2009 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers

The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), the fastest-growing division of the American Library Association (ALA), announced its 2009 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers selection list. The list is presented annually at the ALA 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.

FICTION

  • THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN by Sherman Alexie
  • AFTER TUPAC & D FOSTER by Jacqueline Woodson
  • AUDREY, WAIT! by Robin Benway
  • BEANBALL by Gene Fehler
  • BEHIND THE DOOR by Paul Kropp
  • BLACKLISTED by Gena Showalter
  • CATHY'S KEY: If Found Call (650) 266-8233, by Sean Stewart and Jordan Weisman
  • CHESS RUMBLE by G. Neri
  • THE COMPOUND by S.A. Bodeen
  • CRAZY DIAMOND by David Chotjewitz
  • DANCING ON THE EDGE by Sharon Jennings
  • DRAMA HIGH by L. Divine
  • DREAMRIDER by Barry Jonsberg
  • FAKIE by Tony Varrato
  • FIRST KISS (THEN TELL) edited by Cylin Busby
  • FROSTBITE: A Vampire Academy Novel, by Richelle Mead
  • GAME by Walter Dean Myers
  • THE HAND YOU'RE DEALT by Paul Volponi
  • HOT GIRL by Dream Jordan
  • HOTLANTA by Denene Millner and Mitzi Miller
  • HURRICANE SONG by Paul Volponi
  • I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME by Lisa Schroeder
  • I KNOW IT'S OVER by C.K. Kelly Martin
  • IN THE CLUB: THE CELEBUTANTES by Antonio Pagliarulo
  • IN THE SMALL by Michael Hague
  • THE JUVIE THREE by Gordon Korman
  • KAPUT AND ZOSKY by Lewis Trondheim
  • KENDRA by Coe Booth
  • LIFE IS FINE by Allison Whittenberg
  • LIFE SUCKS by Jessica Abel, Gabe Soria and Warren Pleece
  • M+O 4EVR by Tonya Hegamin
  • MAXIMUM RIDE #4: THE FINAL WARNING by James Patterson
  • MEXICAN WHITE BOY by Matt de la Pena
  • NIGHTMARE ON ZOMBIE ISLAND: Twisted Journeys #5 by Paul D. Storrie
  • NOVEMBER BLUES by Sharon Draper
  • OUTRAGE by Tony Varrato
  • PREY by Lurlene McDaniel
  • PROJECT 17 by Laurie Faria Stolarz
  • RIGHT BEHIND YOU by Gail Giles
  • SATURDAY NIGHT DIRT by Will Weaver
  • THE SECRET STORY OF SONIA RODRIGUEZ by Alan Lawrence Sitomer
  • SKIM written by Mariko Tamaki and illustrated by Jillian Tamaki
  • SUCKERPUNCH by David Hernandez
  • SUCKS TO BE ME: The All-True Confessions of Mina Hamilton, Teen Vampire (Maybe) by Kimberly Pauley
  • THIEF by Brian James
  • TORN TO PIECES by Margo McDonnell
  • TRUANCY by Isamu Fukui
  • UNDONE by Brooke Taylor
  • UNLEASHED by Kristopher Reisz
  • THE UNSPOKEN by Thomas Fahy
  • WAKE by Lisa McMann
  • WOULD YOU by Marthe Jocelyn

NONFICTION

  • 30 DAYS TO GETTING OVER THE DORK YOU USED TO CALL YOUR BOYFRIEND: A Heartbreak Handbook, by Clea Hantman
  • 97 THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOU FINISH HIGH SCHOOL by Steven Jenkins and Erika Stalder
  • 100 DAYS OF MONSTERS by Stefan Bucher
  • 500 MANGA CREATURES by Yishan Li
  • ALL THE QUESTIONS ABOUT HAIR, MAKEUP, SKIN & MORE by the Editors of CosmoGirl
  • ANA'S STORY: A Journey of Hope, by Jenna Bush
  • ART OF MODERN ROCK: MINI #1 by Dennis King
  • ART OF MODERN ROCK: MINI #2 by Dennis King
  • BLACK METAL, Volume 1 by Rick Spears
  • BODY DRAMA by Nancy Amanda Redd
  • CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE AMERICAN IDOL SOUL edited by Jack Canfield
  • CHILL: Stress-Reducing Techniques for a More Balanced, Peaceful You, by Deborah Reber
  • COMICKERS ART 2: Create Amazing Manga Characters, by Comickers Magazine
  • DISPOSABLE: A History of Skateboard Art, by Sean Cliver
  • DO NOT OPEN: An Encyclopedia of the World’s Best-Kept Secrets, by John Fardon
  • FALLING HARD: 100 Love Poems by Teenagers, edited by Betsy Franco
  • FASHION 101: A Crash Course in Clothing, by Erika Stalder
  • FLIGHT, Volume 4 by Kazu Kibuishi
  • FOR BOYS ONLY: The Biggest Baddest Book Ever, by Marc Aronson and H.P. Newquist
  • GADGET NATION: A Journey Through the Eccentric World of Invention, by Steve Greenberg
  • GHOSTS: CAUGHT ON FILM by Melvyn Willin
  • GOTHIC AND LOLITA BIBLE, Volume 1 edited by Jodi Bryson and Jenna Winterberg
  • THE GUERILLA ART KIT: Everything You Need to Put Your Message Out into the World, by Keri Smith
  • GUITAR CHORDS by Paul Roland
  • THE HEROIN DIARIES: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star, by Nikki Stixx with Ian Gitting
  • HOW TO BUILD A ROBOT ARMY: Tips on Defending the Earth Against Alien Invaders, by Daniel H. Wilson
  • I COULD TELL YOU BUT THEN YOU WOULD HAVE TO BE DESTROYED BY ME by Trevor Paglen
  • IPOD & ITUNES FOR DUMMIES by Tony Bove and Cheryl Rhodes
  • JAPAN AI: A Tall Girl’s Adventures in Japan, by Aimee Major Steinberger
  • LET'S MAKE CUTE STUFF by Aronzo Aranzi
  • LOVE LETTERS: 150 Letters You Were Never Meant to See, by Bill Shapiro
  • THE MANGA COOKBOOK by the Manga University Culinary Institute and Chihiro Hattori
  • MUTANTS & MONSTERS by Oliver Ho
  • NO CHOIRBOY: Murder, Violence, and Teenagers on Death Row, by Susan Kuklin
  • NO REGRETS: The Best, Worst & Most #$%*ing Ridiculous Tattoos Ever, by Aviva Yaek and P.M. Chen
  • NOT QUITE WHAT I WAS PLANNING: Six Word Memoirs, edited by Larry Smith and Rachel Fershleiser
  • ONE HUNDRED YOUNG AMERICANS by Michael Franzini
  • PERMANENCE by Kip Fulbeck
  • PHYSICS: Why Matter Matters! by Dan Green
  • PLUSH YOU!: Lovable Misfit Toys to Sew and Stuff, by Kristen Rask
  • POINT BLANK: The Graphic Novel, by Anthony Horowitz and Anthony Johnston
  • THE QUIZ LIFE by Marina Khidekel
  • SENTENCES: The Life of M.F. Grimm, by Percy Carey
  • SKATEBOARDING: Legendary Tricks, by Steve Badillo and Doug Werner
  • SKATEBOARDING SKILLS: The Reader’s Guide, by Ben Powell
  • SPIDER MAN, THE ICON by Steve Saffal
  • TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADER: Weird, Strange, and Totally Useless Information, by Ian Harrison
  • TRANSIT MAPS OF THE WORLD edited by Mark Ovenden and Mike Ashworth
  • VOLCANO: A Visual Guide, by Donna O'Meara
  • WORK: The World in Photographs, by Ferdinand Protzman

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