Best Slam EVER!

As you can see from the long list of fabulous Book Slammers, this was the most successful summer yet!

We had 46 teens play this summer and everyone did a wonderful job!

Like last summer, because the final scores were so close, I decided to award the "special" prize to everyone who scored above 90. Of course, the rest of the players will also receive a terrific prize.

Here are the final results:

1st Place: 100 Points
Aiman, Ayesha, Bibi, Carolina, Chitra, Elizabeth, Lily, Magda, Magi, Miaoru, Sara, Tasfia

2nd Place: 99 Points
Chimaera, Danny, Hailey, Jennifer M., Marlene, Nirvana

3rd Place: 98 Points
Jenine, Jenny D., Saara, Uzbah

4th Place: 97 Points
Araceli, Matthew

5th Place: 96 Points
Abeda

6th Place: 94 Points
Sharmin

7th Place: 92 Points
Tahmina

All of Our Other Amazing Book Slammers
Nasreen, Maliha, Salma, Israt, Amena, Sanya, Ivanka, Maria, Rosa, Linda, Efaz, Gabby, Fathema, Sonia, Jody, Rita, Sasha, Sarah, Barnabas

The Books: How I Live Now

How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff

There seems to be a theme to some of this summer's books--ones I heard about for years before I read. Huh.

How I Live Now fits that description, having received the Michael L. Printz Award for literary excellence in young adult literature in 2005. I finally picked it up this year specifically for the Book Slam and read it in one sitting on a long subway ride. There is something about the tone and feel of it that reminded me of The Hunger Games as well as historical novel I'd read (and loved) years ago about a couple who both experience the emotional devastation of war.

Again, a gutsy book for a teen audience.

http://www.megrosoff.co.uk/

The Books: The Book Thief

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

This is yet another book that got tons of buzz and recommendations that I ignored until I happened to be in a spendy mood in Target and picked it up.

I am embarrassed to admit that I kept confusing this in my head with The Thief Lord (further proof that a) I am getting old and b) I read too much--or perhaps not enough).

I was struck by how powerful and how brave a book this is. I also always appreciate Death as a character!

http://www.randomhouse.com/features/markuszusak/

The Books: 13 Little Blue Envelopes

13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson

I read 13 Little Blue Envelopes when it came out in 2006 and even used it for a teen book program at my old job. So when I saw that its sequel The Last Little Blue Envelope finally came out in April of this year, I decided to add the first book to the Slam.

Five years later, I remembered NOTHING about the first book so it was like getting to read it for the first time. Sheesh, I'm just getting old!

http://www.maureenjohnsonbooks.com/index1.html

The Books: Tears of a Tiger

Tears of a Tiger by Sharon M. Draper

The first book in Draper's powerful Hazelwood Trilogy, followed by Forged by Fire and Darkness Before Dawn, I was inspired to use Tears of a Tiger for the Book Slam when a young man I was working with on another project gave it an enthusiastic recommendation.

Tears of a Tiger joins the short list of books that made me cry, while reminding me how it important it is for we adults to really listen to what you teens are trying to tell us.

http://sharondraper.com/

The Books: The Wee Free Men

The Wee Free Men by Sir Terry Pratchett

The first book in the Tiffany Aching series (and to my mind, the funniest), followed by A Hat Full of Sky, Wintersmith and I Shall Wear Midnight.

Connected to Pratchett's brilliant Discworld series, but completely able to stand on their own, the books in the series tell the story of young Tiffany Aching, trainee witch.

I remember The Wee Free Men getting a lot of buzz when it first came out, but it was years before I read it. It was both worth the wait and unfortunate I waited so long!

This book contains two of my favorite quotes ever, including the best description of myself I have ever read. Can you guess what I'm talking about?

http://www.terrypratchettbooks.com/

Book Slam 2011

The books are chosen and the blog is back!

Check back soon for more details and to get your Slam on for 2011!