The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), has announced its 2003 annual recommended list of Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers. The list was released during the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia.
Compiled by an eleven-member committee, the 78 titles on the list were published late 2001 through 2002 and represent more than 35 different publisher imprints. 30 of the titles are fiction and 48 are non-fiction.
The Quick Picks Committee seeks books that teens, ages twelve to eighteen, 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. Teen input is a vital aspect in the final decision of the committee. The visual appearance of a book and the standard considerations in the quality of content is equally important when selecting books for reluctant young readers. The list is not intended for teenagers with reading disabilities, though some of the selected titles may be appropriate for those teens.
Members of the YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers Committee were: Melanie Rapp-Weiss, Chair, Cuyahoga County Public Library (OH); Sallie H. Barringer, Walnut Hills High School (OH); Linda W. Braun, LEO: Library & Educators Online (NY); Lora L. Bruggeman, Downers Grove Public Library (IL); Ty R. Burns, Cypress Springs High School Library (TX); Maureen Hartman, Minneapolis Public Library (MN); Anna R. Healy, Skokie Public Library (IL); Kimberley Hrivnak, F.O.R. STO-ROX Library (PA); Cathy Anne Lu, Los Angeles Public Library (CA); Jennifer Stencel, Akron-Summit County Public Library
( OH); Cheryl Karp Ward, Penney Alumni Library, East Hartford High School (CT); John Sexton, adm. Asst., Ashland Branch Library (OR); Gillian Engberg, Booklist consultant.
An annotated list will appear in the March 15 issue of Booklist and on the YALSA For Members Only section. For more information, contact the YALSA office by phone at 800-545-2433 x 4390 or email, yalsa@ala.org.
Basketball's Best Shots. Dorling Kindersley, $30.00 (0-7894-8914-7).
Kim: Empty Inside: Diary of an Anonymous Teenager. Edited by Beatrice Sparks. Avon/HarperCollins, $5.99 (0-380-81460-9) pbk.
Mad About Super Heroes. Edited by Nick Meglin and John Ficarra. DC Comics, $9.95 (1-56389-886-1) pbk
MTV Photobooth. Universe, $17.95 (0-7893-0800-2) pbk.
Thrasher Presents: How to Build Skateboard Ramps. Ed. by Kevin Thatcher. High Speed Productions, Inc., $9.95 (0-9657271-4-9) pbk.
Atwater-Rhodes, Amelia. Midnight Predator. Random House/Delacorte Press, $9.95 (0-385-32794-3).
Beale, Fleur. I Am Not Esther. Hyperion, $15.99 (0-7868-0845-4).
Bechard, Margaret. Hanging on to Max. Roaring Book Press, $22.90 (0-7613-2574-3).
Cabot, Meg. All American Girl. HarperCollins, $15.99 (0-06-029470-1).
Cabot, Meg. Princess Diaries, Volume III: Princess in Love. Harpercollins, $15.95 (0-06029-467-1).
Clarkson, Mark. Battlebots: The Official Guide. McGraw Hill/Osbourne, $24.95 (0-07-222425-8) pbk.
Cobain, Kurt. Journals: Kurt Cobain. Riverhead/Penguin Putnam, $29.95 (1-57322-232-1).
Cohn, Rachel. Gingerbread. Simon and Schuster, $15.95 (0-689-84337-2).
Conniff, Richard. Rats! : The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly. Crown Publishers/Random House, $15.95 (0-375-81207-5).
Dickey, Eric Jerome. Thieves' Paradise. Dutton/Penguin Putnam, $19.95 (0-525-94663-2).
Flinn, Alex. Breaking Point. HarperCollins, $15.95 (0-06-623847-1).
Fontaine, Smokey D. E.A.R.L.: The Autobiography of DMX. Harper Entertainment/HarperCollins, $24.95 (0-06-018826-x).
Fornay, Alfred. Born Beautiful: The African American Teenager's Complete Beauty Guide. Amber Books/John Wiley and Sons, $14.95 (0-471-40275-3).
Frank, E.R. America. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, $18.00 (0-689-84729-7).
Fujishima, Kosuke. Oh My Goddess! Wrong Number. Dark Horse Comics, $13.95 (1-56971-669-2).
Gaiman, Neil, et al. 9-11: September 11th, 2001 (Stories to Remember. Volume 2). DC Comics, $9.95 (1-56389-878-0).
Gerard, Jim. Celebrity Skin: Tattoos, Brands, and Body Adornments of the Stars. Thunder's Mouth Press, $25.95 (1-56025-323-1) pbk.
Giles, Gail. Shattering Glass. Roaring Book Press, $15.95 (0-7613-1581-0).
Godfrey, Rebecca. Torn Skirt. Harperperrenial, $11.95 (0-06-009485-0) pbk.
Goobie, Beth. Sticks and Stones. Orca Book Publishers, $7.95 (1-55143-213-7) pbk.
Grimes, Nikki. Bronx Masquerade. Dial/Penguin Putnam, $16.99 (0-8037-2569-8).
Groening, Matt. Simpsons Comics Unchained. Perennial/HarperCollins, $14.95 (0-06-000797-4) pbk.
Haddix, Margaret Peterson. Among the Betrayed. Simon and Schuster, $15.95 (0-689-83905-7).
Hart, Christopher. Anime Mania: How to Draw Characters for Japanese Animation. Watson-Gupthill Publications, $19.95 (0-8230-0158-x) pbk.
Hart, Christopher. Mecha Mania: How to Draw the Battling Robots, Cool Spaceships, and Military Vehicles of Japanese Comics. Watson-Gupthill, $19.95 (0-8230-3056-3) pbk.
Hawk, Tony. Between Boardslides and Burnout: My Notes From the Road. ReganBooks/HarperCollins, $15.95 (0-06-0008631-9) pbk.
Hoffman, Mat with Mark Lewman. The Ride of My Life. Regan Books/HarperCollins, $24.95(0-06-009415-x).
Hogya, Bernie. Milk Mustache Mania. Scholastic, $9.95 (0-439-38889-9).
Horowitz, Anthony. Point Blank: An Alex Rider Adventure. Penguin Putnam/Philomel, $16.99 (0-399-23621-X).
Hrdlitschka, Shelley. Dancing Naked. Orca Book Publishers, $6.96 (1-55143-210-0) pbk.
Irons, Diane. Teen Beauty Secrets: Fresh, Simple & Sassy Tips for Your Perfect Look. Sourcebooks, $14.95 (1-57071-959-4) pbk.
Jemas, Bill. Origin: The True Story of Wolverine. Marvel Comics, $34.95 (0-7851-0866-1).
Johnson, Kathleen Jeffrie. Parallel Universe of Liars. Roaring Book Press, $15.95 (0-7613-2854-8).
Johnstone, Mike. Nascar: The Need For Speed. Lerner Sports/Lerner Publishing Group, $23.95 (0-8225-0389-1).
Jukes, Mavis. The Guy Book: An Owner's Manual. Crown Pub/Random House, $12.95 (0-679-99028-3) pbk.
Kemp, Kristen. I Will Survive. Push/Scholastic, $6.99 (0-439-12195-7) pbk
Knapp, Jennifer. Cheap Frills: Fabulous Facelifts For Your Clothes. Chronicle Books, $18.95 (0-8118-3019-5) pbk.
Knowles, Beyonce. Soul Survivors: The Official Autobiography of Destiny's Child. ReganBooks/HarperCollins, $24.95 (0-06-009417-6).
Knowles, Tina. Destiny's Style: Bootylicious Fashion, Beauty, and Lifestyle Secrets from Destiny's Child. Regan Books/HarperCollins, $24.95 (0-06-009777-9).
Koertge, Ron. Stoner + Spaz. Candlewick Press, $15.99 (0-7636-1608-7).
Korman, Gordon. Son of the Mob. Hyperion, $15.99 (0-7868-0769-5).
Krulik, Nancy. Lisa Lopes. Simon & Schuster, $4.99 (0-689-85690-3) pbk.
Lahaye, Tim and Jerry Jenkins. Left Behind: A Graphic Novel of Earth's Last Days. Tyndale, $14.00 (0-8423-7395-0) pbk.
Manoy, Lauren. Where to Park Your Broomstick: A Teen's Guide to Witchcraft. Fireside, $13.00 (0-684-85500-3) pbk.
Marron, Maggie. Stylin': Great Looks for Teens. Friedman, $12.95 (1-58663-079-2) pbk.
Masoff, Joy. Snowboard! Your Guide to Freeriding, Pipe and Park, Jibbing, Backcountry, Alpine, Boardercross and More. National Geographic, $8.95 (0-7922-6740-0).
McCafferty, Megan. Sloppy Firsts. Crown Publishers/Random House, $10.95 (0-609-80790-0) pbk.
McDonnell, Nick. Twelve. Grove Press, $23.00 (0-8021-1717-1).
McPhee, Phoebe. The Alphabetical Hookup List A-J. MTV Books/Alloy/Pocket Books, $9.95 (0-7434-4842-1) pbk.
Milan, Garth. Freestyle Motorcross 2 Air Sickness: More Jump Tricks for the Pros. MBI, $19.95 (0-7603-1184-6).
Nathan, M.M. Cribs: A Guided Tour Inside the Homes of Your Favorite Stars. MTV/Pocket Books, $19.95 (0-7434-5174-0) pbk.
Odes, Rebecca, Esther Drill, and Heather McDonald. The Looks Book: A Whole New Approach to Beauty, Body Image, and Style. Penguin Putnam, $17.00 (0-
14-200211-9) pbk.
Olmstead, Kathleen. Girls' Guide to Tarot. Sterling, $12.95 (0-8069-8072-9) pbk.
Paniccioli, Ernie. Who Shot Ya? : Three Decades Of HipHop Photography. HarperCollins, $29.95 (0-06-621168-9).Pavanel, Jane. The Sex Book: The Alphabet of Smarter Love. Lobster Press, $14.95 (1-894222-30-X) pbk.
Philobus. Twisted Yoga. Sea Star Books/North-South Books, $9.95 (1-58717-136-8).
Pollack, Pamela. Ski! Your Guide to Jumping, Racing, Skiboarding, Nordic, Backcountry, Aerobatics, and More. National Geographic, $8.95 (0-7922-6738-9).
Rain, Gwinevere. Spellcraft for Teens: A Magical Guide to Writing and Casting Spells. Llewellyn, $12.95 (0-7387-0225-0) pbk.
Rennison, Louise. Knocked Out By My Nunga Nungas: Further Further Confessions of Georgia Nicholson. Harpertempest/HarperCollins, $15.99 (0-06-623656-8).
Schatz, Howard. Athlete. HarperCollins, $59.95 (0-06-019553-3).
Seate, Mike. Streetbike Extreme. MBI, $19.95 (0-7603-1299-0) pbk.
Seckel, Al. Great Book of Optical Illusions. Firefly Books, $24.95 (1-55297-650-5).
Straczynski, J. Michael. Amazing Spider-Man: Coming Home. Marvel, $15.95 (0-7851-0806-8) pbk.
Tanzman, Carol. Shadow Place. Roaring Brook Press, $15.95 (0-7613-1588-8).
Traig, Jennifer. Accessories: Things to Make and Do. Chronicle, $12.95 (0-8118-3151-5) pbk.
Traig, Jennifer. Crafty Girl: Slumber Parties: Things to Make and Do. Chronicle Books, $12.95 (0-8118-3571-5).
Tucker, Reed. Osbournes Unf***ingauthorized: The Completely Unauthorized and Unofficial Guide to Everything Osbourne. Bantam Dell Publishing, $8.95 (0-553-37598-9) pbk
Von Ziegesar, Cecily. Gossip Girl. Little Brown, $8.95 (0-316-91033-3) pbk
Von Ziegesar, Cecily. You Know You Love Me: A Gossip Girl Novel. 17th Street Productions/Little, Brown Company, $8.95 (0-316-91148-8) pbk.
Waid, Mark. JLA: Tower of Babel. DC Comics, $12.95 (1-56389-727-X) pbk.
Wilson, Jacqueline. Girls in Love. Random House Children's Books/Delacourte Press, $9.95 (0-385-90040-6).
Wittlinger, Ellen. The Long Night of Leo and Bree. Simon and Schuster, $15.00 (0-689-83564-7).
Worthington, Charles. The Complete Book of Hairstyling. Firefly Books, $19.95 (1-55297-576-2) pbk.