A few days ago I announced the shortlist for the inaugural Gold and Silver BookBoy Awards. After much deliberation, the judge (me) has decided on the four winners.
As a reminder, the shortlists were selected from all the books I read this year and awards are given across four categories. Below are the winners with some judges comments.
Silver BookBoy Junior (for a junior book published before 2008)
The invention of Hugo Cabret, Brian Selznick
This book is simply an amazing work of art. Enough said. Just go read it.
Golden BookBoy Junior (for a junior book published in 2008)
Rhyming boy: a novel, Steven Herrick
I have read a couple of Steven Herrick books this year and he is a seriously talented writer. Rhyming boy is no exception. It’s a fun story too.
Silver BookBoy Teen (for a teen book published before 2008)
Before I die, Jenny Downham
This was by far the toughest category to decide. To be honest, I probably could have given it to any of the five shortlisted books. I ended up sort of narrowing it down to Before I die, Town, or Black water. In the end, Before I die just snuck home because it made me cry.
Golden BookBoy Teen (for a teen book published in 2008)
Skin Hunger (a resurrection of magic, book 1), Kathleen Duey
I really loved this book. I love the world she has created. I love the connection between the two parallel stories being told. I love the developing characters and wondering what will happen next. I hate that I have to wait for her to write the next book in the series. Honourable mention to D.M. Cornish for Lamplighter, also a fantastic book that has me hanging out for the next in the series.
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Before I die made me cry, too. Then again, I sort of presumed that was going to happen, given the title.
Rhyming boy was a good, fun read.
Must read the others, now, I suppose.