K is for Keen

it’s day 13 of

the A to Z Challenge!

Otherwise known as the letter K Day for my theme

Young Adult Novels and Novels with Young Adult Narrators.

The word keen describes today’s two novels perfectly. I like this word keen because it has so many meanings. Some are finely sharpened, distinctive in perception, eager. These definitions apply to the characters, stories, and writing of the following multi-award winning books.

  Kira-kira by Cynthia Kadohata

This is a beautiful book about family love and struggle. Older sister Lynn Takeshima protects and nurtures younger sister Katie, helping her to see all that is kira-kira (shining) until Lynn becomes ill and Katie must step up to help her family.

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

This novel brings to mind another definition of keen: intense. In Prentisstown residents can hear the thoughts of all other townspeople. I would call that intense–never being able to enjoy the quiet or have quiet, private thoughts. Not a place for introverts, I imagine. In this setting, Todd and his dog Manchee one day stumble upon quiet, but it is a quiet filled with a dark secret. Readers may be familiar with Patrick Ness from another prize-winning young adult novel and movie called A Monster Calls.

When purchasing fiction, do you take into account whether the book has won literary prizes? What is your favorite prize-winning novel?

In case you’re dropping in for the first time, you’ve just entered the A to Z Challenge. Bloggers from all over the world write 26 posts in the month of April, one blog for each letter of the alphabet, six days a week with Sundays off. Anyone who blogs or likes to read blogs can join in. Click here to get started! And be sure to visit other participating blogs and leave comments.