2005 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers

CosmoGirl Quiz Book: All About You. $5.95 Sterling/Hearst, 2004. 1-58816-381-4.

“Figure out your social prowess and work it.”

 

Dr. Ernest Drake’s Dragonology. $18.99. Candlewick, 2003. 0-7363-2329-6..

“A flameproof cloak may prove invaluable.”

 

The Homer Book. $9.95. Harper Collins/Perennial, 2004. 0-06-073884-7.

Mmmmm . . . Homer.

 

Ripley’s Believe It or Not. $25.95. Mint Publishing/Ripley, 2004. 1-893951-73-1.

The twisted cousin of Guiness Book of World Records .

 

So What? The Good, the Mad and the Ugly: The Official Metallica Illustrated Chronicles. $29.95. Broadway Books, 2004. 0-7679-1881-9.

“Saint Anger’s yearbook.”

 

YM’s The Best of Say Anything. $6.95. Random House/Bantam, 2004. 0-553-37601-2.

“One of the fake nails was hanging halfway out of my nostril.”

 

Abbott, Hailey. Summer Boys. $8.99. Scholastic, 2004. 0-439-54020-8.

It’s summer, it’s hot, and it’s time to hook up.

 

Brisick, Jamie. Have Board, Will Travel. $19.95. Harper Entertainment, 2004. 0-06-056359-1. Water, snow, and street.

 

Burnham, Niki. Royally Jacked. $5.99. Simon and Schuster/Simon Pulse, 2004. 0-689-86668-2.

Someday her prince will come . . . upstairs.

 

Choyce, Lesley. Thunderbowl. $7.95. Orca, 2004. 1-55143-277-3

Watch the bands battle.

 

Coker, Cheo Hodari. Unbelievable: The Life, Death and Afterlife of the Notorious B.I.G. $19.95. Three Rivers Press, 2004. 0-609-80835-4

The tragedy of Christopher Wallace, aka Biggie Smalls, aka Big Poppa.

 

Davidson, Dana. Jason and Kyra. $16.99. Hyperion/Jump at the Sun, 2004. 0-7868-1851-4

Party boy Jason meets his his total opposite, Kyra.

 

De La Cruz, Melissa. The Au Pairs. $14.95. Simon and Schuster, 2004. 0-68-987066-3

Hot chicks make big bucks babysitting for the rich and famous.

 

Ehrenhaft, Daniel. Ten Things To Do Before I Die. $15.95. Random House/Delacorte, 2004. 0-385-73007-1

Ted Burger (yeah, that’s his name) has 24 hours to live and a list of things to do.

 

Flake, Sharon. Who Am I Without Him? A Short Story Collection About Girls and the Boys in Their Lives.   $15.99. Hyperion, 2004. 0-7868-0693-1

Anything to get the guy.

 

Flinn, Alex. Nothing to Lose. $15.99. Harper Tempest, 2004. 0-06-051751-4

From the carnival to the courtroom.

 

Giles, Gail. Playing in Traffic. $16.95. Roaring Brook, 2004. 1-59643-005-2

Sexy Skye picks Matt for a very dangerous reason.

 

Gottlieb, Andrew. In the Paint: Tattoos of the NBA and the Stories Behind Them. $16.95. Hyperion, 2003.   0-7868-8868-7

Who sports what and why.

 

Grandits, John. Technically, It’s Not My Fault: Concrete Poems. $15.95/$18.95. Clarion, 2004. 0-618-42833-X hc 0-618-80361-7 pb.

Murray the fart and much, much more.

 

Hareas, John. NBA’s Greatest. $30. DK, 2003. 0-7894-9977-0

The best of all time.

 

Harrison, Lisi. The Clique. $7.99. Little, Brown, 2004. 0-316-70129-7

Seventh grade is going to be hell.

 

Hartinger, Brent. Last Chance Texaco. $15.99. Harper Collins, 2004. 0-06-050912-0

Next stop, juvie.

 

Heimberg, Jason and Justin Heimberg. The Official Movie Plot Generator: 27,000 Hilarious Movie Plot Combinations. $16.45. Brothers Heimberg Publishing, 2004. 0-9740439-1-5

“Single mom invades Poland with the ghost of Elvis” . . . and more.

 

Heneghan, James. Hit Squad. $7.95. Orca, 2003. 1-55143-269-2

Bullying:   just can’t take it anymore.

 

Hirano, Kohta. Hellsing series. $13.95 ea. Dark Horse Comics, 2003-2004.

Volume 1: 1-59307-056-X

Volume 2: 1-59307-057-8

Volume 3: 1-59307-202-3

Volume 4: 1-59307-259-7

Vampires, Nazis, zombies.

 

Hobbs, Valerie. Letting Go of Bobby James, or How I Found My Self of Steam. $16. Farrar, Strauss and Giroux/Frances Foster, 2004. 0-374-34384-5

Left at gas station, sleeps in movie theater. Will she make it?

 

Hopkins, Cathy. Truth or Dare series. $5.99 ea. Simon and Schuster, 2004.

The Princess of Pop. 0-689-87002-7

Teen Queens and Has-Beens. 0-689-87129-5

White Lies and Barefaced Truths. 0-689-87003-5

Which will cause the most trouble, truth…or dare?

 

Hopkins, Ellen. Crank. $6.99. Simon and Schuster, 2004. 0-689-86519-8

Doing lines unleashes the monster.

 

Horowitz, Anthony. Eagle Strike. $17.99. Penguin/Philomel, 2003. 0-399-23979-0

This time, Alex is on his own.

 

Hrdlitschka, Shelley. Kat’s Fall. $7.95. Orca, 2004. 1-55143-312-5

After Kat’s fall, can her family land on its feet?

 

Jacobs, Thomas. They Broke the Law; You Be the Judge: True Cases of Teen Crime. $15.95. Free Spirit, 2003. 1-57542-134-8

Justice is not always blind.

 

Johns, Geoff. Teen Titans: A Kid’s Game. $9.95. DC Comics, 2004. 1-4012-0308-6

“This time the kids are wearing the costumes.”  

 

Jones, Patrick. Things Change. $16.95. Walker, 2004. 0-8027-8901-3

Paul’s touch is not always kind.

 

Kenner, Rob and Pitts, George. VX: 10 Years of Vibe Photography. $40. Abrams/Vibe Books, 2003. 0-8109-4546-0

Hot hip hop icons and more.

 

Klancher, Lee. Monster Garage: How to Customize Damn Near Everything. $19.95. Motorbooks International/ MBI Publishing, 2003. 0-7603-1748-8

Small engine blocks and chrome plated springs are chick magnets.

 

Kool Moe Dee. There’s a God on the Mic: The True 50 Greatest MCs. $24.95. Thunder’s Mouth Press, 2003. 1-56025-5331

Kool Moe Dee rates the top MCs.

 

Leiker, Ken. Unscripted. $45. Simon and Schuster, 2003. 0-7434-7761-8

Smackdown!

 

Lynch, Clam. Ruby Gloom’s Keys to Happiness. $12.95. Abrams, 2004. 0-8109-5036-7

Move over, Emily the Strange.

 

Mackler, Carolyn. Vegan Virgin Valentine. $16.99. Candlewick, 2004. 0-7636-2155-2

Is V really the vixen that she seems?

 

Manning, Sarra. Guitar Girl. $15.99. Dutton, 2004. 0-525-47234-7

The Hormones have left the building.

 

McGrath, Jeremy. Wide Open: A Life in Supercross. $23.95. Harper Entertainment, 2004. 0-06-053727-2

Nac-nacs and nuts.

 

McManners, Hugh. Ultimate Special Forces. $30. DK, 2003. 0-7894-9973-8

Mission possible.

 

Miller, Timothy and Steve Milton. Nascar Now. $19.95. Firefly, 2004. 1-55297-829-X

Behind the scenes and in the pits.

 

Milner-Halls, Kelly. Albino Animals. $18.95/$8.95. Darby Creek, 2004. 1-58196-012-3 hc 1-58196-019-0 pb

They’re a whiter shade of pale.

 

Minter, J. The Insiders. $8.95. Bloomsbury, 2004. 1-58234-895-2

Things are about to get stirred up in downtown NYC.

 

Morgan, David Lee. LeBron James: The Rise of a Star. $14.95. Gray, 2003. 1-886228-74-4

All LeBron all the time

 

Myers, Walter Dean. Shooter. $15.99. Harper Collins/Amistad, 2004. 0-06-029519-8

Why?

 

Myracle, Lauren. TTYL.   $15.95. Abrams/Amulet, 2004. 0-8109-4821-4

IM-ing about the highs and lows of high school.

 

Nagatomo, Haruno. Draw Your Own Manga: All the Basics. $20. Kodansha America, 2004. 4-7700-2951-9

Do it like they do in Tokyo.

 

Nash, Naomi. You are So Cursed. $5.99. Dorchester/Leisure, 2004. 0-8439-5310-1

Back off, Sabrina.

 

Naylor, Caroline. Beauty Trix for Cool Chix: Easy-to-Make Lotions, Potions, and Spells to Bring Out a Beautiful You. $9.95. Watson-Guptill, 2003. 0-8230-6957-5

Head to toe beauty to go.

 

Nelson, Blake. Rock Star, Superstar. $16.99. Viking, 2004. 0-670-05933-1

From the basement to the big time.

 

O’Connell, Tyne. Pulling Princes. $16.95. Bloomsbury USA, 2004. 1-58234-957-6

If you kiss a prince, will he turn into a toad?

 

Oppell, Kenneth. Airborn. $16.99/$17.89 Harper Collins, 2004. 0-06-053180-0 trade 0-06-053181-9 lib bind.

Sky pirates versus cabin boy.

 

Parker, Daniel and Lee Miller. Watching Alice series. $7.99 ea. Penguin/Razorbill, 2004

Break the Surface 1-59514-001-8

Walk On Water 1-59514-002-6

Lots of questions, few answers, and you can’t ask Alice.

 

Perez. Marlene. Unexpected Development. $16.95. Roaring Brook, 2004. 1-59643-006-0

There are bigger problems in life than a D-cup.

 

Rabb, M.E. The Missing Persons series. $5.99 ea. Penguin/Speak, 2004.

The Chocolate Lover 0-14-250042-9

The Rose Queen 0-14-250041-0

The Unsuspecting Gourmet 0-14-250044-5

The Venetian Policeman 0-14-250043-7.

You can run, but can you hide?

 

Riley, Andy. The Book of Bunny Suicides. $10. Penguin/Plume, 2004. 0-452-28518-6

It’s not easy being fluffy

 

Rohrer, Russ. Ten Days in the Dirt: Spectacle of Off-Road Motorcycling. $19.95. Motorbooks International, 2004. 0-7603-1803-4

Souped-up toys and the best sandboxes to play in.

 

Rothbart, Davy. Found: The Best Lost, Tossed and Forgotten Items from Around the World. $14. Simon and Schuster/Fireside, 2004. 0-7432-5114-8

If you’ve lost it, someone’s found it.

 

Seate, Mike. Choppers: Heavy Metal. $40. Motorbooks International, 2004.

Outlaws in the mainstream.

 

Shaw, Maria. Maria Shaw's Star Gazer: Your Soul Searching, Dream Seeking, Make Something Happen Guide to the Future. $17.95. Llewellyn, 2003. 0-7387-0422-9

All about you—past, present, and future.

 

Shaw, Tucker. Confessions of a Backup Dancer. $8.99. Simon and Schuster/Aladdin, 2004. 0-689-87075-2

Celebrities uncensored.

 

Sleator, William. The Boy Who Couldn’t Die. $16.95. Abrams/Amulet, 2004. 0-81094-824-9

Is there a downside to living forever?

 

Sones, Sonya. One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies. $15.95. Simon and Schuster, 2004. 0-689-84169-8

Not just another cliché.

 

Stephens, J.B. The Big Empty series. $6.99 ea. Penguin/Razorbill, 2004.

The Big Empty 1-59514-006-9

Paradise City. 1-59514-007-7

Strain 7 killed half of the world’s population before we even had a name for it.

 

Stolarz, Laurie F. Blue is for Nightmares. $8.99. Llewellyn, 2003. 0-73-870391-5

“I know your secret . . . “

 

Strasser, Todd. Can’t Get There From Here. $15.95. Simon and Schuster, 2004. 0-8118-4033-6

Down and out on the streets of New York City.

 

Sweeney, Joyce. Takedown. $15.95.Marshall Cavendish, 2004. 0-7614-5175-7

Serial killer holds teens hostage.

 

Takaya, Natsuki. Fruits Basket series. $9.99 ea. Tokyopop, 2004.

Volume 1 1-59182-603-9

Volume 2. 1-59182-604-7

Volume 3. 1-59182-605-5

Volume 4. 1-59182-606-3

Volume 5. 1-59182-607-1

What animal would you be?

 

Thomson, Celia. The Nine Lives of Chloe King series. $6.99 ea. Simon and Schuster/Simon Pulse, 2004.

The Fallen 0-689-86658-5

The Stolen 0-689-86659-3

One down . . . how many to go?

 

Thorley, Joe. Avril Lavigne: The Unofficial Book. $14.95. Virgin Publishing, 2003

1-85227-0497

Turn on the TV, guess who you’ll see, sk8r grrl rockin’ on MTV.

 

Vizzini, Ned. Be More Chill. $16.95.   Hyperion/Miramax, 2004. 0-7868-0995-7

Dude, you need a squip.

 

Walters, Eric. Overdrive. $7.95. Orca, 2004. 1-55143-318-4

Too fast, too furious.

 

Westerfeld, Scott. The Secret Hour. $15.99. Harper Collins/Eos, 2004. 0-06-051951-7

Times freezes, and the night belongs to the dark creatures.

 

Weyn, Suzanne. Bar Code Tattoo. $5.99. Scholastic, 2004. 0-43-939562-3

Are you sure you want to be tattooed?

 

Whedon, Joss. Fray. $19.95. Dark Horse Comics, 2003. 1-56971-751-6

Someone has a plan to let the demons out . . .

 

Woods, Brenda. Emako Blue. $15.99. Penguin Putnam, 2004. 0-399-24006-3

“My friend, Emako Blue, was supposed to be a star.”

 

Woodson, Jacqueline. Behind You. $15.99. Penguin Putnam, 2004. 0-399-23988-X

Sometimes it’s hard to put grief behind you.