Giving overlooked books another chance at fame

March 4, 2016 8:53 AM

Sometimes a good book comes out that doesn't receive the attention it merits. To give them a second chance, there's the Phoenix Award -- given to a children's book published twenty years previously. This year's winner is Frindle, by Andrew Clements, first published in 1996.
posted by The corpse in the library (10 comments total)

That was a good book. There are probably a few parents out there for whom the book caused problems.
posted by GuyZero at 9:16 AM on March 4, 2016 [1 favorite]

I don't have much to say other than this is a great idea and I have fond memories of reading Frindle as a child.
posted by mr. manager at 9:16 AM on March 4, 2016 [1 favorite]

Frindle didn't receive the attention it merits? I see that thing everywhere! Andrew Clements is not exactly hurting for readers!
posted by mittens at 9:32 AM on March 4, 2016 [1 favorite]

Frindle is frequently taught or used as a summer reading book around here. Clemens' books are in high demand at my library.
posted by Biblio at 9:54 AM on March 4, 2016 [1 favorite]

I'm confused about why a book that sold 2.5 million copies is considered overlooked.
posted by ktoad at 10:00 AM on March 4, 2016 [1 favorite]

I'm confused about why a book that sold 2.5 million copies is considered overlooked.

The Phoenix apparently goes to books that didn't win any major awards at the time they were published, not according to commercial sales. (I was surprised to see I Am the Cheese on the list.)
posted by LeLiLo at 10:22 AM on March 4, 2016

Award? Blatant reminder to uncles/aunts/parents who remember the book to give it as a gift, more like.
posted by scruss at 10:22 AM on March 4, 2016

This needs to be done across the awards spectrum.

This year, it would be "Sorry for giving all those awards to The English Patient and mostly ignoring Space Jam."
posted by Etrigan at 11:43 AM on March 4, 2016 [10 favorites]

I like this award. There's this big gap in my knowledge of kids books from the years between when I stopped reading kids books and when I started having kids. I'd only heard of Frindle once or twice before but I think one of my kids might like it.

This needs to be done across the awards spectrum.

I could get behind this initiative.
posted by not that girl at 11:49 AM on March 4, 2016 [2 favorites]

Neat award. I recall really enjoying Frindle both in book form and also as one of the few books-on-tape we owned. It's got a subversive edge to it, for a kids book.
posted by JauntyFedora at 4:07 PM on March 4, 2016