| Young Reviewers from all over the country, ages 2 to 18, read and evaluate many of the books considered by the Children's Book Committee. |
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Some Young Reviewers' comments about the
2010 Award Books:
Almost Astronauts
by Tanya Lee Stone
"It has a really nice layout, well-written story that encouraged me to read more, and a very inspiring subject. I've never come across a book about female astronauts. (The author wrote the book) to show the strength of determined women."
Kate, age 16
"I thought that this was a fantastic book with a lot of information displayed in an interesting format. I think the author wrote this book to inspire young girls to go for their dreams and not ever give up."
Jordan, age12
"The book shows the many obstacles women faced in the late 1900s fighting for equality in the space program. Although the Mercury 13 women did not go into space, they paved the way for future femal astronauts. This book is special because it opened my eyes to women's struggles in a compelling story. I also enjoyed reading about the tests that astronauts must undergo before qualifying to travel into space. I was especially interested in the isolation tank test. It inspired me to try to simulate the experience by floating in the bathtub in absolute darkness. The author wrote this book to honor these brave women and to tell of their struggles for equality in the space program."
Foster, age 10
"I like Ms. Stones description of the women's struggles against sexism to achieve their dreams. Ms. Stone makes clear that sexism, which was so ingrained in American society in the last century, was hugely unfair to women and socially unproductive."
Sawyer, age 13
"Its a great book for any age and anyone that wants to know more about women's struggle to become what they are today and being able to fly into the wonderous outer space. This book is a magnificent, simple, information-filled way to learn about women and their fight to be equal and see the wonders of space."
Cedar, age 14
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The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate
by Jacqueline Kelly
"The book is very expressive on how different some people can be. We all have our own tastes and dreams and in this book the author really shows the feelings of a girl that longs for something else something new, unusual and perfect for her. It expresses a young girl's want for a different life from what's looked on as 'proper and normal.'"
Cedar, age 14
"Calpurnia is a strong-willed girl who would stand up for women's rights at the blink of an eye. If Calpurnia were real I would expect to see her as a great scientist when she was older. It tells girls to do what's right, to trust their hearts, and to believe they can do and become anything they want.
Nicole, age 11
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Moonshot
by Brian Floca
"The moon is cool. I love, LOVE this book. They walked on the moon!"
Chloe, age 14
"I love the pictures and the words. (I liked most) when they got back to earth. When they are safe on earth.≈
Tucker, age 6
"It's like poetry and also tells what happened."
Henry, age 9
"It was like a very good poem. It had a good story and a lot of information in poetic langue. I love the artwork."
Christopher, age 10
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Red Sings on Treetops
by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski
"The descriptions fit perfectly with the wonderful illustrations to make a vivid picture in your mind. The book looks at color and seasons in a completely unique way that is easy for anyone to understand. The art makes the poetry come alive, and the colors pop out even more."
Phoebe, age 13
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Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
by Grace Lin
"The folktales come together to make the whole story understandable and give it a unique dimension. The illustrations bring the book to life, and the book itself is so well made."
Phoebe, age 13
"It shows a girl who believes in herself and is determined to change her future. (The author is saying) You can do what you set your mind to do, no matter who or where you come from."
Katherine, age 12
"I can really relate to this story because my Dad tells us stories of how our great-great-grandfather worked on the transatlantic railroads and how our family lived in China long ago. This book is a page-turner that almost anybody can relate to.."
Ben, age 11
"I rarely read in the genre of fantasy but this book made me want to. When I first saw it I thought, How in the world am I going to finish this book? But once I started reading it I started to wonder, How in the world am I going to stop reading this book."
Jules, age 11
Some Young Reviewers' comments about
last year's Award Books:
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Clementine
by Sara Pennypacker
"It tells about a girl like a normal old girl that ends up usually getting in trouble. It could happen in real life."
Jordan, age 9
"It was interesting and funny at the beginning and happy and cute at the end."
Katherine, age 8
"I liked the way the story was told from Clementine's point of view. She has a great sense of humor, and I think a lot of kids could relate to what is going on in her life. Also, the illustrations were great!"
Phoebe, age 10
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The Manny Files
by Christian Burch
"Fun and easy to read. Great characters!!"
Abby, age 12
"It was hilarious. I couldn't put it down. The characters make the book special. They're exactly like my family members!"
Sara, age 11
"It has so much humor in it. The author was trying to show people to 'be interesting' and be themselves."
Phoebe, age 10
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Freedom Walkers
by Russell Freedman
"This book lays out facts in a logical and easy-to-read way that allows the reader to feel compassion without being told. . . this book is a perfect introduction to civil rights and racism in America. It is a valuable learning tool and a fine work of literature, all in one."
Jeremy, age 16
"I would rate this book excellent. It is a well-written account of the Montgomery bus boycott. In school, we usually talk about Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, but the extent is mostly 'they were brave people standing up for their rights.' This book goes deeper than that, and talks about the environment and conditions at that time, as well as the process and motivation behind it."
Elias, age 13