Young Adult

There’s not a teenager in the world who thinks life is fair. Danziger does a great job of poking fun at life as a teenager, but this book works because it has just as much heart as laughs. Very popular among the teens I read with.

Absolutely marvelous book about two unlikely friends, an Albanian refugee and a precocious African-American fourth grader. Written in first person in alternating chapters from both girls’ perspectives, I could not put this book down. I highly recommend you check it out.

A disturbing narrative about the bleak life on the streets of a pack of homeless teens in New York City. I recommend this book for two reasons: one of the protagonists is a librarian that lends a helping hand (and I like books that portray librarians as heroes) and I cannot get the book out of my head. I am not sure yet that I like it, and that means it is probably a great book (the ones that keep you thinking always are).

To blend in or stand out? That is probably the most crucial question for any teenager. This interesting tale of a girl who grows wings and sees the distress of her mother (who, it turns out, had her wings cut off by her mother when she was a teenager) should find a wide audience, as I empathized with the dilemmas that both teens and their parents face.

I confess that I picked this book from the shelves because I thought it was a grammar book and wound up treated to a book that teen boys love. Great characters come together in a money-making scheme gone awry. Funny and touching at the same time.

Margaret Peterson Haddix is one of the most popular young adult authors in America, and the reason is because of her mastery to create realistic teen characters in realistic situations in much the way that filmmaker John Hughes managed to capture teen dilemmas during the 1980s. I use this book to inspire middle schoolers to write, especially as I have taught girls like Tish Bonner who sit in the back of the class and think they are too good for school.

Inspired by the author’s own experiences camping as a Boy Scout on the site of Hawaiian earthquake/tsunami, this book is sure to entice readers, as it reads a lot like a campfire story that keeps building and building.

I think what I like most about Hahn’s sequel to Unenchanted is her ability to tell a compelling story with an interesting love triangle for teenage girls that does not focus on death and dreariness.

Think Blair Witch Project for teens, as six teenagers stay the night at a mental institution set for demolition. A great mystery that will keep teenagers on the edges of their seats.

I am a huge fan of Sir Ken Robinson’s creativity revolution, and I have absorbed a number of wonderfully creative efforts like Scalin’s challenge to pick a theme and create daily projects around that theme for a year. Every teacher and parent should grab a copy.

Students will love this, and wise teachers will read it themselves, as this awesome book is FILLED with great transition activities that are sure to keep students awake in between test drivel.

I found this book at the checkout stand at Kinko’s. Can you believe it? It was filled with large print, fun fonts and lots of doodles, so I had to buy it. It will take you an hour to read and months to implement. Another great way to encourage creativity.

Lots of stuff going on in this book. Great for the “middle child” in any family. Reminded me of the Outlander books my wife has me reading, as it deals with a young girl’s time travel adventures. Sure to be popular with upper elementary and middle school girls.

Based largely on the research of scientist James Lovelock, this book is sure to spark interesting classroom discussions about global warming. Great way to teach students how to be respectful of one another’s divergent views.

One of the best ways I know to entice reluctant boy readers to read is to offer them plenty of comics. Better yet – find one related to a recent hit movie. Get multiple copies of this paperback, as it will fly off the shelves.