Okay, here are my predictions for the School Library Journal Battle of the (Kids) Books.

Round 1
• Charles and Emma
• Fire
• The Last Olympian
• The Lost Conspiracy
• Marcelo in the Real World
• A Season of Gifts
• Sweethearts of Rhythm
• When You Reach Me

Round 2

• Fire
• The Last Olympian
• A Season of Gifts
• When You Reach Me

Round 3

• Fire
• A Season of Gifts

Round 4

• Undead: The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate
• Winner: The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

Well, now, that was interesting! When I first looked at the list of 16, I picked out Fire and Marcelo in the Real World as likely winners. But as I went through each round, considering the stories and the judges I wound up…well, here, with the Undead swooping in and taking it all in the end. In fact, in my head, Fire comes in third behind A Season of Gifts. My own personal tastes played less of a role than I would have expected. A book I wouldn’t let out of Round 1 goes on.

If I’m waffling on one, it’s M. T. Anderson. I’ve read a number of his books, and my sense is he’s all over the map in terms of taste. (Feed, Octavian Nothing, Burger Wuss, Whales on Stilts) Normally, I’d celebrate that, but it makes him unpredictable here. I can imagine him pitching Fire out the window. I can also imagine that one being a popular candidate for the Undead vote.

Christopher Paul Curtis, on the other hand, has got to choose A Season of Gifts, don’t you think? Assuming it makes it to Round 2. Bud, Not Buddy, The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963, Elijah of Buxton…come on!

It turns out I’m most interested in the individual judges’ choices and what guides their choices, not which books actually win the rounds. Having made it onto the list of sixteen makes them all winners…gak.

These are my picks, and I’m sticking with them! Go, Calpurnia!