ALA Upcoming Youth Awards and Newly Announced Lists
The American Library Association (ALA) will announce the Youth Media Awards (think Caldecott, Newbery, Coretta Scott King Awards and more) starting at 8 am CT next Monday, January 25. For the first time that I am aware of, they also have released several annual booklists early. They are:
Great Graphic Novels for Teens
Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults
Check these lists out to see what you may already have in your collection.
One of the Top Ten titles for the “Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers” is Found by Joseph Bruchac. I just finished reading this over the weekend.
Nick, an Abenaki teen, has just been thrown from a high train trestle in Canada by a ruthless murderer. He was fortunate that he landed on his old, sturdy backpack, now he must consider his next step. He is certain the man will return to be sure he is dead, so he will likely leave the train at the next stop. Nick is on his way to a youth camp to teach survival skills, and he has everything he needs to survive, most important is his knowledge. He also follows his people’s ways, having learned them from his grandfather.
He decides to walk toward the nearest First Nations reserve fifty miles away. They will have police, and the murderer will likely think he is headed to the youth camp, his original destination. Leaving no evidence of his sleeping or passing through the wilderness he is certain the murderer will not be able to find him. Then, while resting under a large rock shelf, he hears a helicopter. How is that possible?
At 120 pages this is a great choice for reluctant readers, and anyone interested in survival stories. The author is a Nulhegan Abenaki citizen and a popular author for teens and children. See his web page.
I borrowed this title from Lincoln City Libraries.
