Adbooks

Part of Yahoo's discussion group ring, Adbooks welcomes readers of young adult books who want to swap recommendations or join in email exchanges; however, there is much to explore here for those who prefer not to take an active part. This bright, fresh looking site is easy to use although the pale green font is a little hard on the eyes. First time visitors should click on the FAQ button for clear, step-by-step instructions on how the discussion group works and what's available at the site. Members include both children and adults, usually teachers or librarians, and discussion is friendly, intelligent and enthusiastic. Books are nominated for discussion by members, who then cast their votes for the final selections. The current choice, together with selections for the next few months, can be seen on the Schedule page, while selections going back to 1998 are available via Previous. Only members can take part in the discussions but registration is both free and simple. The site has a direct link to amazon.com from all books listed.


SPECIAL FEATURES

Recommendations consists of lists of recommended reading from members of the site. Some are listed under Great Books others are listed by category, from classics to time travel. Lists vary from enthusiastic reviews to a simple title listing.

Authors leads to a set of links to homepages for authors who write for young adults, including Anne Fine, Gary Paulsen and S E Hinton.