Cover Photo: “Brownstone” by Samuel Teer was the top winner of the annual Michael L. Printz Award recently. The novel is currently available for loan at the Stratford Library.
Stratford Library Teen Librarian Jacqueline Bush recently chaired a national committee that selected the winner of the prestigious Michael L. Printz Award. The award is administered annually by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) and is sponsored by Booklist Magazine.
The Michael L. Printz Award exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature. The award, first given in 2000, is named for the late Michael L. Printz, a Topeka, Kansas, school librarian known for discovering and promoting quality books for young adults.
For the Printz Award, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, Bush and her committee selected “Brownstone” by Samuel Teer and illustrated by Mar Julia as its top winner. Four other selections were chosen for Printz Honor Books including “Bright Red Fruit” by Safia Elhillo, “Compound Fracture” by Andrew Joseph White, “The Deep Dark” by Molly Knox Ostertag and “Road Home” by Rex Ogle.
Bush has been with the Stratford Library as a Teen Services Librarian for five years. She received her MLS from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis with a specialization in Children’s Services. She has worked in technical services, reference, children’s and teen services in various libraries, including the Wethersfield Public Library for two years as their teen librarian. Previously Bush served on the ALA Graphic Novels and Comics Roundtable in 2018-2019, and also served on YALSA’S Great Graphic Novels for Teens committee.
