Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Rowling, J. K. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Arthur A. Levine Books, November 2003.


Annotation: "Living in the cupboard beneath the stairs in the home of a family that doesn’t care about me? Well, things could be worse. I’m safe at least, in this boring life- until letters start arriving from some mysterious sounding place. What exactly am I destined for, what happened to my actual parents, and can I really cast magical spells…?"

Reason for Nomination: It is difficult to separate the hype, both positive and negative, from a phenomenon like Harry Potter. That was my intention with reviewing this often challenged title, to look at it from the perspective of a young adult who might not have really heard about it before. Rowling started off humbly with this opening to the series which describes Harry’s original exploration into the magical world of Hogwart’s. The Sorcerer’s Stone truly does capture the fascination and curiosity that young adult readers would identify with. Rowling takes a classic story arc of the boy finding out he has a destiny and magical powers that he must harness, and makes it so approachable and fun. He takes on a quest and meets friends along the way that aide him and enemies that hinder his progress. The main piece that I feel resonates so effectively with YA readers is the function of Harry coming from a “normal” world where he wasn’t appreciated, and migrating to a wondrous place where he thrives and is treated like he is famous. This is a deep fantasy image for many readers that puts them in his shoes well. The narration from Harry’s perspective, describing the intense feelings he goes through, resonates with young adults in a way that she has become famous for since.
Arguably, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone isn’t the most challenging read, but it’s addictive and enjoyable, and definitely takes the cake for teens. I wouldn’t be surprised if this book stays one of the most celebrated novels of all time. For indulging in our child-like sense of wonderment while enticing our mature, thoughtful side, Harry Potter receives a nomination for our Printz award.

The Giver

Lowry, Lois. The Giver. New York: Dell, 1993.



Annotation: In a perfect society, everyone has their appropriate job selected for them as they surpass childhood. An otherwise normal young boy is selected to carry on an ancient task that is passed down to only one person alone. Is he ready to decide what this means to him?

Justification for Nomination: There are quite a few dystopian novels that become so well-received by the adult population, that they become “classic literature” for young adults. To me, The Giver travels down a separate but significant path than 1984, Fahrenheit 451, etc. This book manages to satisfy me both as an adult reader and a juvenile novel enthusiast. Somehow, I missed reading it in middle school and it wasn’t suggested to me in high school. The fact is, I know I would have loved this book in high school and would recommend it to all of my friends, which is why I would nominate this book for receiving our Printz award. It is such a quick and enticing read that is approachable for all ages. Lowry achieves a tone that is stripped down and simplistic while maintaining an air of sophistication and maturity. While not being too in depth, the tone of the main character Jonas is portrayed effectively, and I think boys and girls alike would identify well with him and his struggles.
Some might argue that having already won a Newberry Medal, and thereby recommended for younger readers, The Giver doesn’t belong in the Young Adult award realm. However, I would argue that any novel this potent and evocative is immensely important for older readers as well. For instance, Lowry’s focus on extremely visceral memories that Jonas experiences would likely strike a chord with young adults who thrive in this sort of immediacy. Another concern could be that the book finishes too abruptly with an open ending. This seems to me that it could be a catalyst for inspiring YA readers to think about what they would do in Jonas’ situation, having made up his mind, but still unsure what his future has in store for him.
Dystopian novels are ripe with metaphors and messages for YA readers to ponder over. The Giver would be a fantastic “foot in the door” for any apprehensive reader who has an interest in adventure. For integrating a child-like innocence into a dark story of flight and freedom, and running an extremely tight ship that could easily bear a YA reader into deeper worlds, I nominate The Giver for our Printz award.

The Catcher In the Rye (Coming of Age)

Salinger, J. D. The catcher in the rye. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, (1951).

Annotation: Now that he’s kicked out of yet another boring school, Holden has to find out what to do with the week before he’s SUPPOSED to go home for Christmas… and maybe also the rest of his life.

Justification for Rejection: Just as often as any particular book is placed upon a literary pedestal due to its longstanding position as a “classic” work, others are just as quick to denounce it on the same merits. I had never read this novel in middle school when it was assigned; perhaps I was too similar to the protagonist Holden regarding schoolwork. However, due to its lingering location on so many of my friends’ “favorite books” lists, I have wanted to read it to find out what I was missing out on. As a whole, I was underwhelmed. Even though the main character is constantly on the move, it was almost as if nothing happened in the story whatsoever. For a “Coming of Age” story, Holden never went anywhere. The people, places, and things he does are just one long week of him moping around, and I didn’t feel there was any character development to enjoy, which is essential for me to feel like the protagonist has truly matured. The supporting characters also felt flat and 2-dimensional, which is easy when comparing them to the manic depressive Holden. His bouncing back and forth between “bored” and acting like a “madman” wore me down, but I can actually see some resonance in my own attitudes I held as an adolescent. One trouble for me was my inability to pin down Holden’s age, so my mental picture of his bipolar character was foggy. Words I have heard used to describe this book are “funny” and “dramatic”, but I didn’t find it to be either.

Fortunately, one enormous strength in this book is the narrative voice. It is so vibrant and dynamic, I am certain any reader would form a lasting impression of it. Salinger has Holden calling out each disturbingly intense feeling by name, which felt heavy-handed to me, but the mood and style of the writing easily carried the narration. Perhaps this book was more approachable and significant to a different generation, but I don't think it would be necessary or even advisable for every teenager to try this novel. In the end, I am of the opinion that every book should be somewhat fulfilling to read, if not honestly satisfying in some way. The Catcher In The Rye was neither for me, so I would unfortunately not recommend it for receiving Commendations.

The Watchmen (Graphic Novel)

Moore, Alan, and Dave Gibbons. Watchmen. New York: DC Comics Inc, 1987.

Annotation: A disbanded group of washed up superheroes start mysteriously disappearing. The remaining members must unravel the conspiracy that may result in a global apocalypse.

Reason for Nomination: Adolescence is a period of high sensitivity to visual stimulation, and as such the Watchmen graphic novel is a gripping format in which to base this alternate history of the world. If masked crusaders actually did rise up to fight injustice, what would the world think of them, and at the end of the day what would they think about themselves? This concept parallels adolescent identity generation, in which teens will try on multiple ever-changing masks just like the protagonist Rorschach’s physically changing mask, which looks different every time he puts it on. The reader is required to make their own decisions about right and wrong in order to separate the heroes from the antiheroes, and the shades of grey that make up us all. As each character ponders their own development, readers will feel a resonance in their own maturation experience, every moment of camaraderie or loss of innocence. This compelling story is an excellent example of a moral quest that any teen reader will get drawn deeper into, with the superb artwork only reinforcing their urge to continue delving into this rich dystopian world.

One unique aspect of the book required me to read more carefully, which I believe most teen readers would be thrilled by. Frequently during Watchmen there are multiple stories being told, often in the same frame. A particular story is simply a comic book that is being read by a boy in the street for the duration of the main plot. This multi-tasking could be very engaging to the fast paced teenage mind, although others may find it to be distracting. However, Moore uses metaphors that link the narration together between these crossed paths, which are often clever and poetic. One other feature I noticed was the clock illustration at the beginning of each chapter, which continually got closer to midnight, or the “final judgment”. This device provided a feeling of constant momentum towards the resolution, which encouraged the rising tension even when the plot did not feel as if it was reaching the inevitable end.

This graphic novel was written in the 1980’s, but as evidenced by the successful film adaptation earlier this year, as well as continued re-issues that come out frequently, Watchmen is still as approachable and significant as ever. Due to the illustrations of violence and sexuality, some may suggest it isn’t appropriate for young adult readership. However, nothing comes across as overly vulgar or meaningless, as it is needed for the story. Regardless, Moore paints a startlingly vivid picture of these characters in “masks”, reflecting that within everyone there is both good and evil. For respecting the reader and letting them make their own decisions about who is wrong and right, I nominate Watchmen for young adult enthusiasts.

Skellig (Printz Honor)

• Almond, David. Skellig. New York: Delacorte Press USA, 1998.

Annotation: A young boy with a sick baby sister discovers a mysterious being wallowing in the garage of their newly purchased run-down house. He must decide what to do with the strange creature, and his choices impact the lives of his family and the peculiar girl who has been watching him from next door.

Reason for Nomination: If this book had been written this past year, I would certainly agree with the nomination for a Printz Award, if only the Printz Honor. Its greatest strengths lie in the emotional potency and unabashed innocent curiosity of the main character, Michael. The narrative tone is completely consistent and accurate, and the reader will feel torn between his joyous excitement and somber introspection. Weighing in at less than 200 pages, with a pacing pushed by continued discovery and 2 page chapters, this is the sort of book that has the potential of keeping the reader engaged to the fullest, and made me want to read in one shot.

Almond employs effective use of thematic rebirth metaphors by keying in on springtime and the renovation of the family's derelict house, which both symbolize Michael's quest to nurse the creature Skellig back to life and find out who or what he is. This journey is certainly one of self-discovery that is relevant to any teen. It is told in a completely believable but extraordinary way that I believe would inspire a solemn sense of wonder and awe in any reader. My only criticism would be the continued reference to William Blake writings, that while topical and timely, tended to wear on me. It is possible young adult readers would latch onto this prose and be interested in the related reading, but beyond that I found it to be not as valuable as it should have been.

For a brief read that illustrates with stark beauty the humble arc of juvenile development and a wholly original discovery of love and courage, this novel is fantastic and entirely deserving of its Printz Honor Award.

Genre categories: Printz Award winner, fiction, supernatural, fantasy