YALSA names 2013 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers

SEATTLE —The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA a division of the American Library Association (ALA), announced its 2013 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers selection list. The list is presented annually at the ALA Midwinter Meeting.

The Quick Picks list suggests books that teens, ages 12-18, will pick up on their own and read for pleasure; it is geared to the teenager who, for whatever reason, does not like to read.

The complete list of 65 titles and 3 series, drawn from 217 nominations, can be found at http://www.ala.org/yalsa/quick-picks-reluctant-young-adult-readers. The Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers committee also selected a Top Ten list:

• Backderf, Derf. "My Friend Dahmer." Abrams/Abrams ComicArts, 2012.
• Henry, April. "The Night She Disappeared" Henry Holt Books for Young Readers /Christy Ottaviano Books, 2012.
• Lyga, Barry. "I Hunt Killers." Little Brown, 2012.
• Lynch, Chris. Series. Scholastic Press.
  • "Vietnam #1: I Pledge Allegiance," 2011
  • "Vietnam #2:Sharpshooter," 2012
  • "Vietnam #3: Free-Fire Zone," 2012
• McNeil, Gretchen. "Ten." Balzer + Bray," 2012.
• Rodriguez, Gaby; Glatzer, Jenna. "The Pregnancy Project: A Memoir." Simon & Schuster Inc./Simon & Schuster BFYR, 2012.
• Ross, Richard. "Juvenile in Justice." Richard Ross, 2012.
• Summer, Courtney. "This is Not a Test." Macmillan/St. Martin’s Griffin, 2012.
• Tillit, L.B. "Unchained." Saddleback Publishing/Gravel Road, 2012./li>
• Woodson, Jacqueline. "Beneath a Meth Moon: An Elegy." Penguin Group (USA) Inc./Nancy Paulsen Books, 2012.

“Our committee found something for everyone,” said Chair Rebecca Jackman. “Humor, romance, action, mystery, zombie, realism; they are all on our list. Our list is as varied as our teens.”

Members of the Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers Committee are: Rebecca Jackman, chair, New Providence Middle School, Clarksville, Tenn.; Anita Buers, Cypress High School, Orange, Calif.; Adrienne Butler, Oklahoma Department of Libraries, Oklahoma City, Okla.; Louise Capizzo, Scarborough (Maine) Public Library, Scarborough; Derek Ivie, Epiphany Library, New York; Stacy Lickteig, Omaha Public Schools, Omaha, Neb.; Jackie Parker, Sno-Isle Libraries, Lynnwood, Wash.; Ann Pechacek, Worthington Libraries, Columbus, Ohio; Dr. Karin Perry, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas; Jessica Smith, Bend (Ore.) Senior High School; Ellen Spring, Rockland District Middle School, Thomaston, Maine; and Elizabeth Frerking, administrative assistant, Clarksville High School, Clarksville, Tenn.

YALSA’s portfolio of book and media awards helps strengthen library services for and with teens by identifying quality, age appropriate resources for librarians and library workers to share with the teens in their communities.

For more than 50 years, YALSA has been the world leader in selecting books, videos, and audio books for teens. For more information about YALSA or for lists of recommended reading, viewing and listening, go to www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists, or contact the YALSA office by phone, 800-545-2433, ext. 4390; or e-mail: yalsa@ala.org.