Great, Ready-to-Use Book Lists for Teens

Meant to serve as a continuation of The Big Book of Teen Reading Lists (Libraries Unlimited, 2006), Keane's new volume presents another giant compilation of YA materials. All titles listed were published prior to August 2011. The book is divided into seven parts that are subdivided into themed lists such as "Genres," "Readalikes," and "Teaching Literary Elements." The themes are well rounded and include interesting and timely topics such as "Romance," "Autism & Asperger's Syndrome," "Different Belief Systems," and "Crossing the Border." Each entry includes the title, author, publisher, publication date, page numbers, an annotation, Lexile level when available, and interest level by grade or age range. As is evident by the title, Keane has packed a dense number of lists into the book, and their appeal is broad. The contents likely include selections for every type of reader and something for even the pickiest among them. This volume is a valuable addition for librarians looking to brush up their professional collection and can also serve as a browsable title for teens.—Adrienne L. Strock, Maricopa County Library District, AZ