James Cook Book Award Presentation: Celebrating Diversity in Teen Literature
Workshop Dates:	9/14/2010
Sponsor:	OLC's Young Adult Services Division
Registration opens at:	2:00 PM
Program begins at:	2:00 PM
Program ends at:	3:00 PM
Location:	Online no data no data, no data
Agenda:	Please Note: This is a free event for Individual Members of OLC or staff of OLC Institutional Member libraries. The OLC and its Young Adult Services Division are pleased to announce the official presentation of the James Cook Book Award celebrating diversity excellence in youth services literature to Michael Harmon for his title Last Exit to Normal. Michael will discuss his history as a student and high school drop out and how it led to writing young adult fiction years later. He will address what his goals are in writing for teenagers and the themes he chooses to write about. He'll tie these topics into working with school systems and what we can do to get teenagers to read, think and strive for personal success. Michael will note what Last Exit to Normal means to him, the perhaps surprising reason he wrote it and the reactions he has received from it. He will also examine how the title ties into diversity and acceptance of differences in this country on a personal level, and how the book shows life, reality, struggle and love in true colors. A special online Q-and-A session will follow. Speaker: Michael Harmon was born in Los Angeles, California in the late sixties, moving up to the Pacific Northwest with his family as a teenager. After dropping out of high school during his senior year, he married, had two children, and worked as a hairstylist and business owner for 16 years. He now writes full time. As an outdoorsman, he enjoys fishing, hunting, backpacking, motocross and spending time with his family around the campfire.
Who Should Attend:	All library staff involved in promoting youth services literature and working with teenage customers.
Member Cost:	Free event for Individual Members of OLC or staff of OLC Institutional Member libraries.

Site Design by OHIONET