1.27.2014

2014 ALA Youth Media Awards!

Today the American Library Association announced the winners of their Youth Media Awards, the best books for children and young adults published in 2013. This teen librarian was excited to hear who would earn the prestigious Printz Award and the Morris Award for a debut author. Here's how it all went down:

Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature for young adults

Winner:

 
Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick

Melissa the Teen Librarian says: I didn't expect a fantasy title! Printz committees love to honor books that reference other famous works of literature, so fantasy is often overlooked. As a big fan of fantasy, horror, and other "genre" fiction, I'm thrilled!

Finalists:
Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
Kingdom of Little Wounds by Susann Cokal
Maggot Moon by Sally Gardner
Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool

Melissa the Teen Librarian says: So happy to see Rainbow Rowell honored! Her books are my current obsession.

William C. Morris Award for a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens

Winner:

Charm and Strange by Stephanie Kuehn

Melissa the Teen Librarian says: An Actual Teen recommended this title to me! I've heard it's the kind of book that messes with your mind a bit -- a psychological thriller crossed with a boarding school book.

Finalists:
Sex and Violence by Carrie Mesrobian
Dr. Bird's Advice for Sad Poets by Evan Roskos
Belle Epoque by Elizabeth Ross
In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters

Melissa the Teen Librarian's says: Adding all of these to my To-Read list immediately!

YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults

Winner:

The Nazi Hunters: How a Team of Spies and Survivors Captured the World's Most Notorious Nazi by Neal Bascomb

Finalists:
Go: A Kidd's Guide to Graphic Design by Chip Kidd
Imprisoned: The Betrayal of Japanese Americans During World War II by Martin W. Sandler
Courage Has No Color: The True Story of the Triple Nickles, America's First Black Paratroopers by Tanya Lee Stone
The President Has Been Shot! The Assassination of John F. Kennedy by James L. Swanson

Melissa the Teen Librarian says: Narrative nonfiction is in a renaissance right now! Publishers are more interested than ever in producing nonfiction books for young people, and teachers/parents are looking for more nonfiction because of the implementation of the Common Core standards. If you need a nonfiction title for school and you don't want to slog through a boring old tome, any of the books that YALSA has honored in the past two years would make an excellent candidate.

1.23.2014

Around the Library: January 2014

Teen Minecraft @ CHPL - January 16, 2014

January's FanTABulous Reads Display

Teen Flash Fiction Contest Flier