Young Adult

Inevitably, this book is always among the favorites of the middle school-aged boys I teach. Two eighth-grade misfits form a friendship that sees them fighting for causes in a King Arthurian vein. Yes, the book provides plenty of clichés, but I have witnessed two many students who were touched by this book. It is definitely one worth considering.

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Okay, it is a little longer, but I would make this a MUST purchase for any teacher or school library. Heck, I think everybody could benefit from this book, as I was captivated by its true stories of young people in America who made a difference. Do you know about the 16-year-old girl who fought in the Revolutionary War posing as a male? Or the high school junior who refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Alabama, nine months BEFORE Rosa Parks? I assure you, this book hooked me and never let go.

A fun read about two girlfriends who are so obsessed with a certain Broadway musical that they attend a performance every Saturday. When it is rumored the show is about to close, hilarity and suspense ensue. Why can’t more books for teenagers be written like this? A fun story without violence, coarse language or any of the typical garbage fed to the masses in middle and high school.

Stephen King says the author that had the greatest influence on his life was Richard Matheson, so I encourage you to “load up” on Matheson’s books (which have been turned into countless movies, including Duel, What Dreams May Come and the recent Will Smith-version of I Am Legend). Teens are going ga-ga over graphic novels right now, and this is a very good graphic novel that stays true to Matheson’s original book.

This book made me yearn to return to Madrid, as this series is hugely popular in Spain. Funny first-person narrative with magnificent illustrations by Emilio Urberuaga that bring to mind cartoonist Jules Feiffer and Roald Dahl’s illustrator, Quentin Blake.

Why are so many young adult books depressing? No wonder teenagers have so many problems! They need to read more stories of inspiration. Start here, as this memoir chronicles Asgedom’s journey from an Ethiopian refugee camp to Harvard.

When Reed Walton goes from dork to ladykiller in terms of appearance over a summer, he turns to his two best friends to help him deal with his new world of dating. Reminded me of old Patrick Dempsey movies.

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.

Speaking of geeks, this high school journal from a self-described geek makes for fun reading enjoyed by teen boys and girls.

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.

Smart, witty story of a girl entering her senior year with high hopes, only to find herself in the middle of a terrorist plot. Teen girls go through this book faster than a pack of soft-chew chocolate chip cookies.

I included this one in honor of Yom Kippur, the most sacred holiday on the Jewish calendar (October 2nd). Just when I thought that all of the original stories of the Holocaust had been exhausted, a student handed me this gem. This tale chronicles a wealthy German boy’s move to Poland where his father has a new “job” (his father is an SS commander). The boy befriends a Jewish boy who lives “on the other side of the fence,” and the two strike up an innocent childhood friendship. This book gave me shivers. Excellent writing.

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.

A gripping account of how a teen copes with an unexpected death. Beautifully written by three-time Coretta Scott King award winner Angela Johnson.