Not a board game, not a salsa, not a soft drink, not a four letter word! This five-letter acronym stands for Young Adult Library Services Association, part of the American Library Association (ALA). In the READ world, YALSA is kind of a big deal. We so look forward to spring, when they announce their  favorite new titles with a host of awards and top-ten lists. Although there are many catagories, we suggest the cream of the crop: Check out the winners selected to be the Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults of 2009:

It's Complicated:  The American Teenager, Bowman, Robin.   Umbrage Editions. 2007.  

Waiting for Normal, Conner, Leslie. HarperTeen/HarperCollins.  2008. 

Mexican WhiteBoy, de la Pena, Matt.    Delacorte.  2008. 

Bog Child, Dowd, Siobhan. Random House/David Fickling Books.  2008.

The Hunger Games, Collins, Suzanne.  Scholastic.  2008.  

Ten Cents a Dance, Fletcher, Christine.   Bloomsbury.  2008. 

Baby, Monninger, Joseph.    Front Street/Boyd Mills Press.  2007. 

Nation, Pratchett, Terry.   HarperCollins.  2008. 

Skim, by Tamaki, Mariko and Jillian Tamaki.   House of Anansi Press / Groundwood Books.  2008.  

The Brothers Torres, by Voorhees, Coert.  Disney/Hyperion.  2008. 

Remember, spring break is right around the corner. If you're wondering what to do during the 8-hour car ride to Aunt Edna's this Easter, consider taking a trip to the library to check out one of these highly acclaimed and brand spanking new books. Enjoy!