I feel strongly, particularly this year, that the short-list does not reflect books appreciated by teenage boys.  I believe that as the judging panel are all or almost all female, their choice of books for the short-list is inevitably biased.  Books which appeal to and are aimed at teenage boys are not books which adult females would select for the short-list, even allowing for the strict criteria.  How else do you explain the predominance of female main characters and plots with largely emotional themes.  My reading group has more boys than girls and they are returning each book with "it's a good book, well-written, but it's not my type of book..".  None of them are excited or inspired by the books in the way that the girls are, which is such a shame.  It sends out the wrong message - 'good' books are girly books, books aimed at boys are inferior.