Press Release
For Immediate Release
Watching Jimmy wins CLA’s Book of the
Year for Children Award
(
Ottawa,
April 15, 2010) – From a superb
collection of children’s literature produced by Canadian authors
and publishers in 2009, the Canadian Library Association / Association
canadienne des bibliothèques (CLA/ACB) has selected its 2010
winning title for the Book of the Year for Children Award.
This year’s winner is
Watching
Jimmy by Nancy Hartry, published by Tundra Books.
Eleven-year-old Carolyn takes on
the responsibility of Watching Jimmy after witnessing the incident that
leaves her best friend brain-damaged and unable to
communicate. Although Aunt Jean,
Jimmy’s mother, ostensibly acts as babysitter while
Carolyn’s mother works factory shifts, it is Carolyn who becomes a
caregiver, protecting Jimmy from further harm, particularly on
“Ted-days”, the days when Aunt Jean’s brother comes to
visit.
“Though frugal with
her words,” commended Helen Kubiw, Chair of the Book of the Year
for Children Award Committee, “Nancy Hartry packs much intensity
into them, superbly depicting the hardships of her characters’
lives without demanding sympathy from her readers.”
Taking place in post-war 1958, Watching Jimmy
exposes the vulnerabilities of those with secrets and the
vulnerabilities of a society reconciling itself to war-time losses and
the necessity for establishing social support programs, such as
medi-care.
The CLA’s Book of the Year
for Children Award has also selected two Honour Books this
year: Vanishing
Girl by Shane Peacock (published by Tundra Books) and
Faery Rebels: Spell Hunter by R.
J. Anderson (published by
HarperCollins).
Vanishing
Girl is Shane Peacock’s third book in The Boy
Sherlock Holmes series. Preceded by Eye of the Crow (2007) and Death in
the Air (2008), the fabulously well-paced Vanishing Girl finds a young
Sherlock attempting to help locate the missing 14-year-old daughter of
Lord and Lady Rathbone. Still under the tutelage of Sigerson Bell, the
apothecary, Sherlock continues to develop his amazing skills of
detection. But, brilliantly advanced by
Peacock, it is Sherlock’s exploration of his motivations,
particularly those revolving around the lovely Irene Doyle, nasty
Malefactor and the pompous policeman, Lestrade, that help him solve the
mystery.
Faery Rebels: Spell
Hunter is the first in a series by newcomer R. J.
Anderson. Anderson’s rich tale, spiked with humour and flavourful
language, tells of the faeries of the Oak who, for fear of death or
losing their powers, rarely leave, except as dictated by their
queen. Knife, who as a girl, left the Oak
and was seen by a human boy, has become the Queen's Hunter and now
freely leaves the Oak regularly. Knife
becomes reacquainted with the boy, Paul, now a young man in a
wheelchair. With Paul's help and a number of
diaries, Knife learns the truth of the "Sundering", the event that cost
the faeries their magic.
The CLA award committee salutes the
efforts and accomplishments of all Canadian writers of children’s
literature and their publishers for providing our children with an
exceptional collection of quality books that easily meets the interests
and reading abilities of all children.
The CLA Children’s Book of
the Year Award has been presented annually since its inception in 1947
to recognize excellence in children's books written and published in
Canada during the preceding year. This year’s award, generously
sponsored by Library Services Centre of Kitchener, Ontario, will be
presented to Nancy Hartry for Watching Jimmy on June 3, 2010 during the CLA
National Conference and Tradeshow in Edmonton.
The Canadian Library Association /
Association canadienne des bibliothèques is Canada’s largest
national and broad-based library association, representing the interests
of public, academic, school and special libraries, professional
librarians and library workers, and all those concerned with enhancing
the quality of life of Canadians through information and
literacy.
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Media contacts:
Helen Kubiw
Chair, Book of the Year for Children Award Committee
helen.kubiw@ugdsb.on.ca
