Author Paulo Coelho has made a series of videos on writing. Here’s the first one:
Earlier this week, the winners of the American Library Association (ALA)’s top children’s and teens awards were announced at their annual midwinter conference. It’s the most exciting day of the year for those of us who love kid’s lit as the Caldecott, Printz, and Newbery are akin to the film industry’s Oscars®.
However above and beyond these three awards, the ALA also recognizes a number of other authors/titles for their recent contributions to the young adult genre. While perhaps less recognizable they’re no less important. These honors include:
The Stonewall Book Award recognizes English-language children’s and young adult books of exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience. One winner and four Honor books were announced:
- Winner: Putting Makeup on the Fat Boy by Bil Wright
- a + e 4ever by Ilike Merey
- Money Boy by Paul Yee
- Pink by Lili Wilkinson
- With or Without You by Brian Farrey
The William C. Morris Award is given to exceptional debuts by first-time authors writing for teens. One winner and four finalists were announced:
- Winner: Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley (al
so won the Printz Award!)
- The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson
- Paper Covers Rock by Jenny Hubbard
- Under the Mesquite by Guadalupe Garcia Mccall
- Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
The YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults honors the best nonfiction book published for young adults between the ages of 12 and 18. One winner and four finalists were announced:
- Winner: The Notorious Benedict Arnold: A True Story of Adventure, Heroism & Treachery by Steve Sheinkin
- Sugar Changed the World: A Story of Magic, Spice, Slavery, Freedom, and Science by Marc Aronson and Marina Budhos
- Bootleg: Murder, Moonshine, and the Lawless Years of Prohibition by Karen Blumenthal
- Wheels of Change: How Women Rode the Bicycle to Freedom (With a Few Flat Tires Along the Way) by Sue Macy
- Music Was It: Young Leonard Bernstein by Susan Goldman Rubin
Last but certainly not least, Susan Cooper, author of the Dark is Rising sequence, received the Margaret A. Edwards award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults.
Thanks to all for their amazing contributions to young adult literature and, of course, congratulations!
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences should tack a couple more words onto that mildly pretentious name of theirs… The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and books. This morning, the Academy announced their nominees for the Oscars, and books were well-represented. In fact, many of the nominated movies started out as books.
Take a look at the Best Picture category alone. Here’s the full list of Best Picture nominees - movies that started out as books are in bold.
“The Artist”
“The Descendants”
“Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close”
“The Help”
“Hugo”
“Midnight in Paris”
“Moneyball”
“The Tree of Life”
“War Horse”
That’s 6 out of 9, a whopping two-thirds. And that’s just for Best Picture. Below is a full tally of Oscar-nominated movies that originated from books (links to the books provided; let me know in the comments if I missed anything). And these books are drawing A-level talent— George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Brad Pitt, and Martin Scorcese to name a few. Book lovers, be proud!
Best Picture
Actor in a Leading Role (George Clooney)
Directing
Film Editing
Writing (Adapted screenplay)
Best Picture
Actor in a Leading Role (Brad Pitt)
Actor in a Supporting Role (Jonah Hill)
Film Editing
Actor in a Leading Role (Gary Oldman)
Music (original score)
Writing (Adapted screenplay)
Actress in a Leading Role (Michelle Williams)
Actor in a Supporting Role (Kenneth Branagh)
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
Best Picture
Actor in a Supporting Role (Max von Sydow)
Actress in a Leading Role (Glenn Close)
Actress in a Supporting Role (Janet McTeer)
Makeup
Best Picture
Actress in a Leading Role (Viola Davis)
Actress in a Supporting Role (Jessica Chastain and Octavia Spencer)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Actress in a Leading Role (Rooney Mara)
Cinematography
Film Editing
Sound Editing
Sound Mixing
The Iron Lady
-
There have been many books written about Margaret Thatcher, but screenplay writer Abi Morgan doesn’t seem to have called out any one in particular. If you’re interested in Margaret Thatcher, you shouldn’t have trouble finding books about her here.
Actress in a Leading Role (Meryl Streep)
Makeup
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Art Direction
Makeup
Visual Effects
Best Picture
Directing
Film Editing
Art Direction
Cinematography
Costume Design
Music (Original score)
Sound Editing
Sound Mixing
Visual Effects
Writing (Adapted screenplay)
Best Picture
Art Direction
Cinematography
Music (Original score)
Sound Editing
Sound Mixing
Anonymous
The movie questions whether Shakespeare was the author of his plays, putting forth the oft-contested theory that Edward De Vere, Earl of Oxford was the true source behind the brilliance. There’s no book directly linked to the film, but James Shapiro’s Contested Will provides good further reading on the subject.
Costume Design
Costume Design
Music (Original Score)
Sound Editing
Visual Effects
Animated Feature Film
