Awards season is definitely here. On Mon., Jan. 16, 2013, the Mystery Writers of American announced the nominees for the 2013 Edgar Allan Poe Awards. Covering 14 categories, the awards ceremony will take place at a Gala Banquet, May 2, 2013 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, New York City.
Awards season usually means most people get caught up in the excitement of the Oscars, the Grammys and the Tony Awards. The Mystery Writers of America and the authors who write suspense-filled mysteries get just as excited about the Edgar Allan Poe Awards, though. It's been 204 years since the author of works like "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" was born and 2013 marks the sixty-seventh year the Mystery Writers of America have honored the best in mystery fiction, non-fiction and television, published or produced in the previous year.
While most of the awards that will be handed out at the 2013 Edgar Allan Poe Awards in May will be for works that target the adult audience, two categories cover literature written for younger readers. Five books are finalists in the Best Juvenile category and five titles are finalists in the Best Young Adult Category. The ten books listed below are some of the best mystery fiction for young readers that was published in 2012.
Best Juvenile
"Fake Mustache: Or, How Jodie O’Rodeo and Her Wonder Horse (and Some Nerdy Kid) Saved the U.S. Presidential Election from a Mad Genius Criminal Mastermind" by Tom Angleberger (Amulet Books, April 2012) Lenny Flem Jr. and his evil-genius best friend Caspar must face off in a plot to take over the world.
"13 Hangmen" by Art Corriveau (Amulet Books, April 2012) The number 13 is important to the plot of this book. The main character turns 13 shortly after moving into 13 Hangmen's Court in Boston. He lives in the attic of his home along with five other 13-year-old boys, each from a different historical time period.
"The Quick Fix" by Jack D. Ferraiolo (Amulet Books, Oct. 2012) Matt Stevens is a junior high detective that was first introduced to readers in "The Big Splash." The star of the basketball team is being blackmailed and Matt is the only one who can make things right.
"Spy School" by Stuart Gibbs (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, March 2012) Ben has always wanted to be a secret agent so when he gets the chance to attend the C.I.A.'s top secret Academy of Espionage, he can't believe his luck. Spy school, however, is tougher than he ever thought it would be.
"Three Times Lucky" by Sheila Turnage (Penguin Young Readers Group – Dial Books for Young Readers, May 2012) An orphan who washed ashore during a hurricane, Miss Moses LoBeau, is now in sixth grade and may finally find her true family. With the help of her best friend, Dale Earnhardt Johnson III, she may find out more than she ever imagined.
Best Young Adult
"Emily’s Dress and Other Missing Things" by Kathryn Burak (Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group – Roaring Brook Press, Oct. 2012) Claire's best friend Richy is missing; it's like he vanished into thin air. Also missing is Emily Dickinson's dress from the Amherst museum. While Claire knows exactly where to find the dress (her closet), she has no idea how to find Richy.
"The Edge of Nowhere by Elizabeth George (Penguin Young Readers Group – Viking, Sept. 2012) Becca is on the run from her stepfather; with the ability to hear the thoughts of others, she has discovered he is connected to criminal activities. Hiding out on Whidbey Island, she encounters all sorts of characters who have no idea that she can hear what they are thinking.
"Crusher" by Niall Leonard (Random House Children’s Books – Delacorte BFYR, Sept. 2011) Finn must run for his life. Not only is he a suspect in his father's murder, but as he tries to find the real murderer, he puts his own life in danger.
"Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone" by Kat Rosenfield (Penguin Young Readers Group – Dutton Children’s Books, July 2012) Living in a small, rural community, Becca has always longed to be free. But then an unidentified girl is found dead on the side of the road and the only world Becca has ever known suddenly starts falling apart.
"Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein (Disney Publishing Worldwide - Hyperion, May 2012) Set behind enemy lines in France during WWII, two young female British service members must do everything they can two survive. When their place crashes and one is arrested by the Gestapo, it becomes clear that only one of them will survive.
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