Young Critics' and Young Young Critics' Clubs' Favorite Books of 2006-2007!

At the end of each school year, Perrot's Young Critics' Club (for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders) and Young Young Critics' Clubs (for 4th and 5th graders) vote on their favorite books. Here are the top three books from each club. Follow the links below to see the complete lists.

The Young Critics' Club Top Three:

YCC #1 WILDWOOD DANCING, by Juliet Marillier

Combining several familiar fairy tales, author Marillier crafts a romantic fantasy rich in detail, magical creatures, and strong female characters. Marillier is one of literature's finest storytellers, and this book continues her tradition of telling stories with a striking sense of place, beautifully portrayed characters, and an emotional core that touches the heart.

YCC #2 THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET, by Brian Selznick

Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with those of a bookish girl and an old man who runs a toy booth in the station, Hugo's undercover life is in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message from Hugo's dead father form the backbone of this intricate, tender, and spellbinding mystery. The unique format blends elements of picture book, novel, graphic novel, and film.

YCC #3 RASH, by Pete Hautman

The author explores the modern day tension between safety and freedom in this intelligent and darkly comic satire set 70 years in the future. In Bo's society, even minor infractions result in prison terms, because their labor "makes this country run." As a result, he finds himself sentenced to work in the Canadian tundra, at a pizza factory that's surrounded by hungry polar bears. Bo finds prison life to be both boring and dangerous, but it's nothing compared to what happens when he starts playing on the factory's highly illegal football team.


See the complete list of the Young Critics' Club's Favorite Books of 2006-2007 here.

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The Young Young Critics' Club (Y2C2) Top Three:

Y2C2 #1 THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET, by Brian Selznick [See description and picture above.]



Y2C2 #2 HEAT, by Mike Lupica
Pitching prodigy Michael Arroyo is on the run from social services after being banned from playing Little League baseball because rival coaches doubt he is only twelve years old and he has no parents to offer them proof.




Y2C2 #3 PENNY FROM HEAVEN, by Jennifer Holm
As she turns twelve during the summer of 1953, Barbara Fallucci, also known as Penny, gains new insights into herself and her family while also learning a secret about her father's death.





See the complete list of the Young Young Critics' Club's Favorite Books of 2006-2007 here.