“Going Bovine” Wins 2010 Printz Award
Contacts: Macey Morales / Jennifer Petersen
ALA Media Relations
312-280-4393/5043
mmorales@ala.org /
jpetersen@ala.org
NEWS
For Immediate Release
January 18, 2010
BOSTON –“Going Bovine,” written by Libba Bray and published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, has won the 2010 Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature. The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) today announced the winner during the ALA Midwinter Meeting, held Jan. 15 – 19 in Boston.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Michael L. Printz Award. The award, first given in 2000, is named for the late Michael L. Printz, a Topeka, Kans., school librarian known for discovering and promoting quality books for young adults. The award is administered annually by YALSA and is sponsored by
Booklist magazine.
In “Going Bovine,” Cameron, a sixteen-year-old slacker, sets off on a madcap road trip along with a punk angel, a dwarf sidekick, a yard gnome and a mad scientist to save the world and perhaps his own life.
Libba Bray is the author of the Gemma Doyle trilogy. She lives in New York City.
“Wow. Backwards and forwards, this wildly imaginative modern day take on Don Quixote is complex, hilarious, and stunning,” said Printz Award Committee Chair Cheryl Karp Ward. “The hero’s journey will never be the same after ‘Going Bovine.’”
The committee also named four Printz Honor Books: “Charles and Emma: The Darwins’ Leap of Faith” by Deborah Heiligman, published by Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group.
Once Charles Darwin sets his rational mind to marry the religious Emma Wedgeworth, they both must take a leap of faith in order to build a life together.
“The Monstrumologist,” by Rick Yancey, published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing.
Will Henry, orphan and assistant to a monstrumologist, races against time to save his town (and himself) from the anthropophagi, a pod of monstrous creatures who prey on humans.
“Punkzilla,” by Adam Rapp, published by Candlewick Press.
Fourteen-year-old runaway Jamie, homeless and strung out, embarks on a harrowing journey to reach his dying brother.
“Tales of the Madman Underground: An Historical Romance, 1973,” by John Barnes, published by Viking Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Young Reader’s Group.
Karl Shoemaker wants to begin his senior year with a new identity separate from his counseling group, his alcoholic mother and the legacy of his dead father.
Members of the 2010 Printz Award Committee are: Chair Cheryl Karp Ward, Broad Brook Conn.; Priscille Dando, Robert E. Lee High School, Fairfax County Public Schools, Va.; Sally Leahey, McArthur Public Library, Biddeford, Maine; Angela Leeper, University of Richmond, Va.; Teri Lesesne, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas; H. Jack Martin, New York Public Library; Connie Mitchell, Indianapolis; Ann Theis, Chesterfield (Va.) County Library; Snow Wildsmith, Mooresville, N.C.; John Sexton, administrative assistant, Westchester Library System, Tarrytown, N.Y.; and Gillian Engberg,
Booklist consultant, Chicago.
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
For more information on the Michael L. Printz Award and other ALA Youth Media Awards, please visit
www.ala.org/yma.
