Chapter Adventure Reading Challenges (Formerly GXO) discussion

Your task this month is to read at least 1 book that WON a book award in FEBRUARY - any year.

Awards that have been announced in February include:
* Cybils Awards
* The 2018 American Library Association (ALA) Youth Media Awards.
* The 2018 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction - another ALA Award). It will also be presented in Feb, this year (Feb. 4, 2021).
* The 2019 PEN America Literary Awards.

--- Comment below with ---
(1) the name book you're reading for the challenge,
(2) the name and year of the award it won
(3) CHALLENGE COMPLETE if you've finished reading the book.

Is it only 2018/2019 that these were announced in February?

Kimberly wrote: "Is it only 2018/2019 that these were announced in February?"

Yup!

Another option for audiobook listeners is the Spoken Word category of Grammy winners, always announced in February. This is the option I'm going for, if it's acceptable for the challenge. I want to listen to Becoming.

Sarah wrote: "Another option for audiobook listeners is the Spoken Word category of Grammy winners, always announced in February. This is the option I'm going for, if it's acceptable for the challenge. I want to..."

Yes! The Spoken Word winners from the Grammys absolutely work for the challenge. I think someone chose it last year as well. It was actually my first time hearing about the award.

Thank you! I'm looking forward to finally hearing Michelle tell her story.

Sarah wrote: "Another option for audiobook listeners is the Spoken Word category of Grammy winners, always announced in February. This is the option I'm going for, if it's acceptable for the challenge. I want to..."

Great idea! I've been wanting to read this so this is the perfect excuse.

the Cybils Awards are presented in February as well.

Tanya Patrice wrote: "the Cybils Awards are presented in February as well."

Oh, good one!
Cybils Award Winners

I'm planning on reading Tess of the Road, which I wouldn't have discovered without the link to the Cybils Awards in this thread, so thanks for that :)
It won the 2017 award for Young Adult Speculative Fiction

CHALLENGE COMPLETED

Pretty good read

Here's the archive of Grammy Spoken Word winners, for my fellow audiobook devotees.

I chose The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise because I already have a copy of it and won't have to wait on the library. It won a Cybil for Middle Grade in 2019.

Kimberly wrote: "I chose The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise ..."

Oh, I enjoyed that one! My group of adults who read & discuss middle-grade and YA books read it year before last. I look forward to hearing what you think.

Sarah wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "I chose The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise ..."

Oh, I enjoyed that one! My group of adults who read & discuss middle-grade and YA books read it year before l..."

Awesome! I haven't found anyone else who has read it yet.

Challenge Complete
February Book Award - 2018 Alex Award - Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire

Love, love, love! This is a short novella - I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by the author. Only 4+ hours and a really interesting story. It's a fantasy - but the kind that's throwing out subtle hints about things people do in reality - in this case - parents making their kids into what they want to be and trying to create a picture perfect life - and how that can really mess with kids minds / psyche.

Tanya Patrice wrote: "Challenge Complete
February Book Award - 2018 Alex Award - Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire

Love, love, love! This is a short novella - I listened..."

I read Book 1 of this series when it first came out, and found it intriguing, and also unsettling. Your description of Book 2 has rekindled my interest in continuing the series … perhaps on audio.

Challenge Completed
February Book Award - 2019 Spoken Word Grammy
Becoming by Michelle Obama

This was an excellent listen, read by the author. It was like having a good friend sit and tell me her life story while I drove to and from work each day. The timing was good, too … anytime prior to the resolution of the 2020 election, I think it would have made me too sad.

I loved the story of the marriage proposal, and the reflections on how it was to parent Malia and Sasha from preteens to young women while living in the White House. Really, all of it was delightful, and a completely enjoyable way to learn more about this remarkable woman who was always more than just FLOTUS.

Challenge Complete - I chose the book Eager: The Surprising, Secret Lives of Beavers and Why They Matter, which won the 2019 PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award. I thoroughly enjoyed the well researched and written narrative detailing this amazing creature and it's value to the health of ecosystems in North America.

Nikki wrote: "Challenge Complete - I chose the book Eager: The Surprising, Secret Lives of Beavers and Why They Matter, which won the 2019 PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award. "

I am always on the lookout for engaging & accessible books on animals/nature to offer to my library book group as a choice when we're picking a science book. Do you think this one would be a good option for a book discussion group? My bunch tends to shy away from prose that's too dry and academic, and sometimes it's hard to tell in advance with science titles.

I find it easily accessible and conversational. As a scientist by training, I am one who reads both dry/academic and more conversational fairly equally. The author is an environmental journalist who, in my opinion, does a good job making the science accessible to the layperson.

Nikki wrote: "I find it easily accessible and conversational. As a scientist by training, I am one who reads both ..."

Thanks! I'll put it on my list for future consideration.

February was too short for my long TBR. So, I started this one in February, but didn't finish it until March: Rot & Ruin It won the Cybils Award)

You Don't Have to Say You Love Me, but that's what won the Andrew Carnegie Award for Excellence in 2018.