Announcing Award-Winners for Teen Literature
Looking for something interesting to read? Something new, something to make you think or laugh out loud?
The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), the fastest growing division of ALA, is proud to announce the winners of their 2009 teen awards: the Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in young adult literature, the Margaret A. Edwards Award for lasting and significant contribution to young adult literature, and the Odyssey Award for best audiobook production for youth. In addition, the Young Adult Section of the New Jersey Library Association (NJLA) is excited to announce the 2009 winners of the Garden State Teen Book Award, an honor selected as a direct result of votes cast by New Jersey teens. “In a time when nearly 3,000 books are published each year just for teens it is important that we recognize the best,” remarked YALSA President Paula Brehm-Heeger. “These awards help parents, caregivers, educators and teens identify books that are compelling reads.”
These award winners and more great titles are available at Franklin Lakes Public Library and other public libraries. Check the BCCLS catalog to check the availability of titles or to place a reserve at www.bccls.org.
YALSA’s Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults went to Jellicoe Road by Marchetta. The Printz award is significant because it is the only national award solely for young adult literature.
YALSA’s Margaret A. Edwards Award for lasting and significant contribution to writing for young adults was awarded to Laurie Halse Anderson for her books Catalyst, Fever 1793, and Speak.
The winner of the Odyssey Award for Excellence in Audiobook Production isThe Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, written and narrated by Sherman Alexie and produced by Recorded Books, LLC.
And the winners of the 2009 Garden State Teen Book Awards: Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer was selected for grades 6-9; The Book Thief by Markus Zusak for grades 9-12; and Freedom Riders by Ann Bausum for the nonfiction category.
For over 50 years YALSA, a nonprofit organization comprised of librarians, educators and library supporters, has been the world leader in selecting books, films, and audiobooks for teens. For more information about YALSA or for lists of recommended reading, viewing, and listening, including the Alex Awards for the 10 best adult books with teen appeal, you can go to www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists. For additional information, contact the YALSA office at 800-545-2433, ext. 4390; or e-mail yalsa@ala.org. More information on the Garden State Children’s and Teen Book Awards can be found at www.njla.org.
* * * * * * * * * *
Contact: Kate Vasilik, Young Adult Librarian
201-891-2224 x105
kate_thelibrarian@yahoo.com