rgz Newsflash: Shine Removed?

I came home from the library today, totally happy to have found Shine on the shelf. I was excited to read Lauren Myracle's new work, knowing it was going to be intense and profound. Knowing it was nominated for the National Book Award. And then Little Willow pointed me to Libba Bray's blog.

The Foundation asked Lauren to recuse herself from the finalists as her nomination was an error. Graciously, Lauren did so. We applaud her integrity and send our loving support.

For me personally, Lauren is still on the list. No doubt.

December 2009: rgz Newsflash!

National Book Foundation honors readergirlz!

rgz received the National Book Foundation’s first Innovations in Reading Prize. From over 150 entries, rgz was chosen as a program that innovatively sustains a love of reading for life.
Co-founders Lorie Ann Grover and Dia Calhoun accepted the award on behalf of the community and enjoyed the National Book Awards Dinner!


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rgz welcomes lauded fantasy author Tamora Pierce!

In December, we are honored to welcome Tamora Pierce into the rgz Circle of Stars. We’ll be discussing her duology Trickster’s Choice and Trickster’s Queen. Please join us as we chat about related topics all month at the rgz blog, and joins us for rgz LIVE! with Tamora on Wednesday, December 16th at 6 pm PST/9 pm EST.


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Gather the postergirlz recommended reads to accompany Trickster’s Choice and Trickster’s Queen:

His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman
Sphinx's Princess by Esther Friesner
The Abhorsen Trilogy by Garth Nix
Flora Segunda, and Flora's Dare by Ysabeau S. Wilce
The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C. Wrede
Teens Cook: How to Cook What You Want to Eat by Meghan Carle and Jill Carle

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Congratulations to two of our co-founders!

Parents Magazine named Lorie Ann Grover's BEDTIME KISS FOR LITTLE FISH one of the Top 20 Best Children’s Books of 2009!

and...

Kirkus named Justina Chen's NORTH OF BEAUTIFUL one of the Best Books of 2009!

Hooray for Lorie Ann and Justina!

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As always, if you have any suggestions for our award winning online book community, contact us at divas@readergirlz.com.

Thanks for joining us as we read, reflect, and reach out! Happy holidays, rgz!

Best in books,
the readergirlz divas~

Melissa Walker, Lovestruck Summer
Holly Cupala, Tell Me A Secret (2010)
Lorie Ann Grover, Hold Me Tight
Dia Calhoun, Avielle of Rhia
Justina Chen, North of Beautiful

http://www.readergirlz.com/
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Photos from the National Book Foundation's Innovations in Reading Award

Dia and I were so happy to represent the rgz community this week in NYC! The Ford Foundation hosted a beautiful luncheon. So here are a few photos.

The celebration luncheon was held in the beautiful Ford Foundation building.

Our wonderful hosts were:
Calvin Sims, Program Officer of the Ford Foundation
Harold Augenbraum, Executive Director of the National Book Foundation
Leslie Shipman, Director of Programs of the National Book Foundation

The other winners in attendance were: (from Dia, left to right)

Robert Wilder
Santa Fe, NM
http://www.robertwilder.com/teaching.html

Liane Akana, Fathers Bridging the Miles (a program of Read to Me International)
Eloy, Arizona
www.readtomeintl.org

Cindy Kolaczynski, Maricopa County Library District (Perry Branch)
Maricopa County, Arizona
www.mcldaz.org

The National Book Foundation wrap up says:

The Foundation's first year of offering the Innovations in Reading Prize saw 150 applications from 30 states."

Applications fell into the following categories:

Education & Community Outreach
Tools & Technology
Schools & School Libraries
Public & University Libraries
Literary Magazines & Publishers
Book Clubs, Reading Series & Performance
Individuals

A selection process was created based on the following criteria: level of innovation, impact and need, with innovation always carrying the most weight. Impact and need came into play only in cases where two programs were judged to be equally innovative. "Innovation" was not limited to meaning only technologically innovative. In some cases, innovation meant identifying a need in the community and developing a program to address that need in a simple and effective way. In all cases, selections were made to reward programs that create and sustain a life long love of reading."

Here's to our next year together, rgz!

Press Release: Innovations in Reading Prize

For more information contact: divas@readergirlz.com

READERGIRLZ HONORED IN NEW YORK CITY

The leading teen online book community is awarded by the National Book Foundation.

November 17, 2009 (Seattle, Wash.) – readergirlz (rgz) proudly accepts an Innovations in Reading Prize from the National Book Foundation at an awards luncheon today in Manhattan. Co-founders Dia Calhoun and Lorie Ann Grover will accept the honor on behalf of the nonprofit organization.

Chosen for developing innovative means of creating and sustaining a lifelong love of reading, readergirlz will use the prize money to continue inventive and engaging literacy projects.

“readergirlz is perpetually creating innovative, fun, and impactful ways to connect teens to the best YA novels and authors. What people may not realize is that readergirlz is run completely by volunteers and has been almost entirely self-funded by the divas. So thanks to the Innovations in Reading Prize, we can now pay for our day-to-day operational costs--but also kick off a new, exciting literacy program we've been brainstorming for the coming year,” says co-founder Justina Chen.

About readergirlz

readergirlz is the foremost online book community for teen girls, led by five critically acclaimed YA authors—Dia Calhoun (Avielle of Rhia), Holly Cupala (Tell Me a Secret) Lorie Ann Grover (Hold Me Tight), Justina Chen (North of Beautiful), and Melissa Walker (Lovestruck Summer). readergirlz is the recipient of a 2007 James Patterson PageTurner Award and the 2009 Innovations in Reading Prize from the National Book Foundation.

To promote teen literacy and leadership in girls, readergirlz features a different YA novel and corresponding community service project every month. For more information about readergirlz, please visit www.readergirlz.com and http://readergirlz.blogspot.com, or contact divas@readergirlz.com.

2009 readergirlz