Every year in January the American Library Association (ALA) announces its list of award winning books for the previous year. These book awards include the Newbury for the “most distinguished contribution to American literature for children” (http://www.ala.org/), and the Caldecott, the Siebert, the Geisel, and the Laura Ingles Wilder awards all awarded for various different reasons. For a complete list of Children’s book awards and winners visit: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/index.cfm
Although less well known than some of the awards listed above because of their relative newness to the field, the awards that I look forward to seeing each year are the ones that honor Young Adult literature. Most notably, the first list I always check is that of the Michael L. Printz Award for “excellence in young adult literature” (http://www.ala.org/). We (librarians) spend much time debating which books should make this important list, we spend months speculating and guessing (usually to find out we are wrong in the end). We don’t always agree with the book that is chosen (admittedly we all have our favorites), but I don’t believe we have ever been able to say that the chosen book isn’t worthy of the prestigious title. Last year’s book, Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta was one of my favorite books that I read last year.* This year’s winner, Going Bovine by Libba Bray, looks like a dynamite read. Admittedly I haven’t had the opportunity to read it yet, but it just jumped to the top of my list. It features a young man who discovers that he has Mad Cow disease and his unusual quest for a cure. (I promise I will review it as soon as I read it.)
I love the excitement these awards stir up and I hope you are as excited by the winners as I am. This link will provide you with a list of Awards. By clicking on the Award you can see both the Winners and the Honorees for the ALA Young Adult Book Awards including the brand new award for nonfiction the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults.
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/booklistsawards/booklistsbook.cfm
Check them out online, and then reserve your copy at the library.
*For a complete list of books that I read and reviewed last year you can go to www.goodreads.com and search for me by my email address mwheelock@khcpl.org. While you are there join Goodreads and share your reading with your friends. You can also become a friend of KHCPL Teen Scene on Goodreads by searching for the email mwheelock@kokomo.lib.in.us.
