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ATLANTA– “Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Hammer of Thor” by Rick Riordan, published by Disney Hyperion, an imprint of Disney Book Group and “If I Was Your Girl” by Meredith Russo and published by Flatiron Books, are the 2017 recipients of the Stonewall Book Awards – Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s & Young Adult Literature Award, respectively. The award was announced today by the �������ϲʿ���app’s () Stonewall Book Awards Committee of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Round Table, during the Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits held Jan. 20 - 24, in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Stonewall Book Awards are given annually to English-language works of exceptional merit for children or teens relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience. The award will be presented to the winning authors or editors at the �������ϲʿ���app Annual Conference & Exhibition in Chicago in June.

“The Youth Subcommittee selected the two titles that not only showcased exceptional merit relating to the queer youth experience, but also represented the stories we need in our libraries and in the hands of our children and teens.” said Stonewall Book Awards Youth Subcommittee Chair Casey McCoy.

In Magnus’s second adventure, Rick Riordan introduces readers to Alex Fierro, a gender fluid teen who has “startling eyes, an impressive sweater-vest, and a tendency to hit people” (54). Alex is a hero and represents the expansive possibilities of gender for future generations.

In “If I Was Your Girl,” Meredith Russo tells the story of Amanda Hardy, a transgender teen who moves to rural Tennessee for a fresh start. Groundbreaking for its skill and authentic representation, this book displays the complexity, power, and hope possible when authors’ #ownvoices are reflected in their art.

Three Stonewall Book Awards – Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s & Young Adult Award Honor Books were named:

“When the Moon Was Ours” written by Anna-Marie McLemore and published by Thomas Dunne Books, an imprint of St. Martin’s Press.

“Unbecoming” written by Jenny Downham and published by Scholastic Inc. by arrangement with David Fickling Books.

“Pride: Celebrating Diversity & Community” written by Robin Stevenson and published by Orca Book Publishers.

The members of the 2017 Stonewall Book Awards Children’s and Young Adult Subcommittee are: Chair Nel Ward, retired, Newport, Ore.; Subcommittee Chair Casey McCoy, San Jose (Calif.) Public Library; Darryn Diuguid, Ph.D., McKendree University, Lebanon, Ill.; Christina H. Dorr, Ph.D., Hilliard (Ohio) City School District; Kyle Lukoff, Corlears School Library, New York; Angie M. Manfredi, Los Alamos (N.M.) County Library System; Marian Mays, Washington Talking Book & Braille Library, Seattle; Joel Shoemaker, Oakwood (Ill.) Public Library District; Talya Sokoll, Noble and Greenough School, Dedham, Mass.; Hillary St George, Los Angeles Public Library; and Gabriela Toth, H.W. Wilson/EBSCO Core Collections, Ipswich, Mass.

For information on the Stonewall Book Awards – Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s & Young Adult Literature Award and other Youth Media Awards, please visit .

The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table of the �������ϲʿ���app is the oldest professional association for GLBT people in the United States. It is committed to serving the information needs of the GLBT professional library community and information and access needs of individuals at large. It is home to GLBT Book Month (tm), a nationwide celebration every June and the Stonewall Book Award, the oldest award honoring GLBT books. GLBTRT is committed to encouraging and supporting the free and necessary access to all information, as reflected by the missions of the �������ϲʿ���app and democratic institutions.

The �������ϲʿ���app is the oldest and largest library association in the world with more than 57,000 members. Its mission is to provide leadership for the development, promotion and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all.

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