

What's Going On Here?

There are SO MANY wonderful book review blogs out there and I can't compete with them, that is for sure. So this is not a book review blog. This is just a way for me to organize what I have read so that I can be better at matching the right book to the right person. The blog title comes from the brilliant mind of the most talented woman who ever lived, Ms. Judy Garland. The full quote is, "Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of someone else." That is what I hope to do here and in ever aspect of my life.

Sunday, December 10, 2017

Dear Martin, You would love this book.

Dear Martin was just so excellent. I bought it when I saw that it had made the list of finalists for the Morris Award. May I also admit that the Morris Award was completely unknown to me before I saw the email from YALSA announcing the finalists? I am embarrassed, but I am transparent! Relevant, real, amazing writing. I didn't know until I looked at her web page that Nic Stone is female. Not a big deal or even a deal, but I am always impressed when an author can just really speak in the voice of someone different from they. So good. This one should be a Printz Honor for sure. Only Auma's Long Run is higher in my opinion. But man, this is close!

Monday, February 9, 2015

Another Surprise!

I was so blessed to be in Chicago at ALA Midwinter when the Youth Media Awards were announced. The room was filled with excitement. As I mentioned before, I was just thrilled that The Crossover won the Newbery.
Gabi, a Girl in Pieces won the Morris Award. After reading it, and being so cynical about awards since 1954, I was so surprised to find that it won! This book is awesome. It just awesome. Gabi is a girl that you just love right from the start. And there is so much in here. Body issues, sexuality, race, drug abuse, rape, hope, love, tradition. All just done so, so well. Gabi feels like a real person.