VIDEO: Sarah Zettel and Mama Librarian on the Detcon1 YSF Book Award

Hey, it's me (in the Perry the Platypus shirt)!  I'm talking with Sarah Zettel there on the left, who is a fantastic YA/middle grade/etc. author and the Mistress of Ceremonies at Detcon1.  We talk about the current expanding, changing culture of science fiction for young people, and how to nominate a book for the 2014 Detcon1 YSF book award.

Be sure to watch to the very end of the video.  =)

The awards would love a signal boost, so if you would repost this video, it would be much appreciated.

The Detcon1 Awards for Young Adult and Middle Grade Speculative Fiction

tl:dr: Read some good YA fantasy, SF, horror or dystopian fiction this year?  Nominate them here! Yes, that means you!

This is the commissioned statue for the award, aka the Reading Robot, created by Detroit artist Jeremy Haney.  There are only two of these in existence, and I got to snuggle one.

I think I've read more young adult and kids' science fiction and fantasy since I became an adult than I did when I was a kid, and that's saying something.  Yes, you might assume that because I'm a children's librarian that I have to read a lot of kids' books, but I think the primary reason is because there is so much good speculative fiction being published right now.  Children's fantasy is still enjoying the post-Harry Potter renaissance; YA publishing is at an all-time high.  Genre fiction for adults has an unfair reputation for shoddy writing -- but there's nothing more literary than the science fiction and fantasy literature written for youth today.

Unfortunately, I think a lot of it is overlooked by the audience who might enjoy it most: adult SF/F readers.  SF/F conventions provided me with a safe haven when I was a teenager; I've been attending them for over twenty years.  My fannish peers read piles of books every year, but I'm sad to say I believe there are still a large number of adult SF/F readers who just don't read books published for kids.  

Detcon1 (July 17-20, 2014 in Detroit, MI), the 2014 North American Science Fiction Convention, is betting I'm wrong.  They're promoting a new member's choice award for young adult and kids' SF/F, titled the Detcon1 Award for Young Adult and Middle Grade Speculative Fiction.  (That's a mouthful.  I'm going to call it the Detcon1 YSF Award for short.)

There are other awards for speculative fiction.  The Hugo Awards are also member choice awards.  Some winners have been middle grade and YA (traditionally defined by publishers as ages 8-12 and 12+ respectively); Gaiman's Graveyard Book won in 2009.  Arguments have been made for and against including a special category in the Hugos for YA books, but so far, nominations are inclusive for all kinds of speculative fiction, written for all ages.

There's also the Golden Duck, a juried award specifically for science fiction written for children and young adults.  A panel of distinguished readers choose these awards from the pool of potential candidates, rather than relying on popular vote.  The 2014 Golden Duck winners will be awarded at Detcon1, too.

The Detcon YSF Award nominations are open to the public, at http://award.detcon1.org/ or by mail ballot.  Anyone can name up to five speculative fiction books published in 2013 for young people.  Nominees don't have to attend Detcon1 in order to participate, but if they want to vote on the winners, they'll have to buy a membership.  Works published in a language other than English are also eligible if their first year of publication in English was 2013.

You might not have heard the term speculative fiction before.  It includes lots of genre, including fantasy, science fiction, horror, dystopian fiction and superheros.  Graphic novel compilations of comic books or webcomics are included, too -- they're welcome to be nominated if they were published in novel form for the first time in 2013.  If you're not sure if a book is YA or middle grade, don't worry about it; the awards committee will sort those details out when we tally the nominations.

What do we need from you?  Your opinion!  Visit http://detcon1.org/award and tell us what books you loved this year, before the deadline on February 28, 2014.  If you haven't read any YA or children's SF or fantasy, read some!  There's so much good stuff out there.  Of course, I'm going to tell you to go to your public library and asking your children's librarian for suggestions.  Check out the nominees for the Cybils in the YA Speculative Fiction and Middle Grade Speculative Fiction categories.  

Once you've submitted your nominations, spread the word.  And then, invite people to attend Detcon1 -- young, old and in between.  Fandom needs people of all ages to thrive.  I look forward to seeing you there.

Maggi Idzikowski, Detcon1 YSF Award Administrator

Review: Babymouse for President

Babymouse for President by Jennifer L. Holm

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



The Babymouse series is one of those remarkable creations: a pink book that appeals to boys. I have had no trouble selling 8-year-olds on the dramatic, hyperactive, accident-prone mouse. Kids with a more subtle sense of humor appreciate the narrator's snarky comments, but everybody loves being smarter than Babymouse.

This newest volume is right on time for the 2012 election. Kids who aren't quite ready to formulate opinions about presidential politics still have plenty of ideas being thrust upon them about what an election is about. Babymouse isn't intimidating; perhaps young would-be politicians will be inspired by her dreams.



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Review: Friends with Boys

Friends with Boys by Faith Erin Hicks

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Full of teen angst and fear about finding her tribe, it's easy to identify with Maggie as she begins her first year of high school after being home schooled. The catch? Maggie's also being haunted by a local ghost.

Hicks' black and white marker art is perfect for this coming-of-age tale. Her character's wide-eyed faces are pleasantly imperfect. Maggie's older brother isn't perfectly sized, and he's the most popular character in the book.

I appreciate that Hicks uses familiar tropes of high school relationships without letting her characters become cardboard stereotypes. The relationships between Maggie and her brothers and the larger school community are complex and interesting. Maggie's anguish and confusion at the loss of her mother is palpable. There are no easy fixes. I found myself wanting more from the story, though; the character development in a graphic novel can be slow, especially when the pictures tell the bulk of the story. Hicks gave me a taste of this family, but it wasn't enough to whet my appetite.

I admit I also love that one of her brothers is doing a musical about zombies.

There's a nice twist at the end that might be anticipated by savvy readers, but I didn't, and I like that.



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Oh, frabjous day!

Long story short... my school district saw fit to remove me from the media center two years ago because, even though I'd been teaching media for eight years, have a classroom teaching degree and a masters in library and information science, I needed to have an additional piece of certification.  I fought it, and lost, and spent two years teaching in the classroom in an awesome building working with a bunch of fantastic teachers and adorable, brilliant children.  Last week, the district decided I was suddenly qualified again, and moved me back into the media center, complete with two new buildings.  So... here I am again, doing what I'm most qualified to do. I'm sad to leave my building of two years, but very happy to be working with library collections and technology again.  Let's call it a win, and hopefully they won't decide next year that I'm not qualified anymore.

So!  I'm suddenly back to reading, and reading means blogging, and blogging means you get to hear me nattering on about books again.  I'll be focusing on graphic novels, as usual.  Also, since one of my schools is K-2, I'll be reading a lot of picture books and early readers.  

Anybody have any good suggestions?  What have I missed over the past two years that I absolutely need to pick up and read?

Thanks to everyone who's still out there reading.  I'm so happy to be back.

Review: Circle Series Visual Edition: Black, Red, and White Graphic Novels

Circle Series Visual Edition: Black, Red, and White Graphic Novels by Ted Dekker

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I picked this up with some skepticism, as I've not been impressed with the quality of writing of most Christian fiction, but was drawn in despite myself. The story moved quickly (think "24") and was creative and multifaceted. I really enjoyed it. The graphic novel adaptation is well put-together and I thought the art was adequate if not distinguished. It reminded me a bit of last year's Cybils finalist The Dreamer.



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Review: Missile Mouse #1 The Star Crusher

Missile Mouse #1 The Star Crusher by Jake Parker

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Full of space battles, clever escapes and nifty gadgets, this is surprisingly gritty science fiction in mouse's clothing. Great for kid fans of Star Wars or Indiana Jones and adult fans of Serenity/Firefly.



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