Young Adult

Fun for middle school boys, this collection of 35 short stories wins major points simply by limiting entries to 2-6 pages. Quirky and creepy stories that are sure to spark lively conversations.

There are several things I like about this little book. First of all, my mother is a lighthouse fanatic, and I can see how this book would be great for any parent or teacher to read with children before or after a lighthouse visit. More importantly, I love books that feature teenage-girl protagonists who rock, and 15-year-old Ida Lewis is such a character (and she is a real-life heroine who lived in 19th century Rhode Island). A delightful quick read.

Call me crazy, but I have a hunch that this classic may just become a popular bestseller this month. One of the great justices adapted films do is draw children to read books and discover for themselves that books are usually better than films (although I cannot wait to see the movie).

I honestly have no idea how I have overlooked putting this book on a prior edition of the Lazy Readers’ Book Club, as this was my favorite book of 2006. If you are a teacher, you HAVE to buy this book. This book is applicable for all ages, but teenagers love it the most. It is filled with funny personality quizzes that delight students. Parents and teens: BUY THIS BOOK. Great fun! I’d also like to plug the publisher, Klutz, which publishes a lot of high-quality books.

If I am going to throw in a holiday book, I want to make sure I expose you to a terrific author. Barbara Park is one of my favorites, and her Junie B. series gets a lot of reluctant readers hooked on reading with its humorous situations all children (and adults, for that matter) can relate to and appreciate.

David Levithan is rapidly becoming one of my favorite authors. As it is February, I realized I had to include at least one book for Valentine’s Day. This collection of 18 delightful stories about love written from different perspectives (first, second and third person) chronicles love in all its forms, and I would recommend this book not just for teens but for their parents, as well.

I am making it my mission to get students to read Judy Cox. This is her second story about two rat brothers who live in a cage in Ms. Dove’s fifth-grade classroom who, once in a while, escape for an adventure around the globe. Make sure to check out its predecessor, The Mystery of the Burmese Bandicoot (see July 2008 review).

A hilarious mystery for kids by one of the great authors in young adult literature. Steven helps his blind neighbor, Mr. Chickee, with various errands, and no errand proves to be as interesting as protecting Mr. Chickee’s quadrillion dollar bill from falling into the hands of U.S. Treasury agent Mr. Fondoo. Great for reluctant readers, especially boys.

I’ve been on a William Sleator kick lately. I hear all of these teens talking about their favorite scary authors, and I challenge them to read Sleator. That man knows how to tell a terrifying tale.

If you want to hear a familiar tale with a clever twist, there is no better author to put it in the hands of than the wonderful Neil Gaiman, especially when paired with terrific illustrator Chris Riddell.

An eerie tale of a teen’s life in a polygamist community. Sort of a cross between Under the Banner of Heaven, The Chosen One and Big Love. Great book for sparking lively classroom discussions.

Between the title and the book jacket description (“Ferris Bueller” meets “La Femme Nikita”), this book had me hooked right away. If you have a teenage boy in need of a book, this is your winner, as it is fast-paced and filled with action and laughs. I’d be shocked if they don’t make this into a movie, as it reads like a screenplay.

Middle-school science teachers will especially appreciate this book about an 11-year-old girl whose family lives in an extraordinary underground house. Great way to excite students about geology. Fantasy that is scientifically-based!

A great coming-of-age story set in the 1950s of an 11-year-old determined to be Jacqueline Kennedy’s personal fashion designer. It is such a pleasure to read a story with an optimistic and kind female protagonist as opposed to the typical narcissistic, suicidal ones that dominate teenage literature. Axelrod is a hoot, and this story also has a lot of heart.

In this impressive anthology of ten short stories about American Indians (I’ve always used the term “Native Americans,” but the book prefers “American Indians”), amazing authors like Sherman Alexie and Cynthia Leitich Smith share stories of triumph and tribulation that make great book discussions for middle school classrooms.