ALAN, The Assembly on Literature for Adolescents is a teachers organization in the United States, an independent assembly of the

National Council of Teachers of English The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) is a United States professional organization dedicated to "improving the teaching and learning of English and the language arts English studies (or simply, English) is an academic discip ...

(NCTE). Founded in November 1973, ALAN is made up of teachers, authors, librarians, publishers, teacher-educators and their students, and others who are particularly interested in the area of young adult literature. ALAN, which is self-governing, holds its annual meetings during the NCTE annual convention in November and also publishes ''The ALAN Review''. Almost from its inception, ALAN has given the ALAN award to honor those who have made outstanding contributions to the field of adolescent literature. The recipient may be a publisher, author, librarian, scholar, editor, or servant to the organization. Each year, an honoree is chosen by the Executive Board and receives the ALAN Award at the annual ALAN breakfast, which is held early morning Saturday during the NCTE Convention. In addition, in 2000 ALAN created the Hipple Award in honor of longtime Executive Secretary Ted Hipple, whose service led to the creation of the award for dedicated service to the organization.

The ALAN Award

Almost from its inception, ALAN has given the ALAN Award to honor those who have made outstanding contributions to the field of adolescent literature. The recipient may be a publisher, author, librarian, scholar, editor, or servant to the organization. Each year, an honoree is chosen by the Executive Board and receives the ALAN Award at the annual ALAN breakfast, which is held early morning Saturday during the NCTE Convention. A list of past honorees is listed below. ;ALAN Award recipients * 2015

Lois Lowry Lois Ann Lowry (; née Hammersberg; born March 20, 1937) is an American writer. She is the author of many books for children and young adults, including '' The Giver Quartet'', '' Number the Stars'', the Anastasia series, and '' Rabble Starkey''. ...

, author * 2014

David Levithan David Levithan (born September 7, 1972) is an American young adult fiction author and editor."David Levithan". October 30, 2008. Gale Database. ''Contemporary Authors Online''. UWM Golda Meir Library, Milwaukee. July 1, 2009. He has written numer ...

, author * 2013

Judy Blume Judith Blume (née Sussman; born February 12, 1938) is an American writer of children's, young adult, and adult fiction. Blume began writing in 1959 and has published more than 26 novels. Among her best-known works are '' Are You There God? It's ...

, author * 2012 George Nicholson, publisher/agent * 2011

Sharon Draper Sharon Mills Draper (born August 21, 1948) is an American children's writer, professional educator, and the 1997 National Teacher of the Year. She is a two-time winner of the Coretta Scott King Award for books about the young and adolescent Africa ...

, author * 2010

Jack Gantos Jack Gantos (born July 2, 1951) is an American author of children's books. He is best known for the fictional characters Rotten Ralph and Joey Pigza. Rotten Ralph is a cat who stars in twenty picture books written by Gantos and illustrated by ...

, author * 2009

Naomi Shihab Nye Naomi Shihab Nye (; born March 12, 1952) is an Arab American poet, editor, songwriter, and novelist. Born to a Palestinian father and an American mother, she began composing her first poetry at the age of six. In total, she has published or con ...

, author * 2008

Laurie Halse Anderson Laurie Halse Anderson (born Laurie Beth Halse; October 23, 1961) is an American writer, known for children's and young adult novels. She received the Margaret A. Edwards Award from the American Library Association in 2010 for her contributio ...

, author * 2007 Teri Lesesne, professor * 2006 Virginia Monseau, professor, and

Marc Aronson Marc Henry Aronson (born October 19, 1950) is an American writer, editor, publisher, speaker, and historian. He has written history and biography nonfiction books for children and young adults, as well as nonfiction books for adults about teenage ...

, author/editor * 2005

Jerry Spinelli Jerry Spinelli (born February 1, 1941) is an American writer of children's novels that feature adolescence and early adulthood. His novels include ''Maniac Magee'', '' Stargirl'', and '' Wringer''. Biography Spinelli was born in Norristown, ...

, author * 2004

Jacqueline Woodson Jacqueline Woodson (born February 12, 1963) is an American writer of books for children and adolescents. She is best known for '' Miracle's Boys'', and her Newbery Honor-winning titles '' Brown Girl Dreaming'', '' After Tupac and D Foster'', ''F ...

, author * 2003

Norma Fox Mazer Norma Fox Mazer ( Fox; May 15, 1931 – October 17, 2009) was an American author and teacher, best known for her books for children and young adults. Her novels featured credible young characters confronting difficult situations such as family se ...

, author and

Harry Mazer Harry Mazer (May 31, 1925 in New York City – April 7, 2016 in Montpelier, Vermont) was an American writer of books for children and young adults, acclaimed for his "realistic" novels. He has written twenty-two novels, including ''The Solid Go ...

, author (co-winners) * 2002

Paul Zindel Paul Zindel Jr. (May 15, 1936 – March 27, 2003) was an American playwright, young adult novelist, and educator. Early life Zindel was born in Tottenville, Staten Island, New York, to Paul Zindel Sr., a policeman, and Betty Zindel, a nurse; h ...

, author * 2001 Patty Campbell, author/critic * 2000 M. E. Kerr, author * 1999

Robert Lipsyte Robert Michael Lipsyte (born January 16, 1938) is an American sports journalist and author and former ombudsman for ESPN. He is a member of the Board of Contributors for ''USA Todays Forum Page, part of the newspaper's Opinion section. He rece ...

, author * 1998

S. E. Hinton Susan Eloise Hinton (born July 22, 1948) is an American writer best known for her young-adult novels (YA) set in Oklahoma, especially '' The Outsiders'' (1967), which she wrote during high school. Hinton is credited with introducing the YA ge ...

, author * 1997 Mildred Taylor, author * 1996 Bill Morris, publisher * 1995 Robert C. Small, Jr., professor * 1994

Walter Dean Myers Walter Dean Myers (born Walter Milton Myers; August 12, 1937 – July 1, 2014) was an American writer of children's books best known for young adult literature. He was born in Martinsburg, West Virginia, but was raised in Harlem, New York City ...

, author * 1993

Chris Crutcher Chris Crutcher (born July 17, 1946) is an American people, American novelist and a family therapist. He received the Margaret Edwards Award, Margaret A. Edwards Award from the American Library Association in 2000 for his lifetime contribution in wr ...

, author * 1992 Don Gallo, professor * 1991

Gary Paulsen Gary James Paulsen (May 17, 1939 – October 13, 2021) was an American writer of children's and young adult fiction, best known for coming of age, coming-of-age stories about the wilderness. He was the author of more than 200 books and wrote mor ...

, author * 1990 Richard Peck, author * 1989

Cynthia Voigt Cynthia Voigt (born February 25, 1942) is an American writer of books for young adults dealing with various topics such as adventure, mystery, racism and child abuse. Her first book in the Tillerman family series, ''Homecoming'', was nominated ...

, author * 1988 Ted Hipple, professor * 1987

Katherine Paterson Katherine Paterson (née Womeldorf; born October 31, 1932) is an American writer best known for Children's literature, children's novels, including ''Bridge to Terabithia (novel), Bridge to Terabithia'' (1977), which won the Newbery Medal in 197 ...

, author, and Alleen Pace Nilsen * 1986

Madeleine L'Engle Madeleine L'Engle (; November 29, 1918 – September 6, 2007) was an American writer of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and young adult fiction, including ''A Wrinkle in Time'' and its sequels: '' A Wind in the Door'', '' A Swiftly Tilting Planet'' ...

, author * 1985 Sue Ellen Bridgers, author * 1984

Louise Rosenblatt Louise Michelle Rosenblatt (23 August 1904 in Atlantic City, New Jersey – 8 February 2005 in Arlington, Virginia) was an American university professor. She is best known as a researcher into the teaching of literature. Biography Rosenblatt was ...

, critic * 1983 Ken Donelson, professor * 1982

Robert Cormier Robert Edmund Cormier (January 17, 1925 – November 2, 2000) was an American writer and journalist, known for his deeply pessimistic novels, many of which were written for young adults. Recurring themes include abuse, mental illness, violence, ...

, author * 1981 Sheila Schwartz * 1980 Dwight Burton * 1979 Gerri LaRocque * 1978 Mary Sucher * 1977 Marguerite Archer * 1976 Margaret K. McElderry, publisher, and M. Jerry Weiss, professor * 1975 Margaret Edwards, librarian * 1974 Stephen Judy and G. Robert Carlsen

The Ted Hipple Service Award

The Ted Hipple Service Award is given each year to the individual who has contributed to the ALAN organization. It is named in honor of Ted Hipple, the first and long-time ALAN Executive Secretary, who died on November 25, 2004. Ted shaped ALAN through decades of unwavering service and support. He was a Professor of Education at the

University of Tennessee The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (or The University of Tennessee; UT; UT Knoxville; or colloquially UTK or Tennessee) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Knoxville, Tennessee, United St ...

, where he was a chair of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. Previously, he was a Professor of Education at the

University of Florida The University of Florida (Florida or UF) is a public university, public land-grant university, land-grant research university in Gainesville, Florida, United States. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida and a preem ...

. He received his doctorate from the University of Illinois and was a high school English teacher at

Homewood-Flossmoor High School Homewood-Flossmoor High School (H-F) is a comprehensive public high school in Flossmoor, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. The school serves an area of nearly , drawing students from Homewood, Flossmoor, and parts of Chicago Heights, Glenwoo ...

. ;Hipple Award recipients * 2014 Connie Zitlow * 2013 Rick Williams * 2012 Joan F. Kaywell,

University of South Florida The University of South Florida (USF) is a Public university, public research university with its main campus located in Tampa, Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States, and other campuses in St. Petersburg, Florida, St. Petersburg and Sarasota, ...

, ALAN Past President and Membership Secretary * 2011 Gary Salvner,

Youngstown State University Youngstown State University (YSU or Youngstown State) is a public university in Youngstown, Ohio, United States. It was founded in 1908 and is the easternmost member of the University System of Ohio. The university is composed of six undergrad ...

, ALAN Past President and Executive Secretary * 2010 Christopher E. Crowe,

Brigham Young University Brigham Young University (BYU) is a Private education, private research university in Provo, Utah, United States. It was founded in 1875 by religious leader Brigham Young and is the flagship university of the Church Educational System sponsore ...

, ALAN Past President * 2009 Wendy Lamb,

Wendy Lamb Books Random House is an imprint and publishing group of Penguin Random House. Founded in 1927 by businessmen Bennett Cerf and Donald Klopfer as an imprint of Modern Library, it quickly overtook Modern Library as the parent imprint. Over the followi ...

Random House Random House is an imprint and publishing group of Penguin Random House. Founded in 1927 by businessmen Bennett Cerf and Donald Klopfer as an imprint of Modern Library, it quickly overtook Modern Library as the parent imprint. Over the foll ...

* 2008 Jeanne McDermott,

Farrar, Straus & Giroux Farrar, Straus and Giroux (FSG) is an American book publishing company, founded in 1946 by Roger Williams Straus Jr. and John C. Farrar. FSG is known for publishing literary books, and its authors have won numerous awards, including Pulitzer ...

* 2007 Patricia Kelly, ALAN Past President * 2006 Alleen Pace Nilsen, ALAN Past President * 2005 Bill Subick,

* 2004 John Mason, Scholastic, Inc. * 2003 M. Jerry Weiss, ALAN Past President * 2002 Terry Borzumato,

Random House Children's Books Random House is an imprint and publishing group of Penguin Random House. Founded in 1927 by businessmen Bennett Cerf and Donald Klopfer as an imprint of Modern Library, it quickly overtook Modern Library as the parent imprint. Over the followi ...

* 2001 Don Gallo, ALAN Past President * 2000 Ted Hipple, ALAN Executive Secretary and Past President

The Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award

Beginning 2009 the Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award annually recognizes "a book that exemplifies literary excellence, widespread appeal, and a positive approach to life in young adult literature". The winner and honor books must be fiction published in the United States during one year prior to the call for nominations (perhaps previously published elsewhere)."Walden Award"
ALAN (alan-yabeta.org). Retrieved 2015-04-12.

ALAN Presidents

*2015 Jennifer Buehler *2014 Daria Plumb *2013 Walter Mayes *2012 Jeffrey S. Kaplan *2011 C. J. Bott *2010

Wendy Glenn Wendy Glenn (born 13 June 1981) is an English actress and model. Early life and education Glenn attended the Sylvia Young Theatre School in London. Her sister Sammy Glenn is also an actress. Career Glenn began her career as a child model. B ...

*2009 James Blasingame *2008 Pamela Sissi Carroll *2007 David Macinnis Gill *2006

Kathryn Kelly Kathryn Kelly (March 18, 1904 – May 28, 1985) was an American criminal active during the Prohibition in the United States, prohibition era. She was involved in Rum-running, bootlegging, assisted her fourth husband, George Kelly Barnes ("Machine ...

*2005 Diane Tuccillo *2004 Patty Campbell *2003

Michael Cart Michael Cart (March 6, 1941 – February 13, 2025) was an American author and expert in children's and young adult literature. Born in Logansport, Indiana, he earned a degree in Library Science from Columbia University in 1964 and a degree in journ ...

*2002 Bill Mollineaux *2001 Christopher E. Crowe *2000 Teri Lesesne *1999 Connie Zitlow *1998 Joan Kaywell *1997 Lois Stover *1996 Gary Salvner *1995 Charlie Reed *1994

Diana Mitchell Diana Mary Mitchell (; 16 November 1932 – 8 January 2016) was a Zimbabwean political activist and writer, who was an outspoken critic of the governments of Ian Smith and Robert Mugabe. Biography Mitchell was born in Salisbury, the capital of ...

*1993 Virginia Monseau *1992 Betty Carter *1991 Kay Bushman *1990 Betty Poe *1989 Patricia Kelly *1988 Barbara Samuels *1987 C. Anne Webb *1986 Donald R. Gallo *1985 Hazel Davis *1984 Richard Abrahamson *1983 Mike Angelotti *1982 Robert C. Small, Jr. *1981 Al Muller *1980 Hugh Agee *1979 Kenneth Donelson *1978 Alleen Pace Nilsen *1977 Sheila Schwartz *1976 Ted Hipple *1975 Helen Painter *1974 M. Jerry Weiss *1973 Marguerite Archer

References

External links

*
''The ALAN Review''
at Digital Library and Archives,

Virginia Tech The Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, commonly referred to as Virginia Tech (VT), is a Public university, public Land-grant college, land-grant research university with its main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia, United States ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Assembly On Literature For Adolescents Teacher associations based in the United States ALAN Award Organizations established in 1973