DENVER —"Little & Lion" by Brandy Colbert and published by Little, Brown and Company, and "The 57 Bus" by Dashka Slater and published by Farrar Straus Giroux are the 2018 recipients of the Stonewall Book Awards — Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children's & Young Adult Literature Award. The awards were announced today by the American Library Association's ( ALA ) Stonewall Book Awards Committee of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Round Table, during the ALA Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits held Feb. 9—13, in Denver.
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 American Library Association Annual Conference & Exhibition in New Orleans in June.
"Both 'Little & Lion' and 'The 57 Bus' are rich stories that will speak to youth in significant ways. The first, a fiction title, offers authentic, vivid characters who will keep readers riveted, while the second, a nonfiction book, will spark powerful conversations," said Stonewall Book Awards Committee Chair Christina H. Dorr.
"Little & Lion" by Brandy Colbert examines the tenuous bond between Suzette and her older brother Lionel who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. While Suzette wrestles with keeping a secret about Lionel's treatment, she navigates attraction to childhood friend Emil and new girl Rafaela. Colbert thoughtfully navigates the complexities of intersectional identities, familial loyalty, and mental illness with a fresh, empathetic voice.
In "The 57 Bus," journalist Dashka Slater chronicles the true story of an agender teen who is set on fire while riding a bus and the painful repercussions for both the teens involved and their communities. Issues of gender identity, race and class division and the complexity of the justice system are addressed with clarity and thoughtfulness.
Two Stonewall Book Awards — Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children's & Young Adult Award Honor Books were named: "As the Crow Flies," written and illustrated by Melanie Gillman and published by Iron Circus Comics. In "As the Crow Flies," Melanie Gillman's rich colored-pencil graphic novel, 13-year-old Charlie is the only black queer girl on a Christian camping trip that promises female empowerment. Scenes of physical and emotional discomfort illustrate Charlie's struggles to find her faith and voice among oblivious white feminists. As the journey continues, Charlie discovers friendship and validation with fellow camper Sydney.
"The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue," written by Mackenzi Lee and published by Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. A bisexual rake embarks on a grand tour of 18th century Europe accompanied by his scholarly sister and his best friend, with whom he's secretly in love. Amidst madcap hedonistic hijinks, issues of race, class, gender roles and sexual identity are addressed as the trio evades perils of highwaymen, pirates and a villainous duke.
The members of the 2018 Stonewall Book Awards Children's and Young Adult Subcommittee are: Chair Christina H. Dorr, Ph.D., Hillard ( Ohio ) City School District/Kent ( Ohio ) State University; Ingrid Conley-Abrams, Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School, New York; Kathleen Breitenbach, Hamilton Township Public Library, Hamilton, N.J.; Zoe Fisher, Pierce College, Lakewood, Wash.; Amanda Foulk, Sacramento ( Calif. ) Public Library; Anna Marie Mattonen, Mid-Continent Public Library, Kansas City, Mo.; Scott Robins, Toronto ( Ontario ) Public Library; and Teresa Slobuski, Penn State Brandywine, Media, Pa.
For information on the Stonewall Book Awards — Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children's & Young Adult Literature Award and other ALA Youth Media Awards, please visit www.ala.org/yma .
The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table of the American Library Association is the oldest professional association for GLBT people in the United States. It is committed to serving the information needs of the GLBT professional library community and information and access needs of individuals at large. It is home to GLBT Book Month ( tm ), a nationwide celebration every June and the Stonewall Book Award, the oldest award honoring GLBT books. GLBTRT is committed to encouraging and supporting the free and necessary access to all information, as reflected by the missions of the American Library Association and democratic institutions.
The American Library Association is the oldest and largest library association in the world with more than 57,000 members. Its mission is to provide leadership for the development, promotion and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all.
