Tag: reviewing

2020 LGBTQIA+ Starred Review Roundup

It’s time for the 3rd annual roundup of star-studded LGBTQIA+ titles for kids and teens. While stars aren’t everything (especially not to youth), I think it’s interesting to see the types of books that receive praise. Once I have five years of information, I may even write something a bit more in depth. Until then, here is a list!

(Previous lists: 2018, 2019)

A quick comparison from last year’s list shows a decrease in the number of starred reviews: 105 titles received at least 1 star (89 in 2018, 152 in 2019) and 16 titles received 3+ stars (26 in 2018, 38 in 2019). Due to the pandemic, it could be that fewer titles were reviewed or that publication dates were pushed back. Or it could be that, after the boom of LGBTQIA+ publishing in recent years, journals are more reluctant to give stars. For more statistics fun beyond stars and LGBTQIA+ identities, check out the CCBC findings.

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2019 LBGTQIA+ Starred Review Roundup

look both ways
laura dean
important thing about MWB
on the come up

I stepped away from Medal on My Mind last year and am continuing to do so again this year. But I had a draft of this list and wanted to get it out there, even though it’s old news. A quick comparison from last year’s list shows nearly double the number of starred reviews: 152 titles received at least 1 star (89 in 2018) and 38 titles received 3+ stars (26 in 2018). Also worth noting, one starred, #ownvoices book by an LGBTQIA+ author was withdrawn from publication—not for its LGBTQIA+ content, but for “problematic representation of the Kosovo War, genocide, and Muslim characters.”

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2018 LGBTQIA+ Starred Review Roundup

picture us in the light
julian
cardboard
prince and the dressmaker

Over at Medal on My Mind, we’ve been hard at work sifting through all the titles eligible for the Stonewall Book Award this year. I created a Goodreads list of 2018 LGBTQIA+ children’s and YA lit to track all the titles. Then I decided it would be fun to embark on a little research project and concurrently track the number of those books that receive starred reviews. I’m no statistician, but it’s been super interesting to see how our choices for Stonewall compare with what the journals rank highest. Not to mention the types of stories, the kinds of identities, and the authors who are prized most.

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UPDATE: End of TBR Pile, New Reviewing Gig, New Blog!

I have been awfully quiet these last few months. Ever since the ALSC Forum on Social Justice Practice in Youth Librarianship (ALSC members: watch the archive if you missed it), I’ve been reflecting on my own social justice practice. This included reflecting on the purpose of this blog.

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