Young Adult

Olander, a “world-famous monstrologist,” shares his insights with readers on a variety of “googly-eyed wart floppers, shadow-casters, toe-eaters and other creatures. A book to be enjoyed by all ages, that is particularly popular with fifth-grade boys.

The first book in the new Bloggrls series, Sadie’s story profiles a teenager whose life takes a dramatic turn when her parents divorce and she moves to a new school, Sadie maintains her sanity by keeping a blog. The book is entirely written in blog-style, which is what the teenagers I have used this book with found most appealing. I also like to point out to students who aspire to write their own books someday that all illustrations in this book were created by 15-year-old Karina LaPierre.

Really meant for fourth and fifth graders, Alvin Ho is entertaining to all ages, as he freaks out about everything. He is a shy second grader who becomes the loud superhero Firecracker Man at home. A quick, enjoyable read with fun illustrations from LeUyen Pham and one of the most entertaining glossaries I have ever encountered.

I just realized that I had never included Judy Moody on a previous list, and I figure with the film opening this month that now is a good time to get kids excited about the books. I love this edition, in particular, as it includes wonderful artwork by one of my favorite illustrators, Peter Reynolds.

Bridget Jones’s Diary for teens. Very funny.

Am I turning into a teenage girl? I must be, as I recently watched the movie Mean Girls and read this book, and I think that both are “totally awesome.” This book captures teen popularity contests perfectly and with uproarious effects.

Subtitled Poems and Writing by Teenage Girls, this collection (edited by Betsy Franco) includes over 30 compelling poems and stories accompanied by intense black-and-white photographs by Nina Nickles. A great way to inspire teenagers to share their own stories through poems and writing.

If you have never read anything by David Almond, you’re in for a treat. I’d rate him as one of my favorite storytellers for middleschoolers. Your students will be fascinated by this mysterious orphan adventure.

Better known for her prequel to this story, Year of Impossible Goodbyes, Sook-Nyul Choi demonstrates her captivating writing style again in this book that manages to engage readers with its characters and teach a bit of Korean history during the Korean War in the 1950s. Frankly, I will read anything that Sook-Nyul Choi writes, as she is a terrific, important author.

Sitomer is a former California Teacher of the Year, and I can assure you that he writes in the authentic voice that any inner-city middle schooler can relate to. Make sure to check out Sitomer’s latest venture, Nerd Girls. He is a terrific author.

Key’s debut, Alabama Moon, is a highly popular book among teens, and this one will be, too, as it is a page-turner. Better yet, teachers and parents will appreciate the book’s lessons in decision-making and consequences. One of the all-too-rare teen reads that is edgy and manages a happy ending.

How did I miss this book? It’s a Newbery Honor, for crying out loud! Rarely have I seen a teen book about growing up with a disability treated in such a funny and thoughtful way. Excellent story!

If you are trying to introduce students to Tom Sawyer, this book serves as a great introduction. It profiles a young Twain that is adventurous and mischievous. Great anecdotes and a nice overview of the childhood of one of America’s greatest authors and most quoted men (along with Yogi Berra and Abraham Lincoln, for those of you who love random facts).

A great nonfiction writer for young adults, DeAngelis does a superb job of supplying eyewitness accounts and descriptions of one of America’s greatest tragedies. I read this book to a fourth grade class and challenged students to figure out how we can avoid similar tragedies in the future. You may notice below that I include a novelization of the same event for my next pick.

I am quite a fan of Carla Killough McClafferty, as her books tend to take subjects (like World War II) or people (George Washington) that I thought I knew a lot about and leave me turning pages to find out fascinating undiscovered details. Quick, pleasant reading – and great for dinner conversations.