Under the Neon Lights
A roller rink closure threatens a teen's summer of first love and self-discovery.
The Coretta Scott King / John Steptoe New Talent Award is named for John Steptoe, the Brooklyn author and illustrator who published his first book, Stevie, before he turned twenty and won Coretta Scott King recognition for his own work before his death in 1989. First given in 1995, it is presented by the Coretta Scott King Round Table of the American Library Association to an African American author or illustrator at the very beginning of a publishing career.
It shares the eligibility standards of the Coretta Scott King Author and Illustrator Awards but adds a limit that defines it: a recipient's published works cannot exceed three in number, the award can be won only once, and anyone taking a Coretta Scott King medal in the same year is not eligible. One award is given each year, for text or for illustration, and the committee may choose to give it in both or in neither.
Where the main Coretta Scott King medals tend to go to established names, this list is a record of first and second books. It is the place to look for a debut voice worth following, and for newer picture books and novels that have not yet accumulated the attention the medal winners carry.
Information from the American Library Association.
A roller rink closure threatens a teen's summer of first love and self-discovery.
A roller rink closure threatens a teen's summer of first love and self-discovery.
A boy must escape the Ghanaian underworld to save humanity and say goodbye.
A young boy from Harlem finds his voice and challenges a nation with his words.
Three friends fake gang violence to save their home, but fear spirals out of control.
A girl feels a mysterious call to freedom, echoing her ancestors' journey.
Family secrets and a town's dark past challenge a teen's quest for truth.
A mother's grief ignites a civil rights movement.
Two teens, haunted by loss, embark on a journey to uncover their roots and heal.
Explore endless possibilities and embrace your potential in a journey of self-discovery and empowerment.
A teen discovers a secret society and her own magic, unraveling her mother's mysterious death.
A girl battles self-doubt and family turmoil to find self-love.
A young boy helps his mother put together a care package for a family in need, and finds a way to give something special to a girl his age.
A girl vanishes, and only her best friend notices. Can she uncover the truth?
A woman shares her stew with various people from her neighborhood, who later return the favor.
A boy in Harlem finds hope and creativity amidst grief and gang pressure.
A singer's voice challenges apartheid's grip.
Two teens' unexpected love faces the ticking clock of deportation.
A boy must master magic to stop a sinister stranger threatening his town.
A civil rights champion fights for equal voting rights against fierce opposition.
Urban teen navigates friendship, loyalty, and unexpected danger in a neighborhood filled with challenges.
Discover how DJ Kool Herc's beats transformed music and culture forever.
A mythical creature's tale threatens a town's peace, forcing children to confront truth and imagination.
A Kenyan woman fights for nature and women's rights, one tree at a time.
A young boy must choose between family loyalty and revolutionary ideals in 1968 Chicago.