La. man’s first book wins literary prize

John Corey Whaley, of Springhill, La., gave himself a year to be an author.

“I guess that changed today,” said Whaley, who, at age 28, won the American Library Association’s prestigious Michael L. Printz Award on Monday for excellence in literature written for young adults.

“Where Things Come Back,” about a teenage boy whose brother goes missing in a small Louisiana town, is his debut novel. The ALA described the book as a “witty,” “sardonic,” “groundbreaking coming-of-age tale.”

Jack Gantos was likewise “having a really gold star day,” he said, after receiving word he’d won the Newbery — an award kept “in bolt-clamped secrecy” until the wee hours Monday morning.

The 60-year-old took the ALA’s John Newbery Medal for most outstanding contribution to children’s literature for his comedic historic novel, “Dead End in Norvelt” — a book the ALA described as “an achingly funny romp through a dingy New Deal town.”

In his decades-long career writing for young adult and middle-grade readers, Gantos has been the proverbial bridesmaid, winning a Newbery Honor, a Printz Honor and a finalist designation for the National Book Award. The Newbery Medal is his first.

Whaley and Gantos were among the recipients of the association’s 2012 Youth Media Awards given to authors and illustrators of books, audio books and videos for children and young adults in 20 different categories.

Writer and illustrator Chris Raschka won the Randolph Caldecott Medal for “A Ball for Daisy,” the most distinguished picture book for children.

Susan Cooper, author of the Newbery Medal winner “The Dark Is Rising” and Newbery Honor-winning “The Grey King,” among other novels, won the 2012 Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults.

The Theodor Geisel Award for most distinguished beginning reader book went to “Tales for Very Picky Eaters,” written and illustrated by Josh Schneider.