The Carnival at Bray
Young adult novel by Jessie Ann Foley
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Author | Jessie Ann Foley |
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Language | English |
Publication date
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October 2014 |
Media type | Print ( Paperback ) |
ISBN | 978-0-9895155-9-7 |
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-listed it for the 2015 William C. Morris Award for debut novels for young adults. [4]
The manuscript had previously won multiple contests. [ citation needed ] It was published after being entered into a 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]
Controversy
In 2022, The Carnival at Bray was listed among 52 books banned by the Alpine School District following the implementation of Utah law H.B. 374, “Sensitive Materials In Schools," [9] many of which were removed because they were considered to contain pornographic material according to the new law, which defines porn using the following criteria:
- "The average person" would find that the material, on the whole, "appeals to prurient interest in sex" [10]
- The material "is patently offensive in the description or depiction of nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, sadomasochistic abuse, or excretion" [10]
- The material, on the whole, "does not have serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value." [10]
The book has also been removed from public libraries in Martin County, Florida . [11]
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
- 1 2 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 8 December 2015 .
- ↑ "Ban on 52 Books in Largest Utah School District is a Worrisome Escalation of Censorship" . PEN America . 1 August 2022 . Retrieved 5 August 2022 .
- 1 2 3 Mullahy, Brian (28 July 2022). "Alpine School District pulls dozens of books from school library shelves" . KUTV . Retrieved 5 August 2022 .
- ↑ "These books are banned in Martin County, Florida" . 13 March 2023.