The Odyssey Award is an award for the best audiobook production for youth, administered annually by ALSC and YALSA and sponsored by Booklist. The winning producer will receive the award, followed by a talk about the lastest in audiobooks. This year, Listening Libray will be celebrating their Odyssey Award Honor winner ELIJAH OF BUXTON, with narrator Mirron Willis. Mirron, along with Author/Narrator Sherman Alexie, will be speaking during the ceremony. Refreshments will be served, compliments of the Audio Publishers Association. We hope that you’ll come out to support this great event.

Odyssey Award Presentation & Reception
Monday 3:30-5:30PM
McCormick Place West, W-470b

A charming debut novel by James W. Fuerst, HUGE is the story of twelve-year-old Eugene “Huge” Smalls. Huge is an amateur sleuth with an off-the-charts IQ. He’s a devotee of Raymond Chandler and the smallest, meanest, angriest kid in the whole sixth grade. Growing up in 1980’s New Jersey, this book picks up at the end of Huge’s last summer before junior high. He’s also been hired to work his first case but before he’s through he’ll confront the town bullies, have a close brush with a femme fatale and realize his fantasy life will only take him so far.

Sounds like a great read alike to The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie another great new novel about a young sleuth named Flavia de Luce. This one just might have YA potential and might be a great pick for your teen readers. HUGE will be released as a trade paperback original in early July.

We have 10 advanced reader’s copies to give away. Want one? Leave a comment!

-Marie

Want one? Leave a comment!

New reviews from School Library Journal!

Batman … Behind the Scenes

The Dark Knight (PG-13), the latest live-action film about the conflicted comic book character, opened in July to critical acclaim and record-breaking commercial success. Teens who want to delve more deeply in the movie’s essence will be captivated by Craig Byrne’s The Dark Knight from Universe Publishing. The first section of this handsome hardcover is packed with production artwork—film photos, storyboards, digitalized imagery, character sketches, and more—and descriptive text that reveals the inspirations behind the designs. Quotes from the film’s creators allow readers to see how production details and concepts contribute to the visual evolution of the Batman character. Also included is Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan’s full shooting script, supplemented throughout with inset film stills, storyboards, and an occasional full-page photo.

The same crowd might be interested in exploring Speed Racer: The Art of Speed Racer, also published by Universe, which focuses on the live-action film released in May. Crisp reproductions of candy-colored movie stills, storyboards, and concept art, as well as the Wachowski brothers’ screenplay, provide an interesting glimpse at a movie that fuses the look of retro Japanese anima with cutting-edge film-making technology.

-Erica

Celebrate this year’s Teen Read Week theme, “Books with Bite @ your library®” by sinking your teeth into a meaningful new relationship. YALSA and AdLit.org are looking for the best Teen Read Week celebrations that involve significant collaboration between teachers and librarians.

Big Prizes

One winner will receive an author visit from Kimberly Pauley of Mirrorstone Books, Official Corporate Sponsor of Teen Read Week; another winner will receive a visit from author Geno Salvatore who will run a D&D game at the winning library, and five runners-up will each receive a $50 retail value prize package from YALSA and AdLit.org. The winning projects will be featured on AdLit.org and on the YALSA website.

How to Enter

Last year, thousands of libraries across the country held special events for Teen Read Week, encouraging teens to read something light and humorous—just for the fun of it! To enter the Best Teen Read Week Celebration Contest, plan a collaborative celebration that involves at least one teacher and one librarian working together to use young adult literature in an engaging way and leads teen to “read for the fun of it.”

YALSA and AdLit.org will also be looking for celebrations that articulate the theme, incorporate youth participation, are creative and are age appropriate.  Please fill out the contest form and official rules (PDF). Entries, which include a 300 word description of your Teen Read Week Celebration, must be submitted to YALSA by November 7, 2008.

-Erica