The Carnival at Bray
The Carnival at Bray is a young adult novel by Jessie Ann Foley. The book was an Honor Book shortlisted for the American Library Association's Michael L. Printz Award for literary merit in 2015.[1][2] The association's young adult division also named the book one of the 10 "Best Fiction for Young Adults"[3] and had short-listeded it for the 2015 William C. Morris Award for debut novels for young adults.[4]
Author | Jessie Ann Foley |
---|---|
Language | English |
Publication date | October 2014 |
Media type | Print (Paperback) |
ISBN | 978-0-9895155-9-7 |
The manuscript had previously won multiple contests. It was published after being entered into contest to solicit submissions to Elephant Rock Books, and became the first young adult novel published by the small independent publisher[5] An earlier manuscript had won the Chicago Reader annual fiction contest.[6]
Reception
Kirkus Reviews gave the book a starred review, saying "The narrative subtly and carefully interweaves peer and family drama...with the highs and lows of the grunge music scene, from the transformative glory of a Nirvana concert to the outpouring of grief around the death of Kurt Cobain."[7]
Chicago Reader named Carnival of Bray on its list of favorite books of 2014,[6] describing the book as "a lovely coming-of-age story set on the northwest side and in Dublin, which got its start five years ago as the winner of our annual fiction contest".
It was a finalist for the 2015 Chicago Writers Association Traditional Fiction Book of the Year.[8]
References
- Chicago book news: Jessie Ann Foley, Charles Finch receive honors by Jeremy Mikula Chicago Tribune February 12, 2015
- The best children's books: Newbery, Caldecott winners announced by Ashley Strickland, CNN June 25, 2015.
- YALSA names 2015 Best Fiction for Young Adults 02/03/2015 ALA News
- ALA 'Gabi, a Girl in Pieces' wins 2015 William C. Morris Award 02/02/2015 ALA News
- Elephant Rock Books enters Y.A. with 'The Carnival at Bray By Donald Liebenson, Printer's Row Preview section, The Chicago Tribune, June 20, 2014
- Our favorite books of 2014: A look back at the year in words, from the best reads by Chicago authors to new bookstores and live-lit events by Aimee Levitt December 22, 2014 Chicago Reader
- The Carnival at Bray by Jessie Ann Foley, October 1, 2014, Kirkus Reviews
- "Congratulations to CWA's 2015 Book Award Finalists!". Chicago Writers Association. Retrieved December 8, 2015.