2009 Beatty Award Winner
Lewis Buzbee will be honored with the 2009 John and Patricia Beatty Award for his book Steinbeck’s Ghost (Feiwel and Friends, 2008). The Beatty Award is given annually to the children’s or young adult book that best represents California, its people, culture, and history.
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Travis and his parents have moved out of downtown Salinas to a new house in a development, and he feels out of place. Whenever he has the chance, Travis sneaks back to his old neighborhood which includes Salinas’ John Steinbeck Library. During his visits, he becomes involved in the campaign to save the library and embroiled in a mystery related to John Steinbeck. Buzbee’s intriguing tale creatively combines literary, historical and modern California.
The John and Patricia Beatty Award, established in 1987 by Patricia Beatty, has been given annually since 1989. Since 1999, BWI Books has co-sponsored the award with the California Library Association. The winning author receives an engraved plaque along with a prize of $500 which is presented at the annual CLA Conference’s Beatty Award Breakfast.
The 2009 Beatty Award Committee consists of: Diane Bartlett of Stanislaus County Library, Brenda Crotts of Butte County Library, Sarah Harper of County of Los Angeles Public Library, Kathy Haug of Richmond Public Library, April Lencioni of Fresno Public Library, and chair Melinda Steep of Yorba Linda Public Library.