Young Adult

After perusing the shelves of a popular book chain and seeing mainly titles geared for girls, I am on a mission to find books that will appeal to boys. This debut novel is hilarious and sure to engage even the most reluctant buy reader.

One of the short stories in this collection, “Lamb to the Slaughter,” sealed my interest in everything by Roald Dahl when I was in ninth grade. In “Lamb,” a wife murders her husband with a leg of lamb before feeding the murder weapon to local investigators. Dahl’s wicked sense of humor is perfect for teens.

I’m not the biggest advocate for horror stories, as I prefer looking at the world through rose-colored glasses. That said, a lot of teens dig creepy tales, and Prose’s retelling of Henry James’s The Turn of the Screw will have them jumping out of their seats.

Combine one of the best authors working today with one of the most popular superheroes, and you get a graphic novel that will always be checked out and talked about by your boys.

This gifted author who gave us the delightful tale of the pig named Babe writes another extraordinary tale from the barnyard. Martin, the cat, loves mice…as pets. When his pet mouse escapes to her freedom, Martin is devastated until he is imprisoned as a pet himself. Frankly, Dick King-Smith amazes me by the depth of his characters and stories. There are some amazing morals weaved throughout his stories, and I recommend ALL of his books.

A lot is going on in this book about a 15-year-old girl who witnesses her sister die in a car accident on September 11th. I sort of felt that all the stuff was a distraction, as I enjoyed the main character’s attempts to cope with her grief. I have had many wonderful book discussions with middle schoolers on this book.

When should you stop reading aloud to students? Never! Here is a great example of a book that your students will enjoy even more if you read it aloud to them, as Oliver’s writing is so pleasant to the ears. Plus, Oliver does a superb job of presenting strong female protagonists – something sorely (and oddly) lacking in a lot of fantasies.

Very few coming of age teen stories can make you laugh and cry in equal doses. Whaley is a masterful storyteller, and this book makes for terrific class discussions.

Boys love reading books by Dan Gutman because so many of his books are about sports (I especially enjoyed his book on Satchel Paige). I think this one is one of my favorites because there are so many subplots taking place. When 11-year-old Eddie Ball gets the chance to sink a halftime free throw during the NBA finals worth a million dollars, all sorts of interesting twists ensue. To read more about the impact of The Lazy Readers’ Book Club on boys who are reluctant readers, read this month’s blog by clicking here.

A touching story about the cost of war on families over the course of the Civil War. I re-read this recently on an airplane where I sat next to a Marine returning home with the body of a fallen brother in Iraq, and I realized that some themes are timeless. Poignant and compelling for boys and girls (and their parents).

Bill Bryson is – without exception – one of my favorite writers. His travelogues are hilarious, and I was so psyched he wrote this book to allow me to discuss his work with high school students.

Here’s one for the girls. A thirteen-year-old girl dreads the afternoons she must spend with her grandmother until she becomes interested in the tales her grandmother reveals of her past. Give this book a chance, as it does not grab the reader right away. I promise you the story gets better with time…like a strong marriage.

One of the best immigrant stories I have ever read with my students. Na introduces us to Korean immigrant Young Ju and her family, and while there are the usual struggles that are apparent in many immigrant stories, what sets this book apart is how the narrative matures as Young Ju matures into a young woman. Beautiful writing.

I like to use this book when teaching students writing because it shows how Hans Christian Andersen took his many childhood experiences and used them to craft his beloved stories. Great for all ages.

What I like most about Caputo’s “History of the Vietnam War” is that it reveals different perspectives of Vietnam, from soldiers to student protestors. I would love candidates seeking office this November to watch students as they argue various sides of an issue without being disrespectful of one another.