Ashley Bryan’s FREEDOM OVER ME and Neal Shusterman’s SCYTHE win major ALA awards!

What do Ashley Bryan and Neal Shusterman have in common? This year they are both recipients of ALA awards.

This year, ALA (the American Library Association) held their Midwinter Meeting in Atlanta, where the major children's and young adult book awards were announced today. Among the winners were two Balkin Buddies authors: Ashley Bryan and Neal Shusterman.

Ashley Bryan's FREEDOM OVER ME: ELEVEN SLAVES, THEIR LIVES AND DREAMS BROUGHT TO LIFE BY ASHLEY BRYAN (Caitlyn Dlouhy/Simon and Shuster) was named not only a Newbery Honor book but a Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book and also a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book -- something that is highly unusual, but very understandable given this incredible book.

Neal Shusterman's SCYTHE (Simon & Schuster), the first title in the Arc of a Scythe series, was a Michael L. Printz Honor Book. Neal is also an amazing author whose books are devoured by teens across the country.

Please join us in congratulating Ashley and Neal on earning awards that are considered to be the most outstanding contribution to children's literature!