The American Library Association awarded this year’s John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature to Jerry Craft’s middle-grade graphic novel New Kid.

The announcement was made during the ALA’s Midwinter Meeting.  While other graphic novels have been Newbery Honor books (for example El Deafo, in 2015, see "Graphic Novel Gets Newbery ‘Honors’"), this is the first time the Newbery Medal has gone to a graphic novel. New Kid also won the Coretta Scott King Author Award, which recognizes an African American author and illustrator of outstanding children’s and YA books.

Several other graphic novels were honored by the ALA.  Mariko Tamaki and Rosemary Valero-O’Connell’s Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me was a Printz Honor Book; this award is for outstanding young adult books.

R. J. Palacio’s White Bird received the Sydney Taylor Award in the middle-grade category.  This award recognizes outstanding books that portray the Jewish experience.

Two of the three Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature went to graphic novels: Stargazing, by Jen Wang, and They Called Us Enemy, by George Takei, Justin Eisinger, Steven Scott, and Harmony Becker.

Maia Kobabe’s Gender Queer and AJ Dungo’s In Waves were among the 10 books that received Alex Awards, which recognize outstanding adult books that appeal to teen readers.

Finally, the audiobook version of Jarrett J. Krosoczka’s Hey Kiddo won the Odyssey Award for best audiobook.