Friday night at ALA’s Midwinter Meeting, the United States Board on Books for Young People (USBBY) will reveal its annual Outstanding International Books list and then present novelist Sabaa Tahir, whose debut, An Ember in the Ashes, will be published by Penguin this spring.
The Outstanding International Books (OIB) list was begun by USBBY in 2006. The OIB list is intended to introduce American children to exceptional artists and writers from other countries. All of the titles originated or were first published in a country other than the United States and were subsequently published or distributed in the U.S. The goal of the OIB list is to create more awareness of, and demand for, books from other countries, so that U.S. publishers will be encouraged to offer more books from diverse countries to young readers in America.
In addition to the Outstanding International Book List announcement, author Sabaa Tahir will offer a sneak preview of her book An Ember in the Ashes, which will be published in 24 countries. Advance copies feature glowing blurbs from standout authors including Marie Lu, Melissa de la Cruz, Holly and Goldberg Sloan, and well ahead of the book’s April 28, 2015, release date, there’s already a Paramount Film adaptation in the works.
Though An Ember in the Ashes is an epic fantasy, Tahir incorporated cross-cultural research into the Spartans, Romans, Julio-Claudians, and Bedouins informing her world-building, as well as her interviews with soldiers and law enforcement officers who attested to the psychological battles which challenge those preparing for martial conflict.
The USBBY event will be held from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. at the Hilton Chicago in Williford A, and all Midwinter attendees are welcome.
Thanks to Penguin for bringing Sabaa Tahir to Midwinter and their support of USBBY.
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Wendy Stephens is a member of the United States Board on Books for Young People Board of Directors.