logo

Young Adult

The Secret School

The Secret School

By Avi 176 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

How I’ve managed not to recommend an Avi book yet is beyond me, as I believe Avi is one of the greatest storytellers in America today (and he is great to listen to in person, if you ever get the chance). He is a master with historical fiction, and this story takes us to poor rural Colorado just before the Great Depression. An eighth grader needs to pass her exams if she is to move on to high school and fulfill her dream of becoming a teacher, and when her teacher leaves she takes on the role of preparing her classmates and herself for the exams. Token Avi as he portrays kids as able (if not more so) than adults. A great story about the importance of education.
The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things

The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things

By Carolyn Mackler 256 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

A favorite of the high school girls I read with, this book is not quite as funny as the title suggests. Yes, Mackler is hilarious, but she manages to touch a lot of major teen issues, from date rape to eating disorders. I do not come across as many reluctant girl readers, but when I do I always pull out a copy of this book. Not appropriate for younger kids, though.
Ugly

Ugly

By Donna Jo Napoli 192 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Napoli takes the well-known story of the ugly duckling and creates a full-length novel that takes place Down Under. Not only does this book provide great morals; it also proves useful as a science text. Great book for kids wondering how they will ever fit in.
Whales on Stilts!

Whales on Stilts!

By M.T. Anderson 224 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

This book has such a warped sense of humor, I’d recommend it to anybody. If you are not reading young adult books, you are missing out, as some of the best literature being produced today is geared for this audience. I love books that feature incompetent adults, leaving the kids in charge of saving the Earth. A must read for all ages! 
Freak the Mighty

Freak the Mighty

By Rodman Philbrick 192 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Inevitably, this book is always among the favorites of the middle school-aged boys I teach. Two eighth-grade misfits form a friendship that sees them fighting for causes in a King Arthurian vein. Yes, the book provides plenty of clichés, but I have witnessed two many students who were touched by this book. It is definitely one worth considering.
Madam President: The Extraordinary, True (and Evolving) Story of Women in Politics

Madam President: The Extraordinary, True (and Evolving) Story of Women in Politics

By Catherine Thimmesh 80 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Girls always ask me why there has never been a female President, and I have to admit that it is long overdue (especially with 52 percent of the American population being female). Thimmesh puts together a nice retrospective of some of the women who have ascended to the highest offices (or, like in the case of Abigail Adams, influenced the highest offices), and she includes some women who are still climbing that ladder today. What I like about the book is it shows girls that their time is coming, and there are plenty of influential women who have contributed to our political history here and abroad.
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

By John Boyne 215 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I included this one in honor of Yom Kippur, the most sacred holiday on the Jewish calendar (October 2nd). Just when I thought that all of the original stories of the Holocaust had been exhausted, a student handed me this gem. This tale chronicles a wealthy German boy’s move to Poland where his father has a new “job” (his father is an SS commander). The boy befriends a Jewish boy who lives “on the other side of the fence,” and the two strike up an innocent childhood friendship. This book gave me shivers. Excellent writing. 
The Race to Save the Lord God Bird

The Race to Save the Lord God Bird

By Phillip Hoose 222 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

An angry reader insisted I include more nonfiction titles for young adults. Let me say that whenever you have a genre you are interested in and want to see more picks, please drop me a note (it does not have to be angry, though). I want to make sure this list offers something for everybody. This is a lovely book that chronicles the Ivory-billed woodpecker, the first modern endangered species (last spotted in 1987). Every time I read books like this I feel ashamed to be a human, and I guess that is why we need to read more books like this. It will influence your desire for more nature conservation, that’s for sure. 
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.

By Judy Blume 192 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

It seems like every month I have to include a classic that I have failed to mention on prior lists. Whenever I ask audiences what there favorite book was as a child, this book is ALWAYS mentioned. I would be surprised if this book were not the single-most read book by teenage girls. I believe Judy Blume is one of our most important authors. This is absolutely a must-read.
The A-List

The A-List

By Zoey Dean 228 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Let me begin by saying that I did not enjoy this book. Why include it on the list, you ask? My purpose in generating these book recommendations is not always to give you the best books; sometimes it is my responsibility to feature books that will get people reading. This series is very popular with girls. Boys are typically the greater reluctant readers, but that does not mean every girl enjoys reading. I have managed to spark a lot of girls’ interest in reading with these books, and I know that the best way to get anyone to read more is to get them reading anything. As literature, however, this book belongs on the F-list.
The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation

The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation

By Sid Jacobson,Ernie Colón 144 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Wow! I have my friend Nancy Frey to thank for this pick, as she mentioned every student at Hoover H.S. in San Diego seemed to be reading this graphic novel (which, I confess, is a genre that I have not done a good enough job of recommending on past lists). What an AWESOME book. Don’t take my word for it, though. Here is what Stan Lee (the creator of “Spider Man”) has to say: “Never before have I seen a non-fiction book as beautifully and compellingly written and illustrated as The 9/11 Report, A Graphic Adaptation.  I cannot recommend it too highly.  It will surely set the standard for all future works of contemporary history, graphic or otherwise, and should be required reading in every home, school and library."


The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

By Kate DiCamillo 240 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

While she is best known for writing “Because of Winn Dixie,” DiCamillo has begun to convince me that she may be one of the most gifted writers alive today. If you are a parent, I want you to do two things: read this book to your children, and read it for yourself. This book is touching without being sappy, and I was blown away by how much I enjoyed it.
Gossamer

Gossamer

By Lois Lowry 176 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Speaking of great authors, it was pointed out to me that I have not placed a Lois Lowry book on any of my lists. I apologize for the oversight. While everyone knows and loves Lowry’s compelling Newbery-winning “The Giver,” I’d like to recommend her latest fantasy, which highlights all of Lowry’s writing strengths. You can literally read this book at the bookstore (believe me, I did), and it is a couple of hours well-spent.
Fingers

Fingers

By William Sleator 197 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

If you are not reading young adult books, you are missing out on some of the coolest stories told. When a mother’s child prodigy stops getting piano recital bookings, she creates a scheme to convince the world that a deceased composer is channeling his music from the grave through her son. The trick works until the prodigy’s older brother becomes convinced that the dead composer really has taken over the fingers of his younger brother. This is just an eerie and fascinating book.
Pay the Piper

Pay the Piper

By Jane Yolen & Adam Stemple 192 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I am a huge fan of Jane Yolen’s many wonderful books of poetry for children. This book shows another side of Yolen, as she has created (along with her son) a fun new twist on the tale of the Pied Piper.

Connect With Us

Join Now