2020 ALA Award Winners

(2) 4-6 Jordan, an African American seventh grader from Washington Heights, confronts both covert and overt racism in his first year at a prestigious academy, but he also develops supportive relationships with classmates of different races. Artist Jordan's sketchbook is shown in interludes throughout the engaging graphic novel's main narrative; Craft's full-color comics art is dynamic and expressive. A robust, contemporary depiction of a preteen navigating sometimes hostile spaces yet staying true to himself.

Reviewer: Patrick Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2019

(1) 4-6 When military fighting comes dangerously near their Syrian hometown, Jude and her mother leave their home and family for the U.S. Jude's voice throughout this verse novel is authentic, infused with thoughtfulness, humor, determination, and hope. Her adjustment period upon arrival in America offers a realistic portrait of the strength it takes to move to a new country, as well as of the complicated dynamics between first- and second-generation immigrants. Websites. Glos.

Reviewer: Autumn Allen | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2019

(2) YA After her family is evicted (again), thirteen-year-old Genesis has to worry about a new home and school, as well as the unraveling of her family from past secrets. Teased for her dark skin and kinky hair, Genesis feels invisible, unloved, and un-pretty; her journey teaches her that beauty really is only skin deep. Williams's debut also addresses the consequences of addiction and the instability that goes along with it.

Reviewer: Monique Harris | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2019

(1) 4-6 Illustrated by Kadir Nelson. Alexander and Nelson honor the achievements, courage, and perseverance of ordinary black people as well as prominent black artists, athletes, and activists. Alexander's free-verse poem conveys a sense of pride at what his "unflappable" and "unafraid" predecessors have accomplished and what people continue to do today. Nelson's realistic oil paintings depict racial oppression in the past and present--demonstrating that racism remains deeply entrenched in America today.

Reviewer: Jonda C. McNair | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2019

(1) K-3 Illustrated by Rudy Gutierrez. After performing an "epic solo" at band practice, double-bass player Nic later joins his grandfather in the city and reprises his solo with his grandfather's band. Vibrant, dynamic illustrations accompany a text composed entirely of dialogue and sound effects. This book about a lot of things--music, determination, and the celebration of Black boyhood and family--nevertheless feels cohesive and effortless.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2019

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Daniel Minter. Lil Alan and his family are heading "down home" to the farm where Daddy was raised. Although Alan is excited to see his family, he's nervous about what to share at the celebration. With his family's help, Alan finds the right words to say. This relatable story of a multigenerational family reunion is strengthened by the acrylic-wash paintings, mixed with African symbols, of the family gathering.

Reviewer: Nicholl Denice Montgomery

(2) PS Illustrated by LeUyen Pham. This boisterous adventure is about discovery and friendships forged when least expected--all in the form of a wild log-ride. A river "didn’t know it was a river" until...Bear shows up. Bear doesn't know he's on an adventure until...a frog leaps onto his head. And so it goes until...the animals plummet over a waterfall in an exhilarating vertical spread. Pham's illustrations have a 1980s-cartoon feel yet remain fresh.

Reviewer: Julie Danielson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2019

(2) 4-6 In 1956 Clinton, Tennessee, twelve African American students integrated the all-white high school. Boyce, one of the "Clinton 12," relates (with coauthor Levy) her first-person account in free-verse passages that often include rhyme and employ various poetic forms. Newspaper headlines and clips, excerpts from the Constitution, and more appear throughout this fine addition to books about the integration of public schools during the civil rights era. Reading list, timeline. Bib.

Reviewer: Jonda C. McNair | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2019

(1) PS In this playful and informative book, a girl named Zoe speaks directly to water while considering its role inside and outside a home as well as its different forms. Portis's spare and accessible main text makes effective use of figurative language. Water's many permutations are the focus of the crisp, uncluttered, primarily aqua-colored illustrations. Back matter includes notes on conservation and water forms and a simple water cycle diagram. Reading list.

Reviewer: Julie Danielson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2019

(2) K-3 This book for emerging readers offers a subversive lesson in manners and a silly but perilous adventure. Panels and word bubbles provide comedic timing while parsing the text into digestible parts, which thoughtfully assists children new to both independent reading and the comics form. Bold outlines and exaggerated features in the illustrations accentuate the playful absurdity of the narrative in this four-chapter comedy of errors.

Reviewer: Grace McKinney | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2019

(3) PS In this celebration of books and reading, the titular pig owns many books, which he loves for their smell, texture, and pictures. It's therefore surprising to learn that he's illiterate. His discovery of library storytimes and eventual acquisition of literacy, with help from the elephant librarian, resolve his dilemma. Pizzoli's concise sentences and humorous, ingeniously detailed cartoon illustrations have great read-aloud appeal.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(3) 4-6 My Alter Ego Is a Superhero series. Translated by Kari Dickson. Illustrated by Øyvind Torseter. Rusty's beloved grandfather has just died and his fort has been ruined by neighborhood bullies, so Rusty's alter-ego, "Brown," arrives to deal with these problems. Rusty/Brown, joined eventually by friends Jack and Lou, works his way through his grief while confronting the bullies. This plentifully illustrated import from Norway is in equal measure heartbreaking, silly, realistic, and childlike.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) YA Translated by Cathy Hirano. In this Japanese-inflected fantasy, Elin's mother is killed by Toda, giant water serpents; Elin grows up to work with Royal Beasts, the gryphon-like enemies of the Toda. When the divine ruler wants to use Royal Beasts as weapons like the Toda, however, Elin rebels. An uneven start matures into a compelling, thought-provoking meditation on moral decisions and exploitation of the natural world.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(1) K-3 Using deceptively simple, repetitive verse, an enslaved girl narrates her family's daily plantation activities over a week, every morning beginning with the bell ringing--until Thursday when her brother runs away. The author communicates the complex emotions of individuals fleeing enslavement and the aftermath for those left behind. Through lush watercolors that expertly frame and highlight the characters, the reader is drawn into scenes of tenderness, joy, terror, and despair.

Reviewer: Monique Harris | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2019

(2) K-3 Illustrated by April Harrison. In this story of giving, James Otis marvels that Mama is contributing to the church's "love box" for a family in need when they have so little themselves. But hearing "what is given from the heart reaches the heart" helps James Otis start thinking differently about what he does have. Detailed, highly textured, strikingly patterned collage illustrations invite readers to linger over the pages and add depth to the characters.

Reviewer: Michelle H. Martin | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2019

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Paola Escobar. As a bilingual assistant at Nueva York's public library in 1921, Pura Belpré retells the folk stories of her native Puerto Rico at storytimes and eventually writes them down for publication. Descriptive language moves between English and Spanish seamlessly. Both text and expressive, warm illustrations carry the metaphor of planting seeds, so that readers see the seeds of Belpré's stories bloom as the biographical details unfold. Also available in Spanish. Reading list. Bib.

Reviewer: Alicia K. Long | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2019

(1) K-3 Illustrated by Zeke Peña. When Papi gets home from work, young Daisy grabs their motorcycle helmets, eager to zoom through the neighborhood before the sun goes down. Joyous digital and hand-painted watercolor illustrations capture the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and colors. The text's nuanced alliteration, its use of Spanglish, and the realistic linguistic mix in the illustrations (even the cat says both meow and miau) mark the specificity shaping Daisy's memory-making. Also available in Spanish.

Reviewer: Lettycia Terrones | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2019

(1) K-3 Colors by Elaine Bay. Little Lobo and his dog Bernabé deliver goods to their friends in the mercado. Detailed comics-style illustrations feature anthropomorphic creatures, objects, and places; colors are largely muted so they don't compete with the many items on the riotously bustling and crowded pages. Most objects are labeled in Spanish, like a visual dictionary, and cultural references (a cinema called Buñuel; Cantinflas and Frida Kahlo puppets) are interspersed throughout. Glos.

Reviewer: Alicia K. Long | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2019

(1) YA Four teens are connected by "The Freak," a mysterious girl who offers prophetic messages. Interspersed among the protagonists' voices are vignettes about a wealthy old married couple, whose sale of a legacy potato farm has brought no happiness; and two violent brothers hiding a sinister secret. With her trademark surrealism and sharp prose, King confronts her narrative concerns (racism, patriarchy, colonialism, white privilege) directly through her characters' unique (and sometimes twisted) worldviews.

Reviewer: Jennifer Hubert Swan | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2019

(1) YA Illustrated by Rosemary Valero-O'Connell. In this relatable, heart-wrenching, and often funny graphic novel, it's immediately apparent that Frederica's self-absorbed girlfriend Laura Dean is an unsuitable partner for our tenderhearted protagonist. Freddy is so consumed with seeking answers as to why Laura Dean keeps breaking up with her that she completely overlooks her in-need best friend Doodle. Black-and-white panel illustrations with pink accents feature a cast diverse in race, gender expression, and body type.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2019

(2) YA This heartfelt biography traces Ballets Russes star/choreographer Vaslav Nijinsky's (1890–1950) trajectory from lonesome childhood through his 1909 Paris debut and ensuing mega-stardom to his diagnosis of schizophrenia and institutionalization. Curlee sensitively explores Nijinsky's contradictions, including as a magnetic performer with little social grace and as a sex symbol tormented by his own sexual desires. The beautifully designed volume includes Curlee's striking jewel-toned portraits and archival photographs. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2019

(2) YA Consummate historical-fiction writer Wein here exercises her considerable skill as researcher, historian, and storyteller in a capacious history of the USSR’s three regiments of airwomen during WWII. Wein takes us deep into the training, daily lives, combat, and intense personal commitment these women experienced throughout the war. An easy, friendly writing style invites readers into the company of a formidable sisterhood. Illustrated throughout with maps and period photographs. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Deirdre F. Baker | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2019

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Kaylani Juanita. Brown-skinned (possibly biracial) Aidan, who's transgender, knows how it feels to be misunderstood, so he wants to get things right for his new sibling. Lukoff's straightforward approach to Aidan's gender transition rings with authenticity, and he puts the child-centered story ahead of message. Celebrating the family's close, affirming relationship, Juanita's vibrant digital illustrations take cues from the text, which models how to avoid the male/female binary.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2019

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Mika Song. "Henry was looking for a friend." Unfortunately, everyone is just too much: some kids are messy; others don't follow class rules. The story turns hopeful when Henry meets Katie, a quiet girl who enjoys reading. Song's pastel-hued ink and watercolor illustrations depict realistic social situations in a supportive and diverse classroom. The story never uses an autism-spectrum label for Henry, leaving readers to follow him without preconceptions.

Reviewer: Julie Hakim Azzam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2019

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Anoosha Syed. Pakistani American boy Bilal and friends help his father make daal, a thick lentil stew common in South Asia. They cook then play for hours, because "daal takes time." As they prepare, patiently wait, and enjoy the dish, Bilal's friends demonstrate open-mindedness to cultural differences. Colorful digital illustrations accentuate humorous antics in the kitchen and at play. Author's note and recipe included.

Reviewer: Julie Hakim Azzam

(2) YA Lillia's Jewish family plans to escape the Nazi threat in Warsaw for Shanghai, but when their circus is raided they're separated from Lillia's mother. Lillia starts out naive at fifteen, and DeWoskin sensitively shows her maturing and accepting the role of sole breadwinner, taking a job dancing at a club. Rich prose details 1940s Japanese-occupied Shanghai through the eyes of a first-person narrator making sense of an unfamiliar setting. Bib.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2019

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Amy June Bates. Newman tells the story ("based on two true stories") of nine-year-old Jewish immigrant Gittel's voyage to Ellis Island; details in the Old World–style illustrations, along with the appended author's note, place her home as Eastern Europe around the turn of the twentieth century. When her mother doesn't pass a health inspection, Gittel must make the journey alone. Accessible text, warm-toned art, and lavish page decorations enhance the tale of courage and kindness. Websites. Bib., glos.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(2) YA Ortiz's volume is a good introduction to progressive Supreme Court Justice Ginsburg's life, along with being a fine primer for studying the United States Constitution. Each chapter opens with an important Supreme Court case, switching midway to events in Ginsburg's biography that were relevant to that case. Many eye-catching archival photographs enhance the information. The Bill of Rights is appended for handy reference. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Dean Schneider | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2019

(2) YA Louise Wolfe--a high-school senior, budding journalist, and member of the Muscogee Nation--works on the school newspaper, where she meets half-Lebanese/half-Scottish Joey Kairouz, an ambitious photojournalist. Lou learns how to write about controversy with the school's "color-conscious" casting of its Wizard of Oz production. Lou and Joey's love story deepens over the course of the novel, and Smith effectively presents the continuous microaggressions Lou faces as a young Native woman. Glos.

Reviewer: Christina L. Dobbs | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2018

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Weshoyot Alvitre. In a cabin at the base of a mountain, multiple generations of Cherokee women await the return of their daughter/sister/mother/granddaughter, who is piloting a plane during wartime somewhere far away. While they wait, they weave, sing, and pray for her safe arrival. Sorell's poetic text is augmented by Alvitre's vivid watercolor and ink illustrations. The book captures the emotions of families separated by war while introducing readers to an often-erased part of history.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2019

(1) K-3 Illustrated by Frané Lessac. An extended family engages with activities and traditions that express gratitude and carry on Cherokee history and culture. Simultaneously, the book incorporates modernity and challenges dated images of Indigenous people. Cheerful, richly detailed gouache illustrations in bright, saturated colors cycle through the seasons. The text includes several Cherokee words (their English and Cherokee spellings, phonetic pronunciation, and definition); a complete Cherokee syllabary concludes this attractive and informative book. Glos.

Reviewer: Julie Hakim Azzam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2018