91´«Ã½

Annotated List

January 2003

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Top Ten.

The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the 91´«Ã½ (91´«Ã½), has announced its 2003 annual recommended list of Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers. The list was released during the 91´«Ã½ 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 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).


Rare air…

Kim: Empty Inside: Diary of an Anonymous Teenager. Edited by Beatrice Sparks. Avon/HarperCollins, $5.99 (0-380-81460-9) pbk.


How thin is too thin?

Mad About Super Heroes. Edited by Nick Meglin and John Ficarra. DC Comics, $9.95 (1-56389-886-1) pbk.


Mad magazine spoofs the heroes in spandex.

MTV Photobooth. Universe, $17.95 (0-7893-0800-2) pbk.


posin'…

Thrasher Presents: How to Build Skateboard Ramps. Ed. by Kevin Thatcher. High Speed Productions, Inc., $9.95 (0-9657271-4-9) pbk.


" Stop Skate Harassment"

Atwater-Rhodes, Amelia.
Midnight Predator. Random House/Delacorte Press, $9.95 (0-385-32794-3).


Vampires--wanted dead./ hunting to survive. / Turquoise Draka is a bounty hunter-hunting witches, shape shifters, and vampires for the right price. However, this next assignment, entering the vampiric realm of Midnight to go after powerful Jeshikah, may be too much for this human hunter.

Beale, Fleur.
I Am Not Esther. Hyperion, $15.99 (0-7868-0845-4).


Trapped in a cult.

Bechard, Margaret.
Hanging on to Max. Roaring Book Press, $22.90 (0-7613-2574-3).


17 year old father - can it be done?




Cabot, Meg.
All American Girl. HarperCollins, $15.99 (0-06-029470-1).


skipping art class can change your life forever

Cabot, Meg.
Princess Diaries, Volume III: Princess in Love. Harpercollins, $15.95 (0-06029-467-1).


The path of love is never smooth-not even for a princess

Clarkson, Mark.
Battlebots: The Official Guide. McGraw Hill/Osbourne, $24.95 (0-07-222425-8) pbk.


" Metal crunching demolition" (from back cover)

Cobain, Kurt.
Journals: Kurt Cobain. Riverhead/Penguin Putnam, $29.95 (1-57322-232-1).


Inside his mind…

Cohn, Rachel.
Gingerbread. Simon and Schuster, $15.95 (0-689-84337-2).


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.


Conniff, Richard.

Conniff, Richard.
Rats! : The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly. Crown Publishers/Random House, $15.95 (0-375-81207-5).


You dirty, stinking rat--or not.

Dickey, Eric Jerome.
Thieves' Paradise. Dutton/Penguin Putnam, $19.95 (0-525-94663-2).


On the move and on the make and on the wrong side of the law.

Flinn, Alex.
Breaking Point. HarperCollins, $15.95 (0-06-623847-1).


Is popularity worth committing a crime? Is he a friend or a foe?

Fontaine, Smokey D.
E.A.R.L.: The Autobiography of DMX. Harper Entertainment/HarperCollins, $24.95 (0-06-018826-x).


The rhyme gave him a dream.

Fornay, Alfred.
Born Beautiful: The African American Teenager's Complete Beauty Guide. Amber Books/John Wiley and Sons, $14.95 (0-471-40275-3).


Finally a beauty guide specifically for black teens!

Frank, E.R.
America. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, $18.00 (0-689-84729-7).


" Damn, I'm here, I'm alive. What next?" (back of book)

Fujishima, Kosuke.
Oh My Goddess! Wrong Number. Dark Horse Comics, $13.95 (1-56971-669-2).


Be careful what you wish for!

Gaiman, Neil, et al.
9-11: September 11th, 2001 (Stories to Remember. Volume 2). DC Comics, $9.95 (1-56389-878-0).


Graphic artists tell of September 11…Real to Soul.

Gerard, Jim.
Celebrity Skin: Tattoos, Brands, and Body Adornments of the Stars. Thunder's Mouth Press, $25.95 (1-56025-323-1) pbk.


If Travis from Blink 182 has tougher looking tattoos than Marilyn Manson-you have to see what the other celeb's are sporting.

Giles, Gail.
Shattering Glass. Roaring Book Press, $15.95 (0-7613-1581-0).


From Class Nerd to Prince Charming, with a little help from his "friends."

Godfrey, Rebecca.
Torn Skirt. Harperperrenial, $11.95 (0-06-009485-0) pbk.


Make sure the door is locked…

Goobie, Beth.
Sticks and Stones. Orca Book Publishers, $7.95 (1-55143-213-7) pbk.


Sticks and stones may break my bones, but I'll fight right back if your words hurt me.

Grimes, Nikki.
Bronx Masquerade. Dial/Penguin Putnam, $16.99 (0-8037-2569-8).


A group of inner city students learn about themselves and each other as their teacher introduces an "open mike" day for self expression as part of a unit on the Harlem Renaissance. The open mike becomes a regular Friday event that the students look forward to each week.

Groening, Matt.
Simpsons Comics Unchained. Perennial/HarperCollins, $14.95 (0-06-000797-4) pbk.


The latest compilation of Simpsons comics.

Haddix, Margaret Peterson.
Among the Betrayed. Simon and Schuster, $15.95 (0-689-83905-7).


Who can you trust?

Hart, Christopher.
Anime Mania: How to Draw Characters for Japanese Animation. Watson-Gupthill Publications, $19.95 (0-8230-0158-x) pbk.


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

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.


Draw it!!

Hawk, Tony.
Between Boardslides and Burnout: My Notes From the Road. ReganBooks/HarperCollins, $15.95 (0-06-0008631-9) pbk.


It's his life.

Hoffman, Mat with Mark Lewman.
The Ride of My Life. Regan Books/HarperCollins, $24.95 (0-06-009415-x).


BMX God. / Addicted to serials.

Hogya, Bernie.
Milk Mustache Mania. Scholastic, $9.95 (0-439-38889-9).


got milk?

Horowitz, Anthony.
Point Blank: An Alex Rider Adventure. Penguin Putnam/Philomel, $16.99 (0-399-23621-X).


Alex Rider, teenage spy.

Hrdlitschka, Shelley.
Dancing Naked. Orca Book Publishers, $6.96 (1-55143-210-0) pbk.


Kia becomes pregnant after having protected sex the first time when she is 16. Although she is pressured to abort the baby she chooses to bear the pregnancy to term and must decide to keep or place her child up for adoption.

Irons, Diane.
Teen Beauty Secrets: Fresh, Simple & Sassy Tips for Your Perfect Look. Sourcebooks, $14.95 (1-57071-959-4) pbk.


Look Gorgeous!

Jemas, Bill. Origin:
The True Story of Wolverine. Marvel Comics, $34.95 (0-7851-0866-1).


The past revealed.

Johnson, Kathleen Jeffrie
Parallel Universe of Liars. Roaring Book Press, $15.95 (0-7613-2854-8).


Condoms everywhere.

Johnstone, Mike.
Nascar: The Need For Speed. Lerner Sports/Lerner Publishing Group, $23.95 (0-8225-0389-1).


Nascar, is it the history, the cars, the speedways, or the drivers that attract the throngs of people to events? Here's a book that explains it all from Pontiac to Ford, Daytona to Michigan, and Dale Earnhardt to Ernie Ircan.

Jukes, Mavis.
The Guy Book: An Owner's Manual. Crown Pub/Random House, $12.95 (0-679-99028-3) pbk.


Provides information for boys on changes that occur in their bodies during puberty and offering advice on sexual topics, nutrition, drugs, girls and more.

Kemp, Kristen.
I Will Survive. Push/Scholastic, $6.99 (0-439-12195-7) pbk


When the going gets tough, the tough take REVENGE!

Knapp, Jennifer.
Cheap Frills: Fabulous Facelifts For Your Clothes. Chronicle Books, $18.95 (0-8118-3019-5) pbk.


Take those tank tops and *snap, *snap, get funky.

Knowles, Beyonce.
Soul Survivors: The Official Autobiography of Destiny's Child. ReganBooks/HarperCollins, $24.95 (0-06-009417-6).


" they're beautiful…talented…and bootylicious."

Knowles, Tina.
Destiny's Style: Bootylicious Fashion, Beauty, and Lifestyle Secrets from Destiny's Child. Regan Books/HarperCollins, $24.95 (0-06-009777-9).


Style, fashion, home decorating, all from Tina Knowles, the mother of Beyonce Knowles.

Koertge, Ron.
Stoner + Spaz. Candlewick Press, $15.99 (0-7636-1608-7).


Worlds apart…drawn together.

Korman, Gordon.
Son of the Mob. Hyperion, $15.99 (0-7868-0769-5).


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




Krulik, Nancy.
Lisa Lopes. Simon & Schuster, $4.99 (0-689-85690-3) pbk.


Gone but not forgotten.

Lahaye, Tim and Jerry Jenkins.
Left Behind: A Graphic Novel of Earth's Last Days. Tyndale, $14.00 (0-8423-7395-0) pbk.


A graphic novel version of the very popular Left Behind series.

Manoy, Lauren.
Where to Park Your Broomstick: A Teen's Guide to Witchcraft. Fireside, $13.00 (0-684-85500-3) pbk.


Need a spell?

Marron, Maggie.
Stylin': Great Looks for Teens. Friedman, $12.95 (1-58663-079-2) pbk.


Look like a star!

Masoff, Joy.
Snowboard! Your Guide to Freeriding, Pipe and Park, Jibbing, Backcountry, Alpine, Boardercross and More. National Geographic, $8.95 (0-7922-6740-0).


Everything you needed to know about snowboarding.

McCafferty, Megan.
Sloppy Firsts. Crown Publishers/Random House, $10.95 (0-609-80790-0) pbk.


Welcome to High School Life, also known as "Wonderbreaddland"…you got your I.Q.'s, Upper Crusts, Dregs, 404's and Hanger-on's.

McDonnell, Nick.
Twelve. Grove Press, $23.00 (0-8021-1717-1).


In and out of the shadows with White Mike.

McPhee, Phoebe.
The Alphabetical Hookup List A-J. MTV Books/Alloy/Pocket Books, $9.95 (0-7434-4842-1) pbk.


Who can you get?

Milan, Garth.
Freestyle Motorcross 2 Air Sickness: More Jump Tricks for the Pros. MBI, $19.95 (0-7603-1184-6).


Would you do this?

Nathan, M.M. Cribs:
A Guided Tour Inside the Homes of Your Favorite Stars. MTV/Pocket Books, $19.95 (0-7434-5174-0) pbk.


Stars give you a tour of their cribs.

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.


Create a style.

Olmstead, Kathleen.
Girls' Guide to Tarot. Sterling, $12.95 (0-8069-8072-9) pbk.


Ask the cards a question.

Paniccioli, Ernie.
Who Shot Ya? : Three Decades Of HipHop Photography. HarperCollins, $29.95 (0-06-621168-9).


Strike a pose. A hip-hop/rap yearbook.

Pavanel, Jane.
The Sex Book: The Alphabet of Smarter Love. Lobster Press, $14.95 (1-894222-30-X) pbk.


ABCs of SEX!!!

Philobus.
Twisted Yoga. Sea Star Books/North-South Books, $9.95 (1-58717-136-8).


What one's you're favorite?

Pollack, Pamela.
Ski! Your Guide to Jumping, Racing, Skiboarding, Nordic, Backcountry, Aerobatics, and More. National Geographic, $8.95 (0-7922-6738-9).


Everything you needed to know about skiing.

Rain, Gwinevere.
Spellcraft for Teens: A Magical Guide to Writing and Casting Spells. Llewellyn, $12.95 (0-7387-0225-0) pbk.


" Live a charmed life"

Rennison, Louise.
Knocked Out By My Nunga Nungas: Further Further Confessions of Georgia Nicholson. Harpertempest/HarperCollins, $15.99 (0-06-623656-8).


What happens when what you want isn't what you want?/ Don't get your knickers in a knot, she is finally back! We hear it all from Georgia herself: the parting with her Sex God to go on a holiday to Och Qye Land (Scotland), her out of control 'nungas*' * see dictionary, and the trials and tribulations on Angus' (her cat) unquenchable love for a neighboring feline.

Schatz, Howard.
Athlete. HarperCollins, $59.95 (0-06-019553-3).


True Athlete.

Seate, Mike.
Streetbike Extreme. MBI, $19.95 (0-7603-1299-0) pbk.


" Climb on and watch the fur fly!"

Seckel, Al.
Great Book of Optical Illusions. Firefly Books, $24.95 (1-55297-650-5).


Eye Fry!

Straczynski, J. Michael.
Amazing Spider-Man: Coming Home. Marvel, $15.95 (0-7851-0806-8) pbk.


Will Spider-Man be destroyed?

Tanzman, Carol.
Shadow Place. Roaring Brook Press, $15.95 (0-7613-1588-8).


… school violence, Instant Messaging, and the loyalty of old friends---in a suspenseful page-turner…(from catalog)

Traig, Jennifer.
Accessories: Things to Make and Do. Chronicle, $12.95 (0-8118-3151-5) pbk.


Don't be afraid to be crafty.

Traig, Jennifer.
Crafty Girl: Slumber Parties: Things to Make and Do. Chronicle Books, $12.95 (0-8118-3571-5).


Sweet dream ideas that kiss goodnight drowsy slumber parties.

Tucker, Reed.
Osbournes Unf***ingauthorized: The Completely Unauthorized and Unofficial Guide to Everything Osbourne. Bantam Dell Publishing, $8.95 (0-553-37598-9) pbk


Everything Osbourne…

Von Ziegesar, Cecily.
Gossip Girl. Little Brown, $8.95 (0-316-91033-3) pbk


You know you love me!

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.


Just ask me!

Waid, Mark.
JLA: Tower of Babel. DC Comics, $12.95 (1-56389-727-X) pbk.


Betrayed by Batman?

Wilson, Jacqueline.
Girls in Love. Random House Children's Books/Delacourte Press, $9.95 (0-385-90040-6).


Ellie, Nadine and Magda are all best friends. Both Nadine and Magda have boyfriends, so Ellie pretends to have one to impress her friends. Ellie thinks she is not beautiful enough to attract any boys due to the lack of confidence. Boyfriends, clubs, drugs, parties and sex are mentioned.

Wittlinger, Ellen.
The Long Night of Leo and Bree. Simon and Schuster, $15.00 (0-689-83564-7).


On the anniversary of his sister's brutal murder, Leo kidnaps Bree, a rich girl out for a night of slumming in his working class town, and holds her hostage for one night.

Worthington, Charles.
The Complete Book of Hairstyling. Firefly Books, $19.95 (1-55297-576-2) pbk.


Need a new look?/ Say goodbye to bad hair days!