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The Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) has announced the finalists in its 31st Annual Benjamin Franklin Awards for excellence in book publishing. Chicago Eternal by Larry Broutman is one of three finalists in the Regional category. The highly regarded IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards, which recognize excellence and innovation in independent publishing, are one of the nation’s top honors for independent publishers. Gold and Silver winners will be announced on April 5, 2019 at the gala dinner ceremony at the Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile in Chicago. The ceremony is held in conjunction with Chicago’s IBPA Publishing University.

Over 1,500 entrants were thoroughly evaluated by 160 librarians, booksellers, and design and editorial experts during a seven-month judging process. IBPA CEO Angela Bole explained, "Unlike many other award programs, the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards demand both editorial and design excellence and entrants are judged independently on both." With over 3,100 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the US.

Already recognized as a finalist in American Book Fest’s Best Book Awards in Photography and praised in many national and local reviews, Chicago Eternal takes readers on a journey through Chicago’s storied past with illuminating photographs of gravestones and mausoleums from thirty Cook County cemeteries. Commentary sheds lights on the rich lives behind the tombstones.

To learn more about the IBPA and this prestigious award, visit:

https://www.ibpa-online.org/news/440987/31st-Annual-IBPA-Benjamin-Franklin-Awards.htm#reg

To get your copy of award-winning Chicago Eternal, go to:

https://www.everythinggoesmedia.com/product-page/chicago-eternal

Some light spoilers follow. 

Interesting concept bogged down by too many characters and too many storylines. 

Choldenko (I thought this author's name was Cholden for the longest time because our spine labels only carry the first 7 of an author's surname) was unconvincing writing as a boy. I think the book suffers from being limited to Moose's perspective alone. I didn't really understand his relationship with his mother until his father spells it out at one point. And what as the deal with Piper? I felt like I was getting whiplash trying to figure out if Moose liked her or not (and ultimately it's a moot point, so why include it at all? He seemed to like Scout about the same as Piper and I preferred that relationship). 

The historical fiction aspect was also a big miss for me. I only really knew it was the 1930s because the book kept telling me and because they were living on Alcatraz. 

Almost every aspect seems to exist to service the plot, which was too fractured for me to really get into it. I wish the story were more streamlined, characters were better developed, and the conflicts made more explicit. One of the main conflicts is so vague I think that made it more sinister than Choldenko intended. However, I also think this is something only adults would worry about and that the lack of details will be fine for kids reading the books (they'll either pick up on it or they won't). 

 I will admit to getting chills at the ending. I really bought into the mythos of Al Capone on Alcatraz. That aspect of the book was effective. But that part of the book is gone so quickly and then the whole thing is over, it's hard to say that it felt that satisfying. I'd be interested to see where the sequels go, but I'll probably just Google the books rather than reading them. 

ETA: There is a scene at the end of the book between Moose and the warden that I did really like. Moose thinks how the warden tells him that Moose is almost a man and needs to act like it, but the warden treats Moose like a child. That to me is the 12-year-old feeling. That weird transitional period of life. I wanted more of that.