Youth Media Awards. But books for adults, too!

American Library Association 2013 Youth Media Awards announced yesterday.

Recently, there has been a trend for Young Adult books to crossover into the adult market: The Hunger Games, Twilight and Divergent series.

Yesterday, the American Library Association made its annual announcement of media awards for youth.  Included are the popular Newbery and Caldecott Medal and Honor books.  Always hits with the kids, these new 'classics' become popular in school curricula and the wait lists for them at libraries grow.

However, these lists warrant more examination featuring the Coretta Scott King award recognizing an African-American author and literature that excels for youth;  the Michael L. Printz award for excellence in literature for Young Adults;  the Schneider family book award for books embodying expression of the disability experience;  Stonewall Book Award to books of exceptional merit relating to the LGBT community;  Alex awards for adult books that appeal to teens and so much more!

If you look at the Alex awards, specifically, they address a little-discussed reversed crossover that we need to encourage.  While teen fiction is fine and any type of reading is the good kind of reading for kids, we need to remember that our teens are a hybrid of children and adults.  To that end, it's important for them to read solid literature, not only of the classic, assigned variety that they analyze and discuss at school.  They also should be exposed to modern concepts and authors.  Contemporary themes of their choosing NOT geared toward a teenaged psyche.

The Alex awards tap a unique need.  What current books might appeal to my teenager?  In fact, one of the books listed won the National Book Award.  Another has topped bestseller lists and is making the rounds at book clubs.  They are of a variety of topics and genres.  Teenagers are not different from adults when you realize they want to engage and talk about issues.  Their minds are maturing and they understand just as much as we do.  Or at least they want to.  It's not all about vampires, post-apocalyptic worlds and tacky relationships.  As well it shouldn't be.

Do not underestimate the library, the ALA and what they have for you.  Look at these lists.  Find something new and noteworthy.  Pick a book with your teen or tween and read it aloud together or read it concurrently and discuss it.  And if you have young children, find one for them.  These lists have so many from which to choose.  Reading isn't a chore.  It's an experience.

I read, therefore I am,
the lowercase b