Booklist Publications

91��ý unveils shortlist for 2025 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction

RAGARCIA — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 16:01:57 +0000

91��ý unveils shortlist for 2025 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction

CHICAGO –Today, the 91��ý (91��ý) announced the six books shortlisted for the esteemed Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction, awarded for the previous year’s best fiction and nonfiction books written for adult readers and published in the United States.

The 2025 Selection Committee Chair Allison Escoto will announce the two medal winners at the Reference and User Services Association’s Book and Media Awards (BMAs) livestreaming event, premiered during LibLearnX in Phoenix on Sunday, January 26th at 10:30am Mountain Standard Time.

2025 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction shortlist titles include:

Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction 2025 Shortlist

“Cinema Love,” by Jiaming Tang. Dutton, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC.

The growing complexity of Tang’s fully realized characters is as fascinating as the interrelationships among them, a group of friends, lovers, and immigrants to America connected by the Worker’s Cinema in the Chinese town of Mawei. Rich in simile and metaphor, Tang’s first novel is beautifully written and a captivating reading experience.

“James,” by Percival Everett. Doubleday, a division of Penguin Random House LLC.

In an astounding riposte, Everett rewrites Huckleberry Finn as the liberation narrative of the enslaved man Huck befriends. Determined to rescue his wife and daughter, James takes the story in a completely different direction than the original, exemplifying the relentless courage and moral clarity of an honorable man with nothing to lose.

“Martyr!” by Kaveh Akbar. Knopf, a division of Penguin Random House LLC.

The bedazzling and profound story of anxious, outspoken Iranian American poet Cyrus Shams, obsessed with the idea of “meaningful” death, unfolds from different points of view and darts back and forth in time. First-time novelist Akbar creates scenes of psychedelic opulence and mystery, emotional precision, edgy hilarity, and heart-ringing poignancy as his characters endure war, grief, addiction, and sacrifice, and find refuge in art and love. 

Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction 2025 Shortlist

“Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space,” by Adam Higginbotham. Avid Reader Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, LLC.

In this precise account of the 1986 Challenger space shuttle disaster, in which all seven crew members perished, Higginbotham (winner of the 2020 Carnegie Medal for Midnight in Chernobyl) delves into the definition of acceptable risk and assesses accountability. Human error combined with technical failure caused the explosion--but hubris also contributed. Higginbotham’s comprehensive and affecting recounting illuminates a tragedy that was entirely preventable.

“Cue the Sun! The Invention of Reality TV,” by Emily Nussbaum. Random House, an imprint and division of Penguin Random House LLC.

Reality television may be ubiquitous, but it’s not new, as Nussbaum illustrates in this fine book. She traces its roots to radio, then to TV shows that capitalized on people’s willingness to look silly in front of a camera, through the creation of juggernauts like Survivor and Big Brother. An enjoyable deep dive into a format that, for better or worse, is here to stay.

“A Walk in the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon,” by Kevin Fedarko. Scribner, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, LLC.

Centering his own lifelong relationship with the Grand Canyon, from reading about it as a child through his time as a clumsy canoe guide, Fedarko shares his canyon-spanning hike, replete with steps, missteps, and arguments along the way. He particularly inspires in detailing the ancestral history of the land and some of the Indigenous individuals who continue to fight against overdevelopment and ever-booming tourism.

Carnegie Medal winners will each receive $5,000. All the finalists will be honored during a celebratory event in June 2025 during the 2025 91��ý Annual Conference in Philadelphia.

The awards, established in 2012, serve as a guide to help adults select quality reading material. They are the first single-book awards for adult books given by the 91��ý and reflect the expert judgment and insight of library professionals and booksellers who work closely with adult readers.

The awards were established through a grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York and are cosponsored and administered by Booklist and RUSA. Booklist also sponsors the Michael L. Printz Award, Odyssey Award, and Alex Awards. RUSA’s CODES administers the Notable Books List, The Reading List, The Listen List, and the Sophie Brody Medal.

More information on the finalists and the awards can be found at http://www.ala.org/carnegieadult. Also, book cover artwork is available for download at /carnegie-medals/resources .

About Carnegie Corporation of New York
Carnegie Corporation of New York was established in 1911 by Andrew Carnegie to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding. In keeping with this mandate, the Corporation's work focuses on the issues that Andrew Carnegie considered of paramount importance: international peace, the advancement of education and knowledge, and the strength of our democracy. 

About Booklist
Booklist is a book-review magazine that has been published by the 91��ý for more than 100 years, and is widely viewed as offering the most reliable reviews to help libraries decide what to buy and to help library patrons and students decide what to read, view or listen to. It comprises two print magazines, a digital magazine for library patrons, an extensive website and database, e-newsletters, webinars, and other resources that support librarians in collection development and readers' advisory.

About Reference and User Services Association (RUSA)
The Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) is a member community engaged in advancing the practices of connecting people to resources, information services and collections, building relationships among members from all types of libraries, encouraging openness, innovation and idea sharing, and promoting excellence in library services and resources.

About the 91��ý

91��ý (91��ý) is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, 91��ý has been the trusted voice of libraries, advocating for the profession and the library’s role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit www.ala.org.

Longlist for 2025 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction announced

RAGARCIA — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 14:52:12 +0000

Longlist for 2025 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction announced

CHICAGO – A total of 46 books (23 fiction, 23 nonfiction) has been selected for the longlist for the 2025 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction. The list is now available on the awards’ website. The six-title shortlist—three each for the fiction and nonfiction medals—will be chosen from longlist titles and announced on November 12, 2024. The two medal winners will be announced by 2025 selection committee chair Allison Escoto at the Reference and User Services Association’s Book and Media Awards (BMAs) livestreaming event, premiered during LibLearnX in Phoenix on Sunday, January 26th at 10:30am Mountain. The celebratory event, including presentations by the winners and a featured speaker, will take place at the 2025 91��ý Annual Conference in June 2025 in Philadelphia.

The awards were established through a grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York and are cosponsored and administered by Booklist and RUSA. Booklist also sponsors the Michael L. Printz Award, Odyssey Award, and Alex Awards. RUSA’s CODES administers the Notable Books List, The Reading List, The Listen List, and the Sophie Brody Medal.

The Andrew Carnegie Medals are the first single-book awards for adult titles given by the 91��ý; they reflect the expert judgment and insight of library and book professionals who work closely with adult readers. The Medals and the lists leading up to the selection of the winners serve as guides to selecting quality reading material.

The Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction selection committee, appointed annually, includes Booklist editors or contributors, members of RUSA’s Collection Development and Evaluation Section’s (CODES) Notable Books Council, and a representative of the American Booksellers Association. Head Librarian and Director of Reading Programs at the Center for Fiction in Brooklyn, NY, and 2025 selection committee chair Allison Escoto is joined by: Barbara Bibel, Reference Librarian, Oakland, CA; Sara Duff, Acquisitions & Collection Assessment Librarian, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL; Rebecca Hopman, Genealogy Services Librarian, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, WI; Carrie Koepke, Manager, Skylark Bookshop, Columbia, MO; Edward Kownslar, Head of Public Services, Ralph W. Steen Library, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX; and Kathleen McBroom, Library Media Practicum Coordinator for the School of Information Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI.

“Spending the last several months together reading, sharing insights, and relishing the scores of books we read has been an incredible experience for all of us on the Carnegie committee,” says Allison Escoto. “We were lucky to serve on this committee during a year of truly exceptional fiction and nonfiction, which I know is reflected in our long list. I am personally so grateful for the opportunity to learn from and to exchange ideas with a group of such smart and engaged professionals. I am proud of the work we accomplished and endlessly thankful to my colleagues in this labor of love.”

Learn more about the Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction.

About Booklist
Booklist is the book review magazine of the 91��ý, considered an essential collection development and readers' advisory tool by thousands of librarians for more than 100 years. Booklist Online includes a growing archive of 200,000 + reviews available to subscribers as well as a wealth of free content offering the latest news and views on books and media.

About the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA)
The Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) is a member community engaged in advancing the practices of connecting people to resources, information services, and collections, building relationships among members from all types of libraries, encouraging openness, innovation, and idea sharing, and promoting excellence in library services and resources.

RAGARCIA Tue, 10/22/2024 - 09:52

Awards (Books & Media)

Public Awareness

Contact:

Grace Rosean

Marketing Manager

Booklist

grosean@ala.org

ALSC, 91��ý unveil 'Inspiring Future Voters' booklist for young readers

SHAWNDA.KAY — Fri, 20 Sep 2024 03:34:24 +0000

ALSC, 91��ý unveil 'Inspiring Future Voters' booklist for young readers

CHICAGO – As part of the 91��ý’s (91��ý) Reader Voter Ready 2024 civic engagement campaign, the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) has released “Inspiring Future Voters,” a new booklist for young readers. Released at the biennial ALSC National Institute conference, the list features fiction and nonfiction books that inform youth about the voting process and inspire civic participation. Compiled and annotated by ALSC’s Quicklists Consulting committee, titles are organized into five separate lists by age range: birth-preK, grades K-2, grades 3-5, grades 6-8 and young adult. The booklists are free to download on the Reader Voter Ready web page.

ALSC President Rob Bittner said, “These days we talk a lot about the children being our future. But for this to happen, children need to be informed enough to shape that future for themselves. There is a lot to be learned before voting age, and this booklist ensures that young people are prepared for the day that they first enter the voting booth and take charge of deciding their future. I invite libraries, daycares and other organizations working with and for youth to share these recommendations with patrons, students, parents and other community partners.”

91��ý President Cindy Hohl said, “91��ý launched the Reader Voter Ready campaign because democracy is everybody’s business, and libraries play a vital role in getting Americans ready to participate in it. We also know that transformation from future voter to well informed citizen does not happen suddenly when a person turns 18. ALSC’s ‘Inspiring Future Voters’ booklist can begin to inform and equip even the youngest of Americans to participate in our democracy as voters in training.”

The “Inspiring Future Voters” booklist is the latest complement to the suite of resources for libraries offered by Reader Voter Ready, 91��ý’s campaign to support libraries in getting every eligible American informed, registered and ready to vote in the November 2024 elections. 91��ý is encouraging libraries to use Reader Voter Ready resources, including the “Inspiring Future Voters” booklist, during National Voter Education Week (October 7-11, 2024) and beyond.

About the 91��ý (91��ý)
91��ý is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, the 91��ý has been the trusted voice for academic, public, school, government and special libraries, advocating for the profession and the library’s role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. Visit www.ala.org.

About the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC)
ALSC, a division of the 91��ý, is the world’s largest organization dedicated to the support and enhancement of library service to children. With a network of more than 3,300 children’s and youth librarians, literature experts, publishers and educational faculty, ALSC is committed to creating a better future for all children through libraries. Visit www.ala.org/alsc.

About Booklist
Booklist is the 91��ý’s nationally distributed book and media review publication. Since 1905, Booklist has been proud to publish thousands of book and audiobook reviews each year, helping library and education workers decide what to buy and how to guide patrons and students of all ages in choosing what to read, view, or listen to. Booklist Publications includes two print magazines, an extensive website and database, e-newsletters, webinars, podcasts, and other literature-based resources that support librarians in collection development and readers’ advisory. Visit www.booklistonline.com.

SHAWNDA.KAY Thu, 09/19/2024 - 22:34

Advocacy

Publications

Contact:

Shawnda Hines

Deputy Director, Communications

Public Policy and Advocacy

shines@ala.org

91��ý announces the appointment of Donna Seaman as Booklist Editor-In-Chief

RAGARCIA — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 17:15:50 +0000

91��ý announces the appointment of Donna Seaman as Booklist Editor-In-Chief

CHICAGO – Booklist, the official book review journal published by the 91��ý, announces the appointment of Donna Seaman as Editor-In-Chief and Editor, Adult Books.

Donna Seaman joined Booklist as an associate editor for the adult books section and has since been promoted to senior editor and adult books editor. In addition to helping with numerous operational and editorial developments over the years, including the Carnegie Medals, Donna has moderated numerous author panels at 91��ý conferences and conducted author interviews and hosted literary events for other organizations, including the Chicago Public Library, the Chicago Humanities Festival, Printers Row Lit Fest, and Women & Children First. Donna is a member of the Content Leadership Team for the American Writers Museum, an adjunct professor for Northwestern University’s Graduate Creative Writing Program, School of Professional Studies, and a recipient of the Louis Shores Award for Excellence in Book Reviewing, the James Friend Memorial Award for Literary Criticism, and the Studs Terkel Humanities Service Award.

In this new, transformative role, Donna will lead Booklist’s content and editorial teams in Booklist’s Adult, Audio, and Youth sections.

Senior Director of 91��ý Publishing & Media and Booklist Publisher, George Kendall, said “Donna’s commitment and dedication to 91��ý and to Booklist shines, and her passion for reading, her detailed, magnificent writing style, her collaborative approach, and strong work ethic, will help to carry Booklist into the future. I couldn’t be more thrilled with her leadership in this new role and look forward to working closely with Donna as Booklist continues to deliver readers’ advisory and collection development value to library workers, publishers, and readers worldwide.”

In addition to her prolific writing for Booklist, Donna’s author interviews are collected in Writers on the Air: Conversations about Books and she is the author of Identity Unknown: Rediscovering Seven American Women Artists and, publishing soon, her latest book that enchants readers with musings about her own life as a reader, River of Books: A Life in Reading.

About Booklist
Booklist is the 91��ý’s nationally distributed book and media review publication. Since 1905, Booklist has been proud to publish thousands of book and audiobook reviews each year, helping library and education workers decide what to buy and how to guide patrons and students of all ages in choosing what to read, view, or listen to. Booklist Publications includes two print magazines, an extensive website and database, e-newsletters, webinars, podcasts, and other literature-based resources that support librarians in collection development and readers’ advisory. For more information on Booklist Publications, including how to become a Booklist reviewer, visit booklistonline.com.

About the 91��ý
91��ý (91��ý) is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For nearly 150 years, 91��ý has been the trusted voice of libraries, advocating for the profession and the library’s role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit ala.org.

RAGARCIA Thu, 09/19/2024 - 12:15

Public Awareness

Contact:

George Kendall

Senior Director

91��ý Publishing & Media

91��ý announces 2025 Carnegie Selection Committee

JCARMICHAEL — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 23:10:48 +0000

91��ý announces 2025 Carnegie Selection Committee

CHICAGO - The 2025 selection committee is already hard at work on choosing the longlist for the prestigious Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction. The 2025 committee includes the following experts who work closely with adult readers:

Allison Escoto (chair), Head Librarian and Director of Reading Programs, The Center for Fiction, Brooklyn, NY
Barbara Bibel, Reference Librarian, retired, Oakland (CA) Public Library
Sara Duff, Acquisitions & Collection Assessment Librarian, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL
Rebecca Hopman, Genealogy Services Librarian, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, WI
Carrie Koepke, Manager, Skylark Bookshop, Columbia, MO
Edward Kownslar, Head of Public Services, Ralph W. Steen Library, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX
Kathleen McBroom, Library Media Practicum Coordinator for the School of Information Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI

The 2025 longlist will be announced in October 2024, followed in November by the six-title shortlist—three each in fiction and nonfiction. The two winning titles will be revealed in January 2025 at the RUSA Book and Media Awards event during 91��ý‘s LibLearnX: The Library Learning Experience (LLX) in Phoenix, Arizona. The celebratory event, including presentations by the winners and a featured speaker, will take place at the 2025 91��ý Annual Conference in June 2025 in Philadelphia.

The upcoming celebratory event, sponsored by NoveList, will take place on Saturday, June 29, 2024, from 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. during 91��ý’s 2024 Annual Conference in San Diego. Attendees will hear from fiction winner Amanda Peters (The Berry Pickers; Catapult) and nonfiction winner Roxanna Asgarian (We Were Once a Family: A Story of Love, Death, and Child Removal in America; Farrar, Straus and Giroux) as well as a keynote speaker.

The Andrew Carnegie Medals were established in 2012 by the 91��ý and Carnegie Corporation of New York to recognize the best fiction and nonfiction books written for adult readers and published in the U.S. in the previous year. They are the first single-book awards for adult titles given by 91��ý and are cosponsored and administered by Booklist and RUSA and supported by NoveList.

For more information and to see past longlists, shortlists, and winners, visit Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction.

About the 91��ý
The 91��ý (91��ý) is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, the 91��ý has been the trusted voice for academic, public, school, government and special libraries, advocating for the profession and the library’s role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit www.ala.org.

JCARMICHAEL Thu, 04/18/2024 - 18:10

Awards (Books & Media)

Contact:

Raymond Garcia

Communications Specialist

91��ý

Communications, Marketing & Media Relations Office

cmomedia@ala.org

‘The Collectors: Stories’ wins 2024 Printz Award

JCARMICHAEL — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 14:52:19 +0000

‘The Collectors: Stories’ wins 2024 Printz Award

BALTIMORE — “The Collectors: Stories,” edited by A.S. King, written by the author and nine others and published by Dutton, an imprint of Penguin Random House, has won the 2024 Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature. The award was announced today by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the 91��ý (91��ý), during the 91��ý’s LibLearnX: The Library Learning Experience held Jan. 19–22 in Baltimore.

A.S. King challenged nine of her favorite YA writers to produce stories about collections and collectors, tossing out conventions. King’s directive to “collect all the little pieces of you and make your story” produces a distinctly unique and exemplary anthology of short stories that are “defiantly creative” and beautifully weird.

In addition to King herself, contributors to the anthology included M.T. Anderson, e.E. Charlton-Trujillo, David Levithan, Cory McCarthy, Anna-Marie McLemore, G. Neri, Jason Reynolds, Randy Ribay and Jenny Torres Sanchez.

“This collection of 10 expertly crafted—and uniquely weird—short stories for teens highlights that only when we break conventions can we discover our authentic selves,” said Printz Committee Chair Courtney Waters.

Four Printz Honor Books also were named.

“Fire from the Sky,” written by Moa Backe Åstot, translated by Eva Apelqvist and published by Em Querido, an imprint of Levine Querido.

A member of the Sámi people in Sweden, Ánte wants to preserve his birthright of traditional reindeer herding. However, he worries his emerging romantic feelings for his best friend, Erik, put him at irreconcilable odds with his community and culture. Stark, atmospheric prose invokes an introspective look into individuality within community.

“Gather,” written by Kenneth M. Cadow and published by Candlewick Press.

After an enormous dog arrives on his family’s land in rural Vermont, a devastating series of events forces Ian to learn to survive not only on his own but with the help of his community. Told in a distinctive voice with a nod to oral storytelling, “Gather” captures the spirit of independence, resilience and hope.

“The Girl I Am, Was, and Never Will Be: A Speculative Memoir of Transracial Adoption,” written by Shannon Gibney and published by Dutton Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

In a speculative memoir, Gibney explores her past as a transracial adoptee and imagines a life where her birth mother raised her. Playing with genre and style, Gibney deftly captures the uncertainty and questioning nature of childhood as well as all the pathways life might take.

“Salt the Water,” written by Candice Iloh and published by Dutton Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

After a confrontation with a teacher and a devastating family emergency, Cerulean's life veers out of their control, forcing them to make a difficult choice. Told in powerful, stream-of-consciousness verse, Cerulean explores a future that’s theirs alone, where they don’t have to play by anyone else’s rules.

The award, first given in 2000, is named for the late Michael L. Printz, a Topeka, Kansas, 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.

Members of the 2024 Printz Award Committee are: Chair Courtney Waters, Missouri River Regional Library, Jefferson City, Missouri; Heather Love Beverley, Cook Memorial Public Library District, Libertyville, Illinois; Leanna Chappell, Swanton Public Library, Ohio; Jamie M. Gregory, Christ Church Episcopal School, Greenville, South Carolina; Abby Harrison, Greenhill School, Dallas; Alicia Kalan, The Northwest School, Seattle; Maryanne Olson, Queens Public Library, Glendale, New York; Cathy Outten, California State University, Long Beach; and Becky Reiser, REACH Prep, Stamford, Connecticut.

The mission of the YALSA is to support library staff in alleviating the challenges teens face and in putting all teens—especially those with the greatest needs—on the path to successful and fulfilling lives. For more information about YALSA or to access national guidelines and other resources, go to www.ala.org/yalsa or contact the YALSA office via email: yalsa@ala.org.

For more information on the Michael L. Printz Award and other 91��ý Youth Media Awards, please visit www.ala.org/yma.

About the 91��ý

The 91��ý (91��ý) is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, the 91��ý has been the trusted voice for academic, public, school, government, and special libraries, advocating for the profession and the library's role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit www.ala.org.

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JCARMICHAEL Mon, 01/22/2024 - 08:52

Awards (Books & Media)

Contact:

91��ý Media Relations

Communications, Marketing & Media Relations Office

91��ý

cmomedia@ala.org

Young Adult Library Services Association announces 2024 Alex Awards

JCARMICHAEL — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 12:09:04 +0000

Young Adult Library Services Association announces 2024 Alex Awards

BALTIMORE — The Young Adult Library Services Association, a division of the 91��ý (91��ý), has selected 10 adult books with special appeal to teen readers to receive the 2024 Alex Awards. The awards, sponsored by the Margaret A. Edwards Trust and Booklist, were announced today during 91��ý’s LibLearnX: The Library Learning Experience, held Jan. 19-22 in Baltimore.

Here are the 2024 Alex Award winners:

“Bad Cree,” by Jessica Johns (nehiyaw/Sucker Creek First Nation), published by Doubleday, a division of Penguin Random House
“Chain-Gang All-Stars,” by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, published by Pantheon Books, a division of Penguin Random House
“Chlorine,” by Jade Song, published by William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
“Fourth Wing,” by Rebecca Yarros, published by Red Tower Books, an imprint of Entangled Publishing
“The Hard Parts: A Memoir of Courage and Triumph,” by Oksana Masters, published by Scribner, an imprint of Simon & Schuster
“I Will Greet the Sun Again,” by Khashayar J. Khabushani, published by Hogarth Press, an imprint of Random House, a division of Penguin Random House
“Maame,” by Jessica George, published by St. Martin’s Press, an imprint of St. Martin’s Publishing Group
“Starter Villain,” by John Scalzi, published by Tor Books, an imprint of Tor Publishing Group, a division of Macmillan Publishing Group
“The Talk,” by Darrin Bell, published by Henry Holt & Co., a division of Macmillan Publishing Group
“Whalefall,” by Daniel Kraus, published by MTV Books and Atria Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster

“Through diverse voices and entertaining stories, these amazing books will help teens better understand themselves and the world in which they live,” said 2024 Alex Awards Committee Chair David Saia.

The Alex Awards were created to recognize that many teens enjoy and often prefer books written for adults, and to assist librarians in recommending adult books that appeal to teens. A full list of official nominations will be available online at www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists/alex.

The award is named in honor of the late Margaret Alexander Edwards, fondly called “Alex” by her closest friends. Edwards was a pioneer in providing library services to young adults. At Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, Edwards used adult books extensively with teens to broaden their experience and enrich their understanding of themselves and their world.

Members of the 2024 Alex Awards Committee are Chair David C. Saia, Heim Middle School, Williamsville, New York; Alicia Abdul, Albany High School, New York; Brianna Arellano-Meli, Berkeley Public Library, California; Katie Cree, Brighton Memorial Library, Rochester, New York; Billie Jo Moffett, Gail Borden Public Library District, Elgin, Illinois; Belle Nelson, Minnesota State University, Mankato, Minnesota; Erica Ruscio, Ventress Memorial Library, Marshfield, Massachusetts; Milena S. Streen, St. Ignatius High School, Cleveland, Ohio; Anna Tschetter, Memorial Hall Library, Andover, Massachusetts; and Award Administrative Assistant, Jennifer Blanco, Holmes Middle School, Alexandria, Virginia.

The mission of the Young Adult Library Services Association is to support library staff in alleviating the challenges teens face, and in putting all teens—especially those with the greatest needs — on the path to successful and fulfilling lives. For more information or to access national guidelines and other resources, go to www.ala.org/yalsa or contact the office at yalsa@ala.org.

For information on the Alex Awards and other 91��ý Youth Media Awards, please visit www.ala.org/yma.

About the 91��ý

# # #

JCARMICHAEL Mon, 01/22/2024 - 06:09

Awards (Books & Media)

Contact:

91��ý Media Relations

Communications, Marketing & Media Relations Office

91��ý

cmomedia@ala.org

'The Berry Pickers,' 'We Were Once a Family: A Story of Love, Death, and Child Removal in America' receive 2024 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction

RAGARCIA — Sat, 20 Jan 2024 15:26:58 +0000

'The Berry Pickers,' 'We Were Once a Family: A Story of Love, Death, and Child Removal in America' receive 2024 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction

BALTIMORE — The 91��ý (91��ý) selects “The Berry Pickers,” by Amanda Peters, published by Catapult, as the winner of the 2024 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction, and "We Were Once a Family: A Story of Love, Death, and Child Removal in America," by Roxanna Asgarian, published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux, as the winner of the 2024 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction. The selections were announced at the Reference and User Services Association's Book and Media Awards (BMAs) event, sponsored by NoveList, on Saturday, January 20th, during LibLearnX: The Library Learning Experience in Baltimore, MD.

The Carnegie awards, established in 2012, serve as a guide to help adults select quality reading material. They are the first single-book awards for adult books given by the 91��ý and reflect the expert judgment and insight of library professionals and booksellers who work closely with adult readers.

In “The Berry Pickers,” an Indigenous Mi’kmaq family is in Maine in 1962 to pick summer blueberries when their youngest child, four-year-old Ruthie, disappears. Her six-year-old brother, Joe, saw her last. Told in alternating, first-person chapters from Joe and a narrator called Norma, this fascinating, braided novel follows the painful reverberations of Ruthie’s disappearance across five decades. While little is easy for Amanda Peters’ characters, in the end, for all of them, there is hope.

"We Were Once a Family” looks into a 2018 tragedy in which two women deliberately drove themselves and their six children off a cliff into the Pacific Ocean. While there was considerable speculation about the parents, who were married and white, the media paid little attention to the six Black children, who had been adopted from two different families. Investigative reporter Roxanna Asgarian’s years of work getting to know the children’s birth families uncovered a devastating web of intergenerational poverty, violence, and wrenching separations. She exposes the calamities that occurred and the ongoing, insupportable failings of the foster system.

"The committee is so excited for the Medalists to see their outstanding creations celebrated on such a big stage," said Aryssa Damron, chair of the selection committee for the 2024 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence. "Amanda Peters' stunning prose and evocative narrative enraptured us with the grief and longing of her characters. Roxanna Asgarian's blending of journalism, narrative nonfiction, and heartbreak tears back the veil on the child removal systems in the United States. Endless thanks to my amazing committee for spending a year reading great literature, discussing deeply with each other, and selecting two outstanding books that complement each other so perfectly and represent a year of inspiring conversations."

The 2024 fiction finalists include “The Berry Pickers,” by Amanda Peters, published by Catapult; “Denison Avenue,” by Christina Wong and Daniel Innes, published by ECW Press; and “Let Us Descend,” by Jesmyn Ward, published by Scribner, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

2024 nonfiction finalists include “The Great Displacement: Climate Change and the Next American Migration,” by Jake Bittle, published by Simon & Schuster; “The Talk,” by Darrin Bell, published by Henry Holt and Company; and “We Were Once a Family: A Story of Love, Death, and Child Removal in America,” by Roxanna Asgarian, published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Carnegie Medal winners will each receive $5,000. All the finalists will be honored and the winners will be presented with their medals during a celebratory event at the San Diego Public Library during 91��ý's 2024 Annual Conference in June.

The Medals are made possible, in part, by a grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York in recognition of Andrew Carnegie’s deep belief in the power of books and learning to change the world, and are co-sponsored by 91��ý’s Booklist and the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA).

More information on the finalists and the awards can be found at http://www.ala.org/rusa/awards/carnegie-medals. Also, book cover artwork is available for download at http://www.ala.org/rusa/awards/carnegie-medals/resources

Contact for Amanda Peters:

Megan Fishmann

Vice President/Associate Publisher, Senior Director of Publicity

[she/her/hers]

Catapult/Counterpoint Press/Soft Skull

megan.fishmann@counterpointpress.com

Contact for Roxanna Asgarian:

Sarah Haeckel

Publicist | Picador

She/her/hers

267-566-1546 (c) | sarah.haeckel@picadorusa.com

120 Broadway, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10271

About Carnegie Corporation of New York

Carnegie Corporation of New York was established in 1911 by Andrew Carnegie to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding. In keeping with this mandate, the Corporation's work focuses on the issues that Andrew Carnegie considered of paramount importance: international peace, the advancement of education and knowledge, and the strength of our democracy.

About Booklist

Booklist is a book-review magazine that has been published by the 91��ý for more than 100 years, and is widely viewed as offering the most reliable reviews to help libraries decide what to buy and to help library patrons and students decide what to read, view or listen to. It comprises three magazines, including Booklist Reader, a new publication dedicated to patrons, an extensive website and database, e-newsletters, webinars, and other resources that support librarians in collection development and readers' advisory.

About Reference and User Services Association (RUSA)

The Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) is a member community engaged in advancing the practices of connecting people to resources, information services, and collections, building relationships among members from all types of libraries, encouraging openness, innovation, and idea sharing, and promoting excellence in library services and resources.

About the 91��ý (91��ý)

RAGARCIA Sat, 01/20/2024 - 09:26

Awards (Books & Media)

LibLearnX

Contact:

Raymond Garcia

Communications Specialist

Communications, Marketing, and Media Relations Office

cmomedia@ala.org

91��ý unveils shortlist for 2024 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction

RAGARCIA — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 15:58:47 +0000

91��ý unveils shortlist for 2024 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction

CHICAGO —Today, the 91��ý (91��ý) announced the six books shortlisted for the esteemed Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction, awarded for the previous year’s best fiction and nonfiction books written for adult readers and published in the United States. 2024 selection committee chair Aryssa Damron will announce the two medal winners at the Reference and User Services Association’s (RUSA) Book and Media Awards livestreaming event, held during LibLearnX in Baltimore on Saturday, January 20, at 9:45 a.m. Eastern.

2024 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction Shortlist titles include:

Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction 2024 Shortlist

“The Berry Pickers,” by Amanda Peters. Catapult. In 1962, an Indigenous Mi’kmaq family is in Maine to pick summer blueberries when their youngest child, four-year-old Ruthie, disappears. Her six-year-old brother, Joe, saw her last. Told in alternating, first-person chapters from Joe and a narrator called Norma, this braided novel fascinates. While little is easy for Peters’ characters, in the end, for all of them, there is hope.
“Denison Avenue,” by Christina Wong and Daniel Innes. ECW Press.

In a mixed-media narrative saturated with a sense of poignancy and grief, Wong Cho Sum navigates the sudden death of her husband by a hit-and-run driver. As an “invisible” elderly observer, she compares the old Chinatown she remembers with this new, slowly gentrifying one. Innes’ detailed and beautiful hand-drawn illustrations are eye-catching complements to Wong’s writing.
“Let Us Descend,” by Jesmyn Ward. Scribner, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Sold away from her mother, teenage Annis, daughter of a Black mother and the white man who enslaved them, must endure a grueling march to the slave markets of New Orleans with only her wits and her mother’s ivory awl to help her survive. Ward’s vivid imagery and emotionally resonant prose convey the horrors of chattel slavery in stark, unforgettable detail.

Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction 2024 Shortlist

“The Great Displacement: Climate Change and the Next American Migration,” by Jake Bittle. Simon & Schuster.

This multifaceted examination considers numerous communities that have been wiped out by changing weather patterns and foretells a future filled with additional displacements. Environmental journalist Bittle uses a combination of science reporting and individuals’ stories to explain the fates of towns deemed uninhabitable and ends with a plea for comprehensive environmental policy change and urgent action.
“The Talk,” by Darrin Bell. Henry Holt and Company.

In 2019, Bell became the first Black editorial cartoonist to win a Pulitzer Prize. In this brilliant graphic memoir, Bell’s growth from a trusting child afraid of dogs to an esteemed, nationally syndicated cartoonist is a marvel to witness through his spectacular panels and pages. A must-read manifesto against racist brutality.
“We Were Once a Family: A Story of Love, Death, and Child Removal in America,” by Roxanna Asgarian. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Investigative reporter Asgarian’s years of work getting to know the birth families of six children killed by their adoptive parents in 2018 uncovered a devastating web of intergenerational poverty, violence, and wrenching separations. She exposes the tragedy of what happened and the ongoing, insupportable failings of the foster system.

Carnegie Medal winners will each receive $5,000. All the finalists will be honored during a celebratory event in June 2024 during the 91��ý Annual Conference in San Diego.

More information on the finalists and the awards can be found at http://www.ala.org/carnegieadult. Also, book cover artwork is available for download at http://www.ala.org/rusa/awards/carnegie-medals/resources.

About Carnegie Corporation of New York

Carnegie Corporation of New York was established in 1911 by Andrew Carnegie to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding. In keeping with this mandate, the Corporation's work focuses on the issues that Andrew Carnegie considered of paramount importance: international peace, the advancement of education and knowledge, and the strength of our democracy.

About Booklist

Booklist is a book-review magazine that has been published by the 91��ý for more than 100 years, and is widely viewed as offering the most reliable reviews to help libraries decide what to buy and to help library patrons and students decide what to read, view or listen to. It comprises two print magazines, a digital magazine for library patrons, an extensive website and database, e-newsletters, webinars, and other resources that support librarians in collection development and readers' advisory.

About Reference and User Services Association (RUSA)

The Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) is a member community engaged in advancing the practices of connecting people to resources, information services and collections, building relationships among members from all types of libraries, encouraging openness, innovation and idea sharing, and promoting excellence in library services and resources.

About 91��ý

The 91��ý (91��ý) is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, 91��ý has been the trusted voice of libraries, advocating for the profession and the library’s role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit www.ala.org.

RAGARCIA Tue, 11/14/2023 - 09:58

Awards (Books & Media)

Public Awareness

Contact:

Grace Rosean

Marketing Manager

Booklist

grosean@ala.org

A 17-month weekly planner for book lovers from Sourcebooks and 91��ý

RCHRISTOPHER — Thu, 11 May 2023 14:58:01 +0000

A 17-month weekly planner for book lovers from Sourcebooks and 91��ý

CHICAGO — Sourcebooks, a leading independent publisher based in Chicago, and the 91��ý’s (91��ý) book publishing imprint, 91��ý Editions | Neal-Schuman, announce publication of The 91��ý Recommended Reads and 2024 Planner. Available via the 91��ý Store as well as through bookstores nationwide, this 17-month (August 2023-December 2024) book log organizer is ideal for all readers and book lovers and makes the perfect gift for showing appreciation to colleagues, teachers, volunteers, library friends, trustees, board members, and bibliophiles. It features weekly book recommendations drawn from Booklist’s top selections and 91��ý awards, along with journaling prompts and quotes from the week's pick, plus monthly and weekly spreads with ample writing space, to-do sections, goal planning pages, habit trackers, and helpful stickers.

For bulk purchases and other special purchasing arrangements, please contact us at editionsmarketing@ala.org.

Sourcebooks is a thriving entrepreneurial company that brings extraordinary authors to readers in the most dynamic, data-driven ways. They create books that transcend categories and defy odds and have been honored with hundreds of national bestsellers and awards. The company is home to enthusiastic, book-loving employees who are dedicated to connecting books to readers in new and innovative ways. Story by story, book by book, Sourcebooks has touched over 100 million lives. Visit www.sourcebooks.com for more information.

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91��ý unveils shortlist for 2024 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction

A 17-month weekly planner for book lovers from Sourcebooks and 91��ý

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