Cybils

Meet the Panelists: Graphic Novels Roundtable

Having been part of the Graphic Novels category myself in previous years, I can attest that it's always an adventure discussing what makes a quality nominee, and sometimes, what makes a graphic novel a graphic novel! Thanks to GN category organizer Snow Wildsmith of Good Comics for Kids, we're getting a sneak peek into what the nominating and judging panelists really think--read on to find out who prefers Bone, who likes American Born Chinese, and who wishes they had the superpower to turn invisible!

What do you think makes a great graphic novel for kids and teens? Is it the art, the story, both? What are some examples of great kids and teen graphic novels?

Gina MarySol Ruiz (Cuentecitos, AmoXcalli): What makes a graphic novel great for kids and teens?  The same thing that makes them great for adults.  Story, story, story.  It's fine to have beautiful art, and some of it out there is astounding but if it doesn't help tell the story, then it's just pretty pictures.  A great graphic novel tells a compelling tale, using illustration and words to complement each other, but words aren't always necessary.  The illustrations alone can be evocative enough to let the reader know exactly what is going on. 

The sequence is important as well.  Does that novel seem disjointed?  Then it's probably not so good.  I say probably because I've seen graphic novels that deliberately mess with sequence to get their story across.  In the end, it boils down to telling a darned good story. A few examples of what I think are great kids and teens graphic novels:  The Arrival, Korgi, Amelia Rules, and American Born Chinese.

Paula Willey (Pink Me): The best graphic novels feel like movies--you are watching and listening (reading) at the same time, without feeling a) talked at or b) lost in a confused swirl of images. I think it takes an unbelievable amount of skill to write a script for a graphic novel. Pace is important, and movement, and setting--more so in graphic novels than in all-text novels.

I look at it like this: if I am recalling a scene in a graphic novel, and I can't remember whether the narrative was spelled out explicitly in the text, or acted out in the art... that is a successful graphic novel. 

David Elzey (The Excelsior File): For kids, the thing that makes a graphic novel great is that it opens up the language of the comics medium; it builds on the story-picture interaction that begins with picture books, and adds a new layer to the experience. Sara Varon's Robot Dreams does this well, inviting the reader to fill in the emotional dialog between the dog, the robot, and their desire for friendship. Then, of course, one cannot dismiss Tintin for the rollicking adventure of it all.

For teens, I'm looking at story first, then art, because if the story's not there then it's often nothing more than a prop for illustrations. The Cultural Trinity--Spiegelman's Maus, Satrapi's Persepolis, and Yang's American Born Chinese--are probably required reading by now for teens, but I think Tezuka's eight-volume Buddha is brilliant.

Meet the Panelists: Non-Fiction Picture Books Roundtable

Thanks to category organizer Fiona Bayrock of Books and 'Rocks, we have the opportunity to get to know the intrepid panelists for the Non-Fiction Picture Books category. Just about everything kids ever want to know about the world can be found in the pages of a good picture book, and our panelists are just as hungry to find the best, most kid-friendly nominees for the shortlist. Want some insights into what makes a great Cybils title? Read on.

If we were to file you in the nonfiction section of the library which Dewey Decimal number would you choose for yourself and why?

Becky Bilby (In the Pages): My Dewey number would be 779 - because I LOVE all things photography!!

Dave Judge (Adventures at Wilder Farm): I like to hang out in the history section of the library--either European or US history--so you could file me in the 940s or 970s. I also like looking through old newspapers and magazines in the 1870s-1930s time frame, so you could file me in the microfilm room as well.

Debbie Nance (Readerbuzz): I'd be happy anywhere in nonfiction, but if I wanted to be checked out a lot, I'd hope to be put into 567, dinosaurs. :-)

Meet the Panelists: YA Fiction Roundtable, Part II

If you joined us last Thursday for Part I of our YA Fiction panelist roundtable, you're no doubt eager to hear what else the nominating panelists have to say (and probably wishing you could be a fly on the wall for their discussions of nominated titles!). YA Fiction category organizer Jackie Parker (Interactive Reader) chimes in with three more revealing and thought-provoking questions about young adult books:

What book(s) do you wish you could get into more teens' hands?

Amanda Snow (A Patchwork of Books): I wish I could get more of my teens to read The Book Thief. I connected so well to that book, as did the teens that DID read it. There are just so many that won't crack the cover. It looks too thick maybe...

Abby Johnson (Abby (the) Librarian): I wish I could get more teens to read the Midnighters books by Scott Westerfeld. We have so many fans of Uglies at my library and I think the Midnighters are really overlooked.

Leila Roy (Bookshelves of Doom): I'll go with another Scott Westerfeld title -- Peeps! Also Melina Marchetta's Saving Francesca, the more complex fantasies by Diana Wynne Jones and Jennifer Donnelly's A Northern Light.

Jocelyn Pearce (Teen Book Review): Everything Scott Westerfeld has written. So Yesterday and Extras are my personal favorites, but I love all of his books.

Kate Fall (Author2Author): I'm surprised that more teens haven't read Libba Bray. She's so awesome. I also love Terry Pratchett.

Meet the Panelists: YA Fiction Roundtable, Part I

That's right, we're back with another revealing roundtable with our 2008 Cybils nominating panelists--this time we find out what makes the YA Fiction panelists tick. Since they've got a lot to tell you, we're dividing it up into two posts: one today and one on Tuesday. (Tune in to the blog tomorrow for another book review.) Props to YA Fiction category organizer Jackie Parker (Interactive Reader) for putting together such a great roundtable!

What do you look for in a good teen book?

Becky Laney (Becky's Book Reviews): What I look for in a good teen book is the same thing I look for in any good book. Well-developed characters that ring true to life and human nature. Flawed souls that the reader can relate to...either to love or hate. Pacing is important as well. There has to be something compelling about the book...whether it is characters, plot, or literary style...something that keeps the reader hooked and wanting more, more, more.

Trisha Murakami (The YA YA YAs): I like to see a strong voice. It's not the only thing I look for, of course, but it's often the first thing that catches my attention. Especially if the conflict doesn't begin right away, a strong voice can keep readers hooked until things do get going.

Amanda Snow (A Patchwork of Books): I definitely look for characters that are realistic, rather than contrived and artificial. If it feels like the author speaking, rather than a 16-year-old, I have issues with that. I also appreciate a book teens can not only relate to, but lose themselves in. If they can relate to the character or the topic, they will keep on reading.

Abby Johnson (Abby (the) Librarian): I'll echo the others and say that I definitely look for a character that grabs my attention and makes me care about him or her. I don't need to like the character, necessarily, but I do need to care about what they're doing and where they're going. I also look for a well-developed sense of place, time and world, a setting that envelops the reader and makes me feel as if I'm right there with the characters.

Meet the Panelists: Fantasy/Sci-Fi Roundtable

If you had a chance to read the first installment of Meet the Panelists, you'll remember that this is your opportunity to get to know the various judges and nominating panelists just a bit better--a peek behind the scenes and into the minds of the decision-makers behind the Cybils process. Today, courtesy of Fantasy and Science Fiction category organizer Tasha Saecker of Kids Lit, we learn a little more about the nominating panelists for Fantasy/Sci-Fi:

What is your favorite book this year, in any genre or age group, and why?

Alyssa Feller (The Shady Glade): Although I haven't read a lot of this year's nominees, I was excited to see No Girls Allowed by Susan Hughes had made it on the graphic novel list.  I'm excited to read the nominees, though; I've heard some great things about some of them!

Amanda Blau (Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs): Okay - my favorite book changes often. This year I loved Savvy by Ingrid Law, but this week my favorite book is the picture book Maybe a Bear Ate It by Robie H. Harris and illustrated (charmingly) by Michael Emberley.

Charlotte Taylor (Charlotte's Library): Of all the books I read this year, many of which I liked very much, there was only one that made me rush immediately to the computer and blog forth gushing praise--Seven Miles to Freedom: The Robert Smalls Story, by Janet Halfmann, illustrated by Duane Smith (2008). This particular story of this particular person, and the powerful way Halfmann tells the story, really got to me.  Reading the factual information at the end, and seeing everything Smalls had hoped for go crashing down again into racism toward the end of the 19th century (which I don't remember learning much about in school), was also pretty
moving (and topical).

Meet the Panelists: MG Fiction Roundtable

One of the most innovative aspects of the Cybils--something that differentiates it from other children's and YA book awards--is the fact that it's a grassroots effort to find the best in kids' books. Our nominations are drawn from the internet public, and our nominating and judging panelists comprise a broad cross-section of bloggers with a common interest in recognizing quality literature for children and young adults.

We want to give you the opportunity to get to know our blogging panelists just a bit better--and so we've asked them a few questions about what they look for in a great children's book. Today, courtesy of Middle Grade Fiction category organizer Kerry Millar of Shelf Elf, we learn a little more about the nominating panelists for MG Fiction:

What was your favorite children's/YA book this year, in any genre, and why?

Sarah Mulhern (The Reading Zone): I hate difficult questions like this! It's like asking me to choose my favorite pet! But if I absolutely must, then it's a tie--The Dead and The Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer for both myself and my students, and The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray for me.

Melissa Fox (Book Nut): Oh...so hard to choose. Suite Scarlett, because it's a great combination of romance and adventure and has great characters and it hit me just right at the right time. Or The Adoration of Jenna Fox, for being thought-provoking and engrossing.

Alysa Stewart (Everead): Rapunzel's Revenge! A fabulous graphic novel that anyone who can read it (8+?) will love.

Matt Wigdahl (The Book Club Shelf): Easy:  We are the Ship by Kadir Nelson--fascinating information, breathtaking illustrations.

Mary R. Voors (ACPL Mock Newbery): Can I have two? My two favorites this year--so far--are The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry because it made me laugh out loud more than any book I've read in years. I also really loved The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins because it was a `can't put it down' captivating fantasy with strong and believable characters and an intriguing premise.

If you could be a character in any MG fiction title, who would you choose to be, and why?

Kim Baccellia: I love upbeat, go-getter characters and Anna Smudge is one of my favorites! She's a combination of Dr. Phil and Nancy Drew as she solves a mystery.

Sherry Early (Semicolon):  I'd like to visit Middle Earth. Is Tolkien middle grade fiction? Maybe I could be a minor character and see what hobbits and dwarves and elves really look and act like.

Sarah Mulhern (The Reading Zone): I am a huge science nerd, so I have always harbored a secret wish to spend a day as a character in The Green Glass Sea. To be in Los Alamos, surrounded by people like Richard Feynman and Albert Einstein, would be amazing. But only for a day. It is Los Alamos, after all!

Matt Wigdahl (The Book Club Shelf): I would choose to be the deceptively clever and exceedingly wise Nicholas Allen,  inventor of the original Frindle.

Thanks to the MG Fiction panelists for their thoughtful answers!

--Sarah Stevenson, Deputy Editor

Introducing Anne Levy, Cybils Sherpa

Hey all.  I just thought up that title you see above.  Hope you like it.  Not that we're scaling Everest here, even if the TBR pile does seem mountainous at times. 

I see my role as a mere pointer-outer-of-hazards and seeker-of-safe-routes.  Leaders are people who bark orders and managers crack the whip to get it done.  I just say, "Let's put on a contest!" And you all do it.  Amazing!  **applauds fabulous volunteers**

I do have actual credentials lying around someplace.  I am an ex-ex-journalist.  I took such pride telling people my escape pod jettisoned long before the MSM imploded.  I turned to mommying, blogging and generally getting on with things. Recently, my husband asked me to please consider gainful employment again but I went back to journalism anyway.  I'm now a news writer for a small agency. I.e., a lowly hack in a sweat factory.  I love it.

The information highway is littered with the rusting hulks of my abandoned blogs.  I wrote Inland Empress and Book Buds, and co-founded Cybils along with Kelly Herold.  I'll be judging in Fantasy and Science Fiction this year, a topic I've covered in book reviews for the "Los Angeles Times." 

Welcome to Cybils.  Let's put on a contest!

--Anne Levy

Introducing Mindy Rhiger, Middle Grade/Young Adult Non-Fiction

Today we meet Mindy Rhiger, organizer for the Non-Fiction MG/YA category:

I'm Mindy Rhiger, organizer for the Young Adult and Middle Grade Non-Fiction category.  I've been involved with the Cybils since the first year, and I've been blogging about books at propernoun.net since 2005. 

I read and review all over the map.  My strongest ties are to YA Fiction, as I started out in librarianship as YA Librarian at a public library.  My current job at The Bakken Museum in Minneapolis has me focused more intently on science, invention, and engineering-related titles for kids and teens.  I love the opportunity to connect kids with these topics through hands-on science.

In addition to book reviews, I also blog about library and museum programming, early literacy, and anything book-related that strikes my fancy.

When I'm not at the museum, I'm exploring the world with my very active nine-month-old daughter. 

Introducing Kerry Millar, Middle Grade Fiction Organizer

Today we meet Kerry Millar, category organizer for Middle Grade Fiction:

Hello fellow Cybilers: nominators, panelists and judges! I've been teaching Grade 5 for three years, so I’ve got some solid first-hand know-how about what's going on out there in Middle-Grade-land--what's cool, what's old, what has true kid appeal and what doesn't.

Before teaching, I was part pastry chef, part children's bookseller (a.k.a. the dreamiest job-combo known to man), and went to sleep every night full of French pastries and stories. Now I spend my days with many ten-year olds, trying to find every conceivable excuse to pull out a book and read to them.

Over a year ago, inspired by the many quirky, clever and generally delightful blogs in the kidlitosphere, I launched Shelf Elf, where I've been blogging ever since about everything kidlit related. I’m also a contributing blogger over at Guys Lit Wire, the new group blog that recommends great books to teen male readers, and a regular participant in features such as Poetry Friday and Nonfiction Monday.

Last year I served as a Cybils panelist for the Middle Grade Fiction category, and I'm so happy to be back again, this time as a MGF judge and category organizer. When I’m not teaching / blogging / reading, I can be found curled up with a Siamese cat and slice of cake.

Introducing Jackie Parker, Young Adult Fiction Category

Today we meet the category organizer for YA Fiction, Jackie Parker:

I'm Jackie Parker, organizer of the YA Fiction category. This is my second year organizing the category, and my third year on the panel.

As a teen librarian, YA literature is something I'm constantly immersed in at work, but it's also something that I spend a lot of my free time on. Besides constantly reading it, and often blogging about it, I'm a Poster Girl for Reader Girlz, an online community that strives to empower teen girls through literature.

Since 2005, I've been blogging almost exclusively about teen fiction on my blog, Interactive Reader, for many reasons, primarily because I think that teens are the most underrated when it comes to literature.

I believe that some of the most interesting books today are being directed at teens, and through my profession, my blog, and the opportunities I have because of both of those, I want to help spread the word about the hundreds of amazing books published each year for teens, and maybe, just maybe, I'll be able to connect readers with books when it matters most - as a teen.