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. 

Larry Broutman wants to make sure that the amazing stories of Chicagoans from the past are not lost to time. Through his striking photographs of their final resting places and accompany text, Broutman has documented the journeys of Chicago’s heroes, villains, and everyday folks in his book, Chicago Eternal. This newly released coffee table book of photography has already attracted plenty of media attention. Larry Broutman recently made appearances on Chicago Tonight and the WGN-TV Morning News. He did interviews on WGN Radio’s After Hours with Rick Kogan, WDCB-90.9 FM’s The Arts Section, and WGN Radio’s Steve Cochran Show.

Check out his television and radio interviews to learn why Broutman chose cemeteries for his subject matter, how the ultimate Cubs fan can eternally be a part of Wrigley Field, Al Capone’s surprising graveyard neighbors, which are the most photographed tombstones in town and why, and many more fascinating historic tales.

Chicago Tonight: “A Tombstone Tour of Chicago”

https://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2018/04/16/tombstone-tour-chicago

WGN-TV Morning News: “Larry Broutman Talks About "Chicago Eternal"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7noOG-zT5gw

WGN Radio After Hours with Rick Kogan: “Rick Kogan Chats with Author Larry Broutman”

http://wgnradio.com/2018/04/24/rick-kogan-chats-with-author-larry-broutman/

WDCB-90.9 FM The Arts Section “New Book Captures Beauty of Chicago-Area Cemeteries”

https://soundcloud.com/wdcbnews/the-arts-section-new-book-captures-beauty-within-chicago-area-cemeteries

Steve Cochran Show, WGN Radio: “Chicago Eternal / Larry Broutman Interview”

https://chicagolighthouse.org/press/broutman-chicago-eternal-steve-cochran/

Purchase Chicago Eternal at:

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

Chicago Eternal is the newest release in award-winning photographer and historian Larry Broutman’s collection of coffee table books of Chicago-themed photography. In this gigantic, gorgeous book of full-color haunting photographs, Broutman takes on an intimate journey through Cook County’s cemeteries.

Each picture of a tombstone, chapel, or mausoleum is accompanied by text and sometimes additional photographs or illustrations that give insight into that person’s life. Featured are politicians, sports legends, inventors, entertainers, singers, and mobsters who play heavily into Chicago’s history.

There are also soldiers and children who we may have never heard of but deserve to be remembered. This book is as touching as it is stunning.