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Young Adult

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47

By Walter Mosley 240 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Thank goodness for Walter Mosley. When I was teaching 8th grade boys in South Los Angeles, Walter Mosley was our savior. He has written so many great books that speak to so many of my students (e.g. Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned and Devil in a Blue Dress). This book represents his foray into young adult literature, and it is great. Whether he realizes it or not, Mr. Mosley has quite a fan base among teenage boys. A great author!
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Owl in Love

Owl in Love

By Patrice Kindl 224 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Let’s just say that this book is about a girl who becomes a “wereowl” at night. Yes, it is a funny book, and there is a lot more depth to it than that. My students, especially the girls, love this book.
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The Mad Scientist Handbook

The Mad Scientist Handbook

By Joey Green 144 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Yes, there are some problems with this book, as I found quite a few problems with the author’s scientific knowledge (and, believe me, science is not my area of expertise). Still, I have tried quite a few of the experiments with success, and a lot of the creations are sure to impress friends, business associates and students. The book is just meant for fun.
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The Life History of a Star

The Life History of a Star

By Kelly Easton 200 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

This one is a winner! Written as the diary of a teenage girl during the mid-1970s, this book sounded like a “girl” book all the way. Do not make that mistake. I was amazed to find the story to be captivating, funny and gripping all at once. A real page-turner about a girl’s coming of age disrupted by a ghost in the attic that happens to be her brother, who died in Vietnam.
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Where Should I Sit at Lunch?

Where Should I Sit at Lunch?

By Harriet S. Mosatche & Karen Unger 208 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Subtitled “The Ultimate 24/7 Guide to Surviving the High School Years,” this book is the perfect gift for the child who is preparing to enter high school (or even, I daresay, middle school). The book is filled with practical advice from real-life teens, checklists and interesting tidbits from the authors, who I understand are quite good speakers (I have not had the opportunity to see them yet).
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What's French For

What's French For "Ew"?

By Katie Maxwell 196 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

The title grabbed me, and the style kept my attention. One of the first young adult books that I have read that is formatted like a series of emails. Clever and funny.
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Crossing the Wire

Crossing the Wire

By Will Hobbs 224 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Not only is this a great book because it puts a human face on illegal immigration (15-year-old Victor, who must head North to earn money for his fatherless family). I appreciate how the book explores the geography of the Southwest, as I am constantly pressing students to learn more about geography (most Americans only learn where places are if there is a war or natural disaster). To find out more about why I enjoy Will’s books so much, click this link to read this month’s blog.
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Sticks and Stones

Sticks and Stones

By Beth Goobie 112 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Rumors are one of the toughest experiences for adolescents, and this book has always been popular with my students for grabbing their attention with its realistic portrayal of a girl who is falsely accused of being a slut. 
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The Last Mission

The Last Mission

By Harry Mazer 192 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I have been reading a lot of books about World War II lately, and an odd man at the bookstore insisted I read this book. Wish I could run into the fellow again, because this book is fantastic. A 15-year-old Jewish boy lies his way into the Air Force with dreams of becoming a hero. I know: there are plenty of stories like it, but I have never read such a story geared toward teenage boys. Recommend this one to reluctant middle school readers.
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Echoes of the White Giraffe

Echoes of the White Giraffe

By Sook Nyul Choi 144 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Better known for her prequel to this story, Year of Impossible Goodbyes, Sook-Nyul Choi demonstrates her captivating writing style again in this book that manages to engage readers with its characters and teach a bit of Korean history during the Korean War in the 1950s. Frankly, I will read anything that Sook-Nyul Choi writes, as she is a terrific, important author.
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The Triangle Shirtwaist Company Fire of 1911

The Triangle Shirtwaist Company Fire of 1911

By Gina De Angelis 128 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

A great nonfiction writer for young adults, DeAngelis does a superb job of supplying eyewitness accounts and descriptions of one of America’s greatest tragedies. I read this book to a fourth grade class and challenged students to figure out how we can avoid similar tragedies in the future. You may notice below that I include a novelization of the same event for my next pick.
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Fire!: The Beginnings of the Labor Movement

Fire!: The Beginnings of the Labor Movement

By Barbara Diamond Goldin 64 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

It was almost 100 years ago (March 25th, 1911) when one of the worst fire disasters in America’s history killed over a hundred female immigrant workers (many of them girls). This fictionalized account from the eyes of an 11-year-old Jewish girl working at the factory compliments the informational text above in humanizing for students an American tragedy.
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Blessings in Disguise

Blessings in Disguise

By ReShonda Tate Billingsley 192 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

ReShonda Tate Billingsley debuted only a couple of years ago, and already she has a loyal national following of adult readers. This is the second (and shorter) book in a young adult series she has aimed at teenage girls. I know the middle school girls who I work with absolutely love Tate Billingsley’s books, and I believe she is an author deserving of your attention. 
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Selected Poems

Selected Poems

By Edna St. Vincent Millay 344 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I love using poetry as a way to entice my students to read and write more (after all, poems are a lot shorter than books). Edna St. Vincent Millay is a wonderful poet to expose middle schoolers to, as she writes in a very accessible way that makes “classical” poetry less intimidating to students. 
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Baby

Baby

By Patricia Maclachlan 160 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

This Newbery winner is one of the most beautifully written books I have ever read aloud to students of all ages…and this book must be read aloud. The language is poetic. 
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