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CHICAGO –“The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh,” written by Candace Fleming and published by Schwartz and Wade, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House, has been named the 2021 winner of the YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Award, the first national award that honors the best nonfiction books for teens. The award was announced today by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) at the ������ý’s ������ýMidwinter Virtual, held Jan. 22 – 26.

Charles Lindbergh is one of the most complicated figures in American history. Celebrated aviator, dogged scientist, heartbroken father, Nazi sympathizer, anti-Semite, unapologetic eugenicist. Candace Fleming shows all the facets of a deeply flawed American hero. In a well-researched, engaging narrative, Fleming brings Lindbergh to life, warts and all.

“Candace Fleming's riveting biography takes readers deep inside Lindbergh's life and character, exploring the consequences of his actions and beliefs, and alluding to contemporary politics.” said YALSA Nonfiction Award Chair Adrienne Gillespie.

The YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults honors the best nonfiction book published for young adults (ages 12-18) during a Nov. 1 – Oct. 31 publishing year. Award winners are announced annually during the ������ýMidwinter Meeting & Exhibits’ Youth Media Awards.

2021 YALSA Nonfiction Award finalists, which were announced in December, include:

“All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys' Soccer Team,” written by Christina Soontornvat and published by Candlewick Press. 9781536209457.

“The Cat I Never Named: A True Story of Love, War, and Survival,” written by Amra Sabic-El-Rayess with Laura L. Sullivan and published by Bloomsbury YA. 9781547604531.

“How We Got to the Moon: The People, Technology, and Daring Feats of Science Behind Humanity's Greatest Adventure,” written and illustrated by John Rocco and published by Crown Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House. 9780525647416.

“You Call This Democracy?: How to Fix Our Democracy and Deliver Power to the People,” written by Elizabeth Rusch and published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers, a division of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 9780358387428.

The full list of official nominations for the award will be available online at

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Members of the 2021 YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults award committee are: Chair Adrienne Gillespie, Beaverton School District, Portland, Oregon; Danielle Rae Dreger-Babbitt, Sno-Isle Regional Library, Mill Creek Library, Mill Creek, Washington; Jennifer Longee, Durham Academy, Durham, North Carolina; Jill Bellomy, Highland Park Middle School, Dallas, Texas; Lisa Goldstein, Brooklyn Public Library, New York; Katie Richert, Bloomingdale Public Library, Bloomingdale, Illinois; Joel Shoemaker, Illinois Prairie District Public Library, Metamora, Illinois; Kerry Townsend, Columbia Public Schools, Columbia, Missouri; and Dr. Terrell A. Young, Bringham Young University, Provo, Utah.

For more than 50 years, YALSA has worked to build the capacity of libraries and librarians to engage, serve and empower teens. For more information about YALSA or to access national guidelines and other resources go to , or contact the YALSA office by phone, (800) 545-2433, ext. 4390, or email, yalsa@ala.org.

For more information on the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults and other ������ýYouth Media Awards, please visit .