Category: Debut Author

Adrienne here,

Every January the American Library Association honors the previous year’s books and media created for children and teens. There are nineteen awards given at this event with other selected lists released in the days after.

The ceremony will be held during ALA Midwinter, 8 a.m. ET, January 27, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. There will be a award archive of awards.

The award that has become a favorite of Emily and mine is the William C. Morris Award. This award honors authors whose first publication was written for young adults. Having served on this committee it is exhilarating to discover new and emerging talents. Each year the five finalist titles get better, more interesting and diverse in subject matter.

This year’s finalists are the following:

Charm & Strange by Stephanie Kuehn

Sex & Violence  by Carrie Mesrobian

Dr. Bird’s Advice for Sad Poets by Evan Roskos

Belle Epoque by Elizabeth Ross

In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters

You can view a video of the Morris Finalists here, http://youtu.be/CgcHkQ_Ls1w.

The winner will be announced during the Youth Media Awards. Immediately following the winner and finalists of both the Morris Award and the Nonfiction Award will speak at a reception. Tickets are $19 and well worth it.

Find out more about the award on the YALSA Morris Award website, http://www.ala.org/yalsa/morris-award. You can sign up to volunteer to participate here, http://www.ala.org/yalsa/getinvolved/getinvolved#sign%20up.