Central Massachusetts Year of the Teen

Booklist has just announced their top 10 list of new romance fiction for youth. From their website:

“Although there aren’t any blushing beach reads on this year’s list of the best romances reviewed in Booklist during the past 12 months, these titles do explore a wide range of the ever-curious and urgent tuggings of the heart, with a mix of genres, including fantasy and even a biography, from boy-meets-girl to boy-meets-boy.”

The full, annotated list with suggested grade levels and links to full reviews can be found in Booklist Online.

ALA will be webcasting the Youth Media Awards, including the Printz, live on January 26 at 7:45 am Mountain time. Space is limited, so get there early! I will be attending the press conference in Denver, and will be posting the results as they are announced to the Youth Services Notes blog.

Find out more about the webcast on the ALA website.

CHICAGO —The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), announced that the Margaret A. Edwards Trust is the new sponsor of its award for outstanding young adult reading or literature programs. The award will now be known as the MAE Award for the Best Literature Program for Teens.

The award honors a YALSA member for developing an outstanding reading or literature program for young adults. Winners receive $500 and an additional $500 for their libraries. Applications for the MAE Award, along with all of YALSA’s grants and awards, are due to the YALSA office by Dec. 1.

“This award for the best literature program for teens now joins other esteemed YALSA awards supported by the trust, such as the Alex Awards and the Excellence in Library Service to Young Adults project,” said Sarah Cornish Debraski, YALSA President. “It is fitting to have this award supported by the trust as Margaret Edwards was a true believer and innovator in bringing young adults and books together.”

Edwards was a well-known and innovative young adult services librarian at Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, Md., for more than 30 years. Her trust has supported many initiatives from YALSA, including the Alex Awards for adult books with teen appeal and all five rounds of the Excellence in Library Service to Young Adults project.

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 www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists, or contact the YALSA office by phone at 1-800-545-2433, ext. 4390 or by e-mail at yalsa@ala.org.

Just in! New professional titles:

Best Books for Young Adults, Third Edition. Edited by Holly Koelling

Sizzling Summer Reading Programs for Young Adults, Second Edition by Katharine L. Kan

They can be requested via CW/MARS – enjoy!

Co-sponsored by the American Library Association’s Social Responsibility Round Table and the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Round Table, the Rainbow Project proudly announces its first annual bibliography for young readers from birth through age 18.

These 45 fictional and informational books that validate same-gender lifestyles and experiences were chosen for their high appeal to readers, quality writing and illustrations, and realistic portrayals of issues.

An annotated list is available at the Rainbow Project official site.