ALAN

Looking Back on ALAN 2024

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As ALAN 2025 approaches, I have been reflecting on my time on the ALAN Executive Committee, including my time as President of ALAN 2024, and I realized that I never shared my theme and remarks here. I am so proud of both of them as they truly are the foundation of what I believe as an educator, parent, and person.

Let Them Read
Theme Announced November, 2023

As our nation experiences the highest number of book challenges and bannings it has faced in recent history, those of us who work with young people continue to fight to let them read books that are “windows, mirrors, sliding glass doors” (Sims-Bishop, 1990) and “telescopes” (Toliver, 2021). 

It is through books that readers can relate and connect to each other and to the world around them, making our world a better place. We know that the best way to plant the seed for the inclusive and understanding future that we strive for is by giving readers options to read about those different from themselves; that the best way to reduce the mental health crisis in our young people and to empower all of our students, specifically our historically marginalized students, to be their true, authentic selves is to let readers feel seen by reading about others like themselves; that the best way to learn about our world is to delve into narratives and information about it; and that it is through speculative stories that readers’ brains soar and see that possibilities are endless. It is for these reasons, and more, that we must continue to fight to LET THEM READ. 

ALAN 2024 President’s Welcome
November, 2024

Good morning! I am Kellee Moye, your 2024 ALAN President. 

For these next two days, I am so excited to celebrate the freedom to read with you all. I am so proud to be a member of this community which truly believes that all readers should have the opportunity to relate to books and be exposed to those who are different to them in books. 

As our nation experiences the highest number of book challenges and bannings it has faced in recent history, those of us who work with young people continue to fight to let them read books that are “windows, mirrors, sliding glass doors” (Sims-Bishop, 1990) and “telescopes” (Toliver, 2021). 

It is through books that readers can relate and connect to each other and to the world around them, making our world a better place. We know that the best way to plant the seed for the inclusive and understanding future that we strive for is by giving readers options to read about those different from themselves; that the best way to reduce the mental health crisis in our young people and to empower all of our students, specifically our historically marginalized students, to be their true, authentic selves is to let readers feel seen by reading about others like themselves; that the best way to learn about our world is to delve into narratives and information about it; and that it is through speculative stories that readers’ brains soar and see that possibilities are endless. It is for these reasons, and more, that we must continue to fight to LET THEM READ.

Over these next two days, I have aimed to grow our defenses, knowledge, and reach by featuring authors, illustrators, narrators, and editors who write for a variety of readers; are bold in their writing; and that want to cultivate a better future for young people.

There are many people I need to thank, and please read my remarks at the end of the program to see what fantastic support I’ve had as an educator and ALAN leader, but I am going to break tradition a little bit and begin this workshop with the poem at the beginning of the program. This poem was written by combining responses from current and past students at my school, Hunter’s Creek Middle School in Orlando, FL. I asked them: why is it important to have the freedom to read and why are diverse books important. Here are their responses: 

Books can feel like home (but also) reading helps you get away.
Reading inspires me.
It leads to more questions and wanting to explore more things.
Books can lead to things you didn’t even know existed.
Being able to relate to a character helps you feel seen and less alone.
Reading freely is a portal to anything possible.
(Free) readers are open to new ideas; freethinkers.
It lets you develop your own opinions.
Through reading we can grow into better people.
Reading vastly leads to learning of all things,
bringing forth new leaders.
I wouldn’t be the person I am today without access to history;
without being in touch with my roots.
Reading is the essential pathway to any sort of growth.
Diverse reading opens doors to countless opportunities
for discovering more of who you are.
We need freedom over books because we can find ourselves in books!!
Kids should have the freedom to choose what they want to read
(because) reading a variety of books expands knowledge
and understanding.
We learn so much from books, even if it’s subconsciously,
about new things and diverse communities and cultures.
Then we can be open up to ideas in the real world
and open to understand people and their perspectives.
It is important to read diverse books
to get to know more about other people
(and) have more information about different cultures.
(This leads to) more empathy for people going through
situations that I have seen from books I have read.
Readers love relating to the characters in the books they’re reading,
(so) reading widely can help kids feel less alone.
Everyone should be able to read something they want to read,
rather than something that they don’t.
It is my decision to read a book that I like, not someone else’s.
(And) freedom in my reading encourages me to read more.
Diverse books can open your eyes.
And diverse books help people feel seen and included.
Don’t marginalize marginalized communities.
All perspectives must be seen and heard
(because) no two people have the same story to tell.

…

This is why we do what we do, and I am so excited for these next two days and the authors and educators we are going to hear from to help support the mission to LET THEM READ. 

I always keep this in my heart as I move within the world;
I hope these words resonate with you, too.
Now onto Denver and ALAN 2025 and celebrating the Legacy of YA!

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The 2020 Amelia Elizabeth Walden Book Award Winner & Finalists!

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The Assembly on Literature for Adolescents (ALAN) of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) is pleased and proud to announce the 2020 Amelia Elizabeth Walden Book Award for Young Adult Fiction winner and finalists. Established in 2008 to honor the wishes of young adult author Amelia Elizabeth Walden, the award allows for the sum of $5,000 to be
presented annually to the author of a young adult title selected by the ALAN Amelia Elizabeth Walden Book Award Committee as demonstrating a positive approach to life, widespread teen appeal, and literary merit.

The 2020 Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award winner is:

Lovely War by Julie Berry
(Penguin Random House/Viking)

The 2019 Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award finalists are:

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo
(HarperCollins/HarperTeen)

Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian
(HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray)

Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay
(Penguin Random House/Kokila)

White Rose by Kip Wilson
(Houghton Mifflin Harcourt /Versify)

The winner and finalists will be honored at the 2020 ALAN Workshop on Monday, November 23rd in Denver, CO, and the authors will be invited to participate in a panel discussion.

The 2020 Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award Committee would like to thank: the Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award Foundation, the ALAN Executive Council, the ALAN Board of Directors, NCTE, and the many publishers who submitted titles for consideration.

The 2020 Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award Committee considered over 300 young adult titles throughout the process. The committee included ten members representing the university, K-12 school, and library communities. They are:

Beth Shaum, Committee Chair
K-8 Librarian
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School, Ann Arbor, MI

Wendy Stephens, Past Chair
School Library Program Chair
Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, AL

Robert Bittner
SSHRC Postdoctoral Research Fellow
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC

Jodi Blair
Librarian
Alcoa High School, Alcoa, TN

Nicole Clawson
Visiting Professor
Brigham Young, University, Provo UT

Bryan Gillis
Professor of English Education & Literacy
Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA

Sarah Mulhern Gross
English Teacher
High Technology High School, Lincroft, NJ

Walter M. Mayes
Librarian
The Girls’ Middle School, Palo Alto, CA

Elizabeth Parker
English Teacher
Saunders Middle School, Manassas, VA

Jennifer Paulsen
English and Social Studies Teacher
Holmes Junior High School, Cedar Falls, IA

For more information on the award, please visit ALAN Online: The Official Site of the Assembly on Literature for Adolescents: http://www.alan-ya.org/awards/walden-award/.

Congratulations to the winner and finalists! We love this award so much, and are so happy to share this year’s recipients! 

Visit http://www.alan-ya.org/alan-picks-aprmay-2020/ for reviews of each of these books by members of the Walden Committee and a special video interview with Julie Berry!

Our posts about the Walden Award and our time on the committee: https://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=4361

Kellee and Ricki’s NCTE and ALAN Annual Convention Reflection 2018

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Kellee’s Reflection

I am sure you can tell from our countdown that this is one of our favorite events of the year. It is like a really big book club that only meets once a year mixed with the best professional development you could ask for. 

During NCTE, my presentations went so well! If you are interested, you can view my resources:

But what I want to focus on in this post are the revitalizing sessions I attended. My goal for NCTE18 was to make sure to attend more sessions to fill my educator heart, and I definitely met that goal! Here are some highlights from four favorite sessions/talks:

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie opened up NCTE, and I was blown away by her!

  • “Be courageous enough to say I don’t know.”
  • We need “STEM AND the language arts. It’s not an or, it’s an and.”
  • “To be a good teacher is not just about curriculum, it is about things that can’t be quantified.”
  • Narrow view of intelligence = not valuing arts
  • “The world is not full people like you, so diverse literature is not needed just for the diverse.”
  • “When telling stories well, we’re appealing to what it means to be human.”

The session Latinx Experiences in Classrooms and Communities with educators, Dr. Carla España, Dr. Luz Herrera, and R. Joseph Rodriguez, and authors, Daniel José Older, MoNieqa Ramos, Matt de la Peña, Meg Medina, and Lilliam Rivera.

  • Our Latinx students “move through the world as many identities.” (Medina)
  • Bilingual students “have language resources we should use.” No more English Language Learners, they are “emergent bilinguals.” (España)
  • “Kids have more going on than we want to talk about.” (Ramos)
  • “Acceptance feels like a hug. It is that feeling when you are home because you don’t have to translate yourself.” (Older)
  • “Books are tools to help people save themselves.” (de la Peña)

Kylene Beers, Kelly Gallagher, and Penny Kittle are brilliant. I wish I could do a full day PD with them!

  • “You cannot improve confidence without improving confidence.” (Beers)
  • “No models of good conversation in media. Our democracy needs to have better conversations.” (Beers)
  • “Meaningful talk will not happen without meaningful reading.” (Gallagher)
  • “We are making too many decisions for our students. Turn over the control.” (Kittle)

Peter and Paul Reynolds stand for everything I believe in!

  • “Great teachers breath kindness and love.”
  • We “need to remind humans about the best humanity can do.”
  • “Picture books are efficient. They are a big idea in a small book.”
  • “Everyone is an artist. You’re only not identifying as one because someone told you you weren’t, and you believed them.”
  • “Noticing a kid is the most powerful gift we can give.”
  • “Your brain is beautiful! Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

And the ALAN workshop was amazing as always. The ALAN workshop is 1.5 days of authors sharing. It is so much book love and author love and teacher love and kindness love and just love in general. If you ever have the chance to get to this workshop, it is a must!

Some of my favorite author talks/panels/conversations were:

  • Cynthia Leitich Smith
  • Bill Konigsberg
  • Kierstin White, Ibi Zoboi, Elana K. Arnold
  • Neal Shusterman
  • Tomi Adeyemi
  • Sara Farizan and Mark Oshiro
  • Jarrett Krosozcka
  • Sharon Flake and Renee Watson
  • Gae Polisner and Chris Crutcher

This was just a SMALL sampling of the amazing authors at the workshop. Check out the schedule to see others who spoke!

Ricki’s Reflection

I had a wonderful time at the NCTE convention and ALAN Workshop. I was sad that I wasn’t able to go to many sessions because I signed on to participate in six sessions and introductions. I won’t be doing that again next year!

One of the highlights for me was sitting with Ibi Zoboi during the YA Lit is Complex session. She’s absolutely brilliant, and her voice added so much to the conversation. The participants at my roundtable asked her thoughtful questions. She talked about the many complex elements within her texts—the ways in which she adapts classic poetry, includes cultural pantheon for readers, etc. I am blown away by her brilliance, and she is among my favorite authors today. Quite frankly, she is a living legend.

The YA Lit is Complex session is my favorite each year. Jennifer Buehler and Cathy Fleischer bring in eight YA authors to talk about text complexity. If you missed this session, I can’t recommend it highly enough. I always leave feeling invigorated.

I also loved presenting with my colleague, Pamela K. Coke. We shared three approaches for using Genius Hour in the classroom to promote equity. The crowd for this presentation was amazing, and a few audience members have stayed in touch with us. There might be a potential research project on the horizon for this session!

Some of the most exciting talks that I saw were from:

  • Cynthia Leitich Smith
  • Bill Konigsberg
  • Ibi Zoboi
  • Sara Farizan and Mark Oshiro
  • Tomi Adeyemi
  • Elizabeth Acevedo
  • Emily X. R. Pan
  • David Arnold
  • Sharon Draper
  • David Levithan
  • Randy Ribay

Pictures!

 

     

If you attended, how was your conference?
We look forward to next year 🙂

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Countdown to NCTE/ALAN: One Day! Our Favorite Thing about NCTE/ALAN….

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In honor of our favorite conferences—the NCTE Convention and ALAN Workshop, we are doing a countdown over the next two weeks. Each day, we will feature a list that reflects the number of days left until the conference! We can’t wait to see many of you there!

Our Favorite Thing about NCTE/ALAN….

Seeing Our NCTE/ALAN family and friends! We can’t wait to see many of you!

 

 

    

And most importantly: We get to see each other!!!!!!!

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Countdown to NCTE/ALAN: Six authors Ricki’s Excited to See at ALAN Who She’s Never Seen or Met Before

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In honor of our favorite conferences—the NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English) Annual Convention followed by the ALAN (Assembly on Literature of Adolescents of NCTE) Workshop, we are doing a countdown over the next two weeks. Each day, we will feature a list that reflects the number of days left until the conference! We can’t wait to see many of you there! If you can’t be there, make sure to follow #ncte18 and #alan18 on Twitter and other social media to participate in this amazing PD from your home.

1. Cynthia Leitich Smith

Admittedly, I have seen her speak a few times. I am very fortunate to be introducing her, and I can’t wait to meet her!

2. Tomi Adeyemi

Tomi is a powerful force. I am really looking forward to hearing her speak.

3. Emily X. R. Pan

I regularly recommend The Astonishing Color of After. My students loved this book. I am really looking forward to listening to her panel!

4. Mark Oshiro

Yes! I can’t wait to hear Mark Oshiro speak. My students just finished Anger is a Gift!

5. Elizabeth Acevedo

This woman is an idol in my class. I can’t wait to listen to her!

6. Amy Reed

I am 3/4 of the way through The Nowhere Girls. Whew. This book is great!

It was difficult to limit my list to just six authors. The ALAN Workshop is going to be wonderful! I can’t wait!
Who are you excited to hear?

Countdown to NCTE/ALAN: Seven Authors Kellee is Excited to See at ALAN Who She’s Never Met Before

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In honor of our favorite conferences—the NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English) Annual Convention followed by the ALAN (Assembly on Literature of Adolescents of NCTE) Workshop, we are doing a countdown over the next two weeks. Each day, we will feature a list that reflects the number of days left until the conference! We can’t wait to see many of you there! If you can’t be there, make sure to follow #ncte18 and #alan18 on Twitter and other social media to participate in this amazing PD from your home.

1. Gayle Forman

2. Ibi Zoboi

3. Don Brown

4. Sharon Flake

5. Guadalupe Garcia McCall

6. Deborah Hopkinson

7. Renee Watson

I’m so excited to see these authors speak and to hopefully be able to tell them how much I love their writing. There are also so many new to me authors I look forward to seeing also–I can’t wait to share all of the amazingness that is ALAN afterwards. 

Countdown to NCTE/ALAN: Nine Presentations We Are Involved In at #NCTE18

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In honor of our favorite conferences—the NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English) Annual Convention followed by the ALAN (Assembly on Literature of Adolescents of NCTE) Workshop, we are doing a countdown over the next two weeks. Each day, we will feature a list that reflects the number of days left until the conference! We can’t wait to see many of you there! If you can’t be there, make sure to follow #ncte18 and #alan18 on Twitter and other social media to participate in this amazing PD from your home.

 

C.34 Honoring Student Passions: Using Genius Hour to (Re)Find Voice and Address Equity

Raising student voices requires time, space, and place for individualized, passion-based learning. Through interactive learning activities participants can use in their own classrooms, presenters will define Genius Hour and show how it can be implemented to facilitate equitable learning environments. They will share authentic student work from conception to completion.

Ricki is Presenting with Dr. Pamela Coke

E.18 Using Diverse Literature to Build Awareness and Empathy in Middle Schoolers

To help build awareness and empathy in middle schoolers, we must expose our readers to a wide range of diverse literature. Two middle school educators and six authors will discuss how diverse literature can help build empathy, tolerance, awareness, and an understanding of social justice.

Chair: Kellee Moye

Authors: Angela Dominguez, K.A. Holt, Jennifer Richard Jacobson, Jewell Parker Rhodes, N.H. Senzai, & Lindsey Stoddard

Respondent: Jennie Smith

F.07 Raising Student Voices by Using YA Literature to Encourage Acting Up and Speaking Out

Young adult literature changes us; it touches us and heals us. This Assembly on Literature for Adolescents of NCTE (ALAN)-sponsored session will offer roundtables, led by leaders of ALAN and YAL authors, that focus on the merits of YAL, YAL as mirrors and windows, and YAL’s call to action.

Kellee’s Roundtable: YAL and the Canon, will look at using young adult literature in place of or in addition to the canon, and will include an exploration of the idea of text sets, companion texts, or replacement texts.

Ricki’s Roundtable: YAL as Mirrors, will focus on diversity in young adult literature and the need for students to see themselves in the books in their schools and libraries and shows all students that they have a voice.

Other roundtable leaders: Beth Scanlon, Lisa Schreff, Lois Stover, Mark Letcher, Daria Plumb, Wendy Glenn

G.04 Teaching for Equity and Justice with Young Adult Literature

In this conversation session, award-winning author Laurie Halse Anderson discusses the ability of young adult literature to address social justice and equity with adolescents. Afterward, attendees rotate through three 15-min. roundtables of their choice to discuss a rich diversity of texts, issues of social justice, and teaching methods.

Ricki’s Roundtable with Wendy J. Glenn as respondent, Piecing Me Together: Race, Class, Power, and Privilege

Chair: Victor Malo-Juvera

Other Roundtable Leaders: Many teacher educators from ELATE

H.02 Meet the NCTE Editors

Participants will have the opportunity to meet journal editors, explore the publishing possibilities available with the NCTE journals program and with assembly journals, and discuss specific article prospects with the editors. Submission guidelines will be available for all NCTE journals.

Chair: Kurt Austin

This year, this session conflicts with the ALAN Breakfast, which Ricki is helping with. Because this is her last term as an editor for The ALAN Review, it doesn’t make sense for her to attend. That said, attend this session and look to get your ideas published! All of the NCTE journals will be there!

During H.02: ALAN Breakfast

ALAN Breakfast with A.S. King! We are so looking forward to this event! We include it on this list because we will be helping to set it up. It begins at 7am, and we look forward to seeing you there!

I.36 YA Lit IS Complex! Authors and Teachers Explore the Complexity of Writing Young Adult Literature

This session brings together YA authors and classroom teachers to explore text complexity through the lens of writing craft. Keynote speeches and roundtable discussions will explore how complexity can be found and made in YA lit when we weave authors’ accounts of writing process with close analysis of texts themselves.

Kellee’s Roundtable with David Levithan, focusing on his Every Day series

Ricki’s Roundtable with Ibi Zoboi, focusing on Pride

Chairs: Jennifer Buehler, Cathy Fleischer

Other roundtable leaders: Sarah Andrew-Vaughan, Wendy Glenn, Meredith Novak, Daria Plumb, Beth Scanlon, Beth Shaum

Other authors: Elizabeth Acevedo, David Arnold, Sharon Draper, Emily X.R. Pan, Randy Ribay, Andrew Smith

J. 13 In-Class Book Clubs: Fostering Collaboration, Critical Thinking, and Choice

Student-centered book clubs allow students the freedom to discuss titles they choose, thus creating positive reading experiences while utilizing two best practices: student collaboration and independent reading. Attendees will circulate through roundtables led by educators who have implemented in-class book clubs and will share book ideas, strategies, and student responses.

Kellee’s Roundtable: “Metacognition in Middle Schoolers”

Other roundtable leaders: Leigh Anne Eck, Sarah Krajewski, Amber Kuehler, Jennie Smith, Kelly Vorhis, Melinda Wallace, Sherry Williford

M.02 The Future is Now: Exploring 21st Century Teaching Ideas with the Next Generation of English Teachers

In this wide-ranging session sponsored by the ELATE Graduate Strand (ELATE-GS), undergraduate and master’s level pre-service and novice English teachers from across the nation will lead roundtables exploring 21st-century teaching ideas and research-driven pedagogical practices. Please join us to support this next generation of English teachers and NCTE members. *Student presenters are determined after the program deadline. Attendees will receive a separate program with the names of roundtable leaders and their presentation titles upon entering the session.

Ricki is Sponsoring three Master’s students to present at this session

Chair: Alan Brown

Other Roundtable Leaders: Many graduate students and teacher educators from ELATE

NCTE here we come! Hope if you are there that you will stop by!

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