4390 or e-mail: information on the Margaret A. For more information about YALSA or to access national guidelines and other resources go to or contact the YALSA office by phone, 80, ext. The mission of the Young Adult Library Services Association (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.

and Jeanette Johnson, Oak Avenue Intermediate School, Arcadia Calif and Heather Gruenthal, Administration Assistant, Long Beach Calif. Lana Adlawan, Oakland (Calif.) Public Library Betsy Crone, Southeast Guilford Middle School Library, Greensboro, N.C. Millam, Valencia High School, Placentia, Calif. Members of the 2017 Edwards Committee are: Joy E.

Through her work at Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, Edwards demonstrated that only through literature would young adults move beyond themselves into a larger world. Edwards, a pioneer in providing library services to young adults. The award is named in honor of the late Margaret A. The award is sponsored by School Library Journal. Sarah Dessen will be honored at the YALSA Edwards Award Brunch and presented with a citation and cash prize of $2,000 during the 2017 ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition in Chicago, June 22 - 27. Readers are empowered and learn that they have the ability to overcome their challenges,” said Edwards Committee Chair, Joy Millam. Her stories lead to answers without condescension. “The teen years are often filled with anxiety, conflict, and a sense of helplessness, but Sarah Dessen’s voice brings comfort, acceptance, and love. From abandonment to domestic violence, Sarah Dessen’s work shows that family takes many forms and self-acceptance is the first step toward love. Notably, each of the honored selections is engaging and accessible while displaying high literary quality. Her voice is authentic and assumes the reader is as intelligent and multi-faceted as her characters. 20- 24, in Atlanta, Georgia.ĭessen has given teens a safe haven highlighting the many complexities teens face today. The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), announced the award today at the ALA Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits held Jan. Edwards Award honoring her significant and lasting contribution to writing for teens for “Dreamland”, “Keeping the Moon”, “Just Listen”, “The Truth About Forever”, “Along for the Ride”, “What Happened to Goodbye?”, and “This Lullaby” all published by Viking Children's Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group, a Penguin Random House Company. ALA Upcoming Annual Conferences & LibLearnXĪTLANTA – Sarah Dessen is the recipient of the 2017 Margaret A.

Related Groups, Organizations, Affiliates & Chapters.Dealing with censorship challenges at your library or need to get prepared for them? Visit our Fight Censorship page for easy-to-access resources.

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