2020 Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award Winner

As the chair of the 2020 Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award committee, I am pleased and proud to announce that the winner is: 

Lovely War by Julie Berry

The finalists are:

  

 

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo
Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian
Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay
White Rose by Kip Wilson

For readers who aren't familiar with the Walden Award, it is given every year through the Assembly on Literature for Adolescents of the NCTE (ALAN) and the award criteria is:

1) Literary merit

2) Widespread teen appeal

3) Positive approach to life

Because the criteria for this award is so specific, it is a wonderful award to use in the classroom, whether it's just consulting the award list when you would like to adopt a new novel for whole-class or book club study OR you would like to do your own Mock Walden in your classroom or library.

Here is an interview with Julie Berry about her Walden Award win. 

ALA Youth Media Awards 2015: My Heart is So Full

Last night I returned home from the American Library Association Midwinter Meeting. The past few years I have watched the live webcast of the Youth Media Awards, but when I found out that this year's Midwinter would be in Chicago, a mere 4 hour drive from my house, I knew that I had to attend. Even watching the webcast the past two years, I could feel the energy and excitement in the room when the awards were announced, and wanted to feel that for myself.

This year I felt it in spades. Screams, shrieks, tears, and standing ovations were the order of the day. The outcry for more diversity in children's publishing earlier this year with #WeNeedDiverseBooks felt like a call to action, and I'm happy to see that the award committees this year responded.

I was elated that I had read so many of this year's award-winners and so I wanted to share a few of my reactions and thoughts, starting with the Coretta Scott King Award.


Jason Reynolds' debut novel, When I Was the Greatest, won the John Steptoe Award for New Talent and it most certainly felt like a coronation. With the passing of Walter Dean Myers last summer, one gets the sense that Reynolds just became Myers' heir apparent. I have talked, written, and fangirled over this book many times in the past few weeks. I am happy to see that publishers are finally recognizing the need to publish books like this one that show positive, counter-narrative portrayals of contemporary African American teens. I would have loved to see When I Was the Greatest also win a Schneider Family Book Award due to the fact that one of the major characters, Needles, has Tourette Syndrome and is not treated any differently (other than by his brother) because of it, but I'm elated that it was recognized by the CSK committee.

Christopher Myers won the CSK illustrator award for Firebird, written my Misty Copeland. I agree whole-heartedly with this selection. Books often make me emotional, but very rarely do I begin to tear up on page one of a picture book. That is, until I read Firebird. It wasn't just the words that moved me, but seeing them paired with Christopher Myers' emotional, sweeping illustrations that made it a perfect storm of "ways to make Beth cry." 

How It Went Down by Kekla Magoon won a CSK author honor and it is one of the most timely books to hit store shelves in 2014. When a black teen gets shot by a white man, accounts of "how it went down" are so disparate and divisive that it's no wonder the "real" truth is never revealed by the end of the novel. This is a book that will elicit much-needed dialogue and will challenge our own prejudices. 


Some thoughts on the Printz Award/Honors
 
I didn't actually read the winner of the Printz Award, I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson, but with all the buzz I've been hearing about it leading up to it being announced as the winner, I'm definitely looking forward to reading it now. 

I was elated that Andrew Smith's Grasshopper Jungle won a Printz Honor. This is one of the most innovative, groundbreaking, totally WTF book I have ever read. So much so that I didn't even bother to review it because I didn't think I could fully summarize the book's premise and my feelings about it. So I've spent a great deal of time since I read it in March quoting what other people have said about it. So to quote what Paula Willey wrote yesterday from her blog, Unadulterated:  

I am glad that this Printz Committee understood that you can be Serious Enough and also Funny As Balls. On Facebook, Andrew Smith posted the news about receiving a Printz Honor for Grasshopper Jungle by saying, "finally I get a sticker that isn't a warning." 

As far as This One Summer goes, I didn't actually care for it as a story, but I loved the artwork in this graphic novel. Even though I didn't love the book, I can see why the Printz committee gave it an honor. It's a book that leaves readers scratching their heads as to what it's really about and has kind of been on people's radars, but not so much that everyone has been buzzing about it. I think the Printz committee likes picking those kinds of books.

Which leads me to the Caldecott...

 

OK, so the Caldecott committee picked SIX honor books this year, which is almost unheard of -- and I am proud to say I read each and every one of the books that were honored and awarded. But notice the first book listed here is also a PRINTZ honor. Again I say, I did not love this story, but what I DO love is that it won a flipping Printz and Caldecott honor. What does that say about what we are considering distinguished illustration for CHILDREN? I have a feeling we're going to start seeing this book on some school and library banned book lists because parents are going to assume that since it's a Caldecott honor that it's OK for young children to read. This coming-of-age story is definitely intended for more mature readers. 

Viva Frida was on my list of hopes and wishes for the Caldecott. It won a Pura Belpre illustrator award, which I was fairly certain it would, but I was REALLY hoping the Caldecott committee would add some diversity to their roster and let Yuyi Morales walk away with the medal. An honor, however, ain't too shabby. 

When The Adventures of Beekle was announced as the winner of the Caldecott medal, I shrieked joyously and then began to cry. Dan Santat's beautiful story of an imaginary friend waiting to find his person captures the vivid imagination and innocence of childhood. Beekle, along with Viva Frida were two picks from my recent hopes and wishes post for the ALA Youth Media Awards. Oh, and if The Adventures of Beekle winning a Caldecott weren't already emotional enough, I dare you not to cry when you see this video of Dan Santat's son and the first time he heard him say Beekle. 


And finally the Newbery...

It had already been an emotionally stirring, diversity-filled morning of award announcements. The Newbery committee now had a lot of pressure to get it right. Would they heed the call of more diversity in children's literature, or would it be business as usual? 

Then it was announced that there were only TWO Newbery honors this year. A murmur of disappointment pervaded the vast ballroom. And then the first honor book that was announced was El Deafo. A graphic novel just won a Newbery honor.

A graphic novel just won a Newbery honor. 

Let that sink in for a minute. 

A graphic novel just won a Newbery honor. 

I can't stop thinking about what a BIG DEAL this is. All those parents and teachers who have told their children and students that comics are bad and they aren't real reading, they can't say that anymore. This is a historic moment for the Newbery Award and for children's literature. You knew it by the fact that this book got the loudest, most raucous reaction from the crowd. People were shocked and overjoyed.

The next book to be announced as a Newbery honor was Brown Girl Dreaming. This was the book that was expected to win. And it didn't. And now the Newbery committee was probably going to pick some boring historical fiction with zero kid-appeal written by a white person. It was going to be business as usual. 

And then...

those glorious words...

"And now the winner of the John Newbery medal for this year's most distinguished contribution to American literature for children is..."

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

More screams
More tears
More hugs
Diversity wins

Even though there were only two honor books this year, the Newbery committee absolutely go it right. In recent years many had feared that the Newbery had lost its way. But the shirts the committee wore into the ceremony yesterday said "trust the process." It had been difficult for readers to do that for quite a few years. But now readers can begin to gain their confidence back. 

Kudos to you ALA award committees. You absolutely got it right. My heart is so full. 

You might have noticed that the book I had been hoping and praying would win the Newbery in fact did not win so much as an honor (it did, however, win an Odyssey honor). While my heart is a bit sad by this because I think had A Snicker of Magic been published in any other year prior to 2014, it would have likely won, it was time to answer the call for more diversity -- and not just for diversity's sake, but also because these three books as well as the diverse books selected by the other award committees ARE worthy of being called distinguished. They are loved and will be loved by children for decades to come. And now we can start to make sure that children of many different backgrounds begin to see themselves reflected in these awards. So award committees of 2016, you are on notice. Let's make sure that diversity CONTINUES to be represented in these awards every year and not just because #WeNeedDiverseBooks brought it to fever pitch in 2014. Let's make sure the 2015 award season doesn't go down in history of the one and only year of diversity in children's literature awards.

My Hopes and Wishes for the 2015 ALA Youth Media Awards

This Monday, February 2nd, the 2015 ALA Youth Media Award winners will be announced. The past two years I watched the live webcast but this year, I am so excited that I will be attending the event in person. This is definitely a bucket list item for me. If you can't be there for the announcements in-person though, watching the live webcast is the next best thing.

Last year I wrote a post about my predictions, but this year, predictions have been replaced with hopes and wishes.


Schneider Family Book Award Hopes and Wishes

This award honors the books (one picture book, middle grade, and young adult) that portray people with disabilities in a positive light. These are the two main books I hope get some love on Monday:


When I Was the Greatest by Jason Reynolds
Jason Reynolds' debut novel does something that not many YA novels do: shows a positive, counter-narrative portrayal of contemporary African American teens.  So in that regard, I hope that this book is also given a Coretta Scott King nod. In addition, there is a character in this book who has Tourette Syndrome and is one of the most memorable, loveable characters in the entire novel.

El Deafo by Cece Bell
Cece Bell has done something extraordinary with El Deafo: she has shown young kids that you can turn a disability into a superpower. I can't think of a more beautiful message than that.


Printz Award Hopes and Wishes


Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith
Noggin by John Corey Whaley
 These books are both funny and poignant and in my opinion represent how interesting, innovative, and literary young adult literature can be.


Caldecott Award Hopes and Wishes





Viva Frida by Yuyi Morales
The addition of the photographer as one of the illustrators might complicate things and prevent the committee from choosing Viva Frida as a Caldecott medalist. Or they might set a new precedent. I just know that Viva Frida is one of the most lovely, innovate, and unique picture books I've ever laid eyes on. I'd love the committee to recognize that, especially since it would be a step in the right direction for bringing greater diversity into the list of Caldecott winners. At the very least, I hope it wins a Pura Belpre award, but I'd love to see it take the ultimate prize of the Caldecott medal.

The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend by Dan Santat
In my mind Dan Santat is kind of the class clown of illustrators. His picture books are always lighthearted and/or funny. The Adventures of Beekle, however, is totally different. It is sentimental, heartfelt, and tugs at your heartstrings.

The Farmer and the Clown by Marla Frazee
Speaking of tugging at your heartstrings, this wordless picture books is one of the most sweet and tender picture books I have ever laid eyes on. I wasn't able to put my finger on just what made The Farmer and the Clown so special until I read Dylan Teut's blog post connecting this story to the recent passing of his sister and his attempt to find closure.

Extraordinary Jane by Hannah E. Harrison
This book is a total long shot because I haven't heard anyone else besides me talk about it as a possibility, but Extraordinary Jane is really special to me. The illustrations are some of the most endearing I have ever laid eyes on and they tell more of the story than the words do. By the time I got to the last page I was weeping. Up until this point, the only other picture book illustrator whose art has made me cry is Kadir Nelson.


Newbery Award Hopes and Wishes

My head tells me this book will win:

and that would be a good thing. 

...but my heart really wants this book to win:

Almost a year ago, I reviewed A Snicker of Magic on Nerdy Book Club. Even that early in the year I made the declaration that this was the book I wanted to win the Newbery award. I still feel that way. Though I'm feeling less certain that is going to happen. Still, I am holding out hope.


Another book my heart would be happy to see win:

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
The rhythm, pacing, and heart of this novel in verse makes it probably the best I've ever read of this format. It's one of those books I am kicking myself for not having read sooner. I know everyone is giving much love to Brown Girl Dreaming, and rightly so, but honestly, this is my favorite book in verse of 2014.

So what are your choices for the ALA Youth Media Awards?

Thinking about the Newbery, Caldecott, et al.

Monday January 27th the ALA Youth Media Award winners will be announced. I don't know about you, but I certainly plan to watch the webcast.

I wanted to write a post about my predictions before the event on the off chance some of my predictions might come true. I guess I should call them more wishes than predictions since I am far from an expert in what award committees might choose.

Caldecott prediction:

Journey by Aaron Becker
Out of all my predictions, I think this book has the greatest chance of winning. It certainly has the most buzz, and I think the unusual yet familiar premise has allowed readers to embrace it so willingly.

Here is a list of other books I think have a chance:

The Matchbox Diary by Paul Fleischman, illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline 
Locomotive by Brian Floca

Moonday by Adam Rex
The Story of Fish and Snail by Deborah Freedman

I actually have quite a lengthy list of other possibilities but I'm just going to leave it at these five.


Newbery Prediction:

The Real Boy by Anne Ursu
This is the book I would most love to see win for the simple fact that I think Anne Ursu is a beautiful representative of all that is good and kind in a children's book author, and I just really want it for her.


A couple other predictions/wishes:

 Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
Every Day After by Laura Golden

I could also see The Real Boy or Counting By 7s winning a Schneider Family Book Award as well.


Printz Wish/Prediction:

Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys
This is my emotional favorite to win for the simple fact that I love Ruta Sepetys's writing. I was worried after her emotional powerhouse Between Shades of Gray, Out of the Easy would disappoint, but it certainly did not.

Other books I hope might win:

Reality Boy by A.S. King
Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein


Coretta Scott King Predictions:

Knock Knock by Daniel Beaty, illustrated by Bryan Collier
Nelson Mandela by Kadir Nelson
Both of these books are beautiful enough to be Caldecott material, but I will be shocked if one or both doesn't walk away with a Coretta Scott King nod.
 

A book I have no idea what award it might win, but I still hope it will win one:
 
Bluffton by Matt Phelan
Graphic novels are tricky. I could certainly see how it could win a Caldecott award (though with such a strong field of picture books this year, I have a feeling the committee won't consider a graphic novel) but could it also be Newbery material too? I have no idea. Which is why I'm putting it down here by itself and just hoping it will win something.

Congratulations John Green: Winner of the Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award!

I was elated to wake up this morning and see on my news feed that John Green's The Fault in Our Stars had won the Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award!

Seeing as how I know a few people on the Walden committee this year and how devastated I was that TFiOS didn't get a Printz nod, I have to give them a standing ovation for picking such a deserving title.

The books that were honored are equally as worthy:

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz
Ask the Passengers by A.S. King
Endangered by Eliot Schrefer

The Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award has been in existence since 2008 and is given annually by the Assembly on Literature for Adolescents of the NCTE (ALAN). The criteria for this award is that the winners must be works of fiction, "[exemplify] literary excellence, widespread appeal, and a positive approach to life in young adult literature."

I went to the ALAN workshop last year and wasn't going to go again this year, but now that John Green has won the Walden Award and might possibly make an appearance to accept it, I'm seriously reconsidering my decision to just attend NCTE and not ALAN. I heart John Green, what can I say? :)

If you're interested, the committee is currently seeking applicants. They are looking for one teacher, one librarian, and one university educator. If you're interested, all applications are due by September 15, 2013.

Newbery Award et al anounced today

I am ashamed to admit that I haven't read ANY of the award winners that were announced today. Many of them are on my "to-read" list, but I haven't gotten around to reading them yet. I tried listening to the audiobook of When You Reach Me but I just couldn't get into it. I will try reading the actual book sometime in the near future.

I have Going Bovine on hold at my library and am looking forward to reading it.