Adolescents have certain needs that should be fulfilled by what they read. Ideally, they need to have access to books in which they are able to find themselves in what they read, and they need to be able to access books consisting of current, accurate, well-chosen material dealing with issues important to them and that can be applied to their lives. The YA Hotline (Dalhousie University) was started for those who aspire to guide teens in this respect, whether in the school or public library or in the classroom. The subject matter of the YA Hotline centers on reading interests and information services for young adults. The Hotline has been published for over two decades and is distributed via subscription to a world-wide audience. The Best of the YA Hotline offers a generous cross-section of the periodical's most relevant subjects over the past 20 years. Each article features a topic or issue of timeless importance, followed by reviews of helpful or recommended titles. The exploration of issues like environmental consciousness, youth and athletics, witchcraft, and multiculturalism goes hand-in-hand with literary genres like horror, science fiction, graphic novels and biography. This collection is diverse, accessible, and will provide valuable insight into some of the different ways that writers have attempted to identify with and address their target audience. Librarians and teachers who work with teens need to learn about adolescents: their ambitions, fears, and needs, in order to construct services appropriate for them. The Best of the YA Hotline is a great way to begin to understand the issues and literature that can be applied to the lives of today's youth.
