2009 ALSC & YALSA Book Picks: The year’s best titles for children and teens (2025)

ALSC Notables

Notable Children’s Books

Younger Readers

Becker, Bonny. A Visitor for Bear. illus. by Kady MacDonald Denton. Candlewick. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-2807-9. Bee, William. Beware of the Frog. illus. by author. Candlewick. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-3920-4. Campbell, Sarah C. Wolfsnail: A Backyard Predator. photos. by author & Richard P. Campbell. Boyds Mills. RTE $16.95. ISBN 978-1-59078-554-6. Davis, Eleanor. Stinky. illus. by author. The Little Lit Library. RAW Junior. Tr $12.95. ISBN 978-0-97-992384-5. 2009 ALSC & YALSA Book Picks: The year’s best titles for children and teens (1)Dorros, Arthur. Papá and Me. illus. by Rudy Gutierrez. HarperCollins/Rayo. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-058156-5. Fleming, Denise. Buster Goes to Cowboy Camp. Holt. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-8050-7892-3. Frazee, Marla. A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever. illus. by author. Harcourt. Tr $16. ISBN 978-0-15-206020-6. George, Jean Craighead. Goose and Duck. illus. by Priscilla Lamont. HarperCollins/A Laura Geringer Bk. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-117076-8. Graham, Bob. How to Heal a Broken Wing. illus. by author. Candlewick. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-3903-7. Grant, Judyann Ackerman. Chicken Said, “Cluck.” illus. by Sue Truesdell. HarperCollins. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-028723-8. Harris, Robie H. Maybe a Bear Ate It! illus. by Michael Emberley. Scholastic/ Orchard. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-439-92961-5. Henkes, Kevin. Old Bear. illus. by author. HarperCollins/Greenwillow. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-155205-2. Hills, Tad. What’s Up, Duck? A Book of Opposites. illus. by author. Random/Schwartz & Wade. BD $6.99. ISBN 978-0-375-84738-7. Hole, Stian. Garmann’s Summer. illus. by author. tr. from Norwegian by Don Bartlett. Eerdmans. Tr $17.50. ISBN 978-0-8028-5339-4. Kohara, Kazuno. Ghosts in the House. illus. by author. Roaring Brook. Tr $12.95. ISBN 978-1-59643-427-1. McDonald, Megan. The Hinky Pink. illus. by Brian Floca. S & S/Atheneum/A Richard Jackson Bk. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-689-87588-5. Morales, Yuyi. Just in Case: A Trickster Tale and Spanish Alphabet Book. illus. by author. Roaring Brook/A Neal Porter Bk. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-1-59643-329-8. Seeger, Laura Vaccaro. One Boy. illus. by author. Roaring Brook/A Neal Porter Bk. Tr $14.95. ISBN 978-1-59643-274-1. Swanson, Susan Marie. The House in the Night. illus. by Beth Krommes. Houghton. Tr $17. ISBN 978-0-618-75244-3. Tafolla, Carmen. What Can You Do with a Rebozo? illus. by Amy Cordova. Tricycle. Tr $14.95. ISBN 978-1-58246-220-2. Weatherford, Carole Boston. Before John Was a Jazz Giant: A Song of John Coltrane. illus. by Sean Qualls. Holt. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-8050-7994-4. Willems, Mo. Are You Ready to Play Outside? illus. by author. Hyperion. Tr $8.99. ISBN 978-1-42311-347-8.

Middle Readers

Appelt, Kathi. The Underneath. illus. by David Small. S & S/Atheneum. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-5058-5. Bishop, Nic. Frogs. Scholastic. Tr $17. ISBN 978-0-439-87755-8. Broach, Elise. Masterpiece. illus. by Kelly Murphy. Holt/A Christy Ottaviano Bk. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-8050-8270-8. Brown, Don. All Stations! Distress! illus. by author. Roaring Brook. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-1-59643-222-2. Bryant, Jen. A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams. illus. by Melissa Sweet. Eerdmans. Tr $17. ISBN 978-0-8028-5302-8. Dowd, Siobhan. The London Eye Mystery. Random. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-375-84976-3. Elliott, Zetta. Bird. illus. by Shadra Strickland. Lee & Low. Tr $19.95. ISBN 978-1-6006-0241-2. Erdrich, Louise. The Porcupine Year. HarperCollins. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-06-029787-9. Fern, Tracey E. Buffalo Music. illus. by Lauren Castillo. Clarion. Tr $16. ISBN 978-0-618-72341-6. Gaiman, Neil. The Graveyard Book. illus. by Dave McKean. HarperCollins. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-053092-1. Gonzalez, Lucia. The Storyteller’s Candle/La velita de los cuentos. illus. by Lulu Delacre. Children’s Book Pr. RTE $16.95. ISBN 978-0-89239-222-3. Greenberg, Jan & Sandra Jordan. Christo and Jeanne-Claude: Through the Gates and Beyond. Roaring Brook/A Neal Porter Bk. Tr $19.95. ISBN 978-1-59643-071-6. Hale, Shannon & Dean Hale. Rapunzel’s Revenge. illus. by Nathan Hale. Bloomsbury. Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-1-59990-070-4. Hopkinson, Deborah. Abe Lincoln Crosses a Creek: A Tall, Thin Tale (Introducing His Forgotten Frontier Friend). illus. by John Hendrix. Random/Schwartz & Wade. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-375-83768-5. Kerley, Barbara. What to Do About Alice? How Alice Roosevelt Broke the Rules, Charmed the World, and Drove Her Father Teddy Crazy! illus. by Edwin Fotheringham. Scholastic. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-439-92231-9. Law, Ingrid. Savvy. Dial/Walden Media. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-8037-3306-0. Lewin, Ted & Betsy Lewin. Horse Song: The Naadam of Mongolia. illus. by authors. Lee & Low. Tr $19.95. ISBN 978-1-58430-277-3. McGill, Alice. Way up and over Everything. illus. by Jude Daly. Houghton. RTE $16. ISBN 0-618-38796-X. Nicholls, Sally. Ways to Live Forever. Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine Bks. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-545-06948-9. Nivola, Claire A. Planting the Trees of Kenya: The Story of Wangari Maathai. Farrar/Frances Foster Bks. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-374-39918-4. Nobleman, Marc Tyler. Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman. illus. by Ross MacDonald. Knopf. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-375-83802-6. Parker, Robert Andrew. Piano Starts Here: The Young Art Tatum. illus. by author. Random/Schwartz & Wade. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-375-83965-8. Patent, Dorothy Hinshaw. When the Wolves Returned: Restoring Nature’s Balance in Yellowstone. photos. by Dan Hartman & Cassie Hartman. Walker. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-0-8027-9686-8. Preller, James. Six Innings. Feiwel & Friends. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-31236-763-3. Ray, Deborah Kogan. Wanda Gág: The Girl Who Lived to Draw. Viking. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-670-06292-8. Rumford, James. Silent Music: A Story of Baghdad. illus. by author. Roaring Brook/A Neal Porter Bk. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-1-59643-276-5. Scieszka, Jon. Knucklehead: Tall Tales & Mostly True Stories about Growing Up. illus. by author. Viking. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-670-01106-3. Schulman, Janet. Pale Male: Citizen Hawk of New York City. illus. by Meilo So. Knopf. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-0-375-84558-1. Shulevitz, Uri. How I Learned Geography. illus. by author. Farrar. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-374-33499-4. Stone, Tanya Lee. Elizabeth Leads the Way: Elizabeth Cady Stanton and the Right to Vote. illus. by Rebecca Gibbon. Holt. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-8050-7903-6. Thomas, Joyce Carol. The Blacker the Berry. illus. by Floyd Cooper. HarperCollins/Amistad. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-025375-2. Uehashi, Nahoko. Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit. tr. from Japanese by Cathy Hirano. Scholastic/Arthur Levine Bks. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-545-00542-5.

Older Readers

Anderson, Laurie Halse. Chains. S & S. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-0585-1. Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Games. Scholastic. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-439-02348-1. Connor, Leslie. Waiting for Normal. HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen Bks. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-089088-9. Deem, James M. Bodies from the Ice: Melting Glaciers and the Recovery of the Past. illus. Houghton. Tr $17. ISBN 978-0-618-80045-2. Engle, Margarita. The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba’s Struggle for Freedom. Holt. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-8050-8674-4. Fleischman, Sid. The Trouble Begins at 8: A Life of Mark Twain in the Wild, Wild West. HarperCollins/Greenwillow. Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-0-06-134432-9. Fleming, Candace. The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary. Random/Schwartz & Wade. Tr $24.99. ISBN 978-0-375-83618-3. Freedman, Russell. Washington at Valley Forge. Holiday House. Tr $24.95. ISBN 978-0-8234-2069-8. Jiménez, Francisco. Reaching Out. Houghton. Tr $16. ISBN 978-0-618-03851-0. Macaulay, David with Richard Walker. The Way We Work: Getting to Know the Amazing Human Body. illus. by author. Houghton/A Walter Lorraine Bk. Tr $35. ISBN 978-0-618-23378-6. Michaelis, Antonia. Tiger Moon. tr. by Anthea Bell. Amulet. Tr $18.95. ISBN 978-0-8109-9481-2. Nelson, Kadir. We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball. illus. by author. Hyperion/Jump at the Sun. Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-0-7868-0832-8. Nelson, Scott Reynolds & Marc Aronson. Ain’t Nothing but a Man: My Quest to Find the Real John Henry. National Geographic. Tr $18.95. ISBN 978-1-42630-000-4. O’Brien, Tony & Mike Sullivan. Afghan Dreams: Young Voices of Afghanistan. Bloomsbury. Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-1-59990-287-6. Pratchett, Terry. Nation. HarperCollins. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-143301-6. Reeve, Philip. Here Lies Arthur. Scholastic. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-545-09334-7. Smith, Hope Anita. Keeping the Night Watch. illus. by E. B. Lewis. Holt. Tr $18.95. ISBN 978-0-8050-7202-0. Woodson, Jacqueline. After Tupac & D Foster. Putnam. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-399-24654-8.

All Ages

Arnosky, Jim. Wild Tracks: A Guide to Nature’s Footprints. Sterling. Tr $14.95. 978-1-4027-3985-9. Johnson, Stephen T. A Is for Art: An Abstract Alphabet. illus. by author. S & S/A Paula Wiseman Bk. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-689-86301-1. National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance. Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out. Candlewick. Tr $29.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-2067-7.

Yalsa Booklist

Best Books for Young Adults

* Denotes top 10 selections

Fiction

Almond, David. The Savage. Candlewick. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-3932-7. Anderson, Laurie Halse. Chains. S & S. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-0585-1. Anderson, M. T. The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation: Vol. II: The Kingdom on the Waves. Candlewick. Tr $22.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-2950-2. Bartoletti, Susan Campbell. The Boy Who Dared. Scholastic. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-439-68013-4. Bell, Hilari. The Last Knight. HarperCollins. 2007. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-082503-4. Benway, Robin. Audrey, Wait! Penguin/Razorbill. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-59514-191-0. Blundell, Judy. What I Saw and How I Lied. Scholastic. Tr $16.99. 978-0-439-90346-2. Booth, Coe. Kendra. Scholastic/Push. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-439-92536-5. Bradbury, Jennifer. Shift. S & S/Atheneum. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-4732-5. Brothers, Meagan. Debby Harry Sings in French. Holt. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-8050-8080-3. Bunce, Elizabeth. A Curse Dark as Gold. Scholastic. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-439-89576-7. Caletti, Deb. The Fortunes of Indigo Skye. S & S. RTE $15.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-1007-7. Cashore, Kristin. Graceling. Harcourt. Tr $17. ISBN 978-0-15-206396-2. Colfer, Eoin. Airman. Hyperion. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-0750-7. *Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Games. Scholastic. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-439-02348-1. *Conner, Leslie. Waiting for Normal. HarperCollins. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-089088-9. *de la Peña, Matt. Mexican WhiteBoy. Delacorte. Tr $15. ISBN 978-0-385-73310-6. Doctorow, Cory. Little Brother. Tom Doherty. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-0-7653-1985-2. *Dowd, Siobhan. Bog Child. Random/David Fickling Bks. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-385-75169-8. ––––.The London Eye Mystery. Random/David Fickling Bks. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-375-84976-3. Fleischman, Sid. The Entertainer and the Dybbuk. HarperCollins. 2007. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-134445-9. *Fletcher, Christine. Ten Cents a Dance. Bloomsbury. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-59990-164-0. Gaiman, Neil. The Graveyard Book. HarperCollins. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-053092-1. Gardner, Sally. The Red Necklace: A Story of the French Revolution. Dial. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-8037-3100-4. Geerling, Marjetta. Fancy White Trash. Viking. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-670-01082-0. George, Jessica Day. Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow. Bloomsbury. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-59990-109-1. George, Madeleine. Looks. Viking. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-670-06167-9. Green, John. Paper Towns. Dutton. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-25-47818-8. Harmon, Michael. The Last Exit to Normal. Knopf. Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-0-375-94098-9. Hernandez, David. Suckerpunch. HarperCollins. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-117330-1. Hijuelos, Oscar. Dark Dude. S & S. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-4804-9. Jenkins, A. M. Night Road. HarperCollins. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-054604-5. Johnson, Maureen. Suite Scarlett. Scholastic/Point. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-439-89927-7. Juby, Susan. Another Kind of Cowboy. HarperCollins. 2007. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-076518-7. Katcher, Brian. Playing with Matches. Delacorte. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-385-73544-5. Kibuishi, Kazu. Amulet: Book 1: The Stone Keeper. Scholastic/Graphix. Tr $21.99. ISBN 978-0-439-84680-6. Lanagan, Margo. Tender Morsels. Knopf. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-375-84811-7. Lester, Julius. Guardian. HarperCollins/Amistad. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-155890-0. Link, Kelly. Pretty Monsters. Viking. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-0-670-01090-5. Lockhart, E. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks. Hyperion. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7868-3818-9. Marchetta, Melina. Jellicoe Road. HarperCollins. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-143183-8. Marillier, Juliet. Cybele’s Secret. Knopf. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-375-83365-6. Mazer, Norma Fox. The Missing Girl. HarperCollins. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-623777-0. McMullan, Margaret. When I Crossed No-Bob. Houghton. 2007. Tr $16. ISBN 978-0-618-71715-6. McNamee, Graham. Bonechiller. Random/Wendy Lamb Bks. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-385-74658-8. Meldrum, Christina. Madapple. Knopf. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-375-95176-3. Meyer, Stephenie. The Host. Little, Brown. Tr $25.99. ISBN 978-0-316-06804-8. *Monninger, Joseph. Baby. Front Street. 2007. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-59078-502-7. Murphy, Pat. The Wild Girls. Viking. 2007. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-670-06226-3. Napoli, Donna Jo. Hush: An Irish Princess’ Tale. Simon/Pulse. 2007. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-689-86176-5. Ness, Patrick. The Knife of Never Letting Go: Chaos Walking. Bk. #1. Candlewick. Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-3931-0. Padian, Maria. Brett McCarthy: Work in Progress. Knopf. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-375-94675-2. Pearson, Mary E. The Adoration of Jenna Fox. Holt. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-8050-7668-4. *Pratchett, Terry. Nation. HarperCollins. PLB $17.89. ISBN 978-0-06-143302-3. Reeve, Philip. Here Lies Arthur. Scholastic. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-545-09334-7. Reinhardt, Dana. How to Build a House. Random/Wendy Lamb Bks. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-375-84453-9. Schmidt, Gary D. Trouble. Clarion. Tr $16. ISBN 978-0-618-92766-1. Schumacher, Julie. Black Box. Delacorte. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-385-73542-1. Scott, Elizabeth. Living Dead Girl. Simon/Pulse. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-6059-1. ––––.Stealing Heaven. HarperCollins. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-112280-4. Sheth, Kashmira. Keeping Corner. Hyperion. 2007. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-7868-3859-2. Shusterman, Neal. Antsy Does Time. Dutton. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-525-47825-6. Smith, Andrew. Ghost Medicine. Feiwel & Friends. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-0-31237-557-7. Smith, Roland. Elephant Run. Hyperion. 2007. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-0402-5. Stein, Garth. The Art of Racing in the Rain. HarperCollins. Tr $23.95. ISBN 978-0-06-153793-6. *Tamaki, Mariko. Skim. Groundwood/House of Anansi. Tr $18.95. ISBN 978-0-88899-753-1. Tharp, Tim. The Spectacular Now. Knopf. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-375-95179-4. Valentine, Jenny. Me, the Missing, and the Dead. HarperTeen. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-085068-5. Venkatraman, Padma. Climbing the Stairs. Putnam. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-399-24746-0. *Voorhees, Coert. The Brothers Torres. Hyperion. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-0304-2. Werlin, Nancy. Impossible. Dial. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-8037-3002-1. Wood, Don. Into the Volcano. Scholastic. Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-0-439-72671-9. Woodson, Jacqueline. After Tupac and D Foster. Putnam. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-399-24654-8. Zarr, Sara. Sweethearts. Little, Brown. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-316-01455-7.

NonFiction

Aronson, Marc & Patty Campbell. War Is... Soldiers, Survivors, and Storytellers Talk about War. Candlewick. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-3625-8. Barry, Lynda. What It Is. Drawn & Quarterly. Tr $24.95. ISBN 978-1-897299-35-7. *Bowman, Robin. It’s Complicated: The American Teenager. photos. by author. Umbrage Editions. 2007. Tr $40. ISBN 978-1-884167-69-0. Engle, Margarita. The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba’s Struggle for Freedom. Holt. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-8050-8674-4. Fleischman, Sid. The Trouble Begins at 8: A Life of Mark Twain in the Wild, Wild West. HarperCollins/Greenwillow. Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-0-06-134432-9. Kuklin, Susan. No Choirboy: Murder, Violence, and Teenagers on Death Row. Holt. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-0-8050-7950-0. Menzel, Peter & Faith D’Aluisio. What the World Eats. Ten Speed. Tr $22.99. ISBN 978-1-58246-246-2. Nelson, Scott Reynolds. Ain’t Nothing but a Man: My Quest to Find the Real John Henry. National Geographic. 2007. Tr $18.95. ISBN 978-1-42630-000-4. Parker, David L. Before Their Time: The World of Child Labor. Quantuck Lane Pr. 2007. Tr $35. ISBN 978-0-618-23378-6. Porcellino, John. Thoreau at Walden. Hyperion. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-0038-6. Shields, Charles J. I Am Scout: The Biography of Harper Lee. Holt. Tr $18.95. ISBN 978-0-8050-8334-7. Weatherford, Carole Boston. Becoming Billie Holiday. Wordsong. Tr $19.95. ISBN 978-1-59078-507-2. Wendel, Tim & José Luis Villegas. Far from Home: Latino Baseball Players in America. National Geographic. Tr $28. ISBN 978-1-4262-0216-2.

Great Graphic Novels for Teens

* Denotes top 10 selections

Fiction

*Abel, Jessica & Gabe Soria. Life Sucks. illus. by Warren Pleece. First Second. pap. $19.95. ISBN 978-1-59643-107-2. *Ashihara, Hinako. Sand Chronicles, Vol. 1. ISBN 978-1-4215-1477-2. ––––.Sand Chronicles, Vol. 2. ISBN 978-1-4215-1478-9. ––––.Sand Chronicles, Vol. 3. ISBN 978-1-4215-1479-6. ea vol: VIZ Media. pap. $8.99. Bialik, Steve. Minister Jade. Cellar Door. pap. $14.99. ISBN 978-0-976683-13-1. Black, Holly. Kin. (Good Neighbors Series, Bk. #1). illus. by Ted Naifeh. Scholastic/Graphix. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-439-85562-4. Brubaker, Ed. The Death of the Dream, Vol. 1. ISBN 978-0-785124-23-8. ––––.The Burden of Dreams, Vol. 2. ISBN 978-0-785124-24-5. ea vol: (The Death of Captain America Series). illus. by Steve Epting, Mike Perkins, & Butch Guice. Marvel. pap. $14.99. *Clevinger, Brian, et al. Atomic Robo and the Fightin’ Scientists of Tesladyne. (Atomic Robo Series). Red Five Comics. pap. $18.99. ISBN 978-0-9809302-0-7. David, Peter, et al. The Gunslinger Born, Vol. 1. ISBN 978-0-785121-44-2. ––––.The Long Road Home, Vol. 2. ISBN 978-0-785127-09-3. ea vol: (Dark Tower Series). illus. by Jae Lee. Marvel. Tr $24.99. Diggle, Andy. Green Arrow: Year One. illus. by Jock. DC Comics. Tr $24.99. ISBN 978-1-4012-1687-0. Fujisawa, Yüki. Metro Survive, Vol. 1. ISBN 978-1-59796-125-7. ––––.Metro Survive, Vol. 2. ISBN 978-1-59796-126-4. ea vol: Dr. Master. pap. $9.95. Hale, Shannon & Dean Hale. Rapunzel’s Revenge. illus. by Nathan Hale. Bloomsbury. Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-1-59990-070-4. Hicks, Faith Erin. The War at Ellsmere. Slave Labor Graphics. pap. $12.95. ISBN 978-1-59362-140-7. Hotta, Yumi. Hikaru no Go, Vol. 12. ISBN 978-1-4215-1508-3. ––––.Hikaru no Go, Vol. 13. ISBN 978-1-4215-1509-0.a vol: illus. by Takeshi Obata. VIZ Media. pap. $7.95. In-Wan, Youn. Deja-Vu: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter. Tokyopop. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4278-0318-4. *Inoue, Takehiko. Real, Vol. 1. pap. $12.99. ISBN 978-1-4215-1989-0. ––––. Real, Vol. 2. pap. $12.99. ISBN 978-1-4215-1990-6. ––––.Slam Dunk, Vol. 1. pap. $7.99. ISBN 978-1-4215-0679-1. ea vol: VIZ Media. *Ito, Junji. Uzumaki, Vol. 1. VIZ Media. 2007. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4215-1389-8. Johns, Geoff, et al. The Sinestro Corps War, Vol. 1. ISBN 978-1-4012-1650-4. ––––.The Sinestro Corps War, Vol. 2. ISBN 978-1-4012-1800-3. ea vol: (Green Lantern Series). DC Comics. Tr $24.99. Johnson, Mat. Incognegro: A Graphic Mystery. illus. by Warren Pleece. Vertigo. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-1-4012-1097-7. Kabei, Yukako. Kieli, Vol. 1. ISBN 978-0-759528-51-2. ––––.Kieli, Vol. 2. 978-0-759528-52-9. ea vol: illus. by Shiori Teshirogi. Yen Pr. pap. $10.99. Kawahara, Kazune. High School Debut, Vol. 1. ISBN 978-1-4215-1481-9. ––––.High School Debut, Vol. 2. ISBN 978-1-4215-1482-6. ea vol: VIZ Media. pap. $8.99. Kibuishi, Kazu, ed.Flight, Vol. 5. Villard. pap. $25. ISBN 978-0-345-50589-7. Kirkman, Robert & Jason Howard. The Astounding Wolf-Man, Vol. 1. Image Comics. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-58240-862-0. Kirkman, Robert & Ryan Ottley. Invincible, Vol. 9. Image Comics. pap. $14.99. ISBN 978-1-58240-827-9. Kishimoto, Masashi. Naruto, Vol. 28. ISBN 978-1-4215-1864-0. ––––.Naruto, Vol. 29. ISBN 978-1-4215-1865-7. ––––.Naruto, Vol. 30. ISBN 978-1-4215-1942-5. ––––.Naruto, Vol. 31. ISBN 978-1-4215-1943-2. ea vol: VIZ Media. pap. $7.95. Kiyuduki, Satoko. Shoulder-a-Coffin Kuro, Vol. 1. ISBN 978-0-759528-97-0. ––––.Shoulder-a-Coffin Kuro, Vol. 2. ISBN 978-0-759529-01-4. ea vol: Yen Pr. pap. $10.99. Kusakawa, Nari. Two Flowers for the Dragon, Vol. 1. ISBN 978-1-4012-1526-2. ––––.Two Flowers for the Dragon, Vol. 2. ISBN 978-1-4012-1527-9. ea vol: CMX. pap. $9.99. Moore, Terry. Echo: Moon Lake. Abstract Studio. pap. $15.95. ISBN 978-1-892597-40-3. Nakaji, Yuki. Venus in Love, Vol. 1. ISBN 978-1-4012-1345-9. ––––.Venus in Love, Vol. 2. ISBN 978-1-4012-1730-3. ––––.Venus in Love, Vol. 3. 978-1-4012-1772-3. ea vol: CMX. 2007. pap. $9.99. Pak, Greg. Planet Hulk. Marvel. pap. $34.99. ISBN 978-0-785120-12-4. Park, Hee Jung. Fever, One. Tokyopop. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4278-0532-4. Rich, Jamie & Marc Ellerby. Side A: Songs of Faith, Vol. 1. 2007. ISBN 978-1-932664-66-9. ––––.Side B: Songs of Devotion, Vol. 2. ISBN 978-1-932664-95-9. ea vol: (Love the Way You Love Series). Oni Pr. pap. $11.95. Sakai, Stan. Usagi Yojimbo: Tomoe’s Story. Dark Horse. pap. $15.95. ISBN 978-1-59307-947-5. Shitou, Kyoko. Key to the Kingdom, Vol. 1. CMX. 2007. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4012-1393-0. Simone, Gail & Neil Googe. Welcome to Tranquility, Vol. 1. 2007. ISBN 978-1-4012-1516-3. ––––.Welcome to Tranquility, Vol. 2. ISBN 978-1-4012-1773-0. ea vol:Wildstorm. pap. $19.99. Straczynski, J. Michael. Silver Surfer: Requiem. illus. by Esad Ribic. Marvel. 2007. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-0-785128-48-9. Takaya, Natsuki. Fruits Basket, Vol. 20. ISBN 978-1-4278-0009-1.

The Complete List of Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers

* Denotes top 10 selections

Fiction

*Abel,Jessica & Gabriel Soria. Life Sucks. First Second. Tr $19.95. ISBN 978-1-59643-107-2. Black,Holly. Kin. (Good Neighbors Series,Bk. #1). illus. by Ted Naifeh. Scholastic/Graphix. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-439-85562-4. Bodeen,S. A. The Compound. Feiwel & Friends. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-31237-015-2. Booth,Coe. Kendra. Scholastic. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-439-92536-5. Collins,Suzanne. Hunger Games. Scholastic. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-439-02348-1. Divine,L. Courtin’ Jayd. ISBN 978-0-7582-2536-8. ––––. Frenemies. ISBN 0-7582-2532-6. ––––. Lady J. ISBN 0-7582-2534-2. ea vol: (Drama High Series). Dafina. pap. $9.95. Fahy,Thomas. The Unspoken. S & S. RTE $15.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-4007-4. Fields,Terri. My Father’s Son. Roaring Brook. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-59643-349-6. Giles,Gail. Right Behind You. Little, Brown. 2007. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-3161-6636-2. Golden,Christopher. Poison Ink. Random. pap. $8.99. ISBN 978-0-385-73483-7. Hague,Michael. In the Small. Little, Brown. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-0-316-01323-9. Hernandez,David. Suckerpunch. HarperCollins. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-0117330-1. High,Linda Oatman. Planet Pregnancy. Boyds Mills. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-59078-584-3. Hopkins,Ellen. Identical. S & S/Margaret K. McElderry Bks. RTE $17.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-5005-9. Horowitz,Anthony. Point Blank: The Graphic Novel. illus. by Antony Johnston, Kanako, & Yuzuru. Philomel. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-0-399-25026-2. James,Brian. Thief. Scholastic/Push. pap. $8.99. ISBN 978-0-545-03400-5. Jordon,Dream. Hot Girl. St. Martin’s. pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-0-312-38284-1. Kern,Peggy. No Way Out. Townsend/HIP Edge. pap. $4.95. ISBN 978-1-59194-176-7. Kibuishi, Kazu, ed. Flight: Volume 4. Villard. 2007. pap. $24.95. ISBN 978-0-345-49040-7. Kropp,Paul. Behind the Door. Townsend/HIP Edge. pap. $10.95. ISBN 978-1-897039-26-7. Krovatin,Christopher. Venomous. illus. by Kelly Yates. S & S/Atheneum/Ginee Seo Bks. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-2487-6. Langan,Paul. Schooled. Townsend. pap. $4.95. ISBN 978-1-59194-177-4. Mac,Carrie. Pain & Wastings. Orca Soundings. pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-1-55143-904-4. Mancusi,Mari. Gamer Girl. Dutton. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-525-47995-6. McDaniel,Lurlene. Prey. Delacorte. Tr $10.99. ISBN 978-0-385-73453-0. McDonnell,Margot. Torn to Pieces. Delacorte. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-385-73559-9. *McMann,Lisa. Wake. Simon/Pulse. RTE $15.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-5357-9. Mead,Richelle. Frostbite: A Vampire Academy Novel. Penguin/Razorbill. pap. $8.99. ISBN 978-1-59514-175-8. Millner,Denene & Mitzi Miller. Hotlanta (Hotlanta Series, Bk. #1). Point. pap. $8.99. ISBN 0-545-00308-3. Neri,G. Chess Rumble. Lee & Low. 2007. Tr $18.95. ISBN 978-1-58430-279-7. Olsen,Sylvia. Middle Row. Orca. pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-1-55143-899-3. Pauley, Kimberly. Sucks to Be Me: The All-True Confessions of Mina Hamilton, Teen Vampire (Maybe). Wizards of the Coast/Mirrorstone. Tr $14.95. ISBN 978-0-7869-5028-7. Perez,Marlene. Dead Is the New Black. Harcourt. pap. $7.95. ISBN 978-0-15-206408-2. Reisz,Kristopher. Unleashed. Simon/Pulse. pap. $7.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-4007-4. Schroeder,Lisa. I Heart You, You Haunt Me. Simon/Pulse. pap. $7.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-5520-7. Schumacher,Julie. Black Box. Delacorte. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-385-73542-1. Scott,Elizabeth. Living Dead Girl. Simon/Pulse. RTE $17. ISBN 978-1-4169-6059-1. *Shiraz,Yasmin. Retaliation. Rolling Hills. Tr $14.95. ISBN 978-0-97181-743-2. Sitomer,Alan Lawrence. The Secret Story of Sonia Rodriguez. Hyperion. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-1072-9. Snow,Carol. Switch. HarperTeen. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-145208-6. Spears,Rick & Chuck BB. Black Metal: Book One. illus. by Chuck BB. Oni Pr. 2007. pap. $11.95. ISBN 978-1-93266-472-0. Stolarz,Laurie Faria. Project 17. Hyperion. 2007. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-7868-3856-1. Taylor,Brooke. Undone. Walker. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-8027-9763-6. Trondheim,Lewis. Kaput and Zosky. Roaring Brook. Tr $13.95. ISBN 978-1-59643-132-4. Varrato,Tony. Fakie. Lobster Pr. pap. $7.95. ISBN 978-1-897073-79-7. ––––. Outrage. Townsend/HIP Edge. pap. $10.95. ISBN 978-1-897039-28-1. Weaver,Will. Saturday Night Dirt. Farrar. 2007. Tr $14.95. ISBN 978-0-374-35060-4.

Nonfiction

Badillo,Steve & Doug Werner. Skateboarding: Legendary Tricks. Tracks Pub. pap. $12.95. ISBN 978-1-88465-430-5. Boos,Ben. Swords: An Artist’s Devotion. Candlewick. Tr $24.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-3142-8. Bower,Crai S. Farts: A Spotter’s Guide. illus. by Travis Millard. Chronicle. Tr $12.95. ISBN 978-0-8118-6609-5. Bowman,Robin. It’s Complicated: The American Teenager. photos. by author. Umbrage Editions. 2007. Tr $40. ISBN 978-1-884167-69-0. Carey,Percy. Sentences: The Life of M. F. Grimm. illus. by Ronald Wimberly. Vertigo. 2007. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-1-40121-046-5. Comickers Magazine. Comickers Art 2: Create Amazing Manga Characters. Collins Design. pap. $24.95. ISBN 978-0-06-145254-3. Conley,Erin Elisabeth. Uncool: A Girl’s Guide to Misfitting In. Orange Avenue. 2007. pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-0-977-2660-7-4. D’Arcy,Sean. Freestyle Soccer Tricks. Firefly. pap. $14.95. ISBN 978-1-55407-404-4. Ecclesine,Patrick. Faces of Sunset Boulevard. Santa Monica Pr. Tr $39.95. ISBN 978-1-59580-040-4. Editors of Cosmogirl!Ask CosmoGirl! about Beauty: All the Answers to Your Questions about Hair, Makeup, Skin & More. Hearst. pap. $5.95. ISBN 978-1-58816-644-9. Eminem.The Way I Am. Dutton. Tr $40. ISBN 978-0-525-95032-5. Farndon,John. Do Not Open: An Encyclopedia of the World’s Best-Kept Secrets. DK. 2007. Tr $24.99. ISBN 0-7566-3205-6. Franco,Betsy, ed. Falling Hard: 100 Love Poems by Teenagers. Candlewick. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-3437-7. *Franzini,Michael. One Hundred Young Americans. 2007. HarperCollins. pap. $29.95. ISBN 978-0-06-119200-5. *Fulbeck,Kip. Permanence. Chronicle. pap. $19.95. ISBN 978-0-8118-6131-1. Garza,Mario. More Stuff on My Cat: 2x the Stuff +2x the Cats =4x the Awesome. Chronicle. pap. $12.95. ISBN 978-0-8118-6225-7. Greenberg,Steve. Gadget Nation: A Journey through the Eccentric World of Invention. Sterling. Tr $19.95. ISBN 1-4027-3686-X. Haden,Christen. Creepy Cute Crochet: Zombies, Ninjas, Robots, and More! Quirk. Tr $14.95. ISBN 978-1-59474-232-3. Harrison,Ian. Take Me to Your Leader: Weird, Strange, and Totally Useless Information. DK. 2007. Tr $25. ISBN 0-7566-3202-1. Hudson,Noel. The Band Name Book. Boston Mills. pap. $29.95. ISBN 978-1-55046-487-0. Khidekel,Marina. The Quiz Life. Delacorte. pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-0-375-84263-4. King,Dennis. Art of Modern Rock: Mini #1: A-Z. Chronicle. 2007. pap. $18.95. ISBN 978-0-8118-6134-2. *Kuklin,Susan. No Choirboy: Murder, Violence and Teenagers on Death Row. Holt. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-0-8050-7950-0. Li,Yishan. 500 Manga Creatures. Collins Design. pap. $19.95. ISBN 978-0-06-165050-5. The Manga University Culinary Institute. The Manga Cookbook. illus. by Chihiro Hattori. Japanime Co. Ltd. 2007. pap. $14.95. ISBN 978-4-92120-507-2. Ngo,Karen. Indognito: A Book of Canines in Costume. Little, Brown. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-0-316-03550-7. O’Meara,Donna. Volcano: A Visual Guide. Firefly. pap. $29.95. ISBN 978-1-55407-353-5. Paglen,Trevor. I Could Tell You but Then You Would Have to Be Destroyed By Me. Melville House. Tr $22.95. ISBN 978-1-93363-332-9. Peckham,Aaron, comp. Mo’ Urban Dictionary: Ridonkulous Street Slang Defined. Andrews McMeel. 2007. pap. $12.99. ISBN 978-0-7407-6875-0. Powell,Ben. Skateboarding Skills: The Rider’s Guide. Firefly. pap. $16.95. ISBN 978-1-55407-360-3. Reber,Deborah. Chill: Stress-Reducing Techniques for a More Balanced, Peaceful You. S & S. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-5526-9. *Redd,Nancy Amanda. Body Drama: Real Girls, Real Bodies, Real Issues, Real Answers. Gotham. pap. $20. ISBN 978-1-59240-326-4. Saffel,Steve. Spider-Man, the Icon. Titan. 2007. Tr $49.95. ISBN 978-1-84576-685-6. Sanchez,Reymundo & Sonia Rodriguez. Lady Q: The Rise and Fall of a Latin Queen. Chicago Review. Tr $24.95. ISBN 978-1-55652-722-7. *Scalin,Noah. Skulls. Lark. pap. $14.95. ISBN 978-1-60059-375-8. Shapiro,Bill, ed. Other People’s Love Letters: 150 Letters You Were Never Meant to See. Crown. 2007. Tr $22.50. ISBN 978-0-307-38264-1. Smith,Larry & Rachel Fershleiser, eds. Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure. HarperPerennial. pap. $12. ISBN 978-0-06-137405-0. *Smits,Kim & Matthijs Maat. Custom Kicks. Laurence King. pap. $19.95. ISBN 978-1-85669-542-8. Steinberger,Aimee Major. Japan Ai: A Tall Girl’s Adventures in Japan. Go! Comi. 2007. pap. $16.99. ISBN 978-1-933617-83-1. Tanen,Sloane. Appetite for Detention. photos. by Stefan Hagen. Bloomsbury. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-1-59990-075-9. *Willin,Melvyn. Ghosts Caught on Film. David & Charles. 2007. Tr $16.99. ISBN 0-71532-728-3. Wilson,Daniel H. How to Build a Robot Army: Tips on Defending the Earth against Alien Invaders, Ninjas, and Zombies. illus. by Richard Horne. Bloomsbury. 2007. pap. $13.95. ISBN 1-59691-281-2. ZinczeNko, David with Matt Goulding. Eat This, Not That! Rodale. pap. $19.95. ISBN 978-1-59486-854-2.

The members of YALSA’s Best Books for Young Adults Committeeare Rollie Welch, chair, Cleveland (OH) Public Library; Jeana Actkinson, Bridgeport (TX) High School; Martha Baden, Central Rappahannock Regional Library, Porter Branch, Stafford, VA; Jerene Battisti, King County Library System, Issaquah, WA; Teresa Brantley, Salem Middle School, Apex, NC; Louise Brueggeman, Morton West High School, Forest Park, IL; Summer Hayes, King County Library System, Foster Library, Tukwila, WA; Connie Mitchell, Carmel (IN) High School; Christy Mulligan, Hennepin County Public Library, Minneapolis; Ann Pechacek, Worthington (OH) Public Library; Diane Roberts, St. Thomas High School Library, Houston; Elsworth Rockefeller, Martin Luther King Library, Washington, DC; Terri S. Snethen, Blue Valley North High School, Overland Park, KS; Cassie Wilson, Rowlett (TX) Public Library; Brook Young, Salt Lake City Public Library; Gillian Engberg, consultant, Booklist, Chicago; and Linda Uhler, administrative assistant, Westerville (OH) Public Library. The members of YALSA’s Great Graphic Novels for Teens Committeeare Robin Brenner, chair, Brookline (MA) Public Library; Rachel Kay Aronowitz, San Francisco Public Library; Marea Black, Burton Barr Central Library, Phoenix; Sarah Couri, Donnell Library Center, New York Public Library; Christi Showman Farrar, Woburn (MA) Public Library; Lisa Goldstein, Stone Avenue Branch, Brooklyn (NY) Public Library; Michael Jara, South Pasadena (CA) Public Library; Sadie Maddox, Oklahoma Department of Libraries, Oklahoma City; Barbara Moon, Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Bellport, NY; Michael Pawuk, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Brooklyn, OH; Eva Volin, Alameda (CA) Free Library; and Ian Chipman, consultant, Booklist, Chicago. The members of YALSA’s Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers Committeeare Joy Millam, chair, Valencia High School, Placentia, CA; Amy Cheney, Alameda County Juvenile Hall Library, San Leandro, CA; Erica Tang Cuyugan, Santa Monica (CA) Public Library; Debbie Fisher, Central Falls (RI) High School; Diana Tixier Herald, Mesa County Valley School District #51, Grand Junction, CO; Annisha Jeffries, Cleveland (OH) Public Library; Sally Leahey, McArthur Public Library, Biddeford, ME; Jenine Lillian, The Bush School Library, Seattle, WA; Diane Monnier, Tucson, AZ; Anne Rouyer, New York Public Library; Marie Slim, Troy High School, Fullerton, CA; and Heather Gruenthal, administrative assistant, Western High School, Anaheim, CA.

2009 ALSC & YALSA Book Picks: The year’s best titles for children and teens (2025)

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