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AP Photo NYTF112, NYTF110 By CLARKE CANFIELD Associated Press Writer PORTLAND, Maine (AP) Maine author Phillip Hoose said winning a National Book Award for his chronicle of a young civil rights pioneer was all the more moving because she took the stage with him when he accepted the honor.

Hoose won the young people's literature award for "Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice" at the 60th annual National Book Awards, held Wednesday night in New York.

He based his book on the true story of Claudette Colvin, who as a 15-year-old schoolgirl was dragged off a bus in Montgomery, Ala., for refusing to give up her seat to a white woman. She made her stand against racism and prejudice months before a similar incident made Rosa Parks a national symbol for the civil rights struggle of the 1950s.

Colvin, now 70, joined Hoose on stage at his request.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 11-19-09 1640CST | save this article / add to your favorites list