Some books I loved this year
and yes, indeed, books I wrote this year
(Fly on the Wall, The Boy Book and the paperback of The Boyfriend List)
were not on any of the various best books lists that were made at ALA last weekend.

The lists are:
Top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers
Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers
Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults
Best Books for Young Adults
Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults

Now -- the books on these lists rock, and of course I know that not every book can be on such lists and that the people who make them have a hard job deciding and consider their choices carefully.

But! I do happily proclaim that the following E. Lockhart awards
(decided only by me, early this Thursday morning, just from memory of YA books I read -- and of course there's a ton of books I didn't get to)
will be given only to hardcover books I love that didn't get any kind of nod from the ALA this year.
Including one for myself! why? because I can ;)

The E. Lockhart 2006 Hardcover Undersung Book Awards

MOST GIGGLY: Frogs and French Kisses, by Sarah Mlynowski
MOST ADDICTIVELY FUN: TTFN, by Lauren Myracle
MOST SURPRISINGLY ROMANTIC: Queen of Cool, by Cecil Castelluci
MOST INNOVATIVELY WRITTEN: The Murder of Bindy Mackenzie, by Jaclyn Moriarty
WORLD I'D MOST WANT TO LIVE IN: Sex Kittens and Horn Dawgs Fall in Love by Maryrose Wood
BRAVEST: Wide Awake, by David Levithan
WILDEST ADVENTURE: Magic Lessons by Justine Larbalestier
MOST COMICALLY SUPSENSEFUL: Bad Kitty by Michelle Jaffe
MOST GEEKTASTIC: my own Fly on the Wall by E. Lockhart

Feel free to suggest your own -- or make up your own awards!

--E