Resources for excellence in YA literature

There are numerous young adult literature awards that honor excellence in literature for young adult readers. Some are very well known and more prestigious, such as the Printz Award and the Newbery Medal. But some recognize works of a more specific nature and some honor an author's career contributions. A list of these awards can be found on the Young Adult Library Services webpage.

The Edwards Award honors authors and their body of work, with the focus being on how these writers help adolescents understand themselves and the world around them. Previous honorees include Lois Lowry, Cynthia Voigt, and Jacqueline Woodson. The Morris Award is relatively new (2009) and was started to draw attention to outstanding debut works by writers new to YA literature. Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Readers isn't an award, but it is an excellent reader's advisory reference for parents, teachers, librarians, and students.

One of my favorites is Teen's Top Ten because it is a list created by teens, for teens. Another interesting list is Outstanding Books for the College Bound which is developed every five years. The list has 5 subcategories: Arts and Humanities, History and Cultures, Literature and Language Arts, Science and Technology, and Social Sciences.

#textbookreflection #awardsreflection