ALA Youth Media Awards Honor VCFA Writers
The American Library Association announced its 2021 award winners for “the top books, digital media, video and audio books for children and young adults” on January 25, and the VCFA MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults program received numerous honors.
Former faculty member Jacqueline Woodson received a Coretta Scott King Book Award; alum Tziporah Cohen is a Sydney Taylor Book Award silver medalist for No Vacancy (edited by faculty member Shelley Tanaka); alum Yamile Saied Méndez won a Pura Belpré Award for Furia; alum and former faculty member Deb Wiles won the Odyssey Award for best audiobook for Kent State; and faculty member and alum Kekla Magoon won the Edwards Award for lifetime achievement! The ALA describes this award as recognizing “an author’s work in helping adolescents become aware of themselves and addressing questions about their role and importance in relationships, society, and in the world.” Magoon joins Jacqueline Woodson and trustee M.T. Anderson on the list of Edwards Award winners.
Congratulations to our always impressive WCYA community and this year’s honorees!
To learn more, check out the ALA press release.
