Month: January 2020

2020 Best Fiction for Young Adults List Announced

The official titles of YALSA’s 2020 Best Fiction for Young Adults (BFYA) list have been announced.

The list consists of 71 titles which were posted and discussed in blogposts on The Hub. View the full list here. The top ten titles were selected after receiving feedback at the BFYA Teen Feedback Session that took place at ALA’s 2020 Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia.

The top ten titles are:

  • The Field Guide to the North American Teenager. By Ben Philippe. HarperCollins/Balzer+Bray. $18.99 (9780062824110).
  • Girls on the Verge. By Sharon Biggs Waller. Holt. $17.99 (9781250151698).
  • Heroine. By Mindy McGinnis. HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen. $17.99 (9780062847195).
  • Like a Love Story. By Abdi Nazemian. HarperCollins/Balzer+Bray. $17.99 (9780062839367).
  • Lovely War. By Julie Berry. Viking. $18.99 (9780451469939).
  • On the Come Up. By Angie Thomas. HarperCollins/Balzer+Bray. $18.99 (9780062498564).
  • Patron Saints of Nothing. By Randy Ribay. Penguin/Kokila. $17.99 (9780525554912).
  • Pet. By Akwaeke Emezi. Random/Make Me a World. $17.99 (9780525647072).
  • The Stars and the Blackness Between Them. By Junauda Petrus. Dutton. $17.99 (9780525555483).
  • With the Fire on High. By Elizabeth Acevedo. HarperTeen. $17.99 (9780062662835). 

The suggestion form for the 2021 Best Fiction for Young Adults list is open. If you’d like to suggest a title to the blogging team for consideration as a nominee, please fill out the form.

A huge thank you goes out to the BFYA blogging team for all the hard work and time they put into curating this great list. Thank you!

Members of the 2020 Best Fiction for Young Adults Blogging Team are: Coordinator, Kimmie DePinto, High Plains Library District, Greeley, CO; Jodi Kruse R.A. Long High School Library, Longview, WA; Michael Fleming, Juanita High School, Kirkland, WA; Isaiah West, Alexandria Library, Alexandria, VA; Molly Dettmann, Norman North High School, Norman, OK; Alicia Abdul, Albany High School, Albany, NY; Laura Giunta Garden City Public Library, Garden City, NY; Stephanie Charlefour, Keene, NH; Barbara, CA; Audrey Hopkins, Oak Lawn Public Library, Dallas, TX; Ness Shortley, Horton Middle School, Pittsboro, NC; Molly Wetta, Santa Barbara Public Library, Santa Barbara, CA; and with the help of administrative assistant Molly Moore, Bishop, GA.

YA Nonfiction for New Year’s Resolutions!

Nonfiction books for New Year’s resolutions is a great way to pull individuals back into the library every January. Adults aren’t the only ones wanting to better themselves for the new year. Teens can join in on the action as well. Take a look at these YA nonfiction selections for teens to start the year by putting their best foot forward.

Continue reading YA Nonfiction for New Year’s Resolutions!

YALSA announces 2020 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers

The 2020 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers list has been announced.

The list of  64 titles is drawn from 133 official nominations, which were posted and discussed in blog posts on The Hub. The list identifies titles aimed at encouraging reading among teens who dislike to read.

In addition to the full list, the blogging team chose the following titles as its top ten:

  • 10 Blind Dates by Ashley Elston.  Disney: Hyperion. 2019.  $17.99.  ISBN:9781368027496. 
  • Belly Up by Eva Darrows. HarperCollins Inkyard Press. 2019. $18.99. ISBN:9781335012357.
  • The Haunted by Danielle Vega. Razorbill. 2019. $17.99. ISBN: 978-0451481467.
  • Heroine by Mindy McGinnis. Katherine Tegen Books. 2019. $17.99. ISBN: 9780062847195.
  • Kiss Number 8 by Colleen AF Venable. Macmillan Roaring Brook Press/First Second. 2019. $17.99 ISBN:9781596437098.          
  • Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell. Art by Faith Erin Hicks. First Second. 2019. $21.99. ISBN: 9781250312853.
  • Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen McManus. Delacorte Press. 2019. $19.99. ISBN: 978-1524714727.
  • The Unfortunates by Kim Liggett. Tor Teen. 2018. $17.99 ISBN: 9780765381002.
  • UNpregnant by Jenni Hendriks and Ted Caplan. Harper Collins. 2019. $17.99. ISBN: 978-0062876249.
  • We Are Displaced: My Journey and Stories From Refugee Girls Around the World  by Malala Yousafzai. Hachette Book Group. 2018. $18.99. ISBN: 978-0316523646.

“For the 2020 list, team bloggers read a wide variety of fiction and nonfiction titles, in multiple formats, to establish a diverse list that reflects student interest,” said Coordinator Lorrie Roussin. “Our blogging team read hundreds of books and discussed all of the nominated titles in a virtual setting. A blog post was written for each nominated title and published to YALSA’s The Hub.”

The suggestion form for the 2021 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers list is open. If you’d like to suggest a title to the blogging team for consideration as a nominee, please fill out the form.

YALSA would like to extend a huge thank you to the members of the Quick Picks blogging team for all the hard work they put into selecting the titles for the 2020 list. Thank you again for everything!

The members of the Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers Blogging Team are: Coordinator Lorraine Roussin, San Antonio ISD, San Antonio, TX; Kathleen J. Barker, Rutgers University, Plymouth, MI; Allison Gray, Goleta Valley Library, Santa Barbara, CA; Aimee Haslam, E.B. Stanley Middle School, Abingdon, VA; Jessica Levy, Los Angeles Public Library, Los Angeles, CA; Elizabeth Nebeker, Jersey Village High School, Houston, TX; Catherine Outten, California State University, Long Beach, CA; Kathleen Reynolds, University of Southern California, South Pasadena, CA; Jessica Smith, Bend Senior High School, Bend, Oregon; Kelsey Socha, Ventress Memorial Library, Kingston, MA; and with the help of administrative assistant Dana Hutchins, Jackson Middle School, San Antonio, TX.

YALSA names 2020 Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults

The 2020 Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults list has been announced.

The list consists of 35 titles; with 30 fiction and 5 nonfiction audiobooks, selected from 63 official nominations, which were posted and discussed in blog posts on The Hub.

The list is aimed towards young adults aged 12-18 and is drawn from the previous year of spoken-word releases. The committee listened to over 300 titles this year in their quest to choose a myriad of audiobooks that would appeal to all subsects of the teen audience.

In addition to the full list, the blogging team chose the following titles as its top ten:

  • Becoming by Michelle Obama, read byMichelle Obama. Random House Audio, 2018. 19 hours; 16 discs. 978-0-5256-3367-9.
  • Dig by A.S. King, read byA.S. King, Mike Chamberlain, Tonya Cornelisse and Kirby Heyborne. Listening Library, 2019. 10 hours, 22 minutes; 9 discs. 978-1-9848-3817-9.
  • The Fountain of Silence by Ruta Sepetys, read by Maite Jáuregui, with Richard Ferrone, Neil Hellegers, Joshua Kane, Liza Kaplan, and Oliver Wyman. HarperAudio, 2018. 12 hours, 30 minutes; 10 discs. 978-0-5931-0566-5.
  • Heroine by Mindy McGinnis, read byBrittany Pressley. HarperCollins Audio, 2019. 8 hours, 30 minutes; 7 discs. 978-0-0628-8681-1.
  • Hey Kiddo by Jarrett J. Krosoczka, read byJarrett J. Krosoczka, Jeanne Birdsall, Richard Ferrone, and Jenna Lamia. Scholastic Audio, 2019. 2 hours, 51 minutes; 3 discs. 978-1-3386-0454-2.
  • Internment by Samira Ahmed, read bySoneela Nankani. Hachette Audio, 2019. 11 hours; 11 discs. 978-1-5491-4876-7.
  • Let me Hear a Rhyme by Tiffany D. Jackson, read by Adenrele Ojo, Korey Jackson, Adam Lazarre-White, and Nile Bullock. HarperCollins Audio, 2019. 9 hours, 30 minutes; 8 discs. 978-0-0629-1433-0.
  • On the Come Up by Angie Thomas, read byBahni Turpin. HarperCollins Audio, 2019. 11 hours 45 minutes; 10 discs. 978-0-0628-4069-1.
  • Shout by Laurie Halse Anderson, read byLaurie Halse Anderson. Listening Library, 2019. 4 hours; 3 discs. 978-1-9848-8239-4.
  • With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo, read byElizabeth Acevedo. HarperAudio, 2019. 7 hours, 30 minutes; 6 discs. 978-0-0628-8679-8.

YALSA’s portfolio of book and media awards helps strengthen library services for and with teens by identifying quality, age appropriate resources for librarians and library workers to share with the teens in their communities. Learn more about YALSA’s other book and media lists here.

A huge thank you goes out to the members of the 2020 Amazing Audiobooks Blogging Team for all the long hours and great work they put into selecting the 2020 list. Thank you for all your time and effort!

Members of the blogging team are: Coordinator Samantha Neiman, Sun Prairie Public Library, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin; Coordinator Brittany Marie Garcia, Rancho Cucamonga Public Library, Rancho Cucamonga, California; Kit Ballenger, KitonLit, Chevy Chase, Maryland; Dawn Zimmerer Collins, Madison County Library System, Canton, Mississippi; Cyndi Hamann, Arlington Heights Memorial Library, Arlington Heights, Illinois; Danielle Jones, Multnomah County Library, Portland, Oregon; Christie Kimsey, Los Angeles Public Library, Pasadena, California; Teka McCabe, Briarcliff High School & Briarcliff Middle School, Manor, New York; Erin Phemester, Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County, Youngstown, Ohio; Dr. Wendy Stephens, Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, Alabama; Sarah Ressler Wright, RB Hayes High School, Delaware, Ohio; Kiera Vargas, Tennessee State University: Language, Literature, Philosophy Department, Nashville, Tennessee.

2020 Great Graphic Novels for Teens List Announced

The official titles of YALSA’s 2020 Great Graphic Novels for Teens list have been announced.

The list consists of 103 titles selected from 178 official nominations, which were posted and discussed in blogposts on The Hub. The books, recommended for those ages 12-18, meet the criteria of both good quality literature and appealing reading for teens. View the full list.

In addition to the full list, the blogging team chose the following titles as its top ten:

  • Bloom. By Kevin Panetta. Art by Savanna Ganucheau. First Second. 2019. $17.99. ISBN: 978-1626726413.
  • Cosmoknights: Book One. By Hannah Templer. Art by the author. IDW Publishing. 2019. $19.99. ISBN: 978-1603094542.
  • I Was Their American Dream: a Graphic Memoir. By Malaka Gharib. Art by the author. Clarkson Potter. 2019. $16.99. ISBN: 978-0525575115.
  • Kiss Number 8. By Colleen AF Venable. Art by Ellen T. Crenshaw. First Second. 2019. $17.99. ISBN: 978-1596437098.
  • Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me. By Mariko Tamaki. Art by Rosemary Valero-O’Connell. First Second. 2019. $17.99. ISBN: 978-1626722590.
  • The Life of Frederick Douglass: A Graphic Narrative of a Slave’s Journey from Bondage to Freedom. By David F. Walker. Art by Damon Smyth, Marissa Louise. Ten Speed Press. 2019. $17.99. ISBN: 978-0399581441.
  • Pumpkinheads. By Rainbow Rowell. Art by Faith Erin Hicks. First Second. 2019. $17.99. ISBN: 978-1626721623.
  • Simon & Louise. By Max de Radigues. Art by the author. Conundrum International. 2019. $18.00. ISBN: 978-1772620351.
  • They Called Us Enemy. By George Takei and Justin Eisinger. Art by Harmony Becker. Top Shelf Productions. 2019. $19.99. ISBN: 978-1603094504.
  • Witch Hat Atelier. By Kamome Shirahama. Art by the author. 2019.
    • Vol. 1. Kodansha Comics. $12.99. ISBN: 978-1632367709.
    • Vol. 2. Kodansha Comics. $12.99. ISBN: 978-1632368041.
    • Vol. 3. Kodansha Comics. $12.99. ISBN: 978-1632368058.

The suggestion form for the 2021 Great Graphic Novels for Teens list is open. If you’d like to suggest a title to the blogging team for consideration as a nominee, please fill out the form.

A huge thank you goes out to the members of the 2020 Great Graphic Novels for Teens Blogging Team for all their hard work in reading and selecting all the titles. Thank you again!

Members of the 2020 Great Graphic Novels for Teens Blogging Team are: Tina H. Lerno, chair, Los Angeles Public Library, Los Angeles, CA; Megan Baird, Yuma County Library District, Yuma AZ; Crystal Chen, The New York Public Library, Bronx, NY; Erin Durrett, Clinton-Macomb Public Library,Clinton Township, MI; Traci Glass, Nashville Public Library, Nashville TN;Thea Hashagen, Mill Valley Public Library, Mill Valley, CA;Lindsey Helfrich, Sacramento Public Library, Sacramento, CA; Kali Olson, The Blake School, Minneapolis, MN; Christine Pyles, Euclid Public Library, Euclid, OH; Celeste Rhoads, The American Library in Paris, Paris France; Loren Spector, Los Angeles Public Library, Los Angeles, CA; Becky Standal, Longview Public Library, Longview, WA; Allie Stevens, Calhoun County Library, Hampton, AR; Audrey Sumser, Stark Library, Canton, OH.

#BFYA2020 Teen Feedback Session at Midwinter 2020 in Philadelphia

This year the American Library Association will be holding its Mid-Winter Conference in Philadelphia and YALSA will be holding a Teen Feedback Session for the Best Fiction for Young Adults committee. 

Continue reading #BFYA2020 Teen Feedback Session at Midwinter 2020 in Philadelphia