Carnegie book wards 2013 discussion

This is the one I can't decide on so far. I loved the illustrations but found I was turning the pages for the images rather than the narrative which is very unusual for me. (I found A Monster Calls illustrations intrusive last year.) Having said that it is a pretty clever idea and certainly appealed to my 10 year daughter who said it was 'delightful'.

I haven't read this yet but everyone who has read it says that it's nice....I think that might say it all. It is definitely going to appeal to our younger audiences which is a good thing on this short list. I loved a monster calls last year.....it makes a real change for me to have liked the one that actually wins. I wasn't surprised that it won both Carnegie and Greenaway. I felt that the pictures enhanced the text but that's why this is such a good short list is allows all kinds of books on it.

I thought this was really sweet

I love Patrick Ness and I was delighted that he won but it wasn't my favourite on the Shortlist. I had issues with some of the Monsters Tales. I felt that Helen Grant did that so much better in Katerina Linden.

We have got lots of yr 7 students in our reading group this year. Many of last years group left so I'm quite relieved its a youunger shortlist this year. My two yr 11 students will be in a history exam on the day of the day of the announcement which is a real shame.

Yeah I agree I love Patrick ness but I didn't like a monster called as much as the chaos walking trilogy, and I preferred my name is Mina last year.

Just finished this one. I did like the way it was written it think some of the humour may go over the heads of those it is aimed at. I did end up skipping a few pages towards to end as it began to lose its appeal. It was a shame that it was left unfinished.......really not sure about this one.

Left unfinished?...?

What was the purpose of his journey? Why did he get into the boat in the first place? Where did he think he was going when he go into the boat? .......?

I was waiting for some deeper meaning to his journey; perhaps "it's not the destination but the journey that matters" but it didn't come. I was disappointed. It doesn't seem to fit in with the other books. Whilst last year there was "Small Change for Stuart" which was a younger read but still had a good adventure, this book, I feel, is primary level.

Mmm yes and no. I think this a is good pair to The Weight of Water with BBB being a metaphor for life and WW being an example.
(view spoiler)[For example if you take Kasienka and her mother as the boy and the bear, and their journey as their experience of life there is no conclusion, but there is experience -which reverses their roles. Neither of them knew what they were doing; and though Kasienka's mother was confident, she was 'travelling' without a map (hide spoiler)]

Elizabeth wrote: "What was the purpose of his journey? Why did he get into the boat in the first place? Where did he think he was going when he go into the boat? .......?"

Life? Do any of us really know where we are going? Do our guides know? Do we know when we arrive at our destination? Do our safe harbours turn out to be all that they are promised to be?

I know what you mean but I think I prefer books that are not quite so deep and I'm not sure the intended readers will look at it that deeply either. I don't mind books that keep you hanging at the end but this went into a tunnel that you will never come out of.......

My yr 7s just like the humour and the pictures! It is quite popular though.

One of the librarians in my area is getting her students to write a beginning and end for this!?!

Will you get her to send them to me please as I would like to know how it started and finished :) great idea! Might just pinch that idea.

I loved how unspecific it was. At the end it no longer really mattered where they were going, they were just happy to go there together, which I thought was really sweet.

I thnk I've liked this book more since I've read it than when I was reading it. Does that make sense?

Know exactly what you mean......the number of times I've read something and not really thought much of it and then once I've started talking about it I've realised it was great is amazing. We should all talk about books a lot more :)