Laurie Halse Anderson, author of Chains which so many of you sampled and wrote about here, received the Margaret Edwards award for "significant and lasting contribution to writing for teens" for her books Speak, Catalyst and Twisted, among many others. This award "recognizes an author's work in helping adolescents become aware of themselves and addressing questions about their role and importance in relationships, society, and in the world." FYI, she's got a new book for teen readers out mid-March called WINTERGIRLS.
M.T. Anderson (no relationship to Laurie) received a Printz Honor Award for The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves, "a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature." Yes, indeed, and so many Picnic Basket reviewers seem to agree.Congratulations to both authors. For the full list of award winners, see the American Library Association website.
Since I wasn't in Denver to be at the press conference, I had Twitter up and running to get instant reports. (I know, there are so many deserving books for kids and teens as we well know... this is but one list of awards, but still, it's our Academy Awards and I'm always a-twitter announcement morning to see what committee members select). How many of YOU followed the ALA's Youth Awards Twitter messages? How many of you are Twitter users? Your thoughts on this year's awards? Either comment here or send me a tweet at www.twitter.com/dsloanandco.
What an exciting Monday morning! - Deborah
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3 comments:
I am amazed and thrilled over Neil Gaiman's newbery win - The Graveyard Book is some seriously enjoyable storytelling - what a plot, what language! Perhaps this will put to rest the arguments that Newbery winners lack kid appeal.
Me, too, Rebecca. Plus I can't wait for next month and the release of Gaiman's CORALINE movie. (Plus can't help but be a little extra proud b/c it's being done by my brother-in-law's company, Focus Features. Plug, plug. Done in what I hear is absolutely exquisite 3D. I always knew we were an-all-about-children's-lit-family!.
I've heard wonderful things about The Graveyard Book and I have plans to read it over the weekend. However when the book first arrived I passed it along to one of our 7th grade voracious readers. She returned it the next day after only reading the first chapter. It gave her nightmares. Evidently she just couldn't get pass the mass murder event at the beginning of the story.
I also LOVED The Underneath by Kathi Appelt (2009 Honor Book)despite some criticism over the dark, intense and violent themes.
Sarah Nixon
Medfield Middle School Library
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