This book is full of useful information for librarians who are new to booktalking or those busy librarians who need a reliable, up-to-date young adult literature resource….Each entry includes bibliographic information, themes or topics, and a summary or description. The author also includes a complete booktalk script for those who are not sure what to include or who are looking for something at a moment's notice….With the abundance of young adult literature that has been published in the last few years, it is easy to miss out on some wonderful books. The wealth of information included with each title makes this book invaluable to librarians as a booktalking or collection development tool. The organization of the book is extraordinary. The table of contents makes the book user-friendly and easy to navigate. The index includes both author names and titles….[T]his is a book that is highly recommended for those working with teen readers to use for booktalks or reader's advisory.

Reference & User Services Quarterly

This book includes read-to-use booktalks, read-aloud selections, learning activities, and related reads for approximately 100 fiction and nonfiction books published since 2000 and geared for teens….More than a repository of booktalks, Booktalks and Beyond is also a useful readers' advisory tool, serving as a quick-and-dirty resource to brush up on young adult materials. Librarians new to the field, new to the literature, as well as those doing outreach, will all find something of value in Lucy Schall's Booktalks and Beyond.

Colorado Association of Libraries

This is an excellent and needed resource for anyone planning on giving booktalks. Not only can school media specialists and public librarians use this book, but classroom teachers in various disciplines will find this a needed resource for outside reading materials…. Each section gives various themes, and each book listed includes the author, title, bibliographic information, summary and description, read aloud/reader response, booktalk, learning opportunities, open-ended questions and research topics are provided….Another helpful feature is the reading level of the book provided in the bibliographic information. Most librarians find giving booktalks an enjoyable part of the job. This book will help as they plan their presentations. Recommended.

Library Media Connection

This work is an update of Schall's Teen Genre Connections and includes books published from 2001 to 2006. A new section in each chapter, Read Aloud/Reader Response, suggests passages for discussion, dramatic readings, or performing. Each title is covered in two pages and also includes bibliographic information, suggested grade level, themes or topics, a summary, a sample booktalk, learning opportunities, and related works. This is a useful guide to presenting books to teens.

School Library Journal

[P]rovides ready-to-use, snappy sample booktalks along with follow up activities perfect for a classroom or small-group setting.

School Library Journal

This volume will be most useful for librarians new to teen literature, as well as those needing a refresher on more recent titles, and will also serve as an additional resource for librarians looking for new booktalking ideas. It complements but does not replace older teen genre guides such as Teen Genreflecting (Libraries Unlimited, 1997). Recommended for young adult librarians in school and public libraries.

Booklist/RA Corner