Author Award
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Julius Lester
Day of Tears: A Novel in Dialogue
published by Jump at the Sun, an imprint of Hyperion Books for Children
Day of Tears: A Novel in Dialogue is a masterful fictionalized account of the largest slave auction in U.S. history, held 1859 in Savannah, Georgia. In a powerfully dramatic format, the voices of enslaved Africans and their masters move between monologues and conversations. This is an accessible novel that allows the reader to understand the moral dilemmas faced by the characters, and their challenge to affirm humanity in the midst of slavery. |
Illustrator Award
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Bryan Collier
Rosa by Nikki Giovanni
published by Henry Holt and Company
In Rosa, Bryan Collier uses uniquely bold illustrations depicting Rosa Parks as an inspirational and unwavering force. Intricate profiles hidden in the details of the background gives the reader a sense of collective community spirit. Collier portrays the legendary seamstress known as the mother of the Civil Rights Movement in a vivid mix of watercolor and collage. Illuminated with golden light he creates an image of a weary and determined Mrs. Parks. Her frustration with the status quo of the Jim Crow South is palpable. |
New Talent Award - Author
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Jaime Adoff
Jimi & Me
published by Jump at the Sun, an imprint of Hyperion Books for Children
Jimi & Me is a poignant novel written in free verse describing the tumultuous experience of Keith James, a thirteen year-old, bi-racial teen who must cope with the unexpected murder of his father. Left destitute, Keith and his mother must leave their comfortable life in Brooklyn to live in a small town in Ohio, to share a home with his paternal aunt. Faced with loss, change, and betrayal, Keith finds solace in his music and his idol Jimi Hendrix.
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