The contenders for the 2016 national book award for young peoples literature include a novel in verse about a twelveyearold soccer nut, an illustrated adventure story that draws on chinese. American born chinese author gene luen yang on writing. Jacqueline woodson at the 2009 national book festival. More about this book young peoples literature finalist national book awards 20. Gene luen yang named the fifth national ambassador for. The national ambassador for young peoples literature is an initiative of the library of congress, in partnership with every child a reader and the childrens book council, with generous support from dollar general literacy foundation. An excerpt from gene luen yangs graphic novel american born chinese 2006. Jason reynolds attends the 70th national book awards ceremony and benefit dinner at cipriani wall street on wednesday, nov. New york, ny, january 4, 2016the childrens book council cbc, every child a reader ecar, and the center for the book in the library of congress cfb have announced the appointment of gene luen yang, printz award winner and twotime national book award finalist, as national ambassador for young peoples literature.
Graphic novelist gene luen yang, the national ambassador for young peoples literature, is pushing k12 students to read books that help them consider other perspectives on the human condition. The son of chinese immigrants, yang is the first graphic novelist to hold the position since it was created in 2008. Gene luen yangs inaugural speech as national ambassador. As part of booklist readers ongoing partnership with the american writers museum in chicago, well be providing readers with exclusive interviews from authors featured in the museums my america. The 2016 national book awards finalists the new yorker. Gene yang on being named ambassador for young peoples.
He is the author of the secret coders series and has written for the hit comics avatar. In 2016, yang won the prestigious macarthur fellows award for bringing diverse people and cultures to childrens and young adult literature and confirming comics place as an important creative and. He was an established figure in the indie comics scene when he published his first book with first second, american born chinese, which is now in print in over ten languages. He has since written and drawn a number of titles, including duncans kingdom with art by derek kirk kim and the rosary comic book. In january 2016, yang began serving a twoyear term as national ambassador for young peoples literature, a program organized by the childrens book council, every child a reader, and the center for the book in the library of congress. The childrens book council, every child a reader, and the center for the book in the library of congress have announced that gene luen yang, printz award winner and twotime national book award finalist, has been named national ambassador for young peoples literature.
Yang has produced fulllength graphic novels, short stories, and serial comics, many of which explore presentday and historical events through a contemporary chinese. Gene luen yang is an especially compelling author to write a comic book that unambiguously tackles racism. National book foundation, presenter of the national book. At 42 years old, gene luen yang already has been a lot of things a computer programmer, a teacher, a graphic novelist, a national book award finalist and soon, an ambassador. As the library of congress fifth national ambassador for young peoples literature, he advocates for the importance of reading, especially reading diversely. Colson whitehead, jacqueline woodson and rita dove are just three of the authors on the shortlists for the national book awards. National ambassador for young peoples literature, 20162017. A selection of national book award finalists and winners from 20052015. The library of congress, in collaboration with the childrens book council cbc and every child a reader, will inaugurate the new national ambassador for young peoples literature on tuesday, jan. The national book foundation presented the 2011 national book awards at a ceremony at cipriani wall street in new york city with user created clips from this video november 16, 2016. Library of congress anoints graphic novelist as ambassador. American born chineses critical and commercial success, along with its status as a national book award finalist and winner of the printz award, catapulted yang.
It was the first graphic novel to be nominated for a national book award and the first to win the american library associations printz award. Gene luen yang burst on the graphic novel scene in 2006 with the eisneraward winning american born chinese, a brilliant memoir about growing up as an asian american. He is the first ever graphic novelist to be named to the position. Celebrated graphic novelist gene luen yang is next chubb. Gene luen yang, a graphic novelist and a twotime finalist for the national book award, has been named the library of congress fifth national. Two years ago, gene luen yang made a particular splash at the national book festival. Gene luen yang is the firstever graphic novelist to be named national. Graphic novelist gene luen yang to be featured at east. Gene luen yang is the national ambassador for young peoples literature and is a macarthur fellow, a recipient of whats popularly known as the macarthur genius grant. Gene yangs american born chinese, from first second books, becomes the first graphic novel to be nominated for a national book award in the category of young peoples literature.
Abcs instant critical and commercial success, along with its status as a national book award finalist and winner of the printz prize, catapulted yang into stardom as. Gene luen yang writes, and sometimes draws, comic books and graphic novels. National ambassador for young peoples literature read. January 4, 2016 gene luen yang named fifth national ambassador for young peoples literature, 20162017 yang champions diversity with his platform, reading without walls press contact. Colson whiteheads the underground railroad led the 2016 national book award shortlist on thursday morning as expected. Awardwinning graphic novelist encourages kids to read. Graphic novelist named national ambassador for young. I began making comics and graphic novels in the fifth grade. Gene luen yang is an american comic artist and writer whose graphic novel american born chinese was a 2006 finalist for the national book award in the young peoples literature category, the first graphic novel to be nominated for a national book award, and was awarded the 2007 members choice award from the asian american literary awards. Gene luen yang, the 2016 national ambassador for young peoples.
In 2006, my book american born chinese was published by first second books it became the first graphic novel to be nominated for a national book award and the first to win the american library associations printz award. The library of congress, the childrens book council cbc and every child a reader ecar have announced the appointment of gene luen yang, printz award winner and twotime national book award finalist, as the national ambassador for young peoples literature. Gene luen yang gets 2016 genius grant publishers weekly. Do you want to run march math madness with the kids in your class. Yang is named national ambassador for young peoples literature. Times book prize and was a national book award finalist. Sep 22, 2016 cartoonist gene luen yang, author of the ya graphic novels american born chinese and boxers and saints, both nominated for national book awards, was among 23 recipients of this year s. Paths and portals at the 2016 library of congress book festival in washington, d. Gene luen yang is rightly called a master of the comics form, and this book will cement that reputation. Awardwinning graphic novelist encourages kids to read outside. Top gene luen yang, national ambassador for young peoples literature 201617.
Cartoonist gene luen yang, author of the ya graphic novels. In 2006, his graphic novel, american born chinese a memoir about growing up as an asian american became the first graphic novel to win the american library associations printz award. Last month, the new yorker announced the longlists for the 2016 national book awards in the categories of young peoples literature, poetry, nonfiction, and fiction. Cartoonist gene luen yang, author of the ya graphic novels american born chinese and boxers and saints, both nominated for national book awards, was among 23 recipients of this years macarthur. In 1997, he received the xeric grant, a prestigious comics industry grant, for gordon yamamoto and the king of the geeks, his first comics work as an adult. Colson whitehead leads national book awards fiction. New york, ny, january 4, 2016the childrens book council cbc, every. How new macarthur genius gene luen yang is teaching our kids with comics working selfportrait sketches by gene luen yang. Gene luen yang, teacher, cartoonist and author, began drawing comic books in the fifth grade and in 1997 received a xeric grant for his first comic, gordon yamamoto and the king of the geeks. Later, american born chinese would become the first graphic novel to be honored with the prestigious michael l.
This week, the library of congress appointed graphic novelist gene luen yang as the 20152016 national ambassador for young peoples literature. National ambassador for young peoples literature to be. Ambassador emeritus gene luen yang will participate in the ceremony and deliver comments on his. Gene luen yang named national ambassador for young people. It was a finalist for a national book award and it. Gene luen yang began drawing comic books in the fifth grade. Born chinese 2006 became the first graphic novel to be named a national book award finalist a feat he repeated more. Gene yang, graphic novelist and recently appointed national ambassador for young peoples literature, talks about getting young people to read and his own writing and reading habits. Gene luen yang, the national ambassador for young peoples literature, will be featured at the east baton rouge parish librarys 39th annual authorillustrator program oct. Gene yang began drawing comic books in the fifth grade. A video interview with gene luen yang reading rockets. Graphic novelist gene luen yang wins genius award the. Gene luen yang is a graphic novelist and cartoonist whose work for young adults demonstrates the potential of comics to broaden our understanding of diverse cultures and people. Gene luen yang is the library of congress latest national ambassador for young peoples literature, making him the first graphic novelist to hold the position since it was created in 2008.
Every two years, the childrens book council chooses a beloved author to be the national ambassador for young peoples literature. National book awards week is held every midnovember. Gene luen yang, a graphic novelist, cartoonist, and author of the awardwinning american born chinese a graphic novel chronicling the challenges of growing up asian american was recently named the fifth national ambassador for young peoples literature for 2016 by the childrens book council, every child a reader ecar, and the center for the book in the library of congress. The 2016 macarthur genius grants have been awarded, and gene luen yang just became the third graphic novelist ever to receive a fellowship from the macarthur foundation. Gene luen yang named 5th national ambassador for young. Jason reynolds, the 202021 national ambassador for young peoples literature, is the seventh writer to hold this position. Yang the national ambassador for young peoples literature, the first graphic novelist to be so honored since the post was created in 2008. He discusses how he was inspired by dwayne mcduffie who was. Graphic novelist gene luen yang was chosen for a 2016 macarthur. A macarthur fellow, yang has produced fulllength graphic novels, short stories, and serial comics, many of which explore presentday and historical events through a contemporary chinese american lens. American born chinese, his first graphic novel from first second books, was a national book award finalist, as well as the winner of the printz award and an eisner award. He was asked to give a speech at the events fridaynight gala, ahead of such literary luminaries as e. Hangout with twotime national book award finalist gene. This year, gene luen yang, author of new classics like.
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