2009 Quick Picks Nominations
Updated July 29, 2008
Fiction
Abel, Jessica, and Soria, Gabriel. Life Sucks. 2008. First Second, $19.95 (978-1-59643-107-2).
Life sucks when you’re a vegetarian vampire.
Alexie, Sherman. Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Little, Brown, $16.99 (978-0316013680).
Arnold breaks his teacher’s nose and gets booted off the rez and into a new school as the only Native-American.
Benway, Robin. Audrey, Wait!. 2008. Razorbill, $16.99 (978-15951419-0).
Audrey’s ex-boyfriend writes a song and now she’s famous.
Bodeen, S.A. The Compound. 2008. Feiwel & Friends, $16.95 (978-0312370152).
Life in an underground compound is drama filled with betrayal and mystery.
Booth, Coe. Kendra. 2008. Scholastic, $16.99 (978-0439925365).
Kendra’s looking for love in all the wrong places.
Busby, Cylin (Editor). First Kiss (Then Tell). 2008. Bloomsbury, $7.99 (978-1-49990-241-8).
Everyone dreams of their first kiss, your favorite YA authors share first kiss confessions.
Chotjewitz, David. Crazy Diamond. 2008. A Richard Jackson Book, $17.99 (978-1-4169-1176-0).
A teen musician is dead in a home aquarium — what went wrong?
de la Pena, Matt. Mexican White Boy. 2008. Random House, $15.99 (978-0-385-73310-6).
Is he white or is he brown and does it matter in this town?
Divine, L. Drama High, Vol: 4. 2008. Dafina Books, $9.95 (978-0-7582-2532-0).
L.A. girl drama.
Draper, Sharon. November Blues. 2007. Simon & Schuster, $16.99 (978-1-4169-0698).
November has the blues after her boyfriend dies and she finds herself pregnant.
Fahy, Thomas. The Unspoken. 2008. Simon & Schuster, $15.99 (978-1-4169-4007-4).
Your greatest fear will consume you in five year’s time. What can six teens do to stay alive?
Falher, Gene. Beanball. 2008. Houghton Mifflin, $16.00 (978-0-608-84348-0).
Luke, “The Wizard,” is beaned by a wild pitch and his life changes.
Fukui, Isamu. Truancy. 2008. Tor, $17.95 (978-0-7653-1767-4).
Tack is torn between bring down the system and avenging a death.
Giles, Gail. Right Behind You. 2007. Little Brown, $15.99 (978-0-3161-6636-2).
A child murderer’s past is always right behind him.
Hague, Michael. In the Small. 2008. Little Brown, $19.99 (978-0-316-01323-4).
A blue flash has changed the world in this colorful manga tale of survivors.
Hegamin, Tonya. M+O 4EVR. 2008. Houghton Mifflin, $16.00 (978-0-618-49570-2).
Love is tough when you’re headed in the opposite direction.
Hernandez, David. Suckerpunch. 2008. Harper Collins, $16.99 (978-0-060117330-1).
Avenging your father’s abuse is harder than it appears.
James, Brian. Thief. 2008. Push, $8.99 (978-0-545-03400-5).
Foster kids forced to steal for by their modern day Fagin.
Jennings, Sharon. Dancing on the Edge. 2008. HIP Edge, $10.95 (978-1-897039-27-4).
Change is her middle name.
Jocelyn, Marthe. Would You. 2008. Wendy Lamb, $15.99 (978-0-375-83703-6).
The impossible choice game becomes deadly serious.
Jonsberg, Barry. Dreamrider. 2008. Knopf, $15.99 (978-0-375-84457-7).
Fat and bullied, Michael seeks an out and finds a scarier reality in his dreams.
Jordon, Dream. Hot Girl. 2008. St Martin’s, $9.95 (978-0-312-38284-1).
Sometimes getting what you want costs you more than you want to pay.
Korman, Gordon. The Juvie Three. 2008. Hyperion, $15.99 (978-1-4231-0158-1).
Will they flunk their chance at life on the outside?
Kropp, Paul. Behind the Door. 2008. HIP Edge, $10.95 (978-1-897039-26-7).
Doors are closed for a reason sometimes- you never know what’s on the other side.
Martin, C.K. I Know It’s Over. 2008. Random House, $16.99 (978-0-375-94566-3).
Sometimes you know the relationship is over…even when you don’t want it to be.
McDaniel, Lurlene. Prey. 2008. Random House, $10.99 (978-0-385-73453-0).
What’s Ryan to do when he’s got the hots for his teacher and she feels the same?
McDonnell, Margot. Torn to Pieces. 2008. Random House, $15.99 (978-0-385-0-73559-9).
Try to stay safe when your mother disappears and danger is everywhere.
McMann, Lisa. Wake. 2008. Simon & Schuster, $15.99 (978-1-4169-5357-9).
Things get crazy when a dreamwalker gets sucked into everyone’s dreams.
Mead, Richelle. Frostbite: A Vampire Academy Novel. 2008. Penguin, $8.99 (978-1-59514175).
Love and jealousy take root when vampires take a winter vacation.
Millner, Denene and Miller, Mitzi. Hotlanta. 2008. Point, $8.99 (0-545-00308-3).
The Duke twins live big, with even bigger secrets.
Myers, Walter Dean. Game. 2008. Harper Collins, $16.99, (978-0-06-058295-1).
Drew’s got game.
Neri, G. Chess Rumble. 2007. Lee and Low Books, $18.95, (978-1-58430-279-7).
Battling real world problems on the chess board.
Pagliarulo, Antonio. The Celebutantes: In the Club. 2008. Random House, $9.99 (978-0-385-73473-8).
Death by pink stiletto.
Patterson, James. Maximum Ride: The Final Warning. 2008. Little Brown, $20.00 (978-0-316-00286-8).
Maximum Ride and Flock take on their creator.
Pauley, Kimberly. Sucks to Be Me: The All-True Confessions of Mina Hamilton, Teen Vampire (Maybe). 2008. Mirrorstone, $14.95, (978-0-7869-5028-7).
It bites when your parents are vampires and you have just a month to decide if you will turn and join them.
Reisz, Kristopher. Unleashed. 2008. Simon Pulse, $7.99 (978-1-4169-4007-4).
Why be a human teen when you can shift into a werewolf?
Schroeder, Lisa. I Heart You, You Haunt Me. 2008. Simon & Schuster, $7.99 (978-1-4169-5520-7).
Imagine having your dead boyfriend “living” at your house.
Showalter, Gena. Blacklisted. 2007. MTV Books, $9.95 (978-1-4165-3222-5-5).
Sometimes there are good reasons to do bad things.
Sitomer, Alan Lawrence. The Secret Story of Sonia Rodriguez. 2008. Hyperion Books for Children, $17.99 (978-1-4231-1072-9).
Sonia is everything to everyone except herself.
Stewart, Sean. Cathy’s Key: If Found, Please Call 650-266-8233. 2008. Roaring Brook Press, $17.95 (978-0762430857).
Some secrets are better left deeply buried.
Stolarz, Laurie Faria. Project 17. 2007. Hyperion, $15.99 (978-0-7868-3856-1).
Teens and an abandoned insane asylum takes on a Blair Witch twist.
Storrie, Paul D. Twisted Journey’s #5: Nightmare on Zombie Island. 2008. Graphic Universe, $18.25 (978-0-8225-6198-9).
Zombies are wreaking havoc in this Choose Your Own Adventure.
Tamaki, Mariko. Skim. 2008. Groundwood Books, $18.25 (0-88899-7563-1).
The tortured teen’s life in a graphic novel format. Teen life never looked so good.
Taylor, Brooke. Undone. 2008. Walker Books, $16.95 (978-802709763-6).
Serena is left with Kori’s list of 5 things to do- will she leave them undone?
Trondheim, Lewis. Kaput and Zosky. 2008. Roaring Brook Press, $13.95 (978-1-59643-132-4).
Two rotten, ruthless aliens look to take over planets, luckily nothing ever goes as they plan.
Varrato, Tony. Fakie. 2008. Lobster Press, $7.97 (978-1-897073-79-7).
Can a new look, name, town, school, sport, and friends save him from ruthless assassins?
Varrato, Tony. Outrage. 2008. HIP Edge, $10.95 (978-1-897039-28-1).
Sometimes bad days don’t get any better.
Volponi, Paul. The Hand You’re Dealt. 2008. Simon & Schuster, $16.99 (978-1-4169-3989-4).
All’s fair in love and poker.
Volponi, Paul. Hurricane Song. 2008. Penguin Group, $15.99 (978-0670061600).
The Superdome isn’t so super when you’re trapped following Hurricane Katrina.
Weaver, Will. Saturday Night Dirt. 2007. Farrar, Straus Giroux, $14.95 (978-0-374-35060-4).
One summer night at the track.
Whittenberg, Allison. Life is Fine. 2008. Random House, $15.99 (978-0-385-73480-6).
Life is so not fine when an orangutan from the zoo is the only one who cares about you.
Woodson, Jacqueline. After Tupac and D Foster. 2008. G.P. Putnam’s Sons, $15.99 (978-0-399-24654-8).
Three girls find their “Big Purpose” through Tupac’s songs and life.
Nonfiction
Aronson, Marc and H.P. Newquist. For Boys Only: The Biggest Baddest Book Ever. 2007. Feiwel & Friends, $14.95 (978-0-312-37706-9).
Everything from sports cars to satellites, and spies
Aranzi, Aronzo. Let’s Make Cute Stuff: Cute Stuff. 2008. Vertical, $14.95 (978-1934287095).
So cute!
Badillo, Steve and Werner, Doug. Skateboarding: Legendary Tricks. 2008. Tracks Publishing, $12.95 (978-1884654305).
Skateboarding, trick by trick.
Bove, Tony and Rhodes, Cheryl. iPod & iTunes for Dummies. 2007. Wiley, John & Sons, Inc., $21.99 (978-0470174746).
All about iPod and iTunes.
Bucher, Stefan. 100 Days of Monsters. 2008. How, $19.99 (1600610919).
Monsters never looked so good.
Bush, Jenna and Baxter, Mia (Illus.). Ana’s Story: A Journey of Hope. 2007. Harper Collins, $18.99 (978-0-06-137908-6).
Ana’s living with HIV, pregnancy and abuse; yet she has hope.
Bryson, Jodi and Winterberg, Jenna (Editor). Gothic and Lolita Bible, Vol. 1. 2008. TokyoPop, $19.99 (978-1-4278-0347-4).
Goth-Loli fans finally have their own English version of Japan’s popular fashion bible.
Canfield, Jack (Ed.). Chicken Soup for the American Idol Soul. 2007. Health Communications, $24.00 (978-0-7573-0734-8).
Stories behind today’s idol performers.
Carey, Percy and Wimberly, Ronald (Illus.). Sentences: The Life of M.F. Grimm. 2007. Vertigo, $19.99 (978-1-4-12-1046-5).
Follow the rise and fall of rapper MF Grimm from Sesame Street to drug dealing on the streets.
Cliver, Sean. Disposable: A History of Skateboard Art. 2007. Gingko Press, $29.95 (978-1584232643).
The art and history of skate decks.
Comickers Magazine. Comickers Art 2: Creat Amazing Manga Characters. 2008. HarperCollins, $24.95 (978-0061452543).
Essential guide for all aspiring manga artists.
Editors of Cosmogirl. All the Questions About Hair, Makeup, Skin & More. 2008. Hearst Books, $5.95 (978-1-58816-644-9).
Answers to all your beauty questions.
Fardon, John. Do Not Open: An Encyclopedia of the World's Best-Kept Secrets. 2007. DK, $24.99 (0-7566-33205-6).
The world’s secrets revealed.
Franco, Betsy (Ed.) Falling Hard: 100 Love Poems by Teenagers. 2008. Candlewick Press, $15.99 (978-0-7636-3437-7).
Teenagers use poetry to talk about love.
Franzini, Michael. One Hundred Young Americans. 2007. Harper Collins, $29.95 (978-0-06119200-5).
Photos and stories of real teens.
Fulbeck, Kip. Permanence. 2008. Chronicle Books, $19.95 (978-0-8118-6131-1).
The why’s are answered—why that tattoo and why get it.
Green, Dan and Basher, Simon (Illus.). Physics: Why Matter Matters! 2008. Kingfisher, $8.95 (978-0-7534-6214-0).
Science brought to life by art.
Greenberg, Steve. Gadget Nation: A Journey Through the Eccentric World of Invention. 2008. Sterling, $19.95 (140273686X).
Quirky innovations and inventions of the U.S.
Hantman, Clea. 30 Days to Getting Over the Dork You Used to Call Your Boyfriend: A Heartbreak Handbook. 208. Delacorte Press, $7.99 (978-0-385-73549-0).
Getting Dumped bites, but this handbook will help you recover faster.
Harrison, Ian. Take Me to Your Leader: Weird, Strange, and Totally Useless Information. 2007. DK, $25.00 (0-7566-3202-1).
Cool, crazy, kooky facts.
Ho, Oliver. Mutants & Monsters. 2008. Sterling Publishing, $5.95 (978-1-4027-3642-1).
Hairy monsters, mysterious sea creatures and big things with wings, is it real or a legend?
Horowitz, Anthony and Antony Johnston . Point Blank: The Graphic Novel. 2008. Philomel, $14.99 (978-0-399-25026-2).
Alex Rider, teen James Bond, courts danger at a mysterious prep school.
Jenkins, Steven and Erika Stalder with Azadeh Houshyar (Illus.). 97 Things to Do Before You Finish High School. 2007. Orange Avenue Publishing, $14.95 (978-097901730-8).
Making a difference and having fun.
Khidekel, Marina. The Quiz Life. 2008. Delacorte Press, $6.99 (978-0-375-84263-4).
Dozens of quizzes reveal the real you.
Kibuishi, Kazu. Flight: Vol. 4. 2007. Villard, $24.95 (978-0-345-49040-7).
Collection of short stories in graphic novel format by multiple artists/authors.
King, Dennis. Art of Modern Rock: Mini #1: A-Z. 2007. Chronicle, $18.95 (978-08118-634-2).
Mini book of rock posters.
King, Dennis. Art of Modern Rock: Mini #2: Poster Girls. 2007. Chronicle, $18.95 (978-0-8118-6119-9).
Poster girls of modern rock.
Kuklin, Susan. No Choirboy: Murder, Violence and Teenagers on Death Row. 2008. Henry Holt, $17.95 (978-0805079500).
Death row inmates, sentenced as teens speak — raw and uncensored.
Li, Yishan. 500 Manga Creatures. 2008. HarperCollins, $19.95 (978-4921205072).
Manga-mania!
The Manga University Culinary Institute and Chihiro Hattori. The Manga Cookbook. 2007. Japanime Co. Ltd., $14.95 (978-4921205072).
Japanese cooking, manga-style.
O’Meara, Donna. Volcano: A Visual Guide. Firefly, $29.95, (978-1-55-407353-5).
Amazing photos of volcanoes all over the world.
Ovenden, Mark and Mike Ashworth (Ed.) . Transit Maps of the World. Penguin, $25.00 (0143112651).
Travel the world with maps galore!
Paglen, Trevor. I Could Tell You But Then You Would Have to Be Destroyed By Me. Melville House, $22.95 (3933633328).
Secrets of the Pentagon’s emblems and work revealed.
Powell, Ben. Skateboarding Skills: The Reader’s Guide. Firefly, $16.95 (978-1-55407-360-3).
All the moves, tricks and tips to get you skating.
Protzman, Ferdinand. Work: The World in Photographs. National Geographic, $16.95 (1426203012).
Look closely at photos of hard-working people.
Rask, Kristen. Plush You! Loveable Misfit Toys to Sew and Stuff. 2007. F & W Publications, $19.99 (1-58180-996-4).
Irresistibly hip plush toys you can create.
Reber, Deborah. Chill: Stress-Reducing Techniques for a More Balanced, Peaceful You. 2008. Simon & Schuster, $9.99 (978-1-4169-5526-7).
Stressed out? Relax, take a deep breath…and chill.
Redd, Nancy Amanda. Body Drama. 2008. Penguin Group, $20.00 (978-1-592-40326-4).
Real girls, real bodies, real issues and real answers.
Roland, Paul. Guitar Chords. 2007. Arcturus Publishing, $9.99 BP (978-1-84193-638-3).
All the chords you’ll need and more!
Saffal, Steve. Spider Man, The Icon. 2007. Titan Books, $49.95 (978-1-845-76685-6).
The webbed one uncovered.
Shapiro, Bill. Love Letters: 150 Letters You Were Never Meant to See. 2007. Crown Publishing Group, $22.50 (978-0-307-38264-1).
An unflinching look at vulnerable, love letters, text messages, emails, and drawings.
Sixx, Nikki with Ian Gitting. The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star. 2007. Pocket Books, $32.50 (978-0-7434-8628-6).
Life through hazy eyes on heroin.
Smith, Keri. The Guerilla Art Kit: Everything You Need to Put Your Message Out Into the World. 2007. Princeton Architectural Press, $17.95 (1-56898-688-2).
Release your inner artist or activist with this ultra cool book.
Smith, Larry and Rachel Fershleiser. Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure. 2008. Harper Perennial, $12.00 (978-0061374050).
Life summed up in six words.
Spears, Rick and BB, Chuck (Illus.). Black Metal, Vol. 1. 2007. Oni Press, $11.95 (978-1932664720).
Young Death Metal misfits invade suburbia.
Stalder, Erika and Krietzman, Ariel (Illus.). Fashion 101: A Crash Course in Clothing. 2008. Orange Avenue Publishing, $17.95 (978-0979017346).
All about fashion!
Steinberger, Major Aimee. Japan Ai: A Tall Girls’ Adventures in Japan. 2007. Go! Media, $16.99 (978-1-933617-83-1).
The ultimate J-pop fan’s travel book for Japan.
Willin, Melvyn. Ghosts: Caught on Film. 2007. David & Charles, $16.99 (0715327283). Eerie look at ghostly photographs.
Wilson, Daniel H. How to Build a Robot Army: Tips on Defending the Earth Against Alien Invaders. 2007. Bloomsbury Publishing, $13.95 (1-59691-281-2).
Robot allies are in your future.
Yaek, Aviva and P.M. Chen. No Regrets: The Best, Worst & Most #$%*ing Ridiculous Tattoos Ever. 2008. Grand Central Publishing, $16.99 (978-0446582070).
Sometimes it’s okay to laugh at other people’s mistakes.
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