Sociologist Nabs Coveted Spot on ALA's Top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers

Chantilly, VA, March 06, 2009 --(PR.com)-- The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), recently announced its 2009 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers selection list. Retaliation: A Novel by Yasmin Shiraz (Rolling Hills Press, $14.95; ISBN 978-0-9718174-3-2) was selected as a Top Ten Pick. The Quick Picks list suggests books for teens, ages 12-18, to pick up on their own and read for pleasure; it is geared to the teenager who, for whatever reason, does not like to read.

Best Selling Author and Sociologist, Yasmin Shiraz was inspired to write Retaliation: A Novel in the middle of a self-esteem workshop after being told by a 15-year-old girl that she was jumped and nothing was done about it. “I learned that this girl was still dealing with the fear of being attacked. I had to stop talking about self esteem and had to begin to talk about violence, frustration, fear and safety,” Shiraz explains. “It made me realize that our youth cannot learn in an environment when they are afraid. They can’t learn about progress when they are worried about being hurt.”

After overwhelming response to Retaliation, Shiraz created Retaliation violence prevention talks for middle schools and high schools in Washington, DC, and Syracuse, NY as well as juvenile detention facilities in Oakland, CA. Shiraz is currently touring after school programs, middle schools and high schools with the Retaliation Violence Prevention program.

Schools, non-profit organizations, and juvenile detention facilities are encouraged to book the Retaliation violence prevention tour by calling 703.542.5072 or visit www.talkretaliation.net. The complete YALSA list of 91 titles, including annotations, can be found at: www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists/quickpicks

About the Author:
Yasmin Shiraz is a sociologist, empowerment speaker, entrepreneur, and author of five other books including The Blueprint for My Girls: How To Build A Life Full of Courage, Determination and Self Love (Simon & Schuster.) A graduate of Hampton University and Morehead State University, she uses her sociology training to empower young people through her writings and workshops. For many years she owned the leading urban entertainment magazine on college campuses, Mad Rhythms, which reached over four million students. She currently runs her own marketing and programming firm, The Signals Agency, which specializes in creating youth programs and corporate solutions for their clients. Yasmin resides in Virginia.

Retaliation: A Novel
by Yasmin Shiraz
Rolling Hills Press
Price: $14.95
ISBN: 978-0-9718174-3-2

For more information on Retaliation, please visit:
www.yasminshiraz.net or www.talkretaliation.net.

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