The Young Adult Library Services Association, a division of the American Library Association, named Valerie H. Nicholson the winner of the 2009 MAE Award for Best Literature Program for Teens. The MAE Award provides $500 to the recipient and $500 to the recipient's library.

Nicholson is the adviser for the Eva Perry Mock Printz Book Club for Teens at the Eva Perry Regional Library in Apex. Although mock book elections take place throughout the country, the Eva Perry Mock Printz Book Club stood out as a well-rounded example that is an inspiration for others.

Teens have many opportunities to participate: The program incorporates technology, allowing teens to interact with an N.C. State University young-adult literature graduate class and noted young-adult authors, both virtually and in-person.

Self-confidence, public speaking skills and critical thinking skills increase as the teens are reminded how valuable their opinions are to the library system through their recommendations and reviews.

The Eva Perry Mock Printz Book Club for Teens is open to teens ages 14-19 or in grades nine to 12. At the club, teens attempt to read and present all young-adult books published during the year, discussing plot, setting, genre, style of writing, character development, uniqueness, teen voice and relevancy of the topic to teens. As they develop a list of potential winners, the young adult literature graduate education class at N.C. State University incorporates the Eva Perry list into its reading list.

At the last meeting of the book club year, favorite books are analyzed and compared until a final winner is selected. The weekend following the official ALA announcements, the club meets to share their thoughts on the national winners.

"The enthusiasm of the teens has been wonderful," Nicholson said. "They are a remarkable group who love the literary world." She will use the prize money to help fund a trip for the book club members to the American Library Association Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. in 2010.