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Young Adult

Is Kissing a Girl Who Smokes Like Licking an Ashtray?

Is Kissing a Girl Who Smokes Like Licking an Ashtray?

By Randy Powell 208 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I chose the book for its funny title and was treated to a funny yet moving story of an odd teen couple who, oddly, fit together perfectly.
An Abundance of Katherines

An Abundance of Katherines

By John Green 272 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Just when I thought most young adult literature was written for nitwits and goths, I discovered this gem by John Green. This book will either delight or annoy your students, but it will definitely spark discussions with its DaVinci Code-style of anagrams and other quirks (I LOVED that it included footnotes and appendices, but – then again – I am a nerd).
The Woman I Kept to Myself

The Woman I Kept to Myself

By Julia Alvarez 176 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Julia Alvarez is a magnificent author of such great books as How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents and In the Time of the Butterflies. This collection of her poems will introduce readers to her enticing writing style and keen eye for examining life across cultures in America.
Where Quirky Meets Menacing: an autobiography in collage

Where Quirky Meets Menacing: an autobiography in collage

By Kim Smith 96 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Smith’s “autobiography in collage” is aptly titled, as this gem is filled with anecdotes that are sure to make you laugh. With entries on false teeth, dog poop and dead beetles, this is also a great way to inspire students’ creativity in their writing (the Table of Contents alone should draw plenty of giggles and questions).
The Gospel According to Larry

The Gospel According to Larry

By Janet Tashjian 246 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

When 17-year-old Josh Swensen creates a popular website through his alter ego to impress Beth, havoc ensues in this page-turner that boys and girls alike will love.
The Suburb Beyond the Stars

The Suburb Beyond the Stars

By M.T. Anderson 240 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

M.T. Anderson is simply one of my favorite authors for teens, as his books are filled with plenty of twists and turns, lots of action and humor and even a subliminal message every now and then. Your middle schoolers will greatly enjoy this sequel to Anderson’s The Game of Sunken Places.
Real Time

Real Time

By Pnina Moed Kass 192 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Great book for discussions about current events, as it examines a suicide bombing of a bus in Israel told through the perspectives of very different characters. I love how it pushes readers to consider different points of view.
Teen Cuisine

Teen Cuisine

By Matthew Locricchio 207 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

It’s about time someone came out with a beautifully photographed cookbook for teens. Perfect for latchkey kids (or, should I say, their work-weary and exhausted parents).
Lost in the Barrens

Lost in the Barrens

By Farley Mowat 208 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I have a rule to include a Farley Mowat recommendation every now and then, as I have found him to be one of the best lures to teenage boys who don’t like to read. His outdoor adventures, most often in the Arctic, are always fast-paced with an important eco-message. I absolutely love Farley Mowat.
Green Angel

Green Angel

By Alice Hoffman 144 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

It’s a fable, but readers (at least me) must recognize how the plot resembles the events of 9-11. Hoffman’s brilliance is in the way her female protagonist deals with these events.
Every Heart a Doorway (Wayward Children)

Every Heart a Doorway (Wayward Children)

By Seanan McGuire 176 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Winner of the 2017 Alex Award, this book is difficult to keep on your shelves. Students who enjoyed The Chronicles of Narnia and Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children series will devour this mysterious fairy tale that is never dull.
Game Changer

Game Changer

By Tim Bowler Young Adult

Danny Says

Tense thriller that will make for lively classroom discussions. Taught me what “agoraphobia” is.
The Orange Houses

The Orange Houses

By Paul Griffin 176 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Loved this book! As an inner-city teacher, I am always looking for books that reflect the experiences of my students. Great story about a partially-deaf high school students who befriends a 16-year-old refugee and an 18-year-old vet/junkie. Great dialogue with terrific ending.
Seven Second Delay

Seven Second Delay

By Tom Easton 240 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Another entry in the highly popular dystopian genre, your teens will lose their breath as they follow this thrilling chase story.
Left for Dead: A Young Man's Search for Justice for the USS Indianapolis

Left for Dead: A Young Man's Search for Justice for the USS Indianapolis

By Pete Nelson 201 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

What a cool story! Anyone who ever saw Jaws knows the true, harrowing story of the survivors of the U.S.S. Indianapolis who battled sharks in the South Pacific after their ship sank. What many – including me – did not know was that the navy blamed the captain of the ship, despite sailors’ pleas that their captain was not to blame. Fifty years later, an 11-year-old boy’s history project becomes a crusade to restore the captain’s name. This book had everything, and I honestly caught myself turning pages before students were ready. The kind of book every teacher needs to read to inspire her students to write.

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