Lerner Publishing Group Wins Printz Honor and Batchelder Honor
January 28, 2019
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Lerner Publishing Group has received two 2019 American Library Association (ALA) Youth Media Awards. The ALA announced at the Midwinter Meeting in Seattle today that I, Claudia by Mary McCoy is the recipient of a Michael L. Printz Honor, and My Beijing: Four Stories of Everyday Wonder by Nie Jun is the recipient of a Mildred L. Batchelder Honor.
I, Claudia, written by Mary McCoy and published in 2018 by Carolrhoda Lab®, an imprint of Lerner Publishing Group™, is the recipient of a Michael L. Printz Honor, which awards books that exemplify literary excellence in young adult literature. Named one of Booklist’s Top 10 YA Books for Adults and one of Kirkus Reviews’ Best Teen Books of 2018, I, Claudia—based loosely upon the seminal novel I, Claudius by Robert Graves—tells the story of disaffected teen historian Claudia McCarthy. Inadvertently pulled into her high school’s tumultuous Senate and powerful Honor Council, Claudia finds herself in positions of authority she never dreamed she’d hold. As she struggles with scandal, teen tyrants, and thorny political dilemmas, Claudia tries to be a force for good—but she’s about to find out if absolute power really does corrupt absolutely. Mary McCoy’s absorbing tale sheds light on authoritarianism through the story of a shrewd teen who uses ingenious methods to tell her version of history.
My Beijing: Four Stories of Everyday Wonder, by Nie Jun and published in 2018 by Graphic Universe™, an imprint of Lerner Publishing Group™, is the recipient of a Mildred L. Batchelder Honor, which awards the publishers of the most outstanding children’s books originally published in a foreign language in a foreign country and translated into English. Originally published by the Gallimard Jeunesse in 2016, My Beijing was translated into English by Edward Gauvin. Named a 2018 New York Times Notable Children’s Book, My Beijing introduces readers to Yu’er, a small girl with big hopes; her grandfather, whose heart is as open as his imagination; and their hutong in Beijing, where stories and magic pop up around every corner. Master cartoonist Nie Jun’s interconnected stories of swimming through the air, bug concerts, and swapped dentures bring to life a neighborhood where “all the boys and girls have their own big dreams…no matter how old they really are.”
“We are thrilled to receive a Printz Honor and a Batchelder Honor in the same year,” said Adam Lerner, Publisher and CEO of Lerner Publishing Group. “The quality and diverse stories that I, Claudia and My Beijing share are a treasure for readers of all ages. Congratulations to Mary McCoy and Nie Jun on these well-deserved awards, and thank you to the Printz and Batchelder committee members for their dedication and recognition of remarkable children’s books.”
For more information about I, Claudia and My Beijing, visit lernerbooks.com.
About Carolrhoda Lab®
Carolrhoda Lab®, an imprint of Lerner Publishing Group™, is dedicated to publishing distinctive, exceptional fiction for teens.
About Graphic Universe™
Graphic Universe™, an imprint of Lerner Publishing Group™, creates high-interest fiction and nonfiction titles through supreme graphic novel artwork and story lines created by experienced artists of this genre.
About Lerner Publishing Group™
Founded in 1959, Lerner Publishing Group™ is one of the nation’s largest independent children’s book publishers with fourteen imprints. For more information, visit lernerbooks.com or call 800-328-4929.
Follow Lerner Publishing Group online:
Blog: lernerbooks.blog
Twitter: @LernerBooks
Facebook: Lerner Publishing Group
To purchase I, Claudia or My Beijing please visit your local bookstore, order by phone at 800-328-4929, or visit us online at lernerbooks.com.
Media contact:
Lindsay Matvick
Publicity Manager
800-328-4929, x385
lmatvick@lernerbooks.com