Each year the American Library Association honors books, videos, and other outstanding materials for children and teens. Recognized worldwide for the high quality they represent, the ALA Youth Media Awards, including the prestigious, Coretta Scott King Book, Caldecott, Newbery, and Printz Awards, guide parents, educators, librarians, and others in selecting the best materials for youth. Selected by committees composed of librarians and other literature and media experts, the awards encourage original and creative work in the field of children’s and young adult literature and media.
The 2018 Youth Media Award announcements will take place on Monday, Feb. 12, at 8 a.m. MT from the Colorado Convention Center. Fans can follow 2018 results in real-time via live webcast at http://ala.unikron.com/2018 , or follow hashtag #alayma.
The William C. Morris YA Debut Award, first given in 2009, honors a book published by a first-time author writing for teens and celebrating impressive new voices in young adult literature.
The award’s namesake is William C. Morris, an influential innovator in the publishing world and an advocate for marketing books for children and young adults. Bill Morris left an impressive mark on the field of children’s and young adult literature. He was beloved in the publishing field and the library profession for his generosity and marvelous enthusiasm for promoting literature for children and teens.
2018 Finalists: Dear Martin written by Nic Stone, Devils Within written by S.F. Henson, The Hate U Give written by Angie Thomas, Saints and Misfits written by S.K. Ali, Starfish written by Akemi Dawn Bowman
YALSA Nonfiction Award, ALSA’s Award for Excellence in Nonfiction honors the best nonfiction book published for young adults (ages 12-18) during a Nov. 1 – Oct. 31 publishing year.
2018 Finalists: #NotYourPrincess: Voices of Native American Women edited by Mary Beth Leatherdale and Lisa Charleyboy, Eyes of the World: Robert Capa, Gerda Taro, and the Invention of Modern Photojournalism written by Marc Aronson and Marina Budhos, The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives written by Dashka Slater, Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers written by Deborah Heiligman, he Whydah: A Pirate Ship Feared, Wrecked, and Found written by Martin W. Sandler