meg medina.ths new writers winner for tia wants a car and for the yadida wants to kick your ass. and mango and me. her novel, burn, baby burn, niba, ya book of the year was long listed for the 2016 national book award and finalist for the kirkis prize and the los angeles book prize. in 2014, she was named one of cnn's 10 visionary women in america. it gives me great pleasure to introduce meg medina. ♪ [applause] >> wow. good evening, everyone. this really is going to be two minutes because i timed it. you're welcome. i would first like to acknowledge my fellow judges who are sitting at table 54 who came -- [applause] yes. they're awesome. who came to the task of reading hundreds of books with their signature brilliance good nature and thoughtfulness. they have my heartfelt thanks forever. they are suzanna hermans, brendan kiley, tecla ma goon and alex sanchez. [applause] the books we read as young people are sacred. and they're sacred because they guide us through growing up. they remain imprinte

it gives me great pleasure to introduce meg medina. ♪ good evening everyone.i timed it. you're welcome. i was cursed like to acknowledge my fellow judges that are sitting at table 54 came to the task of reading hundreds of books with their signature building and good nature and thoughtfulness they have my most heartfelt thanks forever and they are susannah herman, depend entirely and alec sanchez. [applause] [cheering] the books that we read as young people are sacred because they guide us through growing up and remain imprinted through a lifetime. these are the books that shape how young people see themselves ande the world, they are the comfort through difficult times and the ones that have a potential to turn them into lifelong readers. it wasas through that that the committee comes through the many submissions. the committee considered each against three criteria. did the work demonstrate outstanding merit through its use of prose, it's compelling plot, the uniqueness of voice and its nuanced characterizations. would the work and were, does it name,t docum