The Booklist Editors’ Choice: Adult Books for Young Adults, 2010 is now available online.
This list offers several choices not found on either the Alex Awards list, or our own Best Adult Books 4 Teens list. These three lists are usually quite different. I assume that to be a function of the vast numbers of adult books published each year.
And also a difference in criteria. Booklist chooses “the year’s best personal reading for teenagers among adult books published in 2010.” Appeal does not seem to be as central here as for the Alex Awards.
The only title on all three lists is The Vanishing of Katharina Linden by Helen Grant.
Books that appeared on two lists:
Girl in Translation
The House of Tomorrow
The Outside Boy
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake
Room
If we include the vetted nomination list for the Alex Award, there are additional overlaps. The following books are then on two lists:
City of Veils
The Girl Who Fell From the Sky
Lean on Pete
Skippy Dies
Star Island
Not one nonfiction title appears on more than one list.
As far as I know, these are the only places that examine adult books for teens. Does anyone know of others?
About Angela Carstensen
I write a blog for children and YA readers on books about the Second World War, but occasionally include a book for mature teens and am never really sure of what is appropriate in the area. So, naturally, I follow your blog with interest. You pointed me in the direction of Unbroken, which I would never have considered.
I sometimes wonder if teens read adult books only if they are assigned in school, or do they pick them up on their own. I was wonder if you could say something about how you choose an adult book appropriate for teen readers.
Thanks.