2020 ALA Awards
The American Library Association (ALA) announced the results of the Youth Media Awards during their Midwinter Meeting at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia PA, January 24-28, 2020.
Scary Stories for Young Foxes, written by Christian McKay Heidicker and illustrated by Junyi Wu (Henry Holt), was named a John Newbery Medal Honor Book, “for the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature.”
Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia (Disney-Hyperion) is a Coretta Scott King Honor Book, “recognizing an African-American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults.”
The Beast Player, written by Nahoko Uehashi and translated by Cathy Hirano (Godwin), is a Michael L. Printz Award Honor Book “for excellence in literature written for young adults” as well as a Mildred L. Batchelder Award Honor Book for translated work.
Several books of genre interest won Alex Awards, given to “the 10 best adult books that appeal to teen audiences”:
- A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World, C.A. Fletcher (Orbit)
- Middlegame, Seanan McGuire (Tor.com Publishing)
- Do You Dream of Terra-Two?, Temi Oh (Saga)
- The Nickel Boys, Colson Whitehead (Doubleday)
Steve Sheinkin won the Margaret A. Edwards Award “for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults.”
We’re Not from Here by Geoff Rodkey (Listening Library) was named an Odyssey Honor Audiobook.
The Candle and the Flame by Nafiza Azad (Scholastic) and There Will Come a Darkness by Katy Rose Pool (Henry Holt) were finalists for the William C. Morris Award, “which honors a book written for young adults by a previously unpublished author.”
Sal and Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez (Disney-Hyperion) won the Pura Belpré Author Award, “honoring a Latino writer and illustrator whose children’s books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience.”
Pet by Akwaeke Emezi (Make Me a World) is a Stonewall Award Honor Book for “exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience.”
They Called Us Enemy, written by George Takei, Justin Eisinger & Steven Scott and illustrated by Harmony Becker (Top Shelf), won the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature in the Young Adult category.
For a full list of winners and honor books, see the ALA website.
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