Painful Predictions

Battle of the Kids' Books is about to begin and just like every year, Im obsessed.  I can't remember the last adult book I read because I've been madly reading this list.  It's the first year out of the five I've participated that I've finished all of the books before the battle begins!  This has only made it harder to pick my favorites, but I tried.  I only changed my mind once.
Here are my guesses although really I'd be happy with many different outcomes.  I have to say half are my very favorites which is why I'm happy to have someone else judge.  Also, as I'm typing this I'm having second (and third and fourth) thoughts about my choices.

Round 1 Winners:
Challenger Deep
Drowned City
Goodbye Stranger
I Crawl Through It
Most Dangerous
Nest
Rhythm Ride
Symphony for the City of the Dead

Round 2 Winners:
Most Dangerous
Symphony for the City of the Dead
Challenger Deep
I Crawl Through It

Round 3 Winners:
I Crawl Through It
Symphony for the City of the Dead
Gone Crazy in Alabama (back from the dead)

The Winner:
Symphony for the City of the Dead

My favorite thing is reading the books and my second favorite is reading the judges decisions.  In contrast to the ALA YMAS where we hear the results but not the thinking behind them, in Battle of the Kids' Books the authors write beautifully thoughtful responses to the two books they judged and their thinking behind the choice.  I love the passion and the commitment, I love the suspense.  I love this much time and effort put forth for these great books.
Thanks, BOB people for putting this together!