I’ve wrapped up my reading for the year (128 fiction and non-fiction books). Now it’s time to reveal my favorite moments in Middle Grade literature. The big-name award groups recognize their favorite books, but my Golden Cup Awards look within the stories to find the best in 15 unique categories.
Without further delay, here are my GOLDEN CUP AWARDS for 2020:
FAVORITE VOICE (FEMALE PROTAGONIST) TIE:
Pippa Park in PIPPA PARK RAISES HER GAME
Lexington Willow in THE ELEPHANT’S GIRL
Nellie in STEALING MT. RUSHMORE
FAVORITE VOICE (MALE PROTAGONIST) TIE:
Daniel Summers in DAN UNMASKED
Max Cordoba in MANANALAND
J.J. Picket in 1 FOR ALL
FAVORITE SETTING:
The American South in CLEAN GETAWAY
FAVORITE BOOK WITH DIVERSE CHARACTERS:
FAVORITE OPENING LINE:
(From THE PLACES WE SLEEP)
It arrives like a punch in the gut
like a shove in the girl’s room
like a name I won’t repeat.
FAVORITE COVER:
FAVORITE ENDING:
FUNNIEST READ:
ROOSEVELT BANKS: GOOD KID IN TRAINING
SADDEST READ:
FAVORITE READ-ALOUD:
FAVORITE ANIMAL CHARACTER (TIE):
Alicia the Cow in TORO
Mr. Penguin in the CATASTROPHIC CRUISE
FAVORITE CHARACTERS FROM HISTORICAL FICTION:
Glory Bea in BLUE SKIES
FAVORITE FRIENDSHIP (TIE):
Hank and Maisie in WE COULD BE HEROES
Ware and Jolene in HERE IN THE REAL WORLD
Matt and Eric in THE BOYS IN THE BACK ROW
LEAST LIKED CHARACTERS:
The Parents in STEALING MT. RUSHMORE
MOST MEMORABLE NON-FICTION READ:
That’s all for this year. Good-bye 2020. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out!
What were your favorite MG moments from 2020?
Always in the Middle... 
Thank you, Greg! Love your blog, and love sharing it with other readers and writers!
Some great moments, to be sure! I did really like Stealing Mt. Rushmore. So many details took me right back to 1974. Pop tabs! Thanks for the round up.
Happy New Year! My favorite middle grade books told in verse this year were The Canyon’s Edge and, although technically a 2021 release, Starfish (I read an ARC). My favorite graphic novel was Class Act.
This is such a fun post, Greg! Thanks for another great year with MMGM. Happy 2021 to you. Wishing you much fun, happiness, and good health. Take care. :0}
These are great categories and selections! You’ve reminded me of some books I forgot to find copies of, like The Best At It. Thanks for the excellent post and for coordinating MMGM so well this year! Have a great new year!
I can’t believe I haven’t read any of these books! Lots of them seem like wonderful reads I’ve missed out on. This is such a cute idea for the end of the year wrap up too! Thank you so much for the wonderful post and have a great new year!
Thanks to you, I have a couple of these on top of my TBR pile! Great list. Thanks for the post.
Love a good list of books at the end of the year. Sometimes I forgot I read a book this year. And other times, I think I read a book, and I read it like three years ago! I’ll be looking up some of these books for the New Year!
Happy New Year Greg! Great list! I love your blog, too. Many thanks for your thoughtful and insightful posts!!!