National Book Award

I just finished David Small’s graphic novel, Stitches. It  is heartbreaking, not only because of his illness but also those appalling parents. I too had cancer that was caused by the 1950s enthusiasm for radiation. In my case it was a miracle cure for the skin infection called ringworm, and the radiation was on my face as was the cancer ten years ago. So I immediately related to David’s story. The book is marvelous and moving and has deservedly been nominated for a National Book Award, but there is much talk of it being an adult book and thus nominated in the wrong category. All the nominees in the Young People’s category, in fact, skew a little older than I would expect. My personal favorite is Laini Taylor’s Lips Touch. Lovely and lush and unforgettable. What do you think?