2009 Newbery

[Wendy]

The awards will be announced today! You can watch a live feed at 7:45 AM MT at http://ala.unikron.com/, or see it on Twitter here: http://ala.unikron.com/

I'll be back to update later today (or someone else is welcome to do it if you get here first).

[Kristine]

I am going to my library's website to request it right now. It was fun to listen to it live.

Medal:
The Graveyard by Neil Gaiman

Honors:
The Underneath
The Surrender Tree
Savvy
After Tupac & D Foster

[Jeanette]

I am so totally thrilled about Savvy winning an honor. I really loved that book.
The Underneath is not a surprising win at all.
Have not read The Surrender Tree or After Tupac and D Foster.

I'd heard some people predicting The Graveyard Book but it was always tossed around as a wild card pick. Have not read it yet.

[Luann]

Very exciting! I just purchased Savvy last week.

American Library Association Announces Literary Award Winners
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28857052/

[Wendy]

I think everyone who's read The Graveyard Book was convinced it would win the Newbery... IF it was eligible. That was always the big question (because one chapter was previously published).

I posted my reactions on my blog, http://sixboxesofbooks.blogspot.com, if anyone's interested!

[Lisa]

I'm a bit disappointed in "The Graveyard Book" selection, although I love Gaiman with all my heart. I found it too choppy and fragmented for my taste (read my review on my Newbery shelf). I was hoping that "Chains" would come away with the prize, but....oh well. My congratulations, of course, to Gaiman all the same. I'm reading both Volume 1 of the Sandman series and "Wolves in the Walls"---great, great stuff.

[Lisa]

Also, it is considered the 2008 or the 2009 Newbery? We are only one month into '09.

[Luann]

The awards just announced are for 2009. From the ALA Newbery website, it explains that the Medal is "awarded annually to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children published in English in the United States during the preceding year." So the 2009 awards go to 2008 books.

[Kristen]

I read The Graveyard Book. It was pretty good. I am pleased that The Underneath and Savvy were both announced Honor Books and won a prize. I am also wondering if the Newbery Commitee will be accused of bending. Interesting. We will see what happens eh?

[Liz]

Kristine wrote: "I am going to my library's website to request it right now. It was fun to listen to it live.

Medal:
The Graveyard by Neil Gaiman

Honors:
The Underneath
The Surrender Tree
Savvy
After Tupac & D..."

Have just put the 2009 Newbery Award winner on reserve (and it's on CD!), must now check out the Honors ...