Printz- The Scorpio Races

Stiefvater, M. (2011). The Scorpio Races. New York, NY: Scholastic Press.
  On the island of Thisby there is a special race known every year known as The Scorpio Race during which men ride the flesh eating water horses known as the capaill uisce.  Sean Kendrick is a natural with the beasts and a sure win which will secure him his very own water horse- Corr.  Puck is the first ever female to enter the races and if she wins her family will have a place to live, if not they'll be out in the cold.  To make things worse Sean and Puck begin to have feelings for one another but only one can win.  When Sean sacrifices his chances Puck arises victorious and even finds a way to save Sean's beloved Corr in the process.  Puck is not your typical girl and actually goes against the stereotypical female characters in a YA book that includes a romance.  She is fiery and spontaneous.  Puck goes against and frequently doesn't even exemplify the "girly inclinations" so many other ingenues exhibit.  The universal themes of The Scorpio Races include bravery, determination, and hard-work and are something more adolescent readers need to be exposed to.  This novel does include mild scenes of violence and some salty language that might not be appropriate for readers under the age of 12.   The Scorpio Races was named a Printz Honor book in 2012.

Printz Awards- Going Bovine

Bray, L. (2009). Going Bovine. New York, NY: Delacorte Books
  Cameron Smith just wants to sail through it all- school, work, even family.  He has never tried for much nor expected much. But when the hallucinations begin and he is told he is soon to die all those desires go out the window.  Cameron is diagnosed with mad-cow disease and soon hospitalized.  He then meets Dulcie, a pink-haired fairy with spray painted wings and 100% a vision brought on by hallucinations.  Dulcie tells Cameron of a cure and soon he finds himself traveling across America with a death and video games obsessed dwarf and a Norse god trapped in a gnome's body.  Cameron eventually earns his cure by defeating a wizard with a trumpet given to him by a jazz musician in New Orleans.  WHAT??  More than once reading this book I felt like I was the one with the hallucinations but I can't say it wasn't entertaining!  The characters in this book were wild and zany and total unexpected.  If presenting a "unique take on the more mundane stories" (Lesesne ch.5) then Going Bovine is a GREAT book.  I have yet to find a more unique twist on the mundane topic of overcoming an illness.  I could not have predicted any part of this novel and I'm sure the recommended readers of grades 8 and up won't be able to either.  Going Bovine was definitely worthy of its Printz Award in 2010 for literary merit.