(2011 publications)
The Street Lit Book Award Medal (SLBAM) is conferred by a group of librarians as a means to aid educators on the trends occurring in the literary genre, Street Literature. The SLBAM committee is proud to announce the award winners for 2011 publications. The following winners are titles based on popularity of books as read by the public in school, academic, and public library settings. Please visit http://www.streetliterature.com, for a listing of past year winners.
Adult Non-Fiction: ONE DAY IT'LL ALL MAKE SENSE BY
COMMON
SLBAM Feedback:
-- “This is a great book about one of few positive rappers that on the scene.”
-- "Common points out all the highs and lows of the music industry."
-- "This book is going to help people."
Honorees:
1) Power & Beauty: A Love Story of Life on the Streets by "Tip" T.I. Harris;
2) Ice: A Memoir of Gangster Life and Redemption ... by Ice-T; BMF:
3) The Rise and Fall of Big Meech and the Black Family Mafia -by Mara Shaloup
Adult Fiction: EVICTION NOTICE BY K'WAN
SLBAM Feedback:
-- "Can't keep this book on the shelf."
-- "A raw tale that will send the reader on a roller coaster ride."
-- "People just can't get enough of K'wan; readers believe he is telling their stories."
Honorees:
1) Murderville by Ashley & JaQuavis Coleman;
2) Lifestyles of the Rich & Shameless, by Kiki Swinson & Noire
Teen/Young Adult (YA): UPGRADE U BY NI NI SIMONE
SLBAM Feedback:
-- "Simone has captured the drama and humor today's teen."
-- "My young patrons are crazy about Ni Ni Simone."
-- "Young readers have made it clear that NiNi Simone where it’s at."
Honorees:
1) So So Hood by L. Divine;
2) Priceless Inspiration by Antonia "Toya" Carter
Special Category: Emerging Classic, YUMMY BY G. NERI
SLBAM Feedback:
-- "An interesting graphic novel presentation of a Chicago youth tragedy."
-- "I am glad G. Neri's Yummy has been cited for a special award."
-- "I was very successful using this book with my Teen Book Club!"
Special Category: Author(s) of the Year:
ASHLEY & JAQUAVIS COLEMAN
The SLBAM Committee honors NYT Bestselling author duo, Ashley and JaQuavis Coleman, for their back-to-back publications during 2011, Murderville and Murder Mamas. Both titles were hugely popular amongst Street Lit readers in libraries and on social media. The Colemans are also noted for their leadership in promoting Street Lit as a viable literary genre. An Ashley & JaQuavis release is always a highly anticipated event. We look forward to more exciting work from them!
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2012 SLBAM Committee Members:
K.C. Boyd is the Library Media Specialist at the acclaimed Wendell Phillips Academy High School in Chicago, IL. Boyd is a sought-out lecturer on Street Lit, and she blogs about Young Adult and Adult Street Lit at http://www.missdomino.blogspot.com.
Marvin DeBose is an Adult/Teen Librarian in the Free Library of Philadelphia system. He manages the largest Street Lit library collection in Philadelphia, PA, and also runs a Teen Street Lit Book Club where they discuss their readings at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/277733218945733/.
Connie Farley is Reference Technician for St. Louis (MO) Public Library where she runs an Urban Lit Discussion Group that boasts a diverse membership coming from several African and Caribbean nations.
D.L. Grant, Jr., is an Assistant Branch Manager with the San Antonio Public Library System. Grant is also studying for his doctorate's degree in library and information science.
Patrice Grimball-Smith is a Librarian Assistant in Young Adult Services for the Charleston County Public Library System in Charleston, South Carolina. She is also the Outreach Coordinator for Readers in Motion Bookclub, http://facebook.com/ReadersInMotion.
Takiyah Jemison is currently Head of the Cataloging Department at Fayetteville State University. She has a B.A in History and she received her Master in Library Science from North Carolina Central University. She is an avid reader of different genres such as psychological thrillers, urban literature, and true crimes.
Vanessa Irvin Morris is the convener of the Street Lit Book Award Medal (SLBAM) Committee. She is the author of the Street Literature blog at http://www.streetliterature.com, and the award-winning publication, The Readers Advisory Guide to Street Literature. Vanessa teaches library and information science at a private research university in Northeast USA.
The SLBAM committee members conducted three nomination rounds where they researched and discussed all nominated titles. This year, the committee inaugurated a special category, "Emerging Classic", to recognize a Street Lit -plotted or -themed book that was published before the year of nomination but continues to be in popular demand by the reading public. Another special category, "Author(s) of the Year", was established to recognize an author(s) whose publications were particularly well-received by the reading public during the nomination year. Books eligible for nomination were published between January 1, 2011 - December 31, 2011.
For more information about the Street Lit Book Award Medal (SLBAM) or if you are interested in participating on the SLBAM committee, email streetliterature.com@gmail.com.
