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!

Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary D. Schmidt

When Reverend Buckminster was hired by a new congregation in Phippsburg, Maine, his son Turner [the third] had to give up his life, friends, and home in Boston, Massachussetts. To be blunt, he was not happy about the move. Meeting the locals actually made matters even worse. Everyone expected Turner to behave perfectly, since he was the preacher’s son, and it didn’t take long for Turner to make a bad impression — try as he did to behave and act right.

After a few incidents of trouble, Turner’s father decided that Turner would have to read to and play the organ for cranky old Mrs. Cobb… for the whole summer. It seemed as though he was doomed to eternal unhappiness, but then he met Lizzie Bright Griffin — a black girl from Malaga Island (a settlement of former slaves). As expected, since the story took place in 1912, this friendship was forbidden as soon as it was found out. Turner decided that he did not care what people thought or expected and continued to spend time with Lizzie.

When the town elders, including Reverend Buckminster, decided that they wanted to kick everyone off of Malaga Island, Turner tried to change their minds. He tried to fight the prejudice and injustice. But he was only one boy. Want to know what happened to Lizzie and the rest of the residents of Malaga Island? Read the book and find out.

Happy Reading!

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

I had never heard of Gene Luen Yang, nor had I ever seen any of his graphic novels. When every librarian on ADBOOKS started praising this graphic novel, though, I knew it was something I needed to read! I will be the first person to admit that I need to s-l-o-w d-o-w-n and make myself actually take time to look at the pictures of a graphic novel, but this one seemed, somehow, different. I found myself drawn into the story, wanting to find details in the pictures, and not just flying through the dialogue. I guess that could be one indication of greatness! Another is that this book just won the Michael J. Printz Award! If you haven’t ever taken the time to read a graphic novel, this would be a good place to start.

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!