Adult Books for High School Students Policy Statement 2009

Books published for the adult market that speak to the recreational and/or curricular interests of teens are reviewed in this column. Quality, engagement, and accessibility all play a key role in the selection of these books. The books reviewed are recommended for a substantial segment of the high school community, based on advance reviews, publishers’ catalogs, or direct submissions from publishers. Because these books were published as adult titles they may contain mature content and/or language. Individual books reviewed may inspire accelerated students, address the information needs of students in the arts or sciences, reflect popular culture, or speak to teens’ interests casually or as they seek personal development. A balance of fiction and nonfiction, as well as material in the graphic novel format, is represented.

The review committee is comprised of public and school librarians who work with teenagers, as well as individuals with specialized subject knowledge and awareness of curricular requirements in most secondary schools. The committee includes reviewers from many parts of the U.S. and in Canada. Reviews are intended to reflect the usefulness of the selected titles to satisfy general teen reading tastes and needs, keeping in mind that local communities differ as do individual readers.