This is what you need to know about the Cybils awards. The Cybils are one of the most fun book awards out there. They cover books for children and teens) published in the past year and all books are nominated by readers. The books are then read by a volunteer reading staff who are responsible for finding their own copies of the books (really nice publishers sometimes kick in review copies for them). It's a grassroots as an award can be and it's utterly fantastic.

And for Valentine's Day they gave us a special gift by announcing this year's winners.

I'm always eager to see who will win the graphic novel prizes because that is a category which I enjoy but I really need people to tell me what to read. I was thrilled to see that Shannon, Dean and Nathan Hale's Rapunzel's Revenge picked up the Cybil for the elementary/middle grade category. If you've never read Shannon Hale you really must. She crafts wonderful retellings of fairy tales that pull you in and don't let you go. (I may have, perhaps, forced a couple of her books on a friend once upon a time because she kept saying she wouldn't like them and I kept saying she would. For the record, I was correct). Rapunzel's Revenge is Shannon Hale's first graphic novel. Naomi Bates said that just when she felt like she'd read every retelling along came this one with a twist. It will do well with middle grade readers but it's also great with younger kids. Check out this interview between a Dad and his two kids at BookieWookie.

Emiko Superstar by Mariko Tamaki and Steve Rolston snagged the young adult graphic novel prize. Takami actually had two graphic novels make it to the finals in this category. Her other nominated graphic novel, Skim, was shortlisted for a major literary prize in Canada so I'm kind of happy to see that Emiko Superstar won (Skim is great though, totally recommend it). Reading around the web I see Emiko Superstar being compared to the works of Cecil Castellucci and Derek Kirk Kim, and even Francesca Lia Block. What does this mean? That you need to read it. Stat.

The subject matter of the winning book in the middle grade/young adult non-fiction category surprised me a bit. The Year We Disappeared by father John Busby and daughter Cylin Busby is the story of what happened after her father had his lower jaw shot off driving to work one day. Carol gulped the book down in an afternoon but recommends it for the older end of the middle grade category.

The two young adult winners in the fiction and fantasy and science-fiction categories are both books I've been trying to get my hands on for ages. Every time I turn around someone is raving about them. The fantasy and science-fiction category winner was Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games. This novel started to get a lot of attention when Stephenie Meyer blogged about it on her site.

I was so obsessed with this book I had to take it with me out to dinner and hide it under the edge of the table so I wouldn't have to stop reading. The story kept me up for several nights in a row, because even after I was finished, I just lay in bed wide awake thinking about it. I've been recommending it to total strangers in Target.

Now, whether you are fond of Meyer's books or not it must be said that by all accounts she recommended a heck of a good book. Just check out what people are saying about The Hunger Games.

Wow!
I ate up The Hunger Games with a big spoon. It was so exciting, I about lost my mind. I actually considered taking a vacation day from work so I could finish it sooner.
Both Eyes Book Blog

I read the entire book in two sittings, ignoring some very important tasks (sleep, for one) in order to find out what would happen to Katniss Everdeen. I read the last page in the wee hours and heaved a huge sigh, wishing already for the next installment of the story.
Loree Griffin Burns

Second mistake, I drank a huge glass of water before starting. Even though I had to pee really badly, I could not put the freaking book down and go to the bathroom. I can't believe I risked a bladder infection for this book. But then again, I can't believe how awesome this book is.
Hello Ello 2

I think it's safe to say that all this means that it should be bumped to the top of every one's reading list and you should beg and borrow a copy off of anyone that has one. (Me? I'm up to number 64 on the library request list...)

Perhaps the winner I most look forward to is the young adult fiction. This year it went to the much acclaimed The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E Lockhart. The novel also won a Prinz Honor last month. BlogHer's own Community Manager Denise said that Frankie is "one of the best pieces of YA I’ve ever read. Ever." Now, you all need to know that Denise reads a lot of YA and when she says it's one of the best ever that means you need to run out and read it right away. But if that's not enough a recommendation for you how about this:

Why did I wait so long to read this book? I read it in a gulp, cheered for Frankie, and want to thank E Lockhart for giving us such a strong, gutsy, endearing feminist as a heroine. Oh, this has my vote for the National Book Award. It is wonderful.
The Book Bind

Or this:

So, here's to the Frankie's of the world: the girls who think outside of the box. Who invent neglected positives, and need people to understand (not just talk at) them. And here's to the books that celebrate them.
The Book Nut (who liked it but found it a bit uneven..)

Or this:

Only once in a while there comes a book that really and truly means something to me-- and The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks was one of those books. Not only was it amazingly well written, not only was I incapable of putting it down, but it made me think.
Three Evil Cousins

What are you waiting for? Go read some Cybils!

Contributing Editor Sassymonkey also blogs at Sassymonkey and Sassymonkey Reads.