2007 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers

The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)has announced its 2007 annual recommended list of Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers. The list was released during the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Seattle, January 19-23.

Compiled by an 11-member committee, the 76 titles on the list were published late 2005 through 2006 and represent over 35 different publishers. Thirty of the titles are non-fiction and forty-six are fiction.

The Quick Picks committee seeks books that teens, ages 12-18, will pick up on their own and read for pleasure. The list is geared to the teenager who, for whatever reason, does not like to read. The list is not intended for teenagers with reading disabilities, though some of the selected titles may be appropriate for those teens. Teen input is a vital aspect in the final decision of the committee.Committee members spend countless hours reading, selecting books to nominate, and working one-on-one with reluctant readers to gauge their interest in the books.

The committee also selected a
Top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers.

Members of the YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers committee are: Sarah Couri, Chair, New York Public Library; Josephine G. Caisse, Deschutes Public Library; Stacy L. Creel-Chavez, St. John’s University (New York); Debbie S. Fisher, Central Falls High School (Rhode Island); Katherine H. Fitch, Rachel Carson Middle School (Virginia); Susan Y. Geye, Crowley Independent School District (Texas); Sara Catherine Howard, Sam Houston State University (Texas); Teri S. Lesesne, Sam Houston State University (Texas); H. Jack Martin, New York Public Library;
Joy E. Millam, Valencia High School (California); Rollie Welch, Cleveland (Ohio) Public Library; Administrative Assistant Jamie Watson, Harford County (Md) Public Library.

Booklist will publish the Top Ten with annotations in the March 1 issue. The complete list with and without annotations, can be found on the YALSA For Members Only website.

NONFICTION

Allen, Judy.
Unexplained: An Encyclopedia of Curious Phenomena, Strange Superstitions and Ancient Mysteries. 2006. illus. Kingfisher, $19.95. (ISBN-10, 0-7534-5950-7; ISBN-13, 9780753459508).

Ask CosmoGirl about Guys. 2006. illus. Sterling, $5.95. (ISBN-10, 1-58816-485-3; ISBN-13, 9781588164858).

Ask CosmoGirl about Your Body. 2006. illus. Sterling, $5.95. (ISBN-10, 1-58816-486-1; ISBN-13, 9781588164865).

Bancroft, Tom.
Creating Characters with Personality. 2006. illus. Watson-Guptill, $19.95. (ISBN-10, 0-8230-2349-4; ISBN-13, 9780823023493).

Benton, Jim.
It's Happy Bunny: What's Your Sign?. 2005. illus. Scholastic, $7.99. (ISBN-10, 0-439-70592-4; ISBN-13, 9780439705929).

Blattberg, Julie and Koontz, Wendi.
Backstage with Beth and Trina: A Scratch and Sniff Adventure. 2006. illus. Abrams, $14.95. (ISBN-10, 0-8109-7051-1; ISBN-13, 9780810970519).

Cooper, Martha and Kramer, Nika and others.
We B*Girlz. 2005. illus. powerHouse Books/Miss Rosen Editions, $24.95. (ISBN-10, 1-57687-269-6; ISBN-13, 9781576872697).

CosmoGirl!
Words to Live By. 2006. illus. Sterling/Hearst, $6.95. (ISBN-10, 1-58816-528-0; ISBN-13, 9781588165282).

Garza, Mario.
Stuff on My Cat. 2006. illus. Chronicle, $9.95. (ISBN-10, 0-81185-538-4; ISBN-13, 9780811855389).

Halls, Kelly Milner and Spears, Rick and others.
Tales from the Cryptids: Mysterious Creatures that May or May Not Exist. 2006. illus. Darby Creek Publishing, $18.95. (ISBN-10, 1-58196-049-2; ISBN-13, 9781581960495).

Hart, Christopher.
Manga Mania: Chibi and Furry Characters: How to Draw the Adorable Mini-Characters and Cool Cat Girls of Japanese Comics. 2006. illus. Watson-Guptill, $19.95. (ISBN-10, 0-8230-2977-8; ISBN-13, 9780823029778).

Lee, Lela.
Still Angry Little Girls. 2006. illus. Abrams, $14.95. (ISBN-10, 0-8109-4915-6; ISBN-13, 9780810949157).

Leonetti, Mike and Iaboni, John.
Football Now!. 2006. illus. Firefly Books, $24.95. (ISBN-10, 1-55407-149-6; ISBN-13, 9781554071494).

Masessa, Ed and Jankowski, Daniel.
The Wandmaker's Guidebook. 2006. illus. Scholastic, $19.99. (ISBN-10, 0-439-86265-5; ISBN-13, 978043986253).

Masyga, Mark and Ohlin, Martin.
Peeps: A Candy-Coated Tale. 2006. illus. Abrams, $14.95. (ISBN-10, 0-8109-5995-X; ISBN-13, 9780810959958).

Monsters: A Celebration of the Classics from Universal Studios. 2006. illus. Ballantine/Del Ray, $29.95. (ISBN-10, 0-345-48685-4; ISBN-13, 9780345484851).

My So-Called Digital Life: 2,000 Teenagers, 300 Cameras, and 30 Days to Document Their World. Ed. by Bob Pletka. 2005. illus. Santa Monica Press, $24.95. (ISBN-10, 1-59580-005-0; ISBN-13, 9781595800053).

Oser, Bodhi.
Fuck this Book. 2005. illus. Chronicle, $14.98. (ISBN-10, 0-8118-5072-2; ISBN-13, 9780811850728).

Pick Me Up: Stuff You Need to Know. 2006. illus. DK Publishing, $29.99. (ISBN-10, 0-7566-2159-3; ISBN-13, 9780756621599).

Rannals, Melissa and Alvarado, Melissa and others.
Sew Subversive: Down and Dirty DIY for the Fabulous Fashionista. 2006. illus. Taunton, $14.95. (ISBN-10, 1-56158-809-1; ISBN-13, 9781561588091).

Rogge, Hannah and Rafter, Marianne.
Hardwear: Jewelry From a Toolbox. 2006. illus. Stewart, Tabori & Chang, $18.95. (ISBN-10, 1-58479-480-1; ISBN-13, 9781584794806).

Saltz, Ina.
Body Type: Intimate Messages Etched in Flesh. 2006. illus. Abrams, $19.95. (ISBN-10, 0-8109-7050-3; ISBN-13, 9780810970502).

Schutz, Samantha.
I Don't Want to be Crazy: A Memoir of Anxiety Disorder. 2006. Scholastic/Push, $16.99. (ISBN-10, 0-439-80518-X; ISBN-13, 9780439805186).

Scott, Damien and Ex, Kris.
How to Draw Hip Hop. 2006. illus. Watson-Guptill, $19.95. (ISBN-10, 0-8230-1446-0; ISBN-13, 9780823014460).

Seckel, Al.
Optical Illusions: The Science of Visual Perception. 2006. illus. Firefly Books, $35.00. (ISBN-10, 1-55407-172-0; ISBN-13, 9781554071722).

Skate and Destroy: The First 25 Years of Thrasher Magazine. 2006. illus. Rizzoli/Universe Publishing, $23.50. (ISBN-10, 0-7893-1386-3; ISBN-13, 9780789313867).

Trumbauer, Lisa.
A Practical Guide to Dragons. 2006. illus. Wizards of the Coast/Mirrorstone, $12.95. (ISBN-10, 0-7869-4164-2; ISBN-13, 9780786941643).

Warren, Frank.
PostSecret: Extraordinary Confessions from Ordinary Lives. 2006. illus. HarperCollins/Regan Books, $24.95. (ISBN-10, 0-06-089919-6; ISBN-13, 9780060899196).

Williamson, Kate T. and Butefish, Jennifer and others.
Hello Kitty Through the Seasons. 2006. illus. Abrams, $14.95. (ISBN-10, 0-8109-5993-3; ISBN-13, 9780810959934).

FICTION

Araki, Hirohiko.
Jojo's Bizarre Adventures, Vol. 1. Tr. by Alexis Kirsch. 2005. illus. Viz, $7.99. (ISBN-10, 1-59116-754-X; ISBN-13, 9781591167549).

Barnes, Derrick.
The Making of Dr. Truelove. 2006. Simon & Schuster/Simon Pulse, $7.99. (ISBN-10, 1-4169-1439-0; ISBN-13, 9781416914396).

Booth, Coe.
Tyrell. 2006. Scholastic/Push, $16.99. (ISBN-10, 0-439-83879-7; ISBN-13, 9780439838795).

Chayamachi, Suguro.
Devil May Cry 3: Volume One: Code One: Dante. Tr. by Ray Yoshimoto. 2005. illus. Tokyopop, $9.99. (ISBN-10, 1-59816-031-1; ISBN-13, 9781598160314).

Cohn, Rachel and Levithan, David.
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. 2006. Random House/Alfred A. Knopf, $16.95. (ISBN-10, 0-375-83531-8; ISBN-13, 9780375835315).

Davidson, Dana.
Played. 2005. Hyperion/ Jump at the Sun, $16.99. (ISBN-10, 0-7868-3690-3; ISBN-13, 9780786836901).

de la Cruz, Melissa.
Blue Bloods. 2006. Hyperion, $15.99. (ISBN-10, 0-7868-3892-2; ISBN-13, 9780786838929).

Easton, Kelly.
Aftershock. 2006. Simon & Schuster/ Margaret K. McElderry Books, $16.95. (ISBN-10, 1-4169-0052-7; ISBN-13, 9781416900528).

Friend, Natasha.
Lush. 2006. Scholastic, $16.99. (ISBN-10, 0-439-85346-X; ISBN-13, 9780439853460).

Giffen, Keith and Roman, Benjamin.
I Luv Halloween Series . 2005-2006. illus. Tokyopop, $9.99 ea.


I Luv Halloween: Volume One . (ISBN-10, 1-59532-831-9; ISBN-13, 9781595323811)


I Luv Halloween: Volume Two . (ISBN-10, 1-59532-832-7; ISBN-13, 9781595328328)

Giles, Gail.
What Happened to Cass McBride . 2006. Little, Brown, $16.99. (ISBN-10, 0-316-16638-3; ISBN-13, 9780316166386).

Grant, Vicki.
Pigboy . 2006. Orca Currents, $14.95. (ISBN-10, 1-55143-666-3; ISBN-13, 9781551436661).

Gruner, Jessica and Parker, Buzz.
Emily the Strange: The Lost Issue . 2005. illus. Dark Horse, $7.95. (ISBN-10, 1-59307-429-8; ISBN-13, 9781593074296).

Hayes, Stormcrow and Steen, Rob.
Afterlife #1 . 2006. illus. Tokyopop, $9.99. (ISBN-10, 1-59816-692-1; ISBN-13, 9781598166927).

Henry, April.
Shock Point . 2006. Penguin/Putnam, $16.99. (ISBN-10, 0-399-24385-2; ISBN-13, 9780399243851).

Hoffman, Kerry Cohen.
Easy . 2006. Simon & Schuster, $15.95. (ISBN-10, 1-4169-1425-0; ISBN-13, 9781416914259).

Jenkins, A. M.
Beating Heart . 2006. HarperCollins, $15.99. (ISBN-10, 0-06-054607-7; ISBN-13, 9780060546076).

Juwell and Precious.
The Absolute Truth . 2005. Precioustymes Entertainment, $6.99. (ISBN-10, 0-9729325-4-2; ISBN-13, 9780972932547).

Korman, Gordon.
Abduction (Kidnapped, Book 1) . 2006. Scholastic, $4.99. (ISBN-10, 0-439-048777-X; ISBN-13, 9780439847773).

Korman, Gordon.
Born to Rock . 2006. Hyperion, $15.99. (ISBN-10, 0-7868-0920-5; ISBN-13, 9780786809202).

Lowell, Pamela.
Returnable Girl . 2006. Marshall Cavendish, $16.99. (ISBN-10, 0-7614-5317-2; ISBN-13, 9780761453178).

Mac, Carrie.
Crush . 2006. Orca, $7.95. (ISBN-10, 1-55143-526-8; ISBN-13, 9781551435268).

Mancusi, Mari.
Boys that Bite . 2006. Penguin/Berkley Jam Books, $9.99. (ISBN-10, 0-425-20942-3; ISBN-13, 9780425209424).

Marunas, Nathanial and Craddock, Erik.
Manga Claus: The Blade of Kringle . 2006. illus. Penguin/Razorbill, $12.99. (ISBN-10, 1-59514-134-0; ISBN-13, 9781595141347).

McClintock, Norah.
Tell . 2006. Orca, $14.95. (ISBN-10, 1-55143-672-8; ISBN-13, 9781551436722).

McCormick, Patricia.
Sold . 2006. Hyperion, $15.99. (ISBN-10, 0-7868-5171-6; ISBN-13, 9780786851713).

Meyer, Stephenie.
New Moon . 2006. Little, Brown/Megan Tingley, $17.99. (ISBN-10, 0-316-16019-9; ISBN-13, 9780316160193).

Myers, Walter Dean.
Street Love . 2006. HarperCollins/Amistad, $15.99. (ISBN-10, 0-06-028079-4; ISBN-13, 9780060280796).

Neenan, Colin.
Thick . 2006. Brown Barn Books, $6.95. (ISBN-10, 0-9746481-9-1; ISBN-13, 9780974648194).

Nelson, Blake.
Paranoid Park . 2006. Penguin/Viking, $15.99. (ISBN-10, 0-670-06118-2; ISBN-13, 9780670061181).

Pagliarulio, Antonio.
A Different Kind of Heat . 2006. Random House/Delacorte, $9.99. (ISBN-10, 0-385-73298-8; ISBN-13, 9780385732987).

Pearsall, Shelly and Steptoe, Javaka.
All of the Above . 2006. illus. Little, Brown, $15.99. (ISBN-10, 0-316-11524-X; ISBN-13, 9780316115247).

Peters, Kimberly.
Painting Caitlyn. 2006. Lobster Press, $9.95. (ISBN-10, 1-897073-40-2; ISBN-13, 9781897073407).

Pirateology . 2006. illus. Candlewick, $19.99. (ISBN-10, 0-7636-3143-4; ISBN-13, 9780763631437).

Plum-Ucci, Carol.
The Night My Sister Went Missing . 2006. Harcourt, $17.00. (ISBN-10, 0-15-204758-1; ISBN-13, 9780152047580).

Ruby, Laura.
Good Girls . 2006. HarperCollins/HarperTempest, $17.89. (ISBN-10, 0-06-088223-9; ISBN-13, 9780060882235).

Singleton, Linda.
Witch Ball (Seer, #3) . 2006. Llwellyn Publications, $5.99. (ISBN-10, 0-738-870821-6; ISBN-13, 0).

Sniegoski, Tom.
The Sleeper Conspiracy . 2006. Penguin/Razorbill, $6.99 ea.


Sleeper Code . (ISBN-10, 1-59514-052-2; ISBN-13, 9781595140524)


Sleeper Agenda . (ISBN-10, 1-59514-053-0; ISBN-13, 9781595140531)

Stewart, Sean and Weisman, Jordan and others.
Cathy's Book: If Found Call 650-266-8233 . 2006. illus. Running Press, $17.95. (ISBN-10, 0-7624-2656-X; ISBN-13, 9780762426560).

Stone, Tanya Lee.
A Bad Boy Can be Good for a Girl . 2006. Random House/Wendy Lamb, $14.95. (ISBN-10, 0-385-74702-0; ISBN-13, 9780385747028).

Strasser, Todd.
DriftX: Slide or Die . 2006. illus. Simon & Schuster/Simon Pulse, $6.99. (ISBN-10, 1-4169-0581-3; ISBN-13, 9781416905812).

van Diepen, Allison.
Street Pharm . 2006. Simon & Schuster/Simon Pulse, $6.99. (ISBN-10, 1-4169-1154-5; ISBN-13, 9781416911548).

Vaughan, Brian K. and Alphona, Adrian.
Runaways: Volume One . 2005. illus. Marvel, $34.99. (ISBN-10, 0-7851-1876-4; ISBN-13, 0).

Volponi, Paul.
Rooftop . 2006. Viking, $15.99. (ISBN-10, 0-670-06069-0; ISBN-13, 9780670060696).

Vrettos, Adrienne Maria.
Skin . 2006. Simon & Schuster/ Margaret K. McElderry Books, $16.95. (ISBN-10, 1-4169-0655-X; ISBN-13, 9781416906551).

Werlin, Nancy.
The Rules of Survival . 2006. Penguin/Dial, $16.99. (ISBN-10, 0-8037-3001-2; ISBN-13, 9780803730014).

Westerfeld, Scott.
The Last Days . 2006. Penguin/Razorbill, $16.99. (ISBN-10, 1-59514-062-X; ISBN-13, 9781595140623).