What I’m Reading Now…mostly

Although I’ve been free range reading a bit in these post Morris Committee days, I still have some required reading.

I am a round 2 judge in the CYBILS YA Nonfiction category. Fortunately, as a round 2 judge I only have to read the finalists the round 1 judges selected. And these are what I am (mostly) reading these days.

I Will Always Write Back: How One letter Changed Two Lives by Caitlin Alifirenka and Martin Ganda

Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad by M. T. Anderson

Tommy: The Gun That Changed America by Karen Blumenthal

Courage & Defiance: Stories of Spies, Saboteurs and Survivors in World War II Denmark by Deborah Hopkinson

Bayard Rustin: The Invisible Activist by Jacqueline Houtman, Walter Naegle and Michael G. Long

Give Me Wings: How a Choir of Former Slaves Took on the World by Kathy Lowinger

Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War by Steve Sheinkin

…Hello 2016

Lucy and I welcomed the New Year, snuggled in bed.

Before falling asleep, she told me that her 2016 resolution was to refrain from sleeping in the middle of the bed to give me more room. I hope she keeps it!

She wasn’t feeling very well last night, and I am now in debate mode: do I take her to the emergency vet or wait until tomorrow to see my regular vet? I wish she could tell me what is wrong.

I am especially worried because, one week from today, I am off to the ALA’s 2016 Midwinter meeting in Boston and I don’t want to worry about Lucy being unwell while I am gone. I am excited about the events I am scheduled to attend. I don’t anticipating having to ship home another box like I did at the Annual meeting.

Today also marks the official start of my second year as a round 2 CYBILs judge for YA Nonfiction.

The announcement of the finalists in all categories has been made and I can now tell you that the finalists I will be reading are

 Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad by M. T. Anderson

Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War by Steve Sheinkin

 I Will Always Write Back: How One Letter Changed Two Lives by Caitlin Alifirenka and Martin Ganda with Liz Welch

Tommy: The Gun That Changed America by Karen Blumenthal

Courage and Defiance: Stories of Spies, Saboteurs, and Survivors in World War II Denmark by Deborah Hopkinson

Give Me Wings: How a Choir of Former Slaves Took on the World by Kathy Lowinger

Bayard Rustin: The Invisible Activist by Jacqueline Houtman, Walter Naegle and Michael G. Long