YALSA - For Members Only 2003 Top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers

Annotated List

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entire list.

The Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readres committee of the Young Adult Library Services Association, a division of the American Library Association, has chosen the following books as Top Ten Books:

January 2003

Cohn, Rachel.
Gingerbread. Simon and Schuster.


After being expelled from a fancy boarding school, Cyd Charisse’s problems with her mother escalate after Cyd falls in love with a sensitive surfer and is subsequently sent from San Francisco to New York City to spend time with her biological father.

Fontaine, Smokey D.
E.A.R.L.: The Autobiography of DMX. Harper Entertainment/HarperCollins.


The rhyme gave him a dream.

Fujishima, Kosuke.
Oh, My Goddess! Wrong Number. Dark Horse Comics.


Be careful what you wish for!

Hart, Christopher.
Anime Mania: How to Draw Characters for Japanese Animation. Watson Gupthill Publications.


You’ve already learned how to draw manga from “Manga Mania,” now try your hand at anime characters.

Hawk, Tony.
Between Boardslides and Burnout: My Notes From the Road. Regan Books/HarperCollins.


It’s his life.

Horowitz, Anthony.
Point Blank: An Alex Rider Adventure. Penguin Putnam.


Alex Rider, teenage spy.

Korman, Gordon.
Son of the Mob. Hyperion.


Dating is never easy when you’re the son of the mob!

McCafferty, Megan.
Sloppy Firsts. Crown Publishers/Random House.


Welcome to High School Life, also known as “Wonderbreadland”…you got your I.Q.’s, Upper Crusts, 404’s and Hanger-ons.

McPhee, Phoebe.
Alphabetical Hookup List A-J. MTVBooks/Alloy/Pocket Books.


Who can you get?

Von Ziegesar, Cecily.
Gossip Girl. Little Brown.


You know you love me!

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 also appear in the March 15 issue of Booklist magazine.