JLG selections shine in 2019 Boston Globe-Horn Book awards

The 52nd-annual Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards (BGHB) were announced at the end of May, showcasing nine outstanding books in three categories: Picture Book, Fiction and Poetry, and Nonfiction. Congratulations to all of the winners—and a virtual standing ovation for the JLG titles recognized this year. Seven out of the nine BGHB winners and honorees are JLG Gold Standard Selections!

Winning BGHB titles represent the best of the best in children’s and young adult literature, so seeing our selections among the winners is a true testament to the quality and caliber of titles our editorial team chooses for JLG’s collection.

“By sharing their talents, each of the award winners and honorees is inspiring the imaginations of young readers. We celebrate each of them for the contributions they’ve made to the literary community,” says Linda Henry, Boston Globe Managing Director.

We couldn’t agree more. Among the recognized BGHB books are these JLG Gold Standard Selections:

• The Season of Styx Malone by Kekla Magoon - Award-winner, Fiction/Poetry
  (category: Upper Elementary & Junior High)
• The Promise of Change: One Girl’s Story in the Fight for School Equality by Jo Ann Allen Boyce and Debbie Levy - Award-winner, Nonfiction
  (category: Advanced Readers Plus)
• We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga written by Traci Sorell; illustrated by Frané Lessac - Honor book, Picture Book
  (category: Character Building Elementary)
• Dreamers by Yuyi Morales - Honor book, Picture Book
  (category: Nonfiction Early Elementary)
• Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram - Honor book, Fiction/Poetry
  (category: Young Adults)
• On the Come Up by Angie Thomas - Honor book, Fiction/Poetry
  (category: High-Interest High Plus)
• Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett J. Krosoczka - Honor book, Nonfiction
  (category: Graphic Novels High Plus)
  

It is wonderful to see that among this collection of recognized titles are such creative, thoughtful and varied approaches to introducing and discussing diversity in ways that are accessible to younger readers. Case in point: Roger Sutton, Editor in Chief at The Horn Book, Inc., says this year’s BGHB books reflect “diversity with a small and capital D.”

Take Nonfiction award-winner The Promise of Change, for instance. This title crosses the genre lines into all three BGHB categories: it’s a true story, told through vivid pictures and written in poetic verse. In this acclaimed book, Jo Ann Allen Boyce recounts her experiences as one of 12 African-American students who integrated into a Tennessee school in 1956—becoming the group’s unexpected spokesperson when tension among the townspeople threatened to send them back to their old school. This selection is part of JLG’s Advanced Readers Plus category for readers in grades 6-9.

Similarly, Picture Book honorees We Are Grateful and Dreamers blend Nonfiction and striking imagery to tell the stories of The Cherokee Nations’ seasonal customs and a Mexican immigrant’s journey to build a life for herself and her infant son, respectively. These selections are part of our Character-Building Elementary (grades 2-6) and Nonfiction Early Elementary (grades K-2) categories.

We commend these authors and illustrators for broadening the diversity conversation and congratulate them again on their BGHB wins! Winners and honorees will receive their awards in October at the official awards ceremony at Simmons University in Boston.

Read more about how JLG works and why 95% of the titles selected by our editorial team go on to win accolades, starred reviews, awards and honors.