Awards for Literature Guidelines

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ASIAN/PACIFIC AMERICAN LIBRARIANS ASSOCIATION
ASIAN/PACIFIC AMERICAN AWARD FOR LITERATURE
(APAAL) 2004-2005

PRESS RELEASE
APALA AWARD ANNOUNCEMENT
May 22, 2006

The Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association proudly announces the following books as winner and honor books in the three categories of the 2006 Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature. The books were chosen among those by or about Asian Pacific Americans published between 2004 and 2005.

The selection process was extremely difficult this year because so many good titles were nominated for the awards. The committee members feel that each nominated title has merit and deserved to win in each respective category. After careful consideration, the committee selected the following winners and honor titles.

Adult Fiction Winner

Lee, Chang-rae. Aloft. New York: Riverhead Books. 2004.

Chang-rae Lee's book is about Jerry Battle. Battle is a man who is seeking
to find meaning in the success and failures he has had in life. In a time of
crisis he finds solace in flying alone and reflects on his life. In his
plane Jerry Battle can see his life in a new perspective as he soars over
his neighbors. In his effort to make sense of it, we find the people in his
life that give him definition and identity. Lee's book goes beyond the
conventions and expectations of Asian American fiction. In Aloft the reader
is introduced to the Battle family, an Italo-American family that has drawn
upon the stock of all Americans. Lee's characters deal with living and
dying, and the cyclical nature of life. Lee is an expert at telling a story
that is human of the human condition and escapes the limitations that may be
put upon minority fiction authors. The book is a great read.

Honorable Mention for Adult Fiction Literature

Tan, Amy. Saving Fish from Drowning. New York : Putnam, 2005.

Bibi Chen, San Francisco socialite organized a trip to Burma for her twelve friends. However Bibi was murdered before she can accompany them. Watching her friends as a flowing spirit, she witnessed their mishaps in Burma as they ventured out on a boat ride and trapped in the mountains by a broken bridge. Unable to call for help, they encounter a group of Karen tribesmen. Bibi's witty and opinionated voice reveals their inner emotion as the twelve waited to be rescued. This funny yet satiric novel reflects another level of Tan's writing.

See, Lisa. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. New York : Random House, 2005.

Set in rural 19th century China, this fascinating story details two young girls' bonded, committed and devoted friendship for life. Lily, the narrator, who is in her eighties not only reflects her daily life as a daughter, sister, friend, and mother but also the societal status of gender and class during this time period. See incorporates the importance of nu shu, a secret written code among women throughout the tale. This poetic novel can be appreciated by all cultures.

Illustration in Children Literature Winner

Park, Linda Sue and Julie Downing (Illustrator). The Firekeeper's Son. New York: Clarion Books, 2004.

Sang-hee's father climbs the mountain each night to light the fire in order to signal the palace that all is well in the land. If there is no fire, it means there is trouble and the king will have to send soldiers. When his father injured his ankle, Sang-hee is given the task instead. He must climb the mountain by himself and light the fire with a bucket of hot coals. He tries one coal after another until he picks up the last coal and put it on the bottom of the brush pile and finally the fire was lit. The fire transforms into dancing soldiers before his eyes. He is able to see soldiers now. Downing's brilliant use of beaming color for the soldiers and the land as well as the details and facing description of the father and son highlight the book. It is a great story of courage and father-son relationship.

Honorable Mention for Illustration in Children Literature

Yoo, Paula, and Dom Lee (Illustrator). Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds: the Sammy Lee Story. New York: Lee & Low Books, 2005.

Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds documents the story of Sammy Lee. Lee was
the first Asian American to win Olympic gold. This truly inspiring tale captures the American dream as a young person who overcame discrimination to
bring Olympic recognition for a country that rejected him. Lee is the son of
Korean immigrants who faced challenges just because of his skin color.
Unable to practice in a whites only pool, Lee perfected his abilities in
spite of discrimination. Yoo acknowledges the moment in an Olympian's
experience in which life-long training culminates in just a brief sliver of
time. Paula Yoo really connects the reader to the subject. Dom Lee's sepia
toned illustrations carry a nostalgic feel. This is a strong work and should
be a good addition to the library collection.

Lipp, Frederick and Jason Gaillard (Illustrator). Bread Song. New York: Mondo Publishing, 2004.

Chamnan, an eight-year-old boy from Thailand, is very shy about speaking English to people. Each morning as they cross the street from their Thai restaurant to Alison's bakery, his grandfather teaches him how to count in English. Twenty-five steps between two stores seem to set two worlds apart to Chamnan; one is a familiar home and the other a new country, filled with people speaking a difficult language. Alison's ingenuous idea finally helps Chamnan loosen up his tongue and breaks away his reserve. The detailed pictures vividly portray a seaport, cobblestone streets, and freshly baked bread. When the boy hearing bread sing, his joy and surprise are so well expressed in illustrations that readers can almost see the twinkle in his eyes. The book certainly will strike a cord with young children who recently come to this land.

Text in Children and Young Adult Literature Winner

Kadohata, Cynthia. Kira Kira. New York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2004.

Katie loves to use the Japanese word kira kira, which means glittering or shining, to describe things. The sky is kira kira; so are kittens and puppies. Katie learns the word from Lynn, her older sister, who will teach her all there is to be known in the world. After their parents' Asian store fails, they move from Iowa to a small town in South Georgia. Their parents work long and hard hours in chicken processing plants, leaving Lynn to take care of Katie. It is through Lynn that Katie knows what is prejudice. It is also through Lynn that she learns to look beyond tomorrow. Compounded to the hardship and struggles of this Japanese American family, Lynn is found to be stricken with terminate illness. The role of caretaker now reverses; Katie looks after her sister as the latter becomes sicker and weaker each day.

Set in the rural Georgia during the 1950s, the story is told in the voice of Katie. The feelings and emotions exhibited by the 10-year-old girl sound true and natural. Yet, Cynthia Kadohata does not overdo to exploit readers' sympathy in this compelling story. She uses plain yet beautiful language to portray the loving relationship of the family and the support from the Japanese American community. The description of people is vivid and convincing. At times, the language is poetic. Life is grim, yet hope is always kira kira in the horizon for Katie and her family.

Honorable Mention for Text in Children and Young Adult Literature

Cheng, Andrea. Shanghai Messenger. New York : Lee & Low Books, c2005.
In this excellent free-verse story illustrated by Ed Young, readers experience eleven-year-old Xiao Mei's first visit to her extended family in Shanghai, China. Excited yet apprehensive, Xiao Mei has many concerns from being half-Chinese to meeting her extended family for the first time. Cheng successfully and succinctly captures the daily adventures of Xiao Mei's trip and her reverence for both family and heritage.

Park, Linda Sue. Project Mulberry: a novel. New York : Clarion Books, c2005.

7th Grade Korean-American girl Julia Song and her next-door neighbor, best-friend Patrick explore the intricate layers of friendship, classes, and racial identities in this story woven around a Science Fair Project, set in contemporary Chicago.

Julia is at first reluctant to take on a project that reflects her family's cultural heritage since she does not feel personally connected to her Korean root. Within the course of the story, she discovers more of herself and her heritage, and eventually accepts the connection between the two.

But this is not a story exploring merely Julia's search for racial identity. Project Mulberry contains more facets in Julia's life and presents them honestly and cleverly. For example, Park's treatment of racial tension between Julia's mother and Mr. Dixon, an African American gentleman, is subtle and yet straightforward. The honest reaction of the main character's discomfort with such situation rings true and will challenge young readers to examine their own internalized social views.

Park also plays with the form of storytelling in a most unconventional way. The inserted dialogs between Julia and the author serve as chapter breaks and invite young readers to think more deeply about the deliberate nature of fiction writing.