Home  2004 Quick Picks

Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers

Asai, Carrie. Samurai Girl series. Simon & Schuster / Pulse. 2003.Heaven must become a ninja or die in this series

                         Samurai Girl: The Book of the Shadow. $6.99. 0-689-85949-X. 

                         Samurai Girl: The Book of the Sword. $6.99. 0-689-85948-1.

Ashanti. Foolish/ Unfoolish: Reflections On Love. Hyperion. 2002. $16.95. 1-4013-0030-8. Ashanti's Poetry : "I used to do a lot of crazy things for love."

Beatty, Scott.  JLA: The Ultimate Guide to the Justice League of America. Dorling Kindersley Publishing. 2002. $19.99. 0-7894-8893-0. The defenders of justice explained.

Bendis, Brian Michael.Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 2. Marvel. 2003. $29.99. 0-785-11061-5. Further adventures of the webbed slinger.

Bonnell, Jennifer. D.I.Y. Girl: The Real Girl's Guide to Making Everything From Lip Gloss to Lamps.    Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers. 2003. $12.99. 0-14-250048-8.  Dismembered Barbie jewelry box, anyone?

Brian, Kate. The Princess and the Pauper. Simon & Schuster. 2003. $14.95. 0-689-86173-7.  Rich girl, poor girl, who's got it best?

Cabot, Meggin. The Boy Next Door. HarperCollins / Avon. 2002. $13.95. 0-06-009619-5.  The Princess Diaries meets Sex and the City.

Chandler, Elizabeth. Dark Secrets: The Deep End of Fear. Simon & Schuster. 2003. $4.99. 0-689-85259-2. Kate finds the past might be better left buried.

Christe, Ian. Sound of the Beast: The Complete Headbanging History of Heavy Metal. HarperCollins / HarperEntertainment. 2003. $24.95. 0-06-052362-X.  Rock On!

Clarke, Miranda. Night of a Thousand Boyfriends. Fiction. Quirk Books. 2003. $7.95. 1-931686-35-1. You decide how your night will end.

Collier-Thompson, Kristi. The Girls' Guide to Dreams.    Sterling. 2003. $12.95. 1-4027-0032-6.  Are we keeping you up?

Dean, Zoey. The A List. Little Brown and Co. 2003. $8.99. 0-316-73435-7. West coast gossip girls.

DeFalco, Tom. The Hulk: The Incredible Guide. Dorling Kindersley Publishing. 2003. $24.99. 0-7894-9260-1. You thought knew it all…

Edut, Tali and Ophira . Astrostyle: Star-studded advice for love, life, and looking good. Simon & Schuster / Fireside. 2003. $12.00. 0-7432-4985-2. Hey Baby whats your sign? 

Flake, Sharon. Begging for Change. Hyperion. 2003. $15.99. 0-7868-0601-X. Raspberry needs cash, who has some?

Fricke, Jim. Yes Yes Y'all: The Experience Music Project Oral History of Hip-Hop's First Decade. Da Capo Press. 2002. $35.00. 0-306-84484-7.  Old School!

Fulghum, Hunter. Don't Try This at Home: How to Win a Sumo Match, Catch a Great White Shark, and Start an Independent Nation and Other Extraordinary Feats (For Ordinary People).    Broadway Books. 2002. $14.00. 0-7679-1159-8. A how-to for everything you shouldn't do.

Giles, Gail. Dead Girls Don't Write Letters. Fiction. Millbrook Press / Roaring Brook Press. 2003. $15.95. 0-7613-1727-9. Sunny's sister is dead - so who wrote the letter?

Gregory, Leland. Hey Idiot!: Chronicles of Human Stupidity.    Andrews McMeel. 2003. $9.95. 0-7407-3902-6. How dumb can you get?

Gregory, Leland. Stupid Crook Book. Andrews McMeel. 2002. $9.95. 0-7407-2694-3. No wonder they got caught.

Halliday, John. Shooting Monarchs. Simon & Schuster / Margaret K. McElderry. 2003. $15.95. 0-689-84338-0. A serial killer, an outcast and an unexpected ending.

Halvorson, Marilyn. Bull Rider. Orca Book Publishers. 2003. $7.95. 1-55143-233-1. Can Layne survive what killed his father?

Hart, Christopher. Manga Mania Fantasy Worlds: How to Draw the Enchanted Worlds of Japanese Comics . Watson-Guptill. 2003. $19.95. 0823-02972-7. Draw new worlds!

Hart, Christopher. Manga Mania Villians: How To Draw the Super Villians of Manga and Anime. Watson-Guptill. 2003. $19.95. 0-823-02971-9.  Inking evil!

Hopkins, Cathy. Mates, Dates, and series. Simon & Schuster / Pulse.

.  .  .  .Guys, girls, and a new series from across the pond.

                         Mates, Dates, and Cosmic Kisses. 0-689-85545-1. 

                         Mates, Dates, and Designer Divas. 0-689-85546-X. 

Mates, Dates, and Inflatable Bras. 0-689-85544-3.

Horowitz, Anthony. Skeleton Key: An Alex Rider Adventure. Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers. 2003. $16.99. 0-399-23777-1.  Can Alex Rider save the world -   again?

Huebner, Mark. Sports Bloopers: All-star Flubs and Fumbles. Firefly Books. 2003. $19.95. 1-55297-627-0.  Streaking, pantsing, and wedgies!

Johnson, Angela. The First Part Last. Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers. 2003. $15.95. 0-689-84922-2.  Can Bobby raies his daughter on his own?

Kleh, Cindy. Snowboarding Skills: The Back-To-Basics Essentials for All Levels. Firefly Books, Ltd. 2002. $16.95.1-55297-626-2.  Carve past the competition.

Koon, Jeff and Andy Powell. Wearing of This Garment Does Not Enable You To Fly: 101 Real Dumb Warning Labels. Free Press. 2003. $12.95. 0-7432-4475-3.  And do not use this book as a flotation device.

Kyi, Tanya Lloyd. Truth. Orca Book Publishers. 2003. $9.95. 1-55143-265-X.  Should Jen keep a shocking murder secret?

Levithan, David. Boy Meets Boy. Random House. 2003. $15.95. 0-375-82400-6.  Biker cheerleaders, a drag queen quaterback … is this the school for you?

Levy, Joel. Really Useful: Origins of Everyday Things. Firefly Books. 2002. $39.95. 1-55297-623-8.  Bet you didn't know.

Little, Jason. Shutterbug Follies.    Doubleday. 2002. $24.95. 0-385-50346-6.   Bee tracks down grisly murderer in this edgy graphic novel.

Macdonald, Andy. Dropping In With Andy Mac: Life of a Pro Skateboarder. Simon & Schuster / Pulse. 2003. $9.99. 0-689-85784-5.  From Big Wheels to   half pipes: the world of Andy Mac.

Malone, Bonz. Hip-Hop Immortals: Volume 1: The Re-Mix. Avalon Publishing Group. 2003. $39.95. 1-56025-518-8.  Old and new in full color.

Marz, Ron. The Path: Crisis of Faith. CrossGen Comics. 2002. $19.95. 1-931484-32-5.  Samurai warriors, vengeful gods, and invading hordes.

McDonald, Janet. Twists and Turns. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux. 2003. $18.95.0-374-39955-7.   Two sisters and their hip hop hair salon.

McNamee, Graham. Acceleration. Random House. 2003. $15.95. -385-73119-1.  "It's like the Hardy boys meet Hannibal Lecter."

Milano, Selene. Unforgettable Color: Revlon Makeup With Confidence. Firefly. 2003. $24.95. 1-55297-670-X.  The experts show you how.

Mirra, Dave. Mirra Images: The Story of My Life. HarperCollins. 2003. $15.95. 0-06-098916-5.  BMX-treme!

Montano, Mark. Super Suite: The Ultimate Bedroom Makeover Guide for Girls. Universe Publishing. 2002. $17.95. 0-7893-0811-8.  Easy decorating on the cheap.

Morse, Jennifer Corr.Scholastic Book of World Records 2004 . Scholastic Reference. 2003. $9.95. 0-439-54250-2 .  Biggest, Fastest, Most, Least

Nixon, Joan. Nightmare. Random House Children's Books.  2003. $15.95. 0-385-73026-8.  What if your worst nightmare was real?

Payment, Simone. Navy SEALs: Special Operations for the U.S. Navy. Rosen Publishing Group. 2003. $26.50. 0-8239-3809-3.  Do you have what it takes?

Peretti, Frank. Nightmare Academy (Veritas Project, No. 2). Tommy Nelson. 2002. $16.99. 0-8499-7617-0.  The dress code here is the least of your worries.

Platt, Larry. Only the Strong Survive:   The Odyssey of Allen Iverson. HarperCollins / ReganBooks. 2002. $25.95. 0-06-009773-6.  Bubbachuck, the answer, AI - who is the real Allen Iverson?

Rees, Douglas. Vampire High. Delacorte. 2003. $15.95. 0-385-73117-5.  This school Really Sucks!

Roeper, Richard. Ten Sure Signs a Movie Character is Doomed and Other Surprising Movie Lists. Hyperion. 2003. $14.00. 0-7868-8830-X.  Is your favorite here?

Rylant, Cynthia. God Went to Beauty School. HarperCollins Children's Book Group / Tempest. 2003. $15.99. 0-06009-433-8.  These poems ask, what if God was one of us?

Schiff, Nancy Rica. Odd Jobs: Portraits of Unusual Occupations. Ten Speed Press. 2002. $16.95. 1-58008-457-5.  People get PAID for this??

Schreiber, Ellen. Vampire Kisses. HarperCollins. 2003. $15.99. 0-06-009334-X.  Careful what you wish for.

Seate, Mike. Jesse James : The Man and His Machines. Motorbooks International / MBI. 2003. $24.95.0-7603-1614-7.  Custom choppers: big toys for big boys.

Shaw, Tucker. "What's That Smell?" (Oh It's Me): 50 Mortifying Situations and How to Deal With Them. Alloy / 17th Street Productions. 2003. $7.99. 0-14-250011-9.  You never thought it would happen to you.

Shields, Genie. Fairie-ality: The Fashion Collection from the House of Ellwand. Candlewick Press. 2002. $40.00. 0-7636-1413-0.  En vogue Tinkerbell

Simpson, Jessica. Jessica Simpson I Do: Achieving Your Dream Wedding. NVU/Innerworkings. 2003. $29.95. 0-9724-5753-4.Before she was a Newlywed.

Soto, Gary. The Afterlife. Harcourt, Inc.2003. $16.00. 0-15-204774-3.  You live, you're murdered, your life begins.

Springer, Nancy. Blood Trail. Holiday House. 2003. $16.95. 0-8234-1723-9.   Even if he lies the blood trail won't.

Stine, R. L.. Dangerous Girls. HarperCollins. 2003. $13.99.0-06-053080-4.  Destiny is always thirsty - for blood.

Traig, Jennifer. Makeup: Things To Make and Do. Chronicle Books. 2003. $12.95. 0-8118-3679-7.  Melt, mix, and make your self up.

Trueman, Terry. Inside Out. HarperCollins / Tempest. 2003. $15.99. 0-06-623962-1.  Alan's got a gun, Dirt Bag's not real, who is more dangerous?

Willingham, Bill. Animal Farm (Fables series). DC Comics: Vertigo. 2003. $12.95. 1-40120-077-X.  Fairy tales are not for children any more.

Willingham, Bill. Legends in Exile (Fables series). DC Comics: Vertigo. 2003. $9.95. 1-56389-942-6.   "No more happily ever after."

Wood, Nick. 360°New York. Harry N. Abrams. 2003. $24.95. 0-8109-4624-6.  Big city panorama

Boards: the Art and Design of the Skateboard. Universe Publishing. 2003. $18.95. 0-7893-0977-7.  bling bling skateboards

Crime Scene: The Ultimate Guide to Forensic Science. Dorling Kindersley Publishing. 2003. $25.00. 0-7894-8891-4.  From profiling to postmortems.

How To Hold a Crocodile. Firefly Books. 2003. $19.95. 1-55297-805-2.  Do almost everything.

Japanese Comickers: Draw Anime and Manga Like Japan's Hottest Artist. HarperCollins / Harper Design International. 2003. $24.95. 0-06-051355-1.  Draw like the pros!

MX: The Way of the MotoCrosser. Harry N. Abrams. 2003. $29.95. 0-8109-4272-0.  Roger DeCoster to James Stewart

Paint Me Like I Am: Teen Poems From Writerscorps. HarperCollins / Tempest. 2003. $6.99. 0-06-447264-7.  Tells it like it is.

Simpsons Comics Madness. Harper Collins / Perennial. 2003. $14.95. 0-06-053061-8.  D'oh!

Spoken Word Revolution: (slam, hip hop & the poetry of a new generation). Sourcebooks Inc./Media Fusion. 2003. $24.95. 1-4022-0037-4.   Anyone can slam.

Tattoo Nation: Portraits of Celebrity Body Art. AOL Time Warner Book Group / Bulfinch Press. 2002. $35.00. 0-8212-2781-5.  Stars show skin.

Tupac: Resurrection 1971-1996 . Atria Books. 2003. $29.95. 0-7434-7434-1.  He lives.