Selected Audiobooks for Young Adults
February 1999
The Media Selection and Usage Committee of the Young Adult Library Services Association a division of the American Library Association announces its first ever Selected List of Audio Books for Young Adults. The committee members are Stephen Crowley (Palatka, FL), chair, Candace Bundy, Fairview Park, OH; Rachel Fleming, Tuscaloosa, AL; Sharon Harvey, Montgomery, AL; Kitty Krahnke, Wexford, PA; Amy Spaulding, Brookville, NY; Lynn Vanca, Akron, OH; and Roslyn Wylie, Normal, IL.
The titles appearing on this list were selected for their appeal to teens because of their subject matter, author recognition, or timeliness of the issues.
Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause, read by Alyssa Bresnahan. Recorded Books, 1998. 6 cass. 7.75 hrs. Unabridged 0-7887-1102-4
The story of Vivian, a beautiful teen-aged werewolf struggling to balance life with her pack and her life with the human meat-boys and girls at school. She longs to fit in, but cannot bring herself to abandon her legacy.
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. Read by Michael York. Audio Partners, 1998. 6 cass. 1-57270-064-5
Cloning, feel good drugs, anti-aging... headlines out of today’s newspapers? This 1932 "classic" of an utopian future has all the timeliness of the 21st century.
Down River by Will Hobbs, read by Christina Moore. Recorded Books, 1997. 4 cass. 6 hrs. Unabridged. 0-7887-1101-6
Fifteen-year-old Jesse has been sent by her father on an outdoor survival trip for troubled teens, or, as she calls it "Hoods in the woods." The group decides to ditch their guide and attempt to raft the dangerous Colorado River on their own, soon finding themselves over their heads.
Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick read by Elden Henson. Listening Library, 1998. 2 cass. 3 hrs. Unabridged 0-8072-7981-1
Freak the Mighty are two outcasts, Maxwell and Freak, who team up to solve mysteries, and defend the "right."
Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer, read by the author. Bantam Doubleday Dell, 1988. Abridged.
The true story of the disastrous 1996 Mt. Everest climb that resulted in the deaths of nine climbers, guides and sherpas. Krakauer offers a rare first-person perspective on this compelling and tragic story.
Lives of the Presidents by Kathleen Krull, read by John C. Brown. Audio Bookshelf, 1998. 2 cass. 3 hrs. 1-883332-34-6 Unabridged.
This is a collection of short, informative and often humorous biographical sketches of our presidents. We see a more human side of these often remote personages as we learn about some of their personal likes and dislikes.
Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse, read by Martha Mashburn. Listening Library, 1998. 2 cass. 2 hrs. 9 min. 0-8072-8012-7 Unabridged.
Billie Jo tells, in sparse but beautiful language, her story of strength in the face of personal tragedy set against the backdrop of the 1930's dustbowl.
Parrot in the Oven: Mi Vida by Victor Martinez, read by the author. Harper Audio, 1998. 0-6947-0093-2.
14-year-old Manny wants more out of life than he seems to be getting. He wants RESPECT and the only way to get respect in his neighborhood is to be in a gang. But then, who is in control of his life?
Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech, read by Kate Harper. Listening Library, 1997. 4 cass. 5 hrs. 56 min. 0-8072-7871-8. Unabridged.
The Newbery winning story of Sal’s search for her mother and her own discovery of herself.
Wasted by Marya Hornbacher, read by the author. Bantam Doubleday Dell, 1998. 4 cass. 6hrs. 0-553-52518-2 Abridged
Marya Hornbacher recounts her life of anorexia and bullemia when her weight plumeted down to 52 pounds and caused her to lose all sense of normalcy in her life.
Weeping Willow by Ruth White, read by Angela Jayne Rogers. Recorded Books, 1997. 5 cass. 7 hrs. 0-7887-0951-8. Unabridged
This is the story of Tina Lambert’s struggle with her difficult home situation and her avoidance of her stepfather.
Whistling Toilets, The by Randy Powell, read by Johnny Healer. Recorded Books, 1997. 5 cass. 6 hrs. 0-7887-0889-9 Unabridged
A humorous, romantic story about 16 year-old tennis coach Stan Clayton and rising star Ginny Forester. There is a dark secret in Ginny’s life that even Stan can’t uncover; it’s affecting her game. What is it and what does the song of the whistling toilets have to do with her?
