Book Review: The Readers’ Advisory Guide to Teen Literature

Finding the right book for the right reader at the right time is a perennial goal for librarians, particularly those who serve adolescents. Even the most seasoned teen services librarians will tell you that being a literary matchmaker is incredibly challenging. Teens can be a fickle bunch, and they are not always great at communicating their needs. Furthermore, young adult (YA) literature is a booming field, and keeping up with it can be daunting. Successful readers’ advisory for teen patrons requires knowing about teens and YA literature, as well as how to talk to teens about books. In The Readers’ Advisory Guide to Teen Literature, Angela Carstensen aims to teach librarians—both those who work directly with teens or teen materials and those who do not—the necessary knowledge to become teen readers’ advisory masters.