YALSA names 2011 Best Fiction for Young Adults
For Immediate Release
Thu, 01/13/2011
Contact:
Stephanie Kuenn
SAN DIEGO — The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), the fastest-growing division of the American Library Association (ALA), announced its 2011 list of Best Fiction for Young Adults (BFYA). This year’s list of 99 books was drawn from 191 official nominations.
In 2010, the YALSA restructured the charge for the Best Books for Young Adults committee and renamed it Best Fiction for Young Adults. The 2011 list is the first for the new committee.
The books, recommended for ages 12-18, meet the criteria of both good quality literature and appealing reading for teens. The list comprises a wide range of genres and styles, including contemporary realistic fiction, fantasy, horror, science fiction and novels in verse. The full list can be found at www.ala.org/yalsa/bfya.
The Best Fiction for Young Adults committee created a Top Ten list of titles from the final list:
- Bacigalupi, Paolo. “Ship Breaker.” Little, Brown, & Co., 2010.
- Donnelley, Jennifer. “Revolution.” Random House Children's Books/Delacorte, 2010.
- Marchetta, Melina. “Finnikin of the Rock.” Candlewick, 2010.
- Matson, Morgan. “Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour.” 2010. Simon & Schuster, 2010.
- McBride, Lish.“Hold Me Closer, Necromancer.” Macmillan Children's Book Group/Henry Holt, 2010.
- Mulligan, Andy. “Trash.” David Fickling Books, 2010.
- Perkins, Mitali. “Bamboo People.” Charlesbridge, 2010.
- Reinhardt, Dana. “The Things a Brother Knows.” Random House Children's Books/Wendy Lamb, 2010.
- Saenz, Benjamin. “Last Night I Sang to the Monster.” Cinco Puntos Press, 2009.
- Sedgwick, Marcus. “Revolver.” Roaring Brook Press, 2010.
“Members of the inaugural BFYA committee tirelessly read stories of romance, action, teen angst, horror and fantasy to create this list of outstanding fiction published for young adults in 2010,” said Chair Terri Snethen. “These titles well represent the qualities of exceptional young adult literature and will appeal to teens of all ages and diverse reading interests.”
The members of the Best Fiction for Young Adults Committee are: Terri Snethen, chair, Blue Valley North High School, Overland Park, Kan.; Martha Baden, Alice Boucher World Languages Academy, Lafayette, La.; Jennifer Barnes, Gleason Library, Carlisle, Mass. and Concord- Carlisle (Mass.) High School; Louise Brueggemann, Naperville (Ill.) Public Library; Debbie Fisher, Central Falls (R.I.) High School; Michael Fleming, Pacific Cascade Middle School, Issaquah, Wash.; Janet Hilbun, University of North Texas DLIS, Denton; Alissa Lauzon, Haverhill (Mass.) Public Library; Shelly McNerney, Blue Valley West High School, Overland Park, Kan.; Shilo Pearson, Chicago Public Library; Dr. Judith Rodgers, Wayzata Central Middle School, Plymouth, Minn.; Dr. Ann Sloan, McLennan Community College, Waco, Texas; Patti Tjomsland, Mark Morris High School, Longview, Wash.; Brooke Young, Salt Lake City (Utah) Public Library; Shauna Yusko, Evergreen Junior High, Redmond, Wash.; Gillian Engberg, Booklist consultant, Chicago; and, Crissy Claiborne, administrative assistant, Las Vegas-Clark County (Nev.) Library.
For more than 50 years, YALSA has been the world leader in selecting books, videos and audiobooks 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.