Last week, Florida crumbled into submission. This week, it’s Virginia tapping out under the brute force of my choke hold of a book.
No, it wasn’t you; I have no idea what I just said, either. Gibberish, mostly. I’m gibbering. Perhaps it’s time to contact the people at the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest. So let’s try again and not bury the lead this time:
I just learned that Bystander was nominated for the Virginia Reader’s Choice Awards Thingy.
I keep finding out about these award/contests in seemingly random ways. There’s no official letter, no word from my publisher. It’s usually an email from someone who figures I already know.
But I don’t. I so don’t.
Anyway, again, great news for Bystander to be nominated as one of the better books for middle school readers. That’s six states I’m aware of, or seven, if we’re willing to count Confusion as a state. I always make a point of listing the other titles nominated for these awards. I do that because this blog won’t be of interest to anyone, including me, if it’s all about James Preller all the time. Also, I enjoy discovering the titles of these books, something new and unexpected always pops up, and I’m forever looking for good books to read and/or purchase for my kids. It’s an honor to share a ballot with such accomplished writers.
Virginia’s Reader’s Choice Awards for Middle School
Bystander, James Preller
Chasing Lincoln’s Killer, James Swanson
The Leanin’ Dog, K.A. Nuzum
Mockingbird, Kathryn Erskine
Out of My Mind, Sharon Draper
Pop, Gordon Korman
The Rock and the River, Kekla Magoon
The Strange Case of Origami Yoda, Tom Angleberger
Ways to Live Forever, Sally Nichols
When the Whistle Blows, Fran Cannon Slayton
Thank you, Virginia!
