I was going to wait until Sunday to put this up, but I figured why not get it out there in time for Friday’s Peanut Gallery posts? Here’s my take on the matches this week:

Match 1, Octavian Nothing, Vol. II vs. Ways to Live Forever. Winner: Octavian Nothing. I really have no opinions on this one, mostly because I haven’t read either one. I know I should read the Octavian Nothing books, but I can’t seem to bring myself to want to. However, after reading Roger Sutton’s commentary, I want to read Ways to Live Forever. I’m not sure that was the intention of the game, but there it is.

Match 2, The Graveyard Book vs. The Trouble Begins at 8. Winner: Trouble Begins at 8. I’m SO excited about this one. I liked The Graveyard Book, but it’s had enough accolades, and I thought (hoped, wished) that Trouble would get more. And so it has. Granted, it’s not the Newbery, but at the very least, it knocked the “champion” off. YAY! (And see: if I had predicted this, it wouldn’t have happened.)

Match 3, Chains vs. Washington at Valley Forge. Winner: Chains. So, I figured Chains would win this round, but I was fascinated by what judge Elizabeth Partridge had to say:

“So read ‘em both. You’ll be glad you did, and your mind will zigzag back and forth across the big gap between the general and the slave girl. But since, in a painful moment of triage, I have to chose one, I pick Chains. Why? Because I’m more interested in a scrappy underdog heroine than a war hero.”

Fascinating. And Washington at Valley Forge is now on my TBR list.

Match 4, Here Lies Arthur vs. Tender Morsels. Winner: Tender Morsels. I don’t have much to say about this one, either. I haven’t read either of these, and had little desire to read Tender Morsels up until this point, incest, gang rape and all. But… but… but… I don’t know. I may change my mind.

Match 5, Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks vs. We Are the Ship. Winner: We are the Ship. I wasn’t expecting this one, mostly because I’ve never been a big baseball fan, and had no interest in We are the Ship. However, how can you ignore a comment like this one, by judge Rachel Cohn: “Simply put, We Are the Ship is an exquisite marriage of art to words (terrific story, well told), but also down-home enjoyable, visually stunning but accessible, and never succumbing to coffee table book pretentiousness.” The answer is: you can’t. Another one for my TBR list.

Match 6, Hunger Games vs. Porcupine Year. Winner: Hunger Games. I have one thing to say: of course. I didn’t expect anything different. (Not really.)

Match 7: Graceling vs. The Underneath. Winner: Graceling. This, next to The Graveyard Book-Trouble Begins at 8, was the most interesting match for me. But I shouldn’t have fretted: judge Tamora Pierce (yeah, that Tamora Pierce) chose the fantasy over the dark animal book. Good for her. And I like what commentator Jonathan Hunt said (he said this about Hunger Games, but I think it works here): “As plucky and resourceful as Omakayas is, she wouldn’t stand a chance against Katniss. Come to think of it, neither would Octavian Nothing, Frankie Landau-Banks, Nobody Owens, or most of the characters from this past year. Maybe Katsa from Graceling? Now there’s a cage match I’d pay to see! Grrrl Power! “ There’s the match I want to see.

Match 8: The Lincolns vs. Nation. Winner: The Lincolns. Nonfiction has done well in this battle, taking down entertaining, and popular, fiction titles. Who knows: maybe a nonficiton title will go home champion?? (Oh, and another two for my TBR pile. I really ought to read Terry Pratchett… soon.)

So, for round two we have:
Octavian Nothing II vs. Trouble Begins at 8, judged by Tim Wynne-Jones
Chains vs. Tender Morsels, judged by Coe Booth
We are the Ship vs. Hunger Games, judged by John Green
Graceling vs. The Lincolns , judged by Nancy Werlin

Sticking to my assurance that if I predict anything it won’t come true, I’ll refrain from making any calls. I’ll just say that this is going to be interesting….