Cardinal Mooney Book Awards

Hello! Welcome! Hi! We’re glad to have you here, where the next week will be dedicated to announcing the Cardinal Mooney Book Awards (formerly the St. Francis Middle School Book Awards, aka The Frannies). Many* have said this is “the best awards week all year,” and it’d be tough to disagree.

The awards have previously been given out in 2012 and 2013, awarding books published in 2011 and 2012, respectively. All categories, criteria, nominees, honorees, and winners are chosen by the students and by the students alone. Each student has read at least 4 books published in 2014, and many have read more, so these voters know what they’re talking about. I am honored to be announcing the awards, but please, do not confuse my support for the awards with them being mine. I am proud of my students and the choices they have made, but they deserve all the accolades for having chosen them. They have selected some good books this year, and I can’t wait to share them with you!

Except I will wait. Because DRAMA.

The awards will be announced each day from now until next week Sunday. This year, however, we have 9 categories. And 8 days. So on one of the magical days of this week, you will get two — THAT’S RIGHT, TWO! — awards announced. But you won’t know which day. So. Pay attention. PAY. ATTENTION.

The awards (will become active links upon posting):
First Hour Award (Freshmen)
Second Hour Award (Sophomores)
Fourth Hour Award (Freshmen)
Seventh Hour Award (Freshmen)
Dystopian/Post Apocalyptic Award
Realistic Fiction Award
Fantasy Award
Picture Book Award (these kids love their picture books!)
The Wyzbery (Best Book of the Year)
ALA Book and Media Awards**

The first awards will be announced tonight at 7 PM EST. Then, every day at 7 PM, more will be announced. You won’t want to miss these. There are a lot of good books to award!

We’ll see you tonight 🙂

EDITED TO ADD: Here is a list of all the award winners (ǂ denotes ALA Youth Media Award honoree/award winner)

First Hour (co-winners):
El Deafo by Cece Bell ǂ
Tea with Grandpa by Barney Saltzberg

Second Hour
Please, Mr. Panda by Steve Antony

Fourth Hour
Please, Mr. Panda by Steve Antony

Seventh Hour
Honoree:
The Young Elites by Marie Lu
Winner:
Please, Mr. Panda by Steve Antony

Realistic Fiction
Honorees:
Glory O’Brien’s History of the Future by A.S. King
I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson ǂ
The Summer of Letting Go by Gae Polisner
Winner:
We Were Liars by e. lockhart

Fantasy
Honorees:
Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater
The Young Elites by Marie Lu
Winner:
Please, Mr. Panda by Steve Antony

Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic
Honorees:
Last Stand: Surviving America’s Collapse by William H. Weber
The Rule of Three by Eric Walters
The Hunted by Charlie Higson
Four by Veronica Roth
Winner:
The One by Kiera Cass

Picture Book
Honorees:
The Book with No Pictures by B.J. Novak
Sam & Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen ǂ
Winner:
Please, Mr. Panda by Steve Antony

Wyzbery Award
Honoree:
We Were Liars by e. lockhart
Winner:
Please, Mr. Panda by Steve Antony

*By many, I mean my wife, whom I just asked to repeat the words “the best awards week all year”
**While I encourage any and all associated with the ALA, I’m pretty sure the ALA wants nothing to do with the CMBAs