The Stonewall Book Awards are given annually to English-language works of exceptional merit for children or teens relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience. The award will be presented to the winning authors or editors at the 91´«Ã½ Annual Conference in New Orleans in June.

“A young adult novel about a transgender girl—told from the perspective of the straight boy who falls for her—“Almost Perfect” is exceptional. The writing is sensitive, haunting and revelatory,” said Stonewall Children’s and Young Adult Award committee chair Lisa Johnston.

In “Almost Perfect,” Sage Hendricks is the new girl at Logan Witherspoon’s school. She is very tall, a bit awkward and unconventional in manner and appearance. Logan is immediately drawn to Sage’s intelligence and humor; they need each other’s friendship, but Sage’s life is a mystery. Sage reveals she was born a boy. Outraged, Logan begins to question his sexuality and cuts his ties with his friend, when she needs him most.

Brian Katchermade his literary debut in 2008 with the publication of “Playing with Matches,” “Almost Perfect” is his second novel. Katcher, a graduate of the University of Missouri, Columbia, has worked a variety of jobs, from the U.S. to Mexico, Israel and back. He now lives with his wife and daughter in central Missouri, where he works as a school librarian.

Four Stonewall Children’s and Young Adult Award Honor Books were named.

“Will Grayson, Will Grayson,” written by John Green and David Levithan and published by Dutton Books, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. Two authors, two Wills, and one gigantic Tiny. “Will Grayson, Will Grayson” shows what happens when two high school boys with the same name meet under the most improbable of circumstances, thanks to a flamboyant football player and his love of musical theatre.

“Love Drugged,” by James Klise and published by Flux, an imprint of Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd. If you could change who you are, would you? Should you? Jamie Bates wants to protect his biggest secret, but in doing so discovers the pain in deception.

“Freaks and Revelations,” by Davida Wills Hurwin and published by Little, Brown and company, a division of Hachette Book Groupe, Inc. What if a stranger hated you? Hatred of difference—real and perceived—plays out in this moving exploration of the journey from fear and hate to tolerance and hope.

“The Boy in the Dress,” by David Walliams, illustrated by Quentin Blake and published by Penguin Young Readers Group. A boring house on a boring street in a boring corner of England is no place for a soccer-playing boy in a dress.

The members of the 2011 Stonewall Book Awards Committee are: Chair Lisa Johnston, Sweet Briar (Va.) College; Incoming Chair Lewis Day, Houghton Library, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.; W. Stephen Breedlove, Connelly Library, La Salle University, Philadelphia; Amanda Clay, Lakeview Elementary School, Norman, Okla.; Dave Combe, Ventura County Library, Ventura, Calif.; Sharon Flesher-Duffy, Nashua High School Media Center, Nashua, N.H.; Roland Hansen, Columbia College Library, Chicago; Analisa Ornelas, Innovative Interfaces, San Francisco; Stephen Patrick, Jonesborough, Tenn.; Jason Phillips, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.; Roseann Szalkowski, Skokie (Ill.) Public Library; Gypsey Teague, Clemson (S.C.) University; Corwin Watts, Lincoln (Neb.) Public Schools; and Rose Yndigoyen, St. Joseph’s College, Brooklyn, N.Y.

For information on the Stonewall Children’s and Young Adult Literature Award and other 91´«Ã½ Youth Media Awards, please visit .

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