For immediate release | January 13, 2011

YALSA names 2011 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers

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SAN DIEGO —The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the 91´«Ã½ (91´«Ã½), announced its 2011 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers selection list. The list is presented annually at the 91´«Ã½ Midwinter Meeting.

The Quick Picks list suggests books that teens, ages 12-18, will pick up on their own and read for pleasure; it is geared to the teenager who, for whatever reason, does not like to read.
The complete list of 87 titles, including annotations, can be found at . The Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers committee also selected a Top Ten list:
  • Amason, Jessica and Richard Blakeley. "This is Why You're Fat: Where Dreams Become Heart Attacks." HarperCollins/Harper Studio, 2009.
  • Brereton, Catherine, Philip Steele, and Hannah Wilson. "Warriors Versus Warriors: Ten Fighters, Five Battles, ONE WINNER." Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group/Kingfisher, 2009.
  • Elkeles, Simone. "Rules of Attraction: A Perfect Chemistry Novel." Bloomsbury/Walker. 2010.
  • Hasler, Nikol. "Sex: A Book for Teens: An Uncensored Guide to Your Body, Sex and Safety." Zest/Orange Avenue Publishing, 2010.
  • Keplinger, Kody. "The D.U.F.F. (Designated Ugly Fat Friend)." Little, Brown Books for Young Readers/Poppy, 2010.
  • Neri, G. and Randy DuBurke. "Yummy: the Last Days of a Southside Shorty." Lee & Low, 2010.
  • Rainfield, Cheryl. "Scars." Westside Books, 2010.
  • Summers, Courtney. "Some Girls Are." St. Martin's Griffin. 2010.
  • Volponi, Paul. "Rikers High." Penguin Group/Viking, 2010.
  • Von D, Kat with Sandra Bark. "The Tattoo Chronicles." HarperCollins/Collins Design, 2010.
“ My committee and I are excited to share this varied list of exceptional titles geared to reluctant young adult readers around the country,” said Gregory Lum, committee chair.
Members of the Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers Committee are: Chair Gregory Lum, Jesuit High School, Portland, Ore.; Tamera DiBartolo, Rapides Parish Library, Alexandria, La.; Marea Black, Phoenix (Ariz.) Public Library; Heather Gruenthal, Western High School, Anaheim, Calif.; Susan Hawk, Dunwoody (Ga.) High School; Jamison Hedin, Ludlow (Mass.) High School; Brenda Kilmer; Lisa Lindsay, Fresno (Calif.) County Public Library; Lalitha Nataraj, Escondido (Calif.) Public Library; Sherry Rampey, Independent Youth Services Library Consultant, Gaston, S.C.; Anne Rouyer, New York Public Library; and Amy Cheney, administrative assistant, Alameda County Juvenile Hall Library, San Leandro, Calif.
For more than 50 years, YALSA has been the world leader in selecting books, videos and audio books for teens. For more information about YALSA or for lists of recommended reading, viewing and listening, go to , or contact the YALSA office by phone, (800) 545-2433, ext. 4390, or e-mail, yalsa@ala.org.

Contact:

Jaclyn Finneke

Communications Manager

Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)

jfinneke@ala.org

800-545-2433 ext.2128