Mock Printz 2026 discussion

We still don't have our winners yet for the 2014 award, but I thought I'd kick things off for this year's reading. I've started adding books coming out this year to the group's bookshelf. Criteria for addition is multiple starred reviews or new books from previous honorees. Is there anything on your radar yet?

The bookshelf is a cool feature I hadn't seen before!

Awesome! Thanks for starting this.

I got a copy of SHE IS NOT INVISIBLE off of Netgalley. I'm still not sure how I feel about it. Great main character and her relationship with her little brother. Also a strong sense of tension never goes away with a blind girl negotiating New York with only her 7 yr old brother.

However, the plot didn't thrill me, and the book asks questions about the nature of coincidences, and that didn't really go anywhere for me. Definitely not your typical Sedgwick novel, and will be interesting to discuss this year.

I have an ARC of Grasshopper Jungle, written by Andrew Smith (Winger author). It's supposed to come out at the end of February! Still trying to get through some Newbery contenders before the awards come out, and then I'll be tearing in to it!

Gene Yang has done it again. THE SHADOW HERO is a really great read. It's a great comic superhero story in the style of the 1940s classic comics. The characters are really developed well, especially surprisingly the "bad guy". But the main thing is a back story that is revealed at the end of an actual comic hero from the WW2 era that couldn't be portrayed as Chinese due to prejudices of the time. So the artist basically hid the hero's nationality. THE SHADOW HERO is Yang's vision for this hero's origin. This "twist" adds so much depth to an already distinguished read.

I have halfway through The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson. Combine the relationships of Eleanor and Park and Augustus and Hazel and you get this book. It's amazing.

GRASSHOPPER JUNGLE is amazing. Guaranteed you haven't read anything like it. Just be careful who you loan it to-- tons of mature language and subject matter. But take an end-of-the-world apocalypse story and wrap it in a study of why we record our history and the cause and effect relationships that create history (and the horny nature of teenage boys) and I think you have this totally memorable read.

Complicit by Stephanie Kuehn has three starred reviews - adding it to my personal reading list.

It may be on the younger side, but I loved BOYS OF BLUR. The Florida setting like you've never seen before-- the sugar cane fields and the "muck" of the swampland really comes alive. And I absolutely loved the writing style, imagery and figurative language. I really think this is a contender for some award, and I am now looking forward to reading more by this author.

Going to second COMPLICIT. It's one of the only books that actually blew me away this year. I think we have a really light year in terms of contenders so far. Whereas the twist in WE WERE LIARS was obvious from the start (standard horror trope stuff, despite strong writing), the one in COMPLICIT is not.

Down the road, a few that might be worth considering (I've read neither): LIES WE TELL OURSELVES and GLORY O'BRIEN AND THE HISTORY OF THE FUTURE.

The second Andrew Smith book this year, 100 SIDEWAYS MILES, has already racked up a few starred reviews, too, so it's one to maybe consider.

Otherbound by Corinne Duyvis has three starred reviews that I have read... Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, and SLJ.

Anyone read this yet?

I really enjoyed Say What You Will by Cammie McGovern (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...), I think it has a nice depth and the different types of characters I think are something that the Printz strives for. I haven't read a few of these, but I know A.S. King's Glory O'Brien is supposed to be STELLAR as is We Were Liars (E. Lockhart) and anything by Andrew Smith makes me happy, happy, happy!

Morgan wrote: "I really enjoyed Say What You Will by Cammie McGovern (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...), I think it has a nice depth and the different types of characters I think are..."

I just checked out Say What You Will from the library and plan to dive in this weekend! Does it have starred reviews?

EDIT: Yep! Just checked it out and found starred reviews from ALA and Publishers Weekly! Now I'm even more excited to get started!

Otherbound was ok not great. Exciting concept that was done with great execution, but the story and characters left a lot to be desired.

Meghanly wrote: "Otherbound by Corinne Duyvis has three starred reviews that I have read... Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, and SLJ.

Anyone read this yet?"

Please add Guy in Real Life to the mix.

100 Sideway Miles is fantastic. As is Say What You Will. Both unique

When I was the Greatest by Jason Reynolds

I'm on board for Complicit. I have some Strong Feelings about that book.

VANGO- BETWEEN SKY AND EARTH. Loved it! Talk about an amazing cast of characters, and I loved the "feel" of Europe between World Wars, being on the Zeppelin, and the isolated islands and volcano. So much rich story and setting. Yes, the plot does leave many unresolved issues. But there's so much literary excellence here that it must be in the discussion.

Paul wrote: "VANGO- BETWEEN SKY AND EARTH. Loved it! Talk about an amazing cast of characters, and I loved the "feel" of Europe between World Wars, being on the Zeppelin, and the isolated islands and volcano...."

I'm about to start reading this! terrific reviewa!

I absolutely loved Wildlife by Fiona Wood. I don't think it's going to get the attention it deserves but it is masterful.