Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults

The American Library Association's Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults, formerly Selected Audiobooks for Young Adults, is a recommendation list of audiobooks presented yearly by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) division.

The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) released the first list of Selected Audiobooks for Young Adults in 1999.[1] In 2009, the list was renamed as Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults.[1]

The list can be used to help young adult readers find suitable audiobooks, which "are an underused treasure in school libraries. Teacher librarians can use them to draw new readers into the library and find new ways to connect with teachers."[2] However, finding quality audiobooks can be difficult as one must consider the audiobook's sound quality, pacing, variety, cultural authenticity, narrators (professional versus volunteer; computer versus human), as well as matching readers' interests, reading ability, the audiobook's length, and more.[2] To help address these challenges, several librarians and organizations recommend parents and teachers use the Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults list to find audiobooks for young adults.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

Criteria edit

To be eligible for the list, the audiobook "must have been produced or released within the 24 months previous to the list’s release."[7] The audiobooks cover a range of topics and are targeted toward individuals between the ages of 12 and 18.[7] To land a place on the list, audiobooks are judged on the following criteria:[7]

  • The audiobooks must appeal to young adults age 12 to 18. This includes book whose text versions may not be suitable to this demographic.
  • If the material is adapted, it "must remain true to, expand, or complement the original work"
  • The audiobook must effectively use voice, music, sound effects, and/or language
  • The audiobook must be appropriate for audio presentation
  • The audiobook must have a suitable match between the performer and the text.
  • The audiobook must be professionally produced.
  • All words within the audiobook must be pronounced correctly.
  • The audiobook must be clearly recorded.
  • The audiobook must include informative packaging.

Honorees edit

After honoring all amazing audiobooks, the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) selects ten books every year, which are "the best of the best."[8]

American Library Association's Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults (Top 10 Audiobooks per Year)
Award YearGenreAuthorBook TitleReader(s)
2011[9]FantasyLaini TaylorDreamdark SilksingerCassandra Campbell
Melina MarchettaFinnikin of the RockJeffrey Cummings
Fantasy, Science-FictionPatrick NessThe Knife of Never Letting GoNick Podehl
FictionLouAnne JohnsonMuchachoOzzie Rodriguez
Sapphire PreciousBahni Turpin
John Green and David LevithanWill Grayson, Will GraysonMacLeod Andrews and Nick Podehl
Historical fictionKristin LevineThe Best Bad Luck I Ever HadKirby Heyborne
Rita Garcia WilliamsOne Crazy SummerSisi Aisha Johnson
L. A. MeyerRapture of the DeepKatherine Kellgren
Kekla MagoonThe Rock and the RiverDion Graham
2012[10]BiographyGeorgia BraggHow They CroakedL. J. Ganser
FantasyRick YanceyThe Curse of the WendigoSteven Boyer
Philip ReeveFever CrumbPhilip Reeve
Andrew SmithMarbury LensMark Boyett
Jonathan StroudThe Ring of SolomonSimon Jones
FictionLouise RennisonAre These My Basoomas I See Before Me?Stina Nielson
Libba BrayBeauty QueensLibba Bray
Brent CrawfordCarter’s Big BreakNick Podehl
Historical fantasyFranny BillingsleyChimeSusan Duerden
Historical fictionL. A. MeyerThe Wake of the Lorelei LeeKatherine Kellgren
2013[11]AutobiographyMelba Pattillo BealsWarriors Don’t Cry: A Searing Memoir of the Battle to Integrate Little Rock's Central HighLisa Renee Pitts
FantasyLibba BrayThe DivinersJanuary LaVoy
Christopher PaoliniInheritanceGerard Doyle
Rick YanceyThe Isle of BloodSteven Boyer
FictionJeff KinneyDiary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin FeverRamón de Ocampo
E.M. KokiePersonal EffectsNick Podehl
R. J. PalacioWonderDiana Steele, Nick Podehl, and Kate Rudd
Historical fictionElizabeth WeinCode Name VerityMorven Christie and Lucy Gaskell
Allan WolfThe Watch That Ends the NightMichael Page, Phil Gigante, Christopher Lane, Laurel Merlington, and Angela Dawe
Mystery, ThrillerNiall LeonardCrusherDaniel Weyman
2014[12]BiographyLeon LeysonThe Boy on the Wooden BoxDanny Burstein
FantasyGail CarrigerEtiquette & EspionageMoira Quirk
DC PiersonCrap KingdomDC Pierson
Terry PratchettDodgerStephen Briggs
Fantasy, HorrorPaolo BacigalupiZombie Baseball BeatdownSunil Malhotra
FictionSara FarizanIf You Could Be MineNegin Farsad
Rainbow RowellEleanor & ParkRebecca Lowman and Sunil Malhotra
Historical FictionL.A. MeyerViva Jacquelina!: Being an Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, Over the Hills and Far AwayKatherine Kellgren
Horror, ThrillerDaniel KrausScowlerKirby Heyborne
Science-FictionIan DoescherWilliam Shakespeare's Star WarsFull cast
2015[13]FictionEmma PassACIDFiona Hardingham with Nicholas Guy Smith and Suzan Crowley
Gail CarrigerCurtsies and ConspiraciesMoira Quirk
Julie Anne PetersDefine NormalChristine Lakin
Geoff HerbachFat Boy vs. the CheerleadersNick Podehl
A. S. KingGlory O’Brien’s History of the FutureChristine Lakin
Sally GreenHalf BadCarl Prekopp
Ava DellairaLove Letters to the DeadJulia Whelan
Deborah WilesRevolutionStacey Aswad and Francois Battiste with J.D. Jackson and Robin Miles
Carl HiaasenSkink--No SurrenderKirby Heyborne
Ian DoescherWilliam Shakespeare’s Star Wars CollectionDanny Davis, Jonathan Davis, Ian Doescher, Jeff Gurner, January LaVoy, and Marc Thompson
2016[14]FictionGail CarrigerWaistcoats & WeaponryMoira Quirk
Dawn KurtagichThe Dead HouseCharlotte Parry and Christian Coulson
Pam Munoz RyanEchoMark Bramhall, David De Vries, MacLeod Andrews, and Rebecca Soler
Isabel QuinteroGabi, a Girl in PiecesKyla Garcia
Sally GreenHalf WildCarl Prekopp and Kyla Garcia
Amie Kaufman and Jay KristofflluminaeOlivia Taylor Dudley, Lincoln Hoppe, and Johnathan McClain
Libba BrayLair of DreamsJanuary LaVoy
Ransom RiggsLibrary of SoulsKirby Heyborne
Guillermo del Toro and Daniel KrausTrollhuntersKirby Heyborne
NonfictionRandall MunroeWhat If? Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical QuestionsWil Wheaton
2017[15]FictionGavriel SavitAnna and the Swallow ManAllan Corduner
Brie SpanglerBeastAndrew Eiden
Amie Kaufman and Jay KristoffGeminaCarla Corvo, MacLeod Andrews, Steve West, and a full cast
Goldy MoldavskyKill the Boy BandBarrett Wilbert Weed
ND StevensonNimonaMarc Thompson, Rebecca Soler, January LaVoy, Peter Bradbury, Jonathan Davis, David Pittu, and Natalie Gold
Gary D. SchmidtOrbiting JupiterChristopher Gebauer
Ruta SepetysSalt to the SeaJorjeana Marie, Will Damron, Cassandra Morris, and Michael Crouch
E.K. JohnstonStar Wars: AhsokaAshley Eckstein
Ellen HopkinsTraffickKirby Heyborne, Julia Whelan, Madeleine Maby, Rebekkah Ross, and Jacques Roy
April Genevieve TucholkeWink Poppy MidnightMichael Crouch, Alicyn Packard, and Caitlin Davies
2018[16]FantasyJ.K. Rowling and Newt ScamanderFantastic Beasts and Where to Find ThemEddie Redmayne
Neal ShustermanScytheGreg Tremblay
FictionEllen Oh (editor)Flying Lessons and Other StoriesVarious
Angie ThomasThe Hate U GiveBahni Turpin
Benjamin Alire SáenzThe Inexplicable Logic of My LifeRobbie Daymond
Elizabeth WeinThe Pearl ThiefMaggie Service
Nicola YoonThe Sun Is Also a StarDominic Hoffman, Raymond Lee, and Bahni Turpin
Historical fictionMackenzi LeeThe Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and VirtueChristian Coulson
MemoirLynda Blackmon Lowery, as told to Elspeth Leacock and Susan BuckleyTurning 15 on the Road to Freedom: My Story of the 1965 Selma Voting Rights MarchDamaras Obi
Memoir, Graphic novelMaggie ThrashHonor GirlEnsemble Cast
2019[17]FantasyNnedi OkoraforAkata WitchYetide Badaki
M. T. Anderson and Eugene YelchinThe Assassination of Brangwain SpurgeGildart Jackson
J.K. Rowling and Kennilworthy WhispQuidditch Through the AgesAndrew Lincoln
Neal ShustermanThunderheadGreg Trembley
FictionGayle FormanI Have Lost My WayNicole Lewis, Michael Crouch, and Sunil Malhotra
Jason ReynoldsLuGuy Lockard
Courtney SummersSadieRebecca Soler, Fred Berman, Dan Bittner, Gabra Zackman, and a full cast
Jason ReynoldsSunnyGuy Lockard
MemoirTara WestoverEducatedJulia Whelan
Poetic FictionElizabeth AcevedoThe Poet XElizabeth Acevedo
2020[18]FantasyA.S. KingDigA.S. King, Mike Chamberlain, Tonya Cornelisse and Kirby Heyborne
FictionMindy McGinnisHeroineBrittany Pressley
Tiffany D. JacksonLet Me Hear a RhymeAdenrele Ojo, Korey Jackson, Adam Lazarre-White, and Nile Bullock
Angie ThomasOn the Come UpBahni Turpin
Elizabeth AcevedoWith the Fire on HighElizabeth Acevedo
Historical fictionRuta SepetysThe Fountains of SilenceMaite Jáuregui with Richard Ferrone, Neil Hellegers, Joshua Kane, Liza Kaplan, and Oliver Wyman
MemoirMichelle ObamaBecomingMichelle Obama
Memoir, Graphic novelJarrett J. KrosoczkaHey KiddoJarrett J. Krosoczka, Jeanne Birdsall, Richard Ferrone, and Jenna Lamia
Poetic MemoirLaurie Halse AndersonShoutLaurie Halse Anderson
Science FictionSamira AhmedInternmentSoneela Nankani
2021[19]Biography, Graphic NovelVictoria Jamieson and Omar MohamedWhen Stars Are ScatteredFull cast
FantasyTracy DeonnLegendbornJoniece Abbott-Pratt
Aiden ThomasCemetery BoysAvi Roque
Elizabeth AcevedoClap When You LandMelania-Luisa Marte and Elizabeth Acevedo
Holly JacksonA Good Girl's Guide to MurderBailey Carr, Melissa Calin, Michael Crouch, Gopal Divan, Robert Fass, Kevin R. Free, Sean Patrick Hopkins, Carol Monda, Patricia Santomasso, Shezi Sardar and Amanda Thickpenny
Allan WolfThe Snow Fell Three Graves Deep: Voices from the Donner PartyBahni Turpin, Whitney Dykhouse, Teri Schnaubelt, Tim Gerard Reynolds, Lauren Ezzo, Eric G. Dove, Ramón de Ocampo, and Shaun Taylor-Corbett
Deborah WilesKent StateChristopher Gebauer, Lauren Ezzo, Christina Delaine, Johnny Heller, Roger Wayne, Korey Jackson, and David de Vries
Jordan IfuekoRaybearerJoniece Abbott-Pratt
Historical fictionTraci CheeWe Are Not FreeScott Keiji Takeda, Dan Woren, Ryan Potter, Ali Fumiko, Sophie Oda, Andrew Kishino, Christopher Naoki Lee, Grace Rolek, Erika Aishii, Brittany Ishibashi, Kurt Sanchez Kanazawa and Terry Kitagawa
NonfictionJason Reynolds and Ibram X. KendiStamped: Racism, Antiracism, and YouJason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
2022[20]BiographyAndrew MaranissSingled Out: The True Story of Glenn BurkeKevin R.
FictionMahogany L. BrowneChlorine SkyMahogany L. Browne
Angie ThomasConcrete RoseDion Graham
Angeline BoulleyFirekeeper’s DaughterIsabella Star LeBlanc
Raquel Vasquez GillilandHow Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the UniverseKyla Garcia
Stephan LeeK-Pop ConfidentialJoy Osmanski
Pamela N. HarrisWhen You Look Like UsPreston Butler, III
Historical fictionMalinda LoLast Night at the Telegraph ClubEmily Woo Zeller
NonfictionEric GansworthApple: Skin to the CoreEric Gansworth
Science FictionNeal ShustermanGame ChangerAndrew Eiden and Jennifer Jill Araya

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Cahill, Maria; Moore, Jennifer (Spring 2017). "A Sound History: Audiobooks Are Music to Children's Ears". Children and Libraries. 15 (1): 22–29. doi:10.5860/cal.15n1.22. Archived from the original on 2021-06-01. Retrieved 2021-04-30.
  2. ^ a b c Lamb, Annette (December 2017). "Listeners' Advisory Part 1". Teacher Librarian. 45: 2 – via ProQuest.
  3. ^ Young, Renee (2019-10-25). "The Alert Collector: Listen Up: Best Practices for Audiobooks in Libraries". Reference & User Services Quarterly. 58 (4): 210–214. doi:10.5860/rusq.58.4.7146. ISSN 1094-9054. Archived from the original on 2021-04-30. Retrieved 2021-04-30.
  4. ^ Reading by right : successful strategies to ensure every child can read to succeed. Chris Riddell, Joy Court. London. 2017. ISBN 978-1-78330-209-3. OCLC 968905071.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: others (link)
  5. ^ Lesesne, Teri S. (Summer 2016). "Benefits and Practical Applications of Audiobooks". The ALAN Review. 43 (3): 107–109.
  6. ^ Wolfson, Gene (2008). "Using Audiobooks to Meet the Needs of Adolescent Readers". American Secondary Education. 36 (2): 105–114. ISSN 0003-1003. JSTOR 41406113. Archived from the original on 2021-04-30. Retrieved 2021-04-30.
  7. ^ a b c "Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults". American Library Association. Archived from the original on 2014-11-25. Retrieved 2021-04-02.
  8. ^ "An Enthusiastic Earful". American Libraries Magazine. Archived from the original on 2021-04-30. Retrieved 2021-04-30.
  9. ^ Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) (2010-12-27). "2011 Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults". American Library Association. Archived from the original on 2021-04-28. Retrieved 2021-04-04.
  10. ^ Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) (2012-01-24). "2012 Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults Top Ten". American Library Association. Archived from the original on 2012-04-24. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
  11. ^ Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) (2013-01-31). "2013 Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults Top Ten". American Library Association. Archived from the original on 2013-03-18. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
  12. ^ Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) (2014-01-30). "2014 Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults Top Ten". American Library Association. Archived from the original on 2014-03-13. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
  13. ^ Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) (2015-02-03). "2015 Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults". American Library Association. Archived from the original on 2015-02-07. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
  14. ^ Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) (2016-01-11). "2016 Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults". American Library Association. Archived from the original on 2016-01-14. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
  15. ^ Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) (2017-01-25). "2017 Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults". American Library Association. Archived from the original on 2017-03-22. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
  16. ^ Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) (2018-01-09). "2018 Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults". American Library Association. Archived from the original on 2018-01-10. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
  17. ^ Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) (2019-01-10). "2019 Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults". American Library Association. Archived from the original on 2019-01-30. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
  18. ^ Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) (2020-01-06). "2020 Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults". American Library Association. Archived from the original on 2020-06-06. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
  19. ^ Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) (2021-01-04). "2021 Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults". American Library Association. Archived from the original on 2021-01-04. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
  20. ^ "2022 Top Ten Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). 2022-02-03. Archived from the original on 2022-02-09. Retrieved 2022-02-09.