YALSA honors literary award winners at ALA Annual Conference
Contact: Stephanie Kuenn
YALSA Communications Specialist
skuenn@ala.org
312-280-2128
NEWS
For Immediate Release
May 13, 2008
YALSA honors literary award winners at ALA Annual Conference
CHICAGO —The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), will celebrate the winners of its literary awards with special events and programs at the ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim, Calif., June 27-July 2.
Tickets are available for both the YALSA Margaret A. Edwards Award Luncheon on Saturday, June 28, and the Michael L. Printz Award Dessert Reception on Monday, June 30. YALSA will also highlight winners of its annual Alex Awards, which celebrates the 10 best adult novels with specific teen appeal during a free program on Saturday, June 28. Winners of the inaugural Odyssey Award for Excellence in Audiobook Production take center stage at Booklist’s Books for Youth Forum on Friday, June 27. Information on all of YALSA’s Annual events is available at the YALSA Wiki. Visit
http://wikis.ala.org/yalsa/index.php/YALSA_at_the_2008_ALA_Annual_Conference.
YALSA’s Edwards Luncheon will honor Orson Scott Card, recipient of the Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime contribution in writing for teens for his novels “Ender’s Game” and “Ender’s Shadow.” Guests will enjoy a sit-down luncheon as they listen to Card discuss his writing. Tickets cost $59 and must be purchased in advance at
www.ala.org/annual (click on “Special Events”).
At the Printz Reception, author Geraldine McCaughrean will discuss “The White Darkness,” the 2008 winner. The reception will also celebrate the 2008 honor books: “One Whole and Perfect Day” by Judith Clarke, “Your Own, Sylvia” by Stephanie Hemphill, “Repossessed” by A.M. Jenkins and “Dreamquake: Book Two of the Dreamhunter’s Duet” by Elizabeth Knox. Dessert will follow the author’s presentations and speeches. The Printz award honors general excellence in young adult literature. Tickets cost $29 until May 16, when advance registration closes. After May 16, tickets will cost $35. Tickets will be available at
www.ala.org/annual under “Special Events” or at the door.
YALSA will also celebrate the winners of its Alex Awards at a program on Saturday, June 28. Winning authors Jeff Lemire (“Essex County Volume 1: Tales from the Farm”), Lisa Lutz (“The Spellman Files”) and Thomas Maltman (“The Night Birds”) will also speak about how winning the Alex award has impacted them. Tickets are not required to attend this program.
For more than 50 years, YALSA has been the world leader in selecting books, videos, and audio books 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 by e-mail,
yalsa@ala.org.
