Young Adult

The Chosen of Gaia

By M Mariz 230 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

You can quickly tell that the author of this book is an actress because I found myself visualizing the movie of this book from the first chapter. Getting teens to read science fiction and fantasy these days is about as difficult as getting a politician to accept campaign donations, which is to say that “it ain’t hard.” This story stands out, as girls and boys also appreciate the humor of the characters.

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Warm Bodies: A Novel (The Warm Bodies Series)

By Isaac Marion 256 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Either the book is based on the movie or vice versa. Regardless, I saw a preview for this movie and found myself laughing and eager to check it out. When I saw the book about a zombie who falls in love with a living human being listed under the wonderful category, “paranormal romance,” I knew I had to read it. Nothing pleases me more than seeing the creativity of authors putting new spins on old stories. A great book for teenage girls AND boys.

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Identity: Your Passport to Success

By Stedman Graham,Stuart Emery,Russ Hall 224 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I have had the privilege to watch Graham speak twice and meet him, and I truly believe that everybody – especially teenagers – should listen to his positive and powerful message about coming to grips with who you are and what your purpose is.

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There Is No Dog

By Meg Rosoff 288 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

What if God were a sulky, hormonal teenage boy? This is the question that Rosoff asks in what some may call controversial but I found to be both funny and moving work. Meg Rosoff continues to impress me as one of the finest young adult authors in the business.

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Double Helix

By Nancy Werlin 256 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Very rarely do I read teen thrillers as intriguing as this one. Your boys will find themselves turning the pages effortlessly to find out what happens next.

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So Yesterday

By Scott Westerfeld 256 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Reading this book, I felt like Steve Jobs was using Scott Westerfield as a pen name. There are some really interesting anti-consumerism messages embedded in this book that should spark some interesting conversations in plenty of middle school classrooms.

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Throat of the Night: A Novel (Angelaeon Circle)

By Karyn Henley 294 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Part of the Angelaeon Circle Trilogy, this fantasy is a great way to get your teens hooked on reading. I have seen more than one reluctant reader find a passion for reading, courtesy of Karyn Henley.

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Unsportsmanlike Conduct: A Pearls Before Swine Collection

By Stephan Pastis 128 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I cannot make up my mind what age group to classify this book in, as it offers something for everyone and can be enjoyed by anyone. Wonderful cartoon characters with a wit that would leave any Simpsons fan howling, Pastis might be one of my favorite writers.

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Tech Titans (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) (Profiles (Scholastic))

By Carla Killough McClafferty 144 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Six quick bios of modern business giants Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, Sergey Brin, Larry Page and Jeff Bezos. Perfect quick reads for teens in waiting rooms with dreams of making millions.

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Ruthless Romans (Horrible Histories)

By Terry Deary 144 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Part of the wonderful Horrible Histories series, this book is particularly popular with boys who want to read about truly evil things. Deary is a wonderful teacher, as he dependably turns dry subjects into required reading.

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Bless the Beasts & Children

By Glendon Swarthout Young Adult

Danny Says

What teenager does not feel like a misfit sooner or later? This intriguing story follows six teens that sneak out of a summer camp to save some doomed buffaloes. Powerful classroom discussions guaranteed!

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Among the Volcanoes

By Omar Castaneda 192 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I’ve had four different friends go on missionary trips to Guatemala in the past year, and I was excited to read this tale of life there. Your students will gain healthy perspective by looking into the realities of others their age in economically poorer regions of the world.

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The Library Card

By Jerry Spinelli 160 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

What wonders await the bored and curious? Four separate stories highlight how a magic library card changes the lives of disenfranchised youth. I LOVE books that promote the wonders of reading!

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Finding Our Way

By Rene Saldana Jr. 128 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Teaching a lot of Latino students, I am always on the lookout for compelling stories for Latino teens. Saldaña’s short stories will make a great addition to your classroom library.

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Black Ships Before Troy: The Story of 'The Iliad'

By Rosemary Sutcliff 151 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I was saddened to recently hear of Sutcliff’s passing, as she was a master of bringing alive Greek mythology in ways that students could easily comprehend and enjoy. She was a highly gifted storyteller.

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Young Adult

The Chosen of Gaia

Warm Bodies: A Novel (The Warm Bodies Series)

Identity: Your Passport to Success

There Is No Dog

Double Helix

So Yesterday

Throat of the Night: A Novel (Angelaeon Circle)

Unsportsmanlike Conduct: A Pearls Before Swine Collection

Tech Titans (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) (Profiles (Scholastic))

Ruthless Romans (Horrible Histories)

Bless the Beasts & Children

Among the Volcanoes

The Library Card

Finding Our Way

Black Ships Before Troy: The Story of 'The Iliad'

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