2006Popular Paperbacksfor Young Adults
Contact: Nichole Gilbert
YALSA
312-280-4387
ngilbert@ala.org
For Immediate Release
January 31, 2006
2006 Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults
CHICAGO - The Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults Committee, sponsored by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), the fastest growing division of the American Library Association (ALA), announced its 2006 selections finalized at the ALA Midwinter Meeting, held January 20-25, in San Antonio.
This year's committee produced four lists of selected titles. This year's lists are: “Books That Don't Make You Blush: No Dirty Laundry Here,” “Criminal Elements,” “ What Ails You?,” and “GLBTQ.”
“Books That Don't Make You Blush: No Dirty Laundry Here”: Books that are fun to read and appeal to all teens. Whether your interest is clowning around or singing in the choir, there is something here for you. Committee Chair Allan O'Grady Cuseo said that with their diverse characters, stories, and formats, these books will find an audience anywhere.
“Criminal Elements”: Fiction and nonfiction about teens that find themselves in opposition to or on the wrong side of the law, as well as stories about lives affected by encounters with the legal system, gangs, law enforcement, and prison. According to Committee Chair Michele Gorman, “This list will provide a foundation for the upcoming program, “Books Behind Bars,” to be held at the ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans, on Saturday, June 24, 2006.”
“What Ails You?”
: Fiction and nonfiction about how diseases, disorders and other general health related symptoms affect our lives. Committee chair Paula Brehm-Heeger could not be reached for comment, as she is not feeling well.
“GLBTQ”: Contemporary fiction and nonfiction for teens of all persuasions. Chair Alison Hendon says, “It's about time.”
Committee Chair Walter Mayes said, “I expect that this year's titles will be grabbed up by teens and librarians. The topics have wide appeal, and titles were chosen for their popularity to promote reading for enjoyment among teens. Committee members did a terrific job of carrying on the tradition of the Popular Paperbacks Committee, which marks its tenth anniversary this year.”
The members of the 2005-2006 Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults Committee are:
Walter Mayes, chair, Girl's Middle School, Mountain View, Calif.; Diane Emge, administrative assistant and committee member, Alachua County Library District, Gainesville, Fla.; Paula Brehm-Heeger, Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton County, Cincinnati; Robin Brenner, Cary Memorial Library, Lexington, Mass.; Janet Buttenwieser, King County Library System, Burien, Wash.; Allan Cuseo, Bishop Kearney High School Library, Rochester, N.Y.; Elizabeth Elam, Prince Georges County Memorial Library, Hyattsville, Md.; Michele Gorman, Austin Public Library, Austin, Texas; Alison Hendon, Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn, N.Y.; Sally Leahey, McArthur Public Library, Biddeford, Maine; Melissa Rabey, Kevin Scanlon, Canton Public Library, Canton, Mich.; Caryn Sipos, Three Creeks Community Library, Vancouver, Wash.; Carlie Kraft Webber, Kinnelon Public Library, Kinnelon, N.J., and J. MarinYounker, Seattle Public Library, Seattle.
For more information on YALSA booklists, please visit
www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists or e-mail
yalsa@ala.org.
