Finding Quality Reviews for Young Adult Books

by Bates, Jennifer E.

The following study sought to determine which journals provide the best reviews of young adult books by investigating the research question “Of the journals librarians most commonly consult for young adult book reviews, which utilize the criteria that experts consider essential in a quality book review?” The research sample included fiction titles from YALSA’s (Young Adult Library Services Association) Best Books for Young Adults 2007 that had reviews in four specific journals, Booklist, Kliatt, School Library Journal, and Voice of Youth Advocates. Content analysis was used to code 140 reviews using a set of criteria developed by Margo Wilson and Kay Bishop in 1999. The results show that all of the journals addressed most of the criteria in their reviews, but each journal had strengths and weaknesses. This information potentially will help young adult librarians in both school and public libraries decide which review sources to consult when making collection development decisions.