John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature:
Jack Gantos – “Dead End in Norvelt”



Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book
Chris Raschka – “A Ball for Daisy”

Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults
John Corey Whaley – “Where Things Come Back”

Coretta Scott King Book Award recognizing African American authors
Kadir Nelson – “Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans”


Coretta Scott King Book Award for illustration
Shane W. Evans – “Underground: Finding the Light to Freedom”

Pura Belpre Award honoring a Latino illustrator
Duncan Tonatiuh – “Diego Rivera: His World and Ours”

Belpre Author Award
Guadalupe Garcia McCall – “Under the Mesquite”

Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults
Susan Cooper

Theodor Geisel Award for most distinguished beginning reader book
Josh Schneider – “Tales for Very Picky Eaters”

William C. Morris Award for a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens
John Corey Whaley – “Where Things Come Back”

Schneider Family Book Award for best teen book embodying an artistic expression of the disability experience
Wendelin Van Draanen – “The Running Dream”

Schneider Award for middle-school readers
Joan Bauer – “Close to Famous”
Brian Selznick – “Wonderstruck: A Novel in Words and Pictures”

Alex Awards for adult books that appeal to teen audiences
“Big Girl Small” by Rachel DeWoskin
“In Zanesville” by Jo Ann Beard
“The Lover’s Dictionary” by David Levithan
“The New Kids: Big Dreams and Brave Journeys at a High School for Immigrant Teens” by Brooke Hauser
“The Night Circus” by Erin Morgenstern
“Ready Player One” by Ernest Cline
“Robopocalypse: A Novel” by Daniel H. Wilson
“Salvage the Bones” by Jesmyn Ward
“The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt: A Novel in Pictures” by Caroline Preston
“The Talk-Funny Girl” by Roland Merullo

Bookmark to:

Sophie Brody Medal for Outstanding Jewish Literature:
“Sacred Trash: the Lost and Found World of the Cairo Geniza” by Adina Hoffman and Peter Cole (Schocken Books)

Honor Books:
“Jerusalem: the Biography” by Simon Sebag Montefiore (Alfred A. Knopf)
“MetaMaus” by Art Spiegelman (Pantheon Books)
“Quiet Americans: Stories” by Erika Dreifus (Last Light Studio Books)

Louis Shores Award for Book Reviewing
Sarah L. Johnson, professor of library services at Eastern Illinois University and author of the blog Reading the Past and book review editor, The Historical Novels Review

2012 Zora Neale Hurston Award for Outstanding African-American Literature
Vanessa Irvin Morris, author of The Readers’ Advisory Guide to Street Literature (ALA Editions)

Stonewall Book Award for exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience
Bil Wright – “Putting Makeup on the Fat Boy”

Bookmark to:

“All Clear,” by Connie Willis. Narrated by Katherine Kellgren. Brilliance Audio. (ISBN 978-1-4418-7576-1).
This sequel to “Blackout,” a stellar science fiction adventure, follows the plight of a group of historians from 2060, trapped in WWII England during the Blitz. In a narrative tour de force, Kellgren brings to life a large cast of characters, including a pair of street-smart urchins who capture the hearts of characters and listeners alike.

Listen-Alikes:

“Away” by Amy Bloom. Narrated by Barbara Rosenblat. HighBridge.
“Pirate King” by Laurie R. King. Narrated by Jenny Sterlin. Recorded Books.
“Year of Wonders” by Geraldine Brooks. Narrated by Josephine Bailey. Books on Tape.

“Bossypants,” by Tina Fey. Narrated by Tina Fey. Hachette Audio. (ISBN 978-1-60941-969-1). AudioGO. (ISBN 978-1-60941-719-2).
In a very funny memoir made decidedly funnier by its reader, Tina Fey relates sketches and memories of her time at SNL and Second City as well as the difficulties of balancing career and motherhood. In a voice dripping with wit, she acts out the book, adding extra-aural elements that print simply cannot convey.

Listen-Alikes:

“Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim,” by David Sedaris. Narrated by David Sedaris. Hachette Audio.
“I Was Told There’d Be Cake,” by Sloane Crosley. Narrated by Sloane Crosley. Penguin Audio.
“The Partly Cloudy Patriot,” by Sarah Vowell. Narrated by Sarah Vowell. Simon & Schuster Audio.

“The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey,” by Walter Mosley. Narrated by Dominic Hoffman. Penguin Audio. (ISBN 978-0-14-242856-6). Books on Tape. (ISBN 978-0-3078-7583-9).
Dominic Hoffman reads this elegiac novel of memory and redemption with fierce grace, inhabiting Mosley’s characters with voices perfectly crafted in pitch and rhythm. His rough, gravelly narration manages the pace and mood of the book with astounding skill, brilliantly capturing the mental clarity and fog of 91-year-old Ptolemy Grey’s world.

Listen-Alikes:

“Emily, Alone,” by Stewart O’Nan. Narrated by Andrea Gallo. Recorded Books.
“Flowers for Algernon,” by Daniel Keyes. Narrated by Jeff Woodman. Recorded Books.
“Noah’s Compass,” by Anne Tyler. Narrated by Arthur Morey. Random House Audio. Books on Tape.

“Life Itself: A Memoir,” by Roger Ebert. Narrated by Edward Herrmann. Hachette Audio (ISBN 978-1-60941-035-3). AudioGO. (ISBN 978-1-61113-792-7).
Ebert’s clear-eyed account chronicles his life from his youth in Urbana, Illinois, to his fame as a world-renowned film critic in Chicago. Herrmann’s engaging, affable reading mirrors the author’s tone—honest, often humorous, sometimes bittersweet—as he unhurriedly ushers listeners through Ebert’s moving reflections on a life well lived.

Listen-Alikes:

“Born Standing Up: A Comic’s Life,” by Steve Martin. Narrated by Steve Martin. Simon & Schuster Audio. Recorded Books.
“Chapters from My Autobiography,” by Mark Twain. Narrated by Bronson Pinchot. AudioGO.
“Life,” by Keith Richards and James Fox. Narrated by Keith Richards, Johnny Depp and Joe Hurley. Hachette Audio.

“Middlemarch,” by George Eliot. Narrated by Juliet Stevenson. NAXOS. (ISBN 978-184-379-439-4).
Juliet Stevenson brings crisp clarity, a witty sensibility and a charming tonal quality to Eliot’s masterpiece of provincial life. Through her deft management of pacing and tone, she reveals character motivation and illuminates the many themes of the novel. But most of all she reclaims Eliot for listeners who thought they did not enjoy classics.

Listen-Alikes:

“The Age of Innocence,” by Edith Wharton. Narrated by Lorna Raver. Blackstone Audio.
“Jane Eyre,” by Charlotte Brontë. Narrated by Nadia May. Blackstone Audio.
“Pride and Prejudice,” by Jane Austen. Narrated by Josephine Bailey. Tantor Media.

“The Mischief of the Mistletoe,” by Lauren Willig. Narrated by Kate Reading. Penguin Audio. (ISBN 978-0-14-242830-6).
In this Regency Christmas caper, a pudding, a spy, a hilarious school theatrical and a memorable country house party lead to laughter, love and an offer of marriage. Reading’s lovely English accent and exuberance are a perfect fit for the wide range of characters, from young girls to male teachers to members of the aristocracy.

Listen-Alikes:

“The Black Cobra Quartet,” series by Stephanie Laurens. Narrated by Simon Prebble. Harper Audio. Blackstone Audio.
“The Scarlet Pimpernel,” by Baroness Emma Orczy. Narrated by Ralph Cosham. Blackstone Audio.
“The Talisman Ring,” by Georgette Heyer. Narrated by Phyllida Nash. AudioGO.

“One of Our Thursdays is Missing” by Jasper Fforde. Narrated by Emily Gray. Recorded Books. (ISBN 978-1-4498-4675-6).
In this genre-bending romp, the “written” Thursday must rescue the “real” Thursday from a nefarious Bookworld plot. Emily Gray wears Thursday like a second skin, as she does the robots, dodos, and space aliens running around. The story is paced such that every nuance of pun and word play is captured and rendered aurally.

Listen-Alikes:

“Blackout,” by Connie Willis. Narrated by Katherine Kellgren. Brilliance Audio.
“The Peculiar Crimes Unit Mysteries,” series by Christopher Fowler. Narrated by Tim Goodman. Recorded Books/Clipper Audio.
“Relative Danger,” by Charles Benoit. Narrated by Patrick Lawlor. Blackstone Audio.

“A Red Herring Without Mustard,” by Alan Bradley. Narrated by Jayne Entwistle. Random House Audio (ISBN 978-0-307-57643-9). Books On Tape. (ISBN 978-0-3077-0479-5).
Flavia de Luce, a terrifyingly proficient 11-year-old amateur chemist and sleuth, investigates the beating of a gypsy and the death of a villager in this third outing. Entwistle’s spot-on narration reveals the irrepressible, intrepid heroine’s prowess and captures a delicious range of secondary characters in these whimsical mysteries set in 1950s rural England.

Listen-Alikes:

“To Kill a Mockingbird,” by Harper Lee. Narrated by Sissy Spacek. Harper Audio/Caedmon. Recorded Books.
“Special Topics in Calamity Physics,” by Marisha Pessi. Narrated by Emily Janice Card. Penguin Audio. Books on Tape.
“Tallgrass” by Sandra Dallas. Narrated by Lorelei King. Macmillan Audio. BBC Audiobooks America.

“The Snowman,” by Jo Nesbø. Narrated by Robin Sachs. Random House Audio. (ISBN 978-0-307-91750-8). Books On Tape. (ISBN 978-0-307-91752-2).
The icy chill of the Norwegian countryside and a series of cold-blooded murders dominate this Harry Hole crime novel. Sachs contrasts Hole’s world-weary professional attitude, his unquenchable thirst for justice and his yearning for love and comfort, as he skillfully maintains a suspenseful pace and projects an overarching sense of doom.

Listen-Alikes:

“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” by Stieg Larsson. Narrated by Simon Vance. Books on Tape.
“Hell is Empty,” by Craig Johnson. Narrated by George Guidall. Recorded Books.
“Rain Gods,” by James Lee Burke. Narrated by Tom Stechschulte. Recorded Books.

“A Tale of Two Cities,” by Charles Dickens. Narrated by Simon Prebble. Blackstone Audio. (ISBN 978-1-4551-0867-1).
The tragedy and heroism of the French Revolution come alive through Prebble’s distinctive and graceful narration. As the lives of Charles Darnay and Sydney Carton intersect, Prebble takes listeners deep into France and England, narrating terrifying descriptions and breathless acts of courage with a cadence that sweeps one away.

Listen-Alikes:

“Les Misérables,” by Victor Hugo. Narrated by George Guidall. Recorded Books.
“Sharpe’s Fury,” by Bernard Cornwell. Narrated by Steven Crossley. Recorded Books.
“War and Peace,” by Leo Tolstoy. Narrated by Frederick Davidson. Blackstone Audio.

“The Tiger’s Wife,” by Téa Obreht. Narrated by Susan Duerden and Robin Sachs. Random House Audio (978-0-307-87700-0). Books On Tape. (ISBN 978-0-307-87702-4).
In this imaginative novel, Balkan physician Natalia, on a mission of mercy, learns of her beloved grandfather’s death. Duerden’s mesmerizing voice leads listeners through the complexities of this rich novel with its intertwining stories, while Sachs memorably relates her grandfather’s haunting tales in a gentle and gruff voice.

Listen-Alikes:

“Bel Canto,” by Ann Patchett. Narrated by Anna Fields. Harper Audio. Blackstone Audio.
“Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close,” by Jonathan Safran Foer. Narrated by Jeff Woodman, Barbara Caruso, Richard Ferrone. Recorded Books.
“Pretty Birds,” by Scott Simon. Narrated by Christina Moore. Recorded Books.

“Why Read Moby-Dick?,” by Nathaniel Philbrick. Narrated by Nathaniel Philbrick. Penguin Audio. (ISBN 978-1-61176-024-8). Books on Tape. (ISBN 978-0-307-96967-5)
In what should be required reading before cracking the pages of Moby-Dick, Nathaniel Philbrick’s homage to this great American novel compels the listener to experience Melville with an almost incandescent joy. His voice resonates with palpable enthusiasm and calls to mind a New England professor giving a fascinating lecture.

Listen-Alikes:

“Moby-Dick,” by Herman Melville. Narrated by Frank Muller. Recorded Books.
“My Reading Life,” by Pat Conroy. Narrated by Pat Conroy. Random House Audio. Books on Tape.
“The Swerve,” by Stephen Greenblatt. Narrated by Edoardo Ballerini. Recorded Books.

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FICTION:
Banks, Russell. “Lost Memory of Skin.” Ecco. 9780061857638
A surprisingly sympathetic exploration of the lives and treatment of sex offenders and how this reflects on our society.

Barnes, Julian. “The Sense of an Ending.” Knopf. 9780307957122
A 60-something retiree living near London searches through his memories to discern what role, if any, he may have played in a decades-old tragedy.

deWitt, Patrick. “The Sisters Brothers.” Ecco. 9780062041265
A darkly comic and quixotic quest western tale about two brothers whose divergent world views are presented in sparkling prose and originality.

Goldman, Francisco. “Say Her Name.” Grove. 9780802119810
Poetic novelization of the author’s struggle to cope with his young wife’s accidental death.

Harbach, Chad. “The Art of Fielding.” Little, Brown. 9780316126694
One man’s failure to attain perfection on the baseball field reveals the pain and beauty that life offers in this psychologically astute novel.

MacLeod, Alexander. “Light Lifting.” Biblioasis. 9781897231944
Seven fearless short stories explore the limits of physical and emotional endurance in muscular prose.

Obreht, Téa. “The Tiger’s Wife.” Random House. 9780385343831
After the death of her beloved grandfather, a young doctor navigates family history, folklore and love across ethnic barriers in a war-torn country.

Ondaatje, Michael. “The Cat’s Table.” Knopf. 9780307700117
An adventurous 21-day ocean voyage filled with a rich assortment of characters and escapades resonates through a boy’s life on his way to a new life.

Phillips, Arthur. “The Tragedy of Arthur.” Random House. 9781400066476
In an adulthood marred by family dysfunction, an author who dislikes Shakespeare reluctantly finds himself in possession of the Bard’s lost gem. Or does he?

Russell, Karen. “Swamplandia!” Knopf. 9780307263995
An inventive story set in an alligator theme-park navigates boundaries between childhood and adulthood, imagination and reality, in an American landscape both familiar and surreal.

Torres, Justin. “We the Animals.” Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 9780547576725
Searing portrait of a troubled, mixed-race working class family centers on the youngest son as he struggles to find his identity amid affection and abuse.

Trevor, William. “Selected Stories.” Viking. 9780670022069
These finely sculpted and timeless stories provide a greater appreciation for finding beauty in the minutiae of daily life.

NONFICTION:
Adams, Mark. “Right Turn at Machu Picchu: Rediscovering the Lost City One Step at a Time.” Dutton. 9780525952244
In this humorous travelogue, the author sprinkles historical anecdote with investigative reporting as he retraces the steps of early explorers into ancient Peru.

Bartók, Mira. “The Memory Palace.” Free Press. 9781439183311
Beautifully wrought memoir chronicles the 17-year estrangement of the author and her homeless, schizophrenic mother and the painful reunion that brings them together.

Gleick, James. “The Information: A History, a Theory, a Flood.” Knopf. 9780375423727
This comprehensive study, a melodious interplay between science and literature, documents the transmission of human knowledge from the talking drums to the Internet.

Greenblatt, Stephen. “The Swerve: How the World Became Modern.” Norton. 9780393064476
Meditation on the power of literature, examining how a medieval book hunter’s serendipitous discovery of an ancient prose poem provides a theoretical bridge to the Renaissance.

Hillenbrand, Laura. “Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption.” Random House. 9781400064168
An Olympic runner’s physical and inner strength is tested by the experience and aftermath of a plane crash, 42 days at sea and Japanese imprisonment.

Hitchens, Christopher. “Arguably: Essays.” Twelve. 9781455502776
Polymath and public intellectual displays his considerable range and biting wit in these thoughtful, incisive pieces that provoke and challenge.

Homans, Jennifer. “Apollo’s Angels: A History of Ballet.” Random House. 9781400060603
Elegant, authoritative work traces the evolution of classical dance from the 16th century to today, highlighting social and cultural dimensions of this traditional art form.

Kahneman, Daniel. “Thinking, Fast and Slow.” Farrar, Strauss, Giroux. 9780374275631
Entertaining look at the complexities and oddities that characterize our mental processes from the only psychologist ever to have won the Nobel Prize for Economics.

Marable, Manning. “Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention.” Viking. 9780670022205
Definitive work on his life and transformation from petty thief to charismatic leader of during the turbulent civil rights era.

Millard, Candace. “Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine, and the Murder of a President.” Doubleday. 9780385526265
Era of great corruption and change in U.S. history is illuminated through the tragic story of two men – one destined for greatness, the other a madman.

Mukherjee, Siddhartha. “Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer.” Scribner. 9781439107959
The history of these diseases and their treatment is examined through the stories of those seeking to discover a cure and the individuals affected.

Reitman, Janet. “Inside Scientology: The Story of America’s Most Secretive Religion.” Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 9780618883028
An investigation of the origins, personalities and controversies of this uniquely American religious movement.

POETRY:
Rimbaud, Arthur. “Illuminations.” Translated by John Ashbery. Norton. 9780393076356
A vigorous new translation of the French prodigy’s last poems as rendered by one of America’s finest contemporary poets.

Bartlett, Jennifer, Sheila Black and Michael, Northen. “Beauty is a Verb: The New Poetry of Disability.” Cinco Puntos. 9781935955054
Collection of poems and essays that provides insight into the lives of the estimated 50 million Americans with disabilities.

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The Reading List: Best Genre Fiction

Adrenaline:
Before I Go To Sleep,” by S. J. Watson, Harper Collins, 9780062060556
Each morning, Christine wakes with no memory. From the clues she left herself, she tries to piece together her identity and sort lies from the truth. The unrelenting pace thrusts the reader into the confusion of a waking nightmare in which revelations of her past lead to a frantic crescendo.

READ-ALIKES:

“The Likeness,” by Tana French
“Shutter Island,” by Dennis Lehane
“Memento,” (Summit Entertainment, 2000)

SHORT LIST:

“Now You See Me” by S. J. Bolton, St. Martin’s, 9780312600525
“Spiral” by Paul McEuen, Dial Press, 9780385342117
“The Woodcutter” by Reginald Hill, Harper Collins, 9780062060747
“You’re Next” by Gregg Hurwitz, St. Martin’s, 9780312534912

Fantasy
“The Night Circus,” by Erin Morgenstern, Doubleday, 9780385534635
Le Cirque des Rêves is utterly unique, disappearing at dawn in one town only to mysteriously reappear in another. At the heart of the circus are two young magicians, involved in a competition neither completely understands. The dreamlike atmosphere and vivid imagery make this fantasy unforgettable.

READ-ALIKES:

“Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell,” by Susanna Clarke
“Shadow of the Windby,” Carlos Ruiz Zafón
“Prestige,” (Touchstone Pictures, 2006)

SHORT LIST:

“Daughter of Smoke and Bone,” by Laini Taylor, Little, Brown, 9780316134026
“The Magician King,” by Lev Grossman, Viking, 9780670022311
“The Wise Man’s Fear,” by Patrick Rothfuss, DAW, 9780756404734
“Zoo City,” by Lauren Beukes, Angry Robot, 9780857660558

Historical Fiction
“Doc” by Mary Doria Russell, Random House, 9781400068043
In the early days of Dodge City, a genteel, tubercular Southern dentist forges a friendship with the infamous Earp brothers. Combining historical details and lyrical language, this gritty psychological portrait of gunslinger Doc Holliday reveals how the man became the legend.

READ-ALIKES:

“Deadwood,” by Pete Dexter
“Etta,” by Gerald Kolpan
“Gunman’s Rhapsody,” by Robert B. Parker

SHORT LIST:

“Bright and Distant Shores,” by Dominic Smith, Pocket Books, 9781439198865
“Lionheart,” by Sharon Kay Penman, Putnam, 9780399157851
“Rules of Civility,” by Amor Towles, Viking, 9780670022694
“The Sea Captain’s Wife,” by Beth Powning, Penguin, 9780452296954

Horror
“The Ridge,” by Michael Koryta, Little, Brown, 9780316053662
The unexplained death of an eccentric lighthouse keeper in the isolated Kentucky woods, followed by a mysterious threat to a nearby large cat sanctuary prompt an investigation by a journalist and the local sheriff. Palpable evil and a sense of dread drive this chilling tale.

READ-ALIKES:

“The Dead Path,” by Stephen Irwin
“Those Across the River,” by Christopher Buehlman
“Harbor,” by John Ajvide Lindqvist

SHORT LIST:

“The Last Werewolf,” by Glen Duncan, Knopf, 9780307595089
“The Night Strangers,” by Chris Bohjalian, Crown, 9780307394996
“Raising Stony Mayhall,” by Daryl Gregory, Del Rey, 9780345522375
“The White Devil,” by Justin Evans, Harper Collins, 9780061728273

Mystery
“The Devotion of Suspect X,” by Keigo Higashino, Minotaur, 9780312375065
An introverted mathematician matches wits with a brilliant former colleague to protect the neighbor he secretly adores from a murder charge. Although the reader knows the murderer’s identity from the beginning, this unconventional Japanese mystery remains a taut psychological puzzle.

READ-ALIKES:

“Out,” by Natsuo Kirino
“Think of a Number,” by John Verdon
“Sherlock,” (BBC, 2010-2012)

SHORT LIST:

“Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead,” by Sara Gran, Houghton, Mifflin, 9780547428499
“Killed at the Whim of a Hat,” by Colin Cotterill, Minotaur, 9780312564537
“The Snowman,” by Jo Nesbo, Knopf, 9780307595867
“A Trick of the Light,” by Louise Penny, Minotaur, 9780312655457

Romance
“Silk is for Seduction” by Loretta Chase, Avon, 9780061632686
Ambitious dressmaker Marcelline Noirot will do almost anything to secure the patronage of the Duke of Clevendon’s intended bride. Neither her calculated business plan nor his campaign of seduction can withstand the force of their mutual attraction. Witty banter and strong-willed characters make this a memorable tale.

READ-ALIKES:

“Dangerous in Diamonds,” by Madeline Hunter
“The Raven Prince,” by Elizabeth Hoyt
“Untie My Heart,” by Judith Ivory

SHORT LIST:

“Dragon Bound,” by Thea Harrison, Berkley, 9780425241509
“A Lady’s Lesson in Scandal,” by Meredith Duran, Pocket, 9781451606935
“My One And Only,” by Kristin Higgins, Harlequin, 9780373775576
“When Beauty Tamed the Beast,” by Eloisa James, Avon, 9780062021274

Science Fiction
“Leviathan Wakes,” by James S.A. Corey, Orbit, 9780316129084
The missions of a jaded cop and a dedicated ice hauler officer collide as the fate of humanity hangs in the balance. A mystery adds a noir touch to this space opera featuring deeply flawed yet heroic characters, non-stop action and Earth versus Mars politics.

READ-ALIKES:

“Up Against It,” by M. J. Locke
“Pandora’s Star,” by Peter Hamilton
“The Quiet War,” by Paul J. McAuley

SHORT LIST:

“Embassytown,” by China Miéville, Del Rey, 9780345524492
“The Quantum Thief,” by Hannu Rajaniemi, Tor, 9780765329493
“Ready Player One,” by Ernest Cline, Crown, 9780307887436
“When She Woke,” by Hillary Jordan, Algonquin, 9781565126299

Women’s Fiction
“The Language of Flowers,” by Vanessa Diffenbaugh Ballantine, 9780345525543
A former foster child struggles to overcome a past filled with abuse, neglect and anger. Communicating through the Victorian language of flowers allows her to discover hope, redemption and a capacity for love. Damaged, authentic characters create an emotional tension in this profoundly moving story.

READ-ALIKES:

“Like Family,” by Paula McLain (NF)
“The Lost Garden,” by Helen Humphreys
“White Oleander,” by Janet Fitch

SHORT LIST:

“Deep Down True” by Juliette Fay, Penguin, 9780143118510
“Joy for Beginners” by Erica Bauermeister, Putnam, 9780399157127
“The Weird Sisters” by Eleanor Brown, Putnam, 9780399157226
“What Alice Forgot” by Liane Moriarty, Penguin, 9780141043760

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FICTION

Bookmark to:

Here’s one of his poems that seems appropriate on the death of Steve Jobs:

After a Death
by Tomas Tranströmer
translated by Robert Bly

Once there was a shock
that left behind a long, shimmering comet tail.
It keeps us inside. It makes the TV pictures snowy.
It settles in cold drops on the telephone wires.

One can still go slowly on skis in the winter sun
through brush where a few leaves hang on.
They resemble pages torn from old telephone directories.
Names swallowed by the cold.

It is still beautiful to hear the heart beat
but often the shadow seems more real than the body.
The samurai looks insignificant
beside his armor of black dragon scales.

And click here for the Complete Review’s rundown of all the info you need to know about him

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Looking for a great opportunity to present at the 2012 Annual ALA Conference in Anaheim, CA?

Look no further! We’ve heard the following from the RUSA/CODES committee:

“The RUSA/CODES Readers’ Advisory Research and Trends Committee invites submissions of presentations and/or papers for the 5th Readers’ Advisory Research and Trends Forum to be held in Anaheim, CA during ALA’s Annual Conference. The Forum will take place on Saturday, June 23rd from 10:30-12:00.

We invite papers or presentations on various responses to:

Browsing for Pleasure Reading in the Digital Age

All aspects of the topic, including information encountering, 2.0 applications, the intersection of human/computer guidance, ILS integration, the impact of ebook sites, and the implications for cataloging, reviewing, organizing, and searching data are welcome. As are other interpretations and approaches to the topic.

The committee employs a blind review process and will select three projects for 20-minute presentations.

To submit: Send an abstract of your paper or description of your presentation (up to 350 words) to: rusa.raforum@gmail.com by January 15, 2012. Please include on a separate cover sheet your name, title of presentation/paper, institutional affiliation, full contact information, and any technological needs. Include on your abstract ONLY the title of your presentation/paper.

The deadline for submissions: January 15, 2012. Notification of acceptance will be made by February 27, 2012.”

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Dear Reader:

The sponsor of this blog, Reader’s Advisor Online, is embarking on a new phase of growth and transformation. As of June 1, 2011, ABC-CLIO is offering RAO as a free service and not as a paid subscription publication. While we will no longer update content on the online version, we will continue to post frequent additions to this blog, where you’ll find news, booklists, tips and so much more. Over the next year we will work hard to reinvigorate RAO, and are targeting a re-launch date of fall 2012.

We will continue publishing the blog, and we encourage you to keep visiting us, using Reader’s Advisor Online, and offering your input and ideas for how we can help you improve Readers’ Advisory Services. If you’re not familiar with this great product, click here for a tour.

We’ll be sure to keep you posted regarding our progress. Stay tuned for details.

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The NBCC Awards were announced this evening with the following winners:

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