YALSA names 2009 Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults

Contact: Stephanie Kuenn


YALSA Communications Specialist


(312) 280-2128

skuenn@ala.org

NEWS


For Immediate Release


January 28, 2009

DENVER —The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), today announced its 2009 Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults list. The list for those ages 12-18 is drawn from the previous two years of spoken-word releases and presented annually at the ALA Midwinter Meeting.

The 2009 Amazing Audiobooks features a wide range of recordings, with 20 fiction titles and one nonfiction title representing diverse genres and styles, including historical fiction, fantasy and realistic fiction. The complete list of 21 titles, including annotations, can be found at www.ala.org/yalsa/audiobooks.

“Some fantastic audiobooks were published for teens this year; these are the standouts,” said Lee Catalano, committee chair. “We think they’ll amaze you too.”

Members of the Amazing Audiobooks Committee are: Lee Catalano, chair, Multnomah County Library, Portland, Ore.; Shari Fesko, David Stewart Memorial Library, Southfield, Mich.; Kristin Brand Heathcock, Hillsborough Community College, Plant City, Fla.; Nichole King, Morgan Hill (Calif.) Library; Emily Jones, Renton, Wash.; Cathy Lichtman, Plymouth (Mich.) District Library; Rayma Norton, Lake Forest Park (Wash.) Library; Ellen Rix Spring, Rockland (Me.) District Middle School; and Drue Anne Wagner-Mees, Los Angeles Public Library, Brentwood Branch.

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.