The ALA Youth Media Awards and You

So today many of us were up early watching the live webcast or following closely on Facebook and Twitter as the American Library Association announced its award winners.

Boy was I off. I managed to predict one Alex award winner (THE REAPERS ARE THE ANGELS by Alden Bell) and a Coretta Scott King Author honor (YUMMY by G. Neri) in my predictions post. Librarians are always surprising me.

I'm psyched about the Printz honor for PLEASE IGNORE VERA DIETZ (Knopf, 2010) by A.S. King -- it was already going to be my next read, and now I'm even more excited to curl up with it. I've read the first page, and that alone is worthy of acclaim.

After the awards were announced, I decided I could buy a book. One book from the list. And I picked NOTHING by Janne Teller (Atheneum, 2010), which not only garnered a Printz Honor but a Batchelder Honor for excellence in translation in children's literature. It sounds freaking awesome and I love reading books that were translated into English -- there's something really different and interesting about that experience, both culturally and literarily.

Admittedly, I'm already thinking of breaking my rule and buying THE FREAK OBSERVER by Blythe Woolston (Carolrhoda LAB, 2010), which won the William C. Morris Award, which is given to a debut novel. How cool, that it went to an author with a small press, too! I'm on the lookout for this title, for sure.

So what did you think of this year's winners? Any surprises? Are you eager to read/buy any of the titles? I'm especially wondering if teens are affected by awards like this, or if they ignore the shiny stickers and the press and just buy what they like. Tell me!