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Another National Award for Fuqua's Sam Webber

November 17, 1999 -- School Library Journal, the bible of the school library business, has put The Reappearance of Sam Webber by Jonathon Scott Fuqua on its 1999 top five list of adult novels recommended for teenagers, as well as named it a School Library Journal Best Book Selection for 1999.

The SLJ review committee, which included SLJ staff members, outside librarians, and teenagers, praised the book for its outstanding literary merit, ultimately commenting: "A message of hope underlies this captivating tale."

The actual announcement of the award will be made in the December issue of School Library Journal.

The decision-making committee considered 300 titles eligible because of SLJ reviews during 1999. All told in this category, only 15 books received designations as an SLJ Best Book Selection for 1999. Ten were books of non-fiction, and five of fiction. SLJ is published monthly by Cahners.

Author Jonathon Scott Fuqua said he was surprised and happy to hear of the SLJ award. "Living with Sam as I did, I developed a sincere love and respect for this fictitious boy and his adult friends. Therefore, it's a joy to me that my story could mean so much to so many others as well. I have always hoped that my work would soothe and reside in the hearts of readers."

This is just the latest of several national awards the Baltimore-based book and author have been picking up. In early October, the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression put Sam Webber on its list of the 30 books in-print that best deal with the subject of violence and youth. It was one of only two novels to make that list, and the one most recently published.

Sam Webber has also been nominated for the ALEX Award. Co-sponsored by Booklist Magazine and the American Library Association (ALA) Youth Services Division, that award is given annually to the 10 best adult books for teenagers.

The Reappearance of Sam Webber (ISBN 1890862029) is the story of an 11-year-old boy from Baltimore who learns to survive emotionally -- and to grow -- after his father abandons him and his mother and they, for financial reasons, must move to a poorer city neighborhood.


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