2019 ALA Youth Media Awards: the Redeemed Reader Team Reacts
This morning, the American Library Association (ALA) announced its Youth Media Awards. The ALA also welcomed awards announcements for titles awarded by the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association and the Association of Jewish Libraries. It will include announcements from the American Indian Library Association on even years when those awards are traditionally awarded.
The Redeemed Reader team all watched the awards announcements live this morning and had a hopping Slack channel chat going while we also frantically put books on hold at our respective libraries. We’re thrilled to report that all but one of our Newbery Buzz titles this year got some awards love, even though only one garnered Newbery attention. The actual Newbery winner was one we included in our second “Books We Didn’t Love” round-up. Overall, we were quite pleased that some of our favorites got some well-deserved attention!
Below are some snippets of our chat conversation this morning. It’s a peek behind the curtain! We’ve also updated our Prognostication post. {links are to books we’ve reviewed/discussed}
About the Asian/Pacific Awards:
betsy [8:08 AM]Drawn Together: Asian Pacific picture book winner. Front Desk for children’s lit–ha! Wonder how much that book will draw in today
janie [8:14 AM]
I liked Front Desk more than I thought I would–too many omg’s though
About the Sidney-Taylor Awards (Jewish):
hayley92 [8:14 AM]
Have any of you read the All of a Kind Family Hanukkah?
janie [8:14 AM]
All of a Kind Hannakah would be worth reviewing–heard good things about it.
betsy [8:14 AM]SWEEP !!!
hayley92 [8:14 AM]
YAY!!!!!!
janie [8:15 AM]
Maybe a good morning for Sweep
Heads up, Hayley–might want to take note of some of these teen reads
betsy [8:15 AM] just requested the hanukkah one
mesaben [8:16 AM] Can’t compare with the originals. [about the All-of-a-Kind Family title]
janie [8:16 AM]
It’s a picture book
mesaben [8:16 AM]
I know, but still..
What did Sweep win?
betsy [8:17 AM] maybe it will help re-ignite enthusiasm for the older titles? [again, about the All-of-a-Kind Family title]
hayley92 [8:17 AM] The Sydney Taylor award! [About Sweep]
mesaben [8:17 AM]
Oh, cool!
About Schneider Award (for portrayals of disabilities):
janie [8:19 AM] Maybe Inkling Never heard of Rescue & Jessica
betsy [8:20 AM]
me either!
janie [8:20 AM]
But dogs are a sure-fire story seller
betsy [8:20 AM] I don’t know The Collectors, either!Mason Buttle…. (which I didn’t read)
janie [8:21 AM]
I did–it’s good but has some problems. Included it in a roundup
Mason Buttle is a newbery contender too
betsy [8:22 AM]
I remember your post about it.
You might have nailed it this year, Janie!
Anyone know about Anger is a Gift?
hayley92 [8:22 AM]
Nope!
janie [8:22 AM]
Don’t like that title
betsy [8:23 AM]
That’s what my kids are saying!
(They’re watching with me)
janie [8:23 AM]
Too much anger in the culture
hayley92 [8:23 AM]
Exactly!
janie [8:23 AM]
That’s a quote from someone–I’ve heard it recently
About the Stonewall Awards (for LGBTQ portrayals):
betsy [8:24 AM]
i bet: Julian is a Mermaid or Prince and the Dressmaker
janie [8:24 AM] If Cardboard Kingdom places here, we’ll know the LGBT message was clear
betsy [8:24 AM] Ha–yes Janie! nailed it (Julian is a Mermaid)
hayley92 [8:26 AM]
You were right
betsy [8:27 AM]
haven’t heard of Hurricane Child. Anyone else?
hayley92 [8:27 AM]
No, I haven’t. Lovely cover, I would pick that up
janie [8:28 AM]
I think I skimmed the blurb and passed on it.
About the Coretta Scot King Awards (for African American author/illustrators):
betsy [8:28 AM] Oooh. CSK awards are up!
hayley92 [8:29 AM]
Oooh, exciting!
janie [8:30 AM] Go, Styx! I’m betting on Looking for Langston, though
hayley92 [8:30 AM]
Yes, Styx!!!
betsy [8:30 AM]
Ooh–yes!
(to your votes)
betsy [8:33 AM]
just put thank you, omg on hold
Ha! not omg… OMU
hayley92 [8:33 AM]
LOL!
janie [8:33 AM]
Sounds like a good one to review
betsy [8:34 AM]
the YA one sounds dark and scary! Not my type….
Hayley, it’s all you :slightly_smiling_face:
hayley92 [8:34 AM]
Ugh. Why would we want to read this?
It sounds so depressing
betsy [8:35 AM]
love R Gregory Christie and Ekua Holmes!!!!!!!!
mesaben [8:35 AM]
Watching with the boys!!
betsy [8:35 AM]
I call those books :slightly_smiling_face:
hayley92 [8:35 AM]
I love the dibs
janie [8:36 AM] I reviewed The Stuff of Stars
betsy [8:36 AM]
(I’m still checking it out–I knew you’d looked at it)
Janie: look!!!!!!!
hayley92 [8:36 AM]
Finding Langston
betsy [8:36 AM]
Styx and Finding Langston!
hayley92 [8:36 AM]
Styx. Styx. Oh please
Yay!!!!!
Anyone read this winner?
janie [8:37 AM]
We covered all the honor books.
betsy [8:37 AM]
We’re on it!
(And we didn’t review them as “CSK” books, just good books–which I’m glad for
betsy [8:38 AM] I’ve got the picture books on hold–and I’ll link to Janie’s review of the one)
hayley92 [8:38 AM]
What was the winner again?
betsy [8:38 AM]
Few Red Drops, I think
hayley92 [8:39 AM]
Requested it . . . I’m curious!
About Alex Awards (adult titles that crossover to the teen market):
hayley92 [8:41 AM]
Spinning Silver was good!
betsy [8:41 AM]
Have you reviewed it? :slightly_smiling_face:
janie [8:41 AM]
Review it, Hayley (Spinning silver)
hayley92 [8:41 AM] Not yet since it was adult Can do though It didn’t have huge cautions Fascinating fairytale retelling
janie [8:42 AM]
Educated: a Memoir is hostile to Christians, if I remember right. I’ll check
About Margaret A. Edwards Award (to an author):
betsy [8:42 AM] MT Anderson! Interesting…. Janie, maybe it’s time we discuss FEED
janie [8:43 AM]
I agree–Octavian Nothing is nothing, in my opinion
mesaben [8:43 AM]
Loved the first Octavin Nothing. Couldn’t finish the second.
janie [8:43 AM]
I agree about Feed, that is.
betsy [8:43 AM]
He’s so unpredictable (as in, whether I’ll like his books or not). I thought Feed was so thought-provoking
janie [8:44 AM]
He’s consistently interesting
hayley92 [8:44 AM]
I’m intrigued. Haven’t read him yet -confession
Ooh, the Odyssey award
About the Odyssey Award (for audio):
betsy [8:45 AM] Huh. Parker Inheritance gets an Odyssey honor.
janie [8:45 AM] I listened to it–it was good but not outstanding
hayley92 [8:46 AM]
Can’t say Sadie sounds fun
But in the podcast world, I can see why . . .
janie [8:46 AM]
Sadie won an Edgar award last week, too
betsy [8:47 AM]
people dig creepy and thriller types
hayley92 [8:47 AM]
Not me!!!
betsy [8:47 AM]
we’re listening to Dracula as a family. That’s about the extent of what I can take
About Morris Award (1st time authors):
hayley92 [8:47 AM] Morris, any guesses??Children of Blood and Bone Written about that one
janie [8:49 AM]
I read Check Please–too much language. I thought about reading Darius, but didn’t get around to it.
hayley92 [8:50 AM]
And Children of Blood and Bone had way too much violence and YA issues
About YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction:
janie [8:50 AM]Faithful Spy is in this group
betsy [8:50 AM]
yea!!!!! Faithful Spy!
mesaben [8:50 AM]
Aaaaaahhhhhh!!!!!
betsy [8:50 AM]
just picked up Hey Kiddo last week!
Unwanted–I’m about to review that one! It’s a book club pick for my kids
janie [8:51 AM] I liked it–got lots of language though (Hey Kiddo)
betsy [8:52 AM] Unwanted is an interesting parallel to Illegal and another graphic novel I’m going to review about refugees. I don’t think Unwanted is the best of the three. Hmm…
janie [8:52 AM] Prinz prediction: Hey Kiddo
About the Printz Award (for young adults):
betsy [8:53 AM]
anyone read Poet X? I’m betting it gets some Pura Belpre love, too.
janie [8:54 AM]
Okay, the Poet X is a good one too. I read it–will review
janie [8:54 AM]
Some language in The Poet, but it’s very thoughtful
hayley92 [8:55 AM]
I want to read it, too
About Pura Belpre Awards (for Latinx Authors/Illustrators):
janie [8:55 AM]
Merci Suarez for Belpre, I’ll bet
betsy [8:55 AM]
ooh, good call
betsy [8:59 AM]
Ha! I called the Poet X even without reading it
betsy [8:59 AM]
I’ve never heard of that honor book: They Call me Guero
About Batchelder Award (books in translation):
betsy [9:02 AM]
Batchelder….
I don’t know these at all I’m sure!
mesaben [9:02 AM] Kuhlmann is good.
betsy [9:03 AM]
which one was that? (I just wrote titles)
hayley92 [9:03 AM]
Edison
janie [9:04 AM]
Edison sounds good
mesaben [9:04 AM]
My Beijing looks interesting, too.
About Sibert Medal (for nonfiction):
betsy [9:04 AM]
Butterflies and Faithful Spy!! HOPES….
betsy [9:04 AM] (for Sibert)Spooked!!
betsy [9:05 AM] I have We Are Grateful out from library–like it a lot
janie [9:05 AM]
Yay for Spooked!
mesaben [9:05 AM]
Henry approves Spooked!!
betsy [9:06 AM] woo hoo!!! Girl Who Drew Butterflies! Ladies, we’ve covered a LOT of the award titles so far. way to go.
mesaben [9:06 AM]
Woo-hoo!!! No way!
hayley92 [9:06 AM]
Cool!!!!
mesaben [9:07 AM]
But…Faithful Spy?!
betsy [9:07 AM]
It got some YALSA Exc in Nonfiction love
About Early Learning Digital Media Awards:
mesaben [9:08 AM]
Not impressed with the Early Learning Digital Media awards.
hayley92 [9:09 AM]
Me neither
janie [9:09 AM]
ALA enters the electronic age!
mesaben [9:09 AM]
Meh.
hayley92 [9:09 AM]
Blah
About the Childre’s Literature Legacy Award (formally, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award):
betsy [9:09 AM] [Walter Dean] Myers is top notch, even though some of his books are hard reads.
mesaben [9:09 AM]
The award formerly known as Laura Ingalls Wilder.
betsy [9:10 AM]
yes Megan–I’d forgotten!
hayley92 [9:10 AM]
I wish it still was
hayley92 [9:10 AM]
We need to start our own
Geisel Award (easy readers):
betsy [9:10 AM] I’m out of the Geisel award field these days.
hayley92 [9:10 AM]
Du is Tak
mesaben [9:11 AM]
I read Fox+Chick!
betsy [9:12 AM]
Are you familiar with any of the others, Megan?
You’ve got plenty of readers in this range :slightly_smiling_face:
hayley92 [9:12 AM]
Is this saying the fox is becoming a tiger?!
hayley92 [9:13 AM]
Just listening to the description and wondering
betsy [9:13 AM]
I don’t know
hayley92 [9:13 AM]
Sounds suspicious
betsy [9:13 AM]
drumroll for the biggies
About the Caldecotts:
mesaben [9:13 AM] Big Mooncake–yay!
betsy [9:14 AM] I really like Grace Lin and Brian Lies Megan!!! Hello Lighthouse!
mesaben [9:15 AM]
Wahoo!!!!!!
betsy [9:15 AM]
man, Sophie Blackall always gets some love
janie [9:16 AM]
That’s good–she ran into some trouble with that blackberry dessert book but didn’t back down
mesaben [9:16 AM]
Yay!!!
Newbery Awards:
janie [9:16 AM]
We haven’t seen many duplicate yet–that’s unusual
betsy [9:16 AM] night diary?! Wow…. Janie–you are ON IT this year!!! Book of Boy!
hayley92 [9:17 AM]
Book of Boy!!!!!!
janie [9:17 AM]
Sweet!! Book of boy
betsy [9:18 AM]
BOO to Merci Suarez. (not b/c I’ve read it but because it’s not Sweep or Styx)
janie [9:18 AM]
Not my pick. Merci Suarez is nice but not outstanding
hayley92 [9:18 AM]
Exactly
hayley92 [9:18 AM]
But we did want Styx to win
And Sweep
hayley92 [9:20 AM] Off to talk books with my interested cousin now!
mesaben [9:25 AM]
It was fun! Boys enjoyed it too.
betsy [10:14 AM]
my kids did, too!
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