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[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 [log in to unmask] Peter Wilson Communications Coordinator Canadian Library Association (613) 232-9625, ext. 320 [log in to unmask] Canadian Library Association 328 Frank Street Ottawa, Ontario CANADA K2P 0X8 (613) 232-9625; Fax: (613) 563-9895 http://www.cla.ca