Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults

Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults was an annual list of popular books geared toward young adult readers, collated by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), which was published from 1988 to 2017. The aim of the list was "to encourage young adults to read for pleasure by presenting to them lists of popular or topical titles which are widely available in paperback and which represent a broad variety of accessible themes and genres".[1] Unlike other lists published by the American Library Association and its subsidiaries, books on the list did not have to be published recently.[2] Researchers, librarians, and educators have used the list to better understand books popular amongst young adults.[3][4][5][6]

History

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YALSA first released the Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults list in 1988. Working with book distributor Baker & Taylor, representatives from YALSA reviewed books available in paperback in five genres: "romance, horror, science fiction, sports, and mystery".[1] In following years, YALSA added more genres to the list (e.g., fantasy, humor, and historical fiction).[1]

Criteria

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To be eligible for the list, books "must be in print and available in paperback",[2] which ensures wider availability across socioeconomic statuses.[1] The judges committee considers the opinions of young adult readers, looking at both young adult and adult books, both fiction and nonfiction.[2] Furthermore, "Popularity is more important than literary quality."[2]

Recipients

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Between 1997 and 2010, YALSA did not select the top ten books annually; instead, they composed longer lists in selected categories.[7]

The top ten books for 2011 to 2017 are listed below.

Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults Top Ten (2011–2017)
Year Author Title
2011[8] M. T. Anderson Burger Wuss
Karen Kincy Other
Ryan Mecum Zombie Haiku: Good Poetry for Your…Brains
Campbell Ross Shadoweyes
Neal Shusterman Unwind
Cynthia Leitich Smith Tantalize
The Manga University Culinary Institute with Chihiro Hattori (illus.) The Manga Cookbook
Lynn Weingarten Wherever Nina Lies
Scott Westerfeld with Keith Thompson (illus.) Leviathan
Chris Wooding with Dan Chernett (ilus.) Malice
2012[9] Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci (ed.) Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd
Michael Carroll Super Human
Brian Falkner Brain Jack
Gail Giles Shattering Glass
Paige Harbison Here Lies Bridget
April Lindner Jane
Matthew Loux SideScrollers
Perry Moore Hero
Evonne Tsang My Boyfriend is a Monster
Heather Waldorf Tripping
2013[10] Elizabeth Eulberg Prom and Prejudice
Maureen Johnson Name of the Star
E. Lockhart The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks
Jon Skovron Struts and Frets
Raina Telgemeier Drama
Donald Gallo First Crossing:Stories about teen immigrants
Brooke Hauser The New Kids: big dreams and brave journeys at a high school forimmigrant teens
Ally Carter Heist Society
Wendelin Van Draanen The Running Dream
Bil Wright Putting Makeup on the Fat Boy
2014[11] Robin Benway Audrey, Wait!
Libba Bray Beauty Queens
Don Calame Swim The Fly
Brent Crawford Carter Finally Gets It
Kirstin Cronn-Mills Beautiful Music for Ugly Children
Malinda Lo Ash
Lish McBride Hold Me Closer, Necromancer
Ruta Sepetys Between Shades Of Gray
Tanya Lee Stone Courage Has No Color: The True Story of the Triple Nickles: America'sFirst Black Paratroopers
Gene Luen Yang Boxers & Saints
2015[12] Derf Backderf My Friend Dahmer
Suzanne Collins Catching Fire
Jack Gantos Hole in My Life
John Green The Fault in Our Stars
Ellen Levine Freedom's Children: Young Civil Rights Activists Tell Their Own Stories
Barry Lyga I Hunt Killers
Walter Dean Myers Lockdown
Brandon Sanderson The Rithmatist
Art Spiegelman Maus I: A Survivor's Tale
Jonathan Stroud Lockwood & Co: The Screaming Staircase
2016[13] Laurie Halse Anderson Wintergirls
Alexandra Bracken The Darkest Minds
Shannon Hale Book of a Thousand Days
Victoria Jamieson Roller Girl
Stephanie Kuehn Charm & Strange
John Lewis and Andrew Aydin March
Jonathan Maberry Rot & Ruin
Marissa Meyer Cinder
Mike Mullin Ashfall
Jane Yolen Briar Rose
2017[14] Misty Copeland Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina
Reyna Grande The Distance Between Us: A Memoir
Marjane Satrapi Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
Libba Bray The Diviners
Rick Yancey The Monstrumologist
Terry Farish The Good Braider
Gayle Forman Just One Day
Jennifer Niven All the Bright Places
Lauren Oliver Vanishing Girls
Sonia Patel Rani Patel in Full Effect

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Brehm-Heeger, Paula (2009). "Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults: Origin, History, and Committee Processes". In Spencer Holley, Pam (ed.). Quick and Popular Reads for Teens. American Library Association. pp. 23–37. ISBN 9780838935774. Archived from the original on February 21, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d "Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). September 29, 2006. Archived from the original on October 24, 2021. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  3. ^ May, Jill P. (September 2008). "Internet Resources with Information about Social Realism". First Opinions, Second Reactions. 1 (2): 37–38. Archived from the original on May 26, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  4. ^ Pavonetti, Linda M.; Brimmer, Kathryn M.; Cipielewski, James F. (December 2002 – January 2003). "Accelerated Reader: What are the Lasting Effects on the Reading Habits of Middle School Students Exposed to Accelerated Reader in Elementary Grades?". Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy. 46 (4): 300–311. JSTOR 40013588.
  5. ^ Loertscher, David V. (October 2009). "Quick and Popular Reads for Teens". Teacher Librarian. 37 (1): 56, 84. ProQuest 224873849.
  6. ^ Ostenson, Jonathan; Wadham, Rachel (Fall 2012). "Young Adult Literature and the Common Core: A Surprisingly Good Fit". American Secondary Education. 41 (1): 4–13. JSTOR 43694146.
  7. ^ "Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). March 2, 2012. Archived from the original on October 26, 2021. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  8. ^ "2011 Top Ten Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). January 11, 2011. Archived from the original on October 26, 2021. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  9. ^ "2012 Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults Top Ten". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). January 25, 2012. Archived from the original on October 26, 2021. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  10. ^ "2013 Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults Top Ten". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). January 30, 2013. Archived from the original on October 25, 2021. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  11. ^ "2014 Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults Top Ten". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). January 30, 2014. Archived from the original on October 25, 2021. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  12. ^ "2015 Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults Top Ten". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). January 26, 2015. Archived from the original on October 25, 2021. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  13. ^ "2016 Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults Top Ten". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). January 13, 2016. Archived from the original on January 23, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  14. ^ "2017 Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults Top Ten". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). January 18, 2017. Archived from the original on October 25, 2021. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
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