2020 February Reading Challenge

[Elizabeth]

The American Library Association just named it's 2020 youth media award winners. Your challenge for February is to read one of the books that either won, or were honored. Click the link below for the entire list. A couple of my favorites from the list were Scary Stories for Young Foxes and Other Words for Home from the Newbery Honor list, The Undefeated which won the Caldecott Medal and Middlegame from the Alex Awards.

http://www.ala.org/news/press-release...

Edited to add: If the book you want to read from this year is unavailable due to everyone putting it on hold, feel free to read a previous year's winner. :)

[Debbie]

I already have my holds in place for the ones I want to read. So I'll participate if I get one of the titles in time to read it. Which I have good reason to expect to do.

[Brianon]

I'm looking forward to reading  "A Thousand Sisters: The Heroic Airwomen of the Soviet Union in World War II," written by Elizabeth Wein. It was a finalist for the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults.

[Carolyn]

I just started reading Jason Reynolds' "Look Both Ways" which was an honor book for one award. It will probably be finished before February, so I will have to pick something else.

[Elizabeth]

Debbie makes a good point about access. I'm opening this challenge to past winners as well. I'll edit the first comment above to reflect this. Thanks Debbie!

[Linda]

Since Mildred D. Taylor won the Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement. Can I read any book by her and have it count since there are so many holds on the other books)?

[Debbie]

I'm sticking with my original plan, but if it gets close to the wire and I'm not getting anything, I'll read something else. But I still expect the newest Caldecott Medal winner, The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander, to go through it's list of holds quickly. I'm #15 on the list with 15 copies currently in circulation. So the odds are good. Getting New Kid by Jerry Craft is far less certain, I'm #26 and there are only 23 copies currently in circulation. Caldecotts are more likely to be returned early than are Newberys. BUT, with New Kid being graphic novel, readers may sail through the 249 pages much more quickly than usual for a 250-page book. So the race is on and the game is afoot! Oh, wait. That was last month.

[Elizabeth]

Linda wrote: "Since Mildred D. Taylor won the Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement. Can I read any book by her and have it count since there are so many holds on the other books)?"
Sure!

[Elizabeth]

Debbie wrote: "I'm sticking with my original plan, but if it gets close to the wire and I'm not getting anything, I'll read something else. But I still expect the newest Caldecott Medal winner, [book:The Undefeat..."

I really like The Undefeated. I hope you like it too.

[Debbie]

Elizabeth wrote: "I really like The Undefeated. I hope you like it too."

I like Kwame Alexander's writing. And I'm excited to see the illustrations, since that is what Caldecotts are for.

[Debbie]

Carolyn wrote: "I just started reading Jason Reynolds' "Look Both Ways" which was an honor book for one award. It will probably be finished before February, so I will have to pick something else."

If you were me, you'd make it last and finish it on Feb. 1. Nothing says the book for the challenge has to be started during the challenge month, just finished. Read only 1 or 2 chapters a day and you'll be home free. I'm a tricksy old bird.

[Linda]

Elizabeth wrote: "Linda wrote: "Since Mildred D. Taylor won the Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement. Can I read any book by her and have it count since there are so many holds on the other books)?"
Sure!"

Thanks. That is what I will do.

[Elizabeth]

For those who don't really like reading kids/teen books, don't forget that the Alex Awards are adult books that have teen appeal.

[Audrey]

Is there a list for last year?

[Debbie]

One of my favorite Newbery winners is The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate. And it's based on real life.

[Becky]

I read Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds, which is National Book Award Finalist, which may not fit the bill of this challenge, but still was a great read, nonetheless.

[Debbie]

Becky wrote: "I read Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds, which is National Book Award Finalist, which may not fit the bill of this challenge, but still was a great read, nonetheless."

Actually, as it was a finalist of the Coretta Scott King Award, I'd think it does count. Elizabeth?

[Linda]

Becky wrote: "I read Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds, which is National Book Award Finalist, which may not fit the bill of this challenge, but still was a great read, nonetheless."

I saw it on the list so it should count.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah, it counts. Don't worry about it.

[Teresa]

I read When Spring Comes to the DMZ, which won the Batchelder Honor Winner, 2020 ALA Youth Media Awards. The demilitarized zone between North and South Korea is an accidental nature preserve because people aren't allowed in there, just like the area around Chernobyl, in Ukraine.

[Debbie]

Teresa wrote: "I read When Spring Comes to the DMZ, which won the Batchelder Honor Winner, 2020 ALA Youth Media Awards. The demilitarized zone between North and South Korea is an accidental nature..."

That sounds really good. I think I'm gonna "get me some of that".

[Jackie]

Debbie wrote: "One of my favorite Newbery winners is The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate. And it's based on real life."

Mine, too! I loved it so much.

[Carolyn]

Just finished the challenge for February. I read Code Name Verity which was a Printz Award honor book for 2013.

[Becky]

Carolyn wrote: "Just finished the challenge for February. I read Code Name Verity which was a Printz Award honor book for 2013."

That book is a favorite of mine!

[Becky]

Teresa wrote: "I read When Spring Comes to the DMZ, which won the Batchelder Honor Winner, 2020 ALA Youth Media Awards. The demilitarized zone between North and South Korea is an accidental nature..."

I just read this book too, on your recommendation. The illustrations are so good!

[Debbie]

Becky wrote: "Teresa wrote: "I read When Spring Comes to the DMZ, which won the Batchelder Honor Winner, 2020 ALA Youth Media Awards. The demilitarized zone between North and South Korea is an ac..."

And I'm a 3rd who read it on your recommendation. Who'd have guessed that unresolved conflict of humans would create a safety space undisturbed for nature.

[Linda]

I read The Land byMildred D. Taylor. She was a lifetime achievement award winning author.

[Teresa]

It makes me giddy when others read my book choices! Thanks ladies!

[Elizabeth]

Only one more week in this challenge. I'll get the March challenge up next week!

[Becky]

I also read The Undefeated, which won the Caldecott Medal. Great for anytime but especially Black History Month.

[Debbie]

Like Becky, I also read The Undefeated. It was great and the drawings ... Wow! Which is what the Caldecott is for.

[Greg]

I read Anger is a Gift. I think that's the last time I read a book from an awards list.

2/2 on reading challenges this year.

[Alyson]

I read "The Undefeated" and "New Kid"--I loved the latter!

[Elizabeth]

Becky is our prize drawing winner for February 2020's reading challenge for reading The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander.

Congratulations Becky!

[Debbie]

Hooray Becky!

[Becky]

Thanks so much! :)

[Jackie]

Becky!!! You lucky duck! Congrats, friend.

[Becky]

Jackie wrote: "Becky!!! You lucky duck! Congrats, friend."

Thank you! :)

[JoAnn]

I'm so disappointed Genesis Begins Again wasn't among those selected for this year's Beehive Awards. It was excellent, better than Wishtree, which was great as well. My heart broke for the protagonist repeatedly.

I finished it yesterday. I know it's too late for Feb., but I wanted to share it anyway, since it relates to the Feb. Theme.