This past year I’ve posted more than 60 reviews of middle grade books and read many more. With the new year just a wink away, its time to present my coveted golden cup award. 
Okay, I got it at a garage sale, but it’s filled with my favorite middle grade moments of 2015, limited of course to what I reviewed. Past celebrations have included book giveaways from the list, but after discovering I’d already given them away, here’s the new plan:
I have like new hardback copies of three nominated books from the 2015 Cybils Middle Grade Fiction category.
I have yet to post reviews on these but they are the last books I read in 2015. I’m also throwing in a $15 STARBUCKS gift card. The winner will receive the books and gift card! All you have to do is post a comment stating your favorite in one of the categories (MG or otherwise) or just state a favorite book you read this past year. I’ll draw the winner on January 3rd at 7 pm Eastern Time. You’ll have a beverage and a trio of fine books to start off your new year. Good luck!
Without further delay, on to my Golden Cup Awards:
FAVORITE SETTING: (tie) Destiny, Florida (THE WAY TO STAY IN DESTINY) & Cove, a city built within a mountain (MYSTERIES OF COVE – FIRES OF INVENTION)
FAVORITE FEMALE PROTAGONIST: Talia (WAITING FOR UNICORNS)
FAVORITE MALE PROTAGONIST: Julian Twerski (FINDING THE WORM)
FAVORITE CHARACTER NAME: Ronan Truelove (THE GLASS GAUNTLET)
FAVORITE OPENING LINE: “The day my brother climbed into the cat box was the day I knew my life would never be normal again.” (TEDDY MARS: ALMOST A WORLD RECORD BREAKER)
FAVORITE PARENTS: Dash Gibson’s parents (SPACE CASE)
FAVORITE COVER:(tie)
FAVORITE ENDING: CONFESSIONS OF AN IMAGINARY FRIEND
FUNNIEST READ: CHARLIE JOE JACKSON’S GUIDE TO MAKING MONEY
FAVORITE FRIENDSHIP: Trent and Fallon (LOST IN THE SUN)
A lot more excitement begins this Friday with the announcement of the Cybils finalists. I’ll then be hunkered down helping pick an overall winner in the Middle Grade Fiction category by February 14th.
Have a safe and happy 2016 full of reading and writing.
Always in the Middle... 
I seriously love Always in the Middle. Even when I don’t have time, I read it. I drink it. I buy the books recommended and then donate them or read on Nook and share. I love it when someone has a gift and they use it in such a creative pay-it-forward way! Thanks Greg. My favorite MG books I read this year were Brown Girl Dreaming and Nest. They are both poignant stories of resilience and triumph.
Thanks for your nice comments. I have both your recommended books on my future reads list. Good luck in the drawing.
Thanks for this list. There are some favorites of mine on this list. I just finished Lost in the Sun and also loved the friendship between Fallon and Trent. I am hoping there will be more Julian Twerski in the future. I can’t pick a favorite, but a recent one I loved was The Seventh Most Important Thing. Terrific. Please don’t put my name in the drawing though. I am still working my way through a box of books I won from you not long ago. Thanks for this post and Happy New Year.
Looking forward to more of your reviews and you have me intrigued by THE SEVENTH MOST IMPORTANT THING. Have a great 2016.
Terrific end-of -the-year list, thanks! One of my favorites this year was Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. It was kind of strange how it changed to another story in the middle but very enjoyable nonetheless. Have a happy 2016 everyone!
Your selection sounds interesting. I’ll add it to my list for 2016. Thanks for stopping by and good luck in the drawing.
Thanks for the list. I enjoyed Go Set a Watchman among many others.
Such a great list! Thank you for sharing it! I really love reading middle grade books because the story and the characters are always fun and cute! It’s really exciting to read and always put a smile on my face!
Awesome list!!! So many fantastic ones and ones I still need to read. For favorite female character is Cece from El Deafo. I LOVED that book!
That book is still on my list to read from last year. I’ll put in on high priority for 2016. Good luck in the drawing.
I enjoyed Lost in the Sun and book scavenger.