For many librarians, this book by the teen coordinator of the Cleveland Public Library system will serve as a valuable eye-opener into the needs and reading tastes of a large proportion of teen boys. . . . Welch provides good coverage of typical teen attitudes, behaviors, and points of view, as well as the typical adult reactions to same. But the book's focus on teen males sets this work apart. Chapters cover reading habits, recommended genres and topics, displays, programming, booktalks and school visits, teen spaces and YA services in general. Welch's suggestions for modifying such things as summer reading clubs, displays, teen advisory boards, and even furnishings so they have more guy appeal are easy and don't require a whole seperate set of services. By simply making librarians aware of what attracts this population, Welch's book could have a broad and potentially profound impact on the way many librarians deliver YA services and the number of young male patrons they are able to recruit as enthusiastic library users.

Library Journal

Starting with the important characteristics of books that appeal to male teens, the author discusses the type of genre reading this group is interested in. . . By discussing what doesn't work for teens, Welch examines how to engage teens through programming and how to develop gender-friendly teen advisory boards.Although other books cover some of this same area, none gives the insights Welch provides for focusing his book on the male teenager. . . . The material in this book ought to be read by any librarian who comes in contact with teens in the library. The author suggests ways for public and school librarians to work together and how school librarians can specifically engage this age group. This book will give the experienced librarian new and fresh ideas, and the new librarian a great strategy to follow in building a guy-friendly library.

Reference & User Services Quarterly

Although this book is written for the young adult librarian in a public library, it would be a useful purchase for a secondary school librarian or anyone working with teenagers and wanting to encourage reading in that age group. The author recommends ways teen librarians can work with young adult readers, and also how to reach out to teen readers by involving school teachers and school media people by doing various presentations at schools. Especially for the public young adult librarians, this is a needed resource, for it will help staff relate to young adult males.

Library Media Connection

Provides some excellent insights, anecdotes and practical suggestions that should help librarians encourage male teenage users. A must read for all public and school librarians who have found themselves struggling to reach this particular audience.

Library Review

This resource for young adult librarians suggests ways of improving services for teen males. Welch begins by identifying some of the ways that libraries unknowingly alienate teen males and then offers some insight into their reading habits. Subsequent chapters address such topics as teen advisory boards, booktalks, and school visits. A list of fiction titles recommended for teen males is found in the appendix.

Reference & Research Book News

Aimed at public libraries, the volume provides tested strategies for reaching out to a greatly misunderstood group of patrons.

Booklist/Professional Reading