And the winner is…

For a complete listing of the ALA Awards, or for further information about any ALA awards, feel free to check out the ALA website. On my blog, nevertheless, I am only announcing the main awards that I think my Tween & Teen readers probably recognize/follow.

Newbery
Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village by Laura Amy Schlitz

Printz
The White Darkness by Geraldine McCaughrean

Sibert
The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain by Peter Sís

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Of course, there is also the JHunt Award. This is a YA literature award given by the members of the Adbooks listserv community, including yours truly! Now that voting is over, let me just say that I am THRILLED with the results.

JHunt
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Happy Reading!

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Markus Zusak is brilliant. (Which is why TBT won the 2006 JHUNT Award.) This book is not about the Holocaust, per se, but it takes place in Nazi Germany during WWII. Death is our (often humorous) narrator, and Liesel Meminger is the main character whose life Death is recounting. The story begins with Liesel, her brother, and her mother traveling by train — to bring the children to a foster home. When Liesel’s brother dies, en route to the foster home, they have to stop and bury him. In the graveyard, Liesel notices a small black book [The Gravediggers Handbook] in the snow and she steals it. She does not yet know how to read, but will eventually use this book to learn how to read (with the assistance of her foster father, Hans Hubermann). Through the years, Liesel continues to steal things, including more books (obviously). But it is not the thievery I find so interesting. It is the unique perspective of this girl — who both hates the fuhrer and must publicly obey/worship him; whose daring actions save the lives of several people she loves; who continues to live, thrive, and survive, despite her many brushes with Death and the people dying all around her. Her status as a fictional character notwithstanding, she inspired me — challenging me to be more positive about my own life circumstances.

Now, I’m not gonna lie… This book is sad. I’m talking, showing up at work with red, teary eyes and worrying people that something is wrong in “real life” sad. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t read (or listen to) this story; it just means to have a hanky or a box of tissues handy when you start getting near the end.

Happy Reading!

AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED!

Big congratulations to the following authors and illustrators!

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Caldecott Medal winner:
Flotsam by David Wiesner

Caldecott Honor books:
Gone Wild: An Endangered Animal Alphabet by David McLimans
Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom illustrated by Kadir
Nelson written by Carole Boston Weatherford

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Newbery Medal winner:
The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron, illustrated by Matt Phelan

Newbery Honor books:
Penny from Heaven by Jennifer L. Holm
Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson
Rules by Cynthia Lord

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Michael L. Printz Award:
American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

Michael L. Printz Honor Books:
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. 1: The Pox Party by M.T. Anderson
An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
Surrender by Sonya Hartnett
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

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For a complete listing of the awards, go to www.ala.org/mw07winners.

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UPDATE:
The Adbooks JHUNT Award:
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The Adbooks JHUNT Award Finalists:
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing by M.T. Anderson
This Is All by Aidan Chambers
Ptolemy’s Gate by Jonathan Stroud
The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
The Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin

Learn more about the JHUNT Award here!

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Happy Reading!