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Young Adult

Toad Rage

Toad Rage

By Morris Gleitzman 176 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Gleitzman is from the Land Down Under, and this funny and endearing tale has sparked my interest in Australian literature for kids (it’s not just about The Wiggles). The book follows the funny adventures of Young Limpy as he sets out to make humans have a little more respect for the toads they seem to run over on the highways so frequently. Students will benefit from seeing a funny character who never quits trying.
Make Lemonade

Make Lemonade

By Virginia Euwer Wolff 208 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

My kind of book, as it has 66 chapters (I am convinced that is one of the secrets to Dan Brown’s success). Teaching in the inner city allowed me a glimpse into the triumphs and travails of students living in poverty. This magnificent book follows a couple of teenagers, LaVaughn and Jolly, as they deal with issues like poverty, unwed motherhood, etc. Uplifting and poetic, it is one of the best books I’ve read for any age in the last five years (although this book is suitable for about a seventh grade level and beyond). 
The Pigman

The Pigman

By Paul Zindel 192 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

John and Lorraine come to realize that "Our life would be what we made of it--nothing more, nothing less" in this wonderful (yet sad) story.
The Door in the Lake

The Door in the Lake

By Nancy Butts 160 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Joey mysteriously disappears one night and returns two years later, the same age, with memories of an alien presence. Great for kids who love The X-Files.
Molly McGinty Has a Really Good Day

Molly McGinty Has a Really Good Day

By Gary Paulsen 112 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Light and funny, the perfect book to help you learn to “go with the flow” when things don’t seem to be going your way.
Boys At Work

Boys At Work

By Gary Soto Young Adult

Danny Says

I read a lot of books and often fail to mention some of today’s best authors because I enjoy everything they write. Gary Soto is one of today’s best young adult authors, and every parent needs to be aware that his books are extremely popular with reluctant boy readers. Take your pick of Soto’s work. I enjoy this tale of two Mexican-American boys who struggle to earn enough money to replace a gangster’s disc player that they broke. This is actually a sequel to The Pool Party, and I like both books because of Soto’s sense of humor and mastery of young adult dialogue sprinkled with Spanglish.
Half Magic

Half Magic

By Edward Eager 224 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Every student I have ever given this book to has gotten a kick out of it. This is Eager’s most popular tale as it follows the time-travel escapades of four children who encounter magical coins. The only problem is, you guessed it: the coins are only “half” magic, which leads to a series of funny, strange occurrences.
Is This Forever, or What?

Is This Forever, or What?

By Naomi Shihab Nye 176 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

This book is for all of my friends in Texas. Beautiful art and poetry that just might entice you to pay the Lone Star state a visit. As the book’s description says, “the state of mind has no borders…and the 140 Texans in this book…show you why.” Nice way to infuse a little bit of geography into a roomful of reluctant teenage readers.
The Dollhouse Murders

The Dollhouse Murders

By Betty Ren Wright 149 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

This book is what earned me a place in folklore with a bunch of fifth-grade girls in South Los Angeles, as they loved this book. The scary tale of a 12 year old who discovers a dollhouse in her attic that is an exact replica of her house. It turns out, the dolls in the dollhouse move on their own will. What’s more, the dolls are trying to say something. Interested yet? This one had a class begging for recess to end and read-aloud time to begin.
Trapped by the Ice!

Trapped by the Ice!

By Michael McCurdy 40 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

This is another recently published treasure that the fifth graders I am reading aloud to love. Boys especially want to know all about this story of 32 whaling ships that were trapped in the Arctic in 1871…with over 1200 people. If an Inuit ever warns you to watch out for the ice, I’d suggest you listen to her advice. Read this book and find out what happens to our frigid refugees.
Lives of the Musicians

Lives of the Musicians

By Kathleen Krull 96 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I must confess that I am a Cliff Clavin at heart, meaning that I adore filling my brain with all sorts of useless information. This book is a treasure mine filled with tidbits about musicians ranging from Beethoven to Woody Guthrie. I love it!
Bodies from the Ice

Bodies from the Ice

By James M. Deem 64 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

If you want to get a reluctant boy into reading, show him a book with a mummy on the cover. You will be fascinated to learn about human remains uncovered in peat bogs throughout the United Kingdom and northern Europe. The photos are what keep kids opening this book, though. A great read for those interested in following the Indiana Jones path to archaeology.
Just Disgusting

Just Disgusting

By Andy Griffiths 176 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I’ve recommended Andy Griffiths before (he is not to be confused with a certain sheriff from Mayberry), but I feel like I should include this book for parents of fourth-sixth grade boys who have no interest in reading. I read this book to boys who have never opened a book voluntarily, and I discover the boys weeks later have memorized pages! Yes, this book is not going to win any literary awards, but if it gets a boy into reading there is a greater chance that that boy will try to read a book that has won a literary award. I highly recommend this book for teachers and parents who have reluctant readers, especially boys (click here to read my blog about some tips to help reluctant readers).
Gone Fishin'

Gone Fishin'

By Walter Mosley 244 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

God bless Walter Mosley! Mosley has provided the inner-city middle schoolers that I have read to for years characters that they can identify with, and Mosley’s writing skill and character development are something to behold. This is one of the shortest of Mosley’s Easy Rawlins mysteries, but it is sure to attract students to the series. A wonderful author with a diverse pool of stories.
The Young Hans Christian Andersen

The Young Hans Christian Andersen

By Karen Hesse 48 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I like to use this book when teaching students writing because it shows how Hans Christian Andersen took his many childhood experiences and used them to craft his beloved stories. Great for all ages.

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