Reflections on the 2017 ALA Youth Media Awards

The first year that I watched the ALA Youth Media Awards webcast was 2010, the year that When You Reach Me won the Newbery and Tales of the Madman Underground received a Printz honor. I loved both of those books so much, and I really enjoyed hearing the announcements - and the reactions to them from the librarians in attendance - in real time. Sadly, over the last 7 years my enthusiasm for the awards has declined significantly. As ALA has become more and more agenda-driven, and diversity has become the most sought-after quality in a children's book, the awards have become more and more political and much less about celebrating books because of their own merits. (A year later, I still roll my eyes at the selection of Last Stop on Market Street as the 2016 Newbery Medal winner. The writing in that book is mediocre at best; it didn't win because it was well-written.) So it was with very low expectations that I joined the webcast this past Monday. In some cases, those expectations were exceeded, but in most areas, I was predictably disappointed. I'll share just a few of my reactions here today. (The full list of award winners and honor books can be found here.)

March: Book Three

I didn't read this book, so I have no way of knowing whether it is well-written, well-illustrated or worthy of attention. I also have no way of knowing how the four committees that honored this book - those for the Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award, the Printz Award, the Sibert Informational Book Award, and the YALSA Award for excellence in young-adult nonfiction - arrived at their decision. But there is no denying how it looks. These decisions were finalized during ALA Midwinter, just after the author of March: Book Three, Rep. John Lewis, had a highly publicized clash with President Trump. If only one or two committees had honored this book, I might buy that it was based on its merits. But four? And in a time when many ALA members are advocating for librarians to resist the "fascist" Trump administration?  I have a hard time believing these decisions were not politically motivated. I was actually getting worried as I watched that this book might also win the Newbery and/or the Caldecott, but thankfully, we were spared that much. Still, this was a major disappointment, not because I have any particular feelings about the book, but because I'm growing increasingly disgusted with the library profession and its politics.

Newbery 

I was hoping to see Ghost and Wolf Hollow recognized, and I got half of what I wanted. Wolf Hollow is absolutely deserving of its honor, and I was pleased that it was not overlooked. Ghost only won one award, the Odyssey, for its audiobook adaptation, but it was not recognized by the Newbery committee, which was too bad. The Girl Who Drank the Moon, which I did not read, was the winner. I can't say that it isn't good without reading it, but the description of the book is full of cliches and I don't think I'm going to bother. I've also been wading through The Inquisitor's Tale, one of the other honors, and it's a three-star book at best. I want to save my comments for my review, but the book relies heavily on toilet humor, and we all know how I feel about that.

Caldecott

I mentioned in my review of They All Saw A Cat that I expected it to be given at least an honor. As I said I would be, I'm disappointed that this prediction came true. Yes, the artwork is interesting and different, but I'm still not convinced it really adds up to a compelling story. Du Iz Tak? also received an honor, and that was even more disappointing. I have yet to read a review of this book that explains precisely why it is so good. Everyone talks about the brilliance of the made-up language, but no one gets much beyond that one gimmick. The book is weird; that doesn't automatically make it good. I really believe a lot of people claim to like it because they don't want to admit they don't get it. As for the winner, it was a picture book biography of someone I've never heard of. If I happen to see it, I'll read it, but it's not the kind of thing I will seek out on my own.

Geisel

I cared more about the Geisel back when I was the Cybils chair for Easy Readers and Early Chapter Books. I was only disappointed by two things:

1. Elephant and Piggie still wormed their way in there, even though their series is over. It's really time to move on.
2. Good Night Owl is about an owl going to bed at night. That drives me nuts. 

I'm not that interested in The Infamous Ratsos, but I do want to have a look at both Oops, Pounce, Quick, Run! and Go, Otto, Go! just because I'm behind on beginner reader books, 

Sarah Dessen

When I was 15, I happened upon Sarah Dessen's That Summer in the young adult section of my small-town public library and immediately fell in love. I wrote her a letter, to which she sent a wonderfully kind hand-written reply, and I have been a fan ever since. I met her once at BEA and saw her speak again at the DC Public Library, and I have read every one of her books. Since she has never won any ALA awards before, she wasn't really on my radar as someone who might be considered for something like the Margaret A. Edwards award. So I was surprised and thrilled to hear her name read out, and to see that the titles for which she was honored include Keeping the Moon, one of my all-time favorites. This was the highlight of the award announcements for me, and it has made me want to re-read some of her older titles before her newest comes out this summer.

Were you pleased with the award announcements? Which award recipients have you read?