From: Roger Sutton <rsutton>
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 1996 15:12:11 -0600 (CST)

On 27 Feb 1996, Marc Aronson (14) wrote:
[re awarding of Batchelder Honor to DAMNED STRONG LOVE] . . . Rather than pointing out something that ALSC does not do (per its charge to concern itself with children from 0, as Marc pointed out) it might be more profitable to examine why YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association), which covers young people aged 12, does not currently have any kind of award for which "literary distinction"--however you want to define it--is a primary criterion. This is an old argument within YALSA, which has often avoided anything that seemed to smack of elitism, but I understand that there has recently been a move to award some kind of "Elderberry" medal for YA writing. If I remember right, the funding for the award has been offered as a bequest in Amelia Elizabeth Walden's will, but she is not dead yet, and I believe wanted something in the terms to limit the award to books that offered "hope." (Perhaps someone more involved with YALSA could confirm that I`m not just making this up!).

I wonder, though, if publishers would welcome and support such an award. Would it be seen as "second class"? To paraphrase Millie Jackson, would it be a case of "All things being equal, ladies--wouldn`t you rather have a Newbery?"

Roger Sutton Editor here and there
Received on Wed 28 Feb 1996 03:12:11 PM CST