Award-winning historical novels at ALA Midwinter

A number of literary awards were announced at the American Library Association's Midwinter meeting in San Diego this past weekend.  Those of special interest to historical fiction readers include:

The 2011 Reading List Awards, which recognize the best books in eight genres.

- For Historical Fiction:  Julie Orringer's The Invisible Bridge, about a Hungarian Jewish family in WWII Europe.
- On the Historical Fiction shortlist:  S. Thomas Russell's A Battle Won, Lauren Belfer's A Fierce Radiance, Annabel Lyon's The Golden Mean, and Sally Gunning's The Rebellion of Jane Clarke [read my review]
- For Fantasy:  Guy Gavriel Kay's Under Heaven, set in an alternate 8th-century Tang Dynasty China.  [read my interview]
- For Romance:  Mary Balogh's A Matter of Class, a witty Regency romance.

The 2011 Newbery Medal and Honor books, for distinguished contributions to American children's literature.

- The Newbery Medal winner: Clare Vanderpool's Moon Over Manifest, set in Depression-era Kansas.
- The Newbery Honor books included three historicals:  Jennifer L. Holm's Turtle in Paradise, Margi Preus's Heart of a Samurai, and Rita Williams-Garcia's One Crazy Summer.

The Black Caucus of the ALA Literary Awards:

- Literary Award in Fiction: Bernice L. McFadden's Glorious, about a woman from Georgia who becomes a major figure in the Harlem Renaissance.  [Started this last night!]
- Literary Award, First Novelist:  Dolen Perkins-Valdez's Wench, about four slave women and their white masters at a resort in 1850s Ohio.

ALA Notable Books, important titles of literary merit for the adult reader.

- Among the 25 winners named:  Rick Bass's Nashville Chrome; Karl Marlantes' Matterhorn; David Mitchell's The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet; Tatjana Soli's The Lotus Eaters.