Previous Winners Nomination Form Who was Margaret Edwards Policies and Procedures
Link to this page: www.ala.org/yalsa/edwards
While the Margaret A. Edwards Award does honor a specific author for his or her lifetime contribution to young adult literature, it also singles out specific works by that author for special recognition. Click here for a few ideas to help you promote the winning books.
Use this Power Point game about past Edwards winners with teens in your library!
Margaret A. Edwards Award
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The Margaret A. Edwards Award, established in 1988, honors an author, as well as a specific body of his or her work, that have been popular over a period of time. The annual award is administered by YALSA and sponsored by School Library Journal magazine. It recognizes an author's work in helping adolescents become aware of themselves and addressing questions about their role and importance in relationships, society, and in the world.
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YALSA produces seals which can be placed on the winning books. Seals are available for purchase in the ALA on line store.
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Lois Lowry, author of "The Giver," is the recipient of the 2007 Margaret A. Edwards Award honoring her outstanding lifetime contribution to writing for teens. The award was announced January 22 at the American Library Association (ALA) Midwinter Meeting in Seattle. "The Giver," published by Walter Lorraine Books/Houghton Mifflin Company, explores a future where differences have been erased and strict rules govern society. The novel tells the story of Jonas, a young man designated as the new Receiver of Memory for his community. Little by little, Lowry reveals what is absent from Jonas’ life: color, pain, love. Readers, along with Jonas, discover that lack of freedom is too heavy a price to pay for security. "‘The Giver’ is a timeless classic with widespread teen appeal," said Edwards Committee Chair Mary Hastler. "Lowry’s complex and provocative novel, translated into 22 languages, remains infinitely discussable." In fact, "The Giver" was one of the most frequently challenged books from 1990-2000, as recorded by the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom. A challenge is a formal, written attempt to remove a book from a library or classroom. Published in 1993, "The Giver" continues to provide a mechanism for teens to understand themselves, the world in which they live and their relationships with others and with society. "The book has held a unique position in teen literature. Lowry’s exceptional use of metaphors and subtle complexity make it a book that will be discussed, debated and challenged for years to come…a perfect teen read," Hastler said. Lowry lives in Boston and continues to provide support to those fighting censorship attempts against this complex novel. The Margaret A. Edwards Award is presented by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the ALA, and sponsored by School Library Journal. Lowry will be honored at the YALSA Awards Luncheon and presented with a citation and cash prize of $2,000 on June 23, 2007, as part of the 2007 ALA Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. Members of the 2007 Edwards Committee are: Mary Hastler, Chair, Baltimore County Public Library, Towson, Md.; Ruth Allen, Multnomah County Library, Portland, Ore.; Eliza T. Dresang, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Fla.; Teri S. Lesesne, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas; and Terry Young, University of New Orleans. For 50 years, YALSA has been the world leader in selecting books, videos, and audiobooks for teens. For more information about YALSA or for lists of recommended reading, viewing and listening, go to www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists, or contact the YALSA office by phone, 800-545-2433, ext. 4390; or e-mail: yalsa@ala.org. |
