[with apologies for cross-posting]

Ottawa, Ontario, July 15, 2002 -- The Young Adult Services Interest
Group in conjunction with the Canadian Library Association, is pleased
to announce that the winner of the Young Adult Canadian Book Award for
2001 is Stones, written by William Bell and published by Doubleday
Canada.

In Stones, we meet Garnet Havelock, a student grimly finishing what he
sees as an unnecessary high school diploma.  Garnet is used to observing
the world through a cynical eye, but his equilibrium is shattered when
he meets and falls in love with the new girl in school, Raphaella.  As
the relationship between the two develops, they become increasingly
involved in the mysterious events associated with a long- abandoned
African Methodist Church.

William Bell is the author of 12 books, and is the recipient of
numerous awards, among them the Ruth Schwartz Award for Excellence in
Children's Literature, the Manitoba Young Reader's Choice Award and the
Mr. Christie's Award.  He describes himself as a history buff, and as
"the kind of person who visits cemetaries and battlefields."  In Stones,
he has revisited an era in Ontario's past during the 1800s when an
abolitionist lieutenant governor opened up land for settlement.

The committee expressed strong praise for the book, stating of the main
character Garnet, that  "his humour, intelligence and self-awareness
make him a realistic and empathetic character who will appeal to a wide
range of readers."  The novel has a strong narrative line with
believable, engaging characters whose emotions resonate throughout the
book.

The committee would also like to recognize the excellence of this
year's submissions with the selection of two Honour books:

Seven for a Secret, by Mary Sheppard, published by Groundwood
Books/Douglas & McIntrye

Three cousins, Melinda, Rebecca and Kate look forward to spending their
summers together in Cook's Cove, a small outport village on
Newfoundland's west coast.  In their fifteenth season, the insular,
little-girl pleasures are replaced by adult issues of sexuality, family
loyalty and responsibility so that by summer's end all three are facing
a changed reality.

Dancing Naked, by Shelley Hrdlitschka, published by Orca Book
Publishers

Kia considers herself to be a compulsive journal writer.  When she
begins her first entry on January 1 she addresses what is shortly to be
confirmed as her pregnancy. This emotionally engaging story traces Kia's
new reality as she faces tough decisions and lives through them.

A list of the ten short-listed titles is available on the CLA website
at http://www.cla.ca/top/whatsnew/wnap2902_2.htm.

The Young Adult Book Award was established by the Young Adult Caucus of
the Saskatchewan Library Association in l980 and was subsequently
transferred  to the Young Adult Services Interest Group (YASIG) of the
Canadian Library Association.  The award recognizes an author of an
outstanding English language Canadian book which appeals to young adults
between the ages of 13 and 18 years of age. Some of the previous winners
have included Gayle Friesen, Beth Goobie, Tim Wynne-Jones and Katherine
Holubitsky.

The Canadian Library Association, the national English language
association representing the interests of all types of libraries and
library workers. It was founded in 1946 and is made up of 2800 members
across five constituent divisions: Canadian Association of College and
University Libraries, Canadian Association of Public Libraries,
Canadian, Association of Special Libraries and Information Services,
Canadian Library Trustees Association, and Canadian School Library
Association. Comprehensive information about the Canadian Library
Association and its programs and services, is available on the CLA web
site: http://www.cla.ca.

Media contacts:
Jennifer Johnson
Convenor, Young Adult Canadian Book Award Committee
Ottawa Public Library
18 Rosemount Avenue
Ottawa, ON K1Y 1P4
(613) 729-8664 ext. 6
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Peter Wilson
Communications Coordinator
Canadian Library Association
(613) 232-9625, ext. 320
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Canadian Library Association
328 Frank Street
Ottawa, Ontario
CANADA K2P 0X8
(613) 232-9625; Fax: (613) 563-9895
http://www.cla.ca