YALSA offers teen “books that don't make you blush”
Contact: Nichole Gilbert
312-280-4387
ngilbert@ala.org
For Immediate Release
August 23, 2005
YALSA offers teen “books that don't make you blush”
CHICAGO - The Young Adult Library Services Association's (YALSA) Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults Committee is developing a list of recommended reading parents and teens can agree on: “Books that Don't Make You Blush: No Dirty Laundry Here.” The booklist will feature fiction and nonfiction that is wholesome in nature, as well as popular, ranging from Meg Cabot's “All American Girl” to Kenneth Oppel's “Airborn.” The booklist is one of four currently under consideration by the committee.
"As librarians, we see teens and parents every week looking for books that are free of swearing and sex but are still interesting and relevant," said Committee Chair Walter Mayes. "One of our goals is to make sure our patrons are aware of the wide range of books available for every reader, particularly those who may not be interested in some of the edgier new releases. There are so many options for engaging young adults in reading that fits their interests and needs."
According to the Cooperative Children's Book Center, there are 345,880 books currently in print for children and teens, with approximately 5,000 new titles published each year.
Each year, YALSA's Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults Committee encourages young adults to read for pleasure by presenting lists of popular or topical titles that are widely available in paperback and which represent a broad variety of accessible themes and genres. For more information on the committee and 10 years worth of recommended popular titles, please visit
www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists/poppaper. Nominations for the 2006 lists are still being accepted.
“With Teen Read Week coming up October 16, this seemed like a great time to talk about some of the new booklists underway at YALSA,” said YALSA President Pam Spencer Holley. “Sometimes teens get so busy they forget that there's more to reading than just schoolbooks. Our goal is to encourage teens to read for the fun of it and provide lists of books that offer free selection to meet their interests.”
YALSA is the world leader in promoting young adult literature and provides seven selected lists of young adult literature and three literary awards each year. Award-winning books and final booklists will be announced in January. While the books are selected for teens from 12 to 18 years of age, the titles span a broad range of reading and maturity levels. YALSA encourages adults to take an active role in helping individual teens choose those books that are the best fit for them and their families.
YALSA is the fastest growing division of the American Library Association (ALA). Teen Read Week (October 16-22) is a national literacy initiative aimed at teens, their parents, librarians, educators, booksellers and other concerned adults. This year's Teen Read Week theme is “Get Real @ your library.” Library events nationwide will encourage teens to explore the world of nonfiction books, such as biographies, self-help books, strange-but-true stories, and more.
For more information about YALSA booklists, please visit the Web at
www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists, or contact the YALSA office by e-mail:
yalsa@ala.org; or phone: 1(800) 545-2433 ext. 4390.
