Young Adult

If you have seen me speak, you have heard me praise my seventh grade reading teacher, Will Hobbs. He was one of the teachers that encouraged me to write (and he still does), and now he is one of the most important young adult authors in America. Bearstone is one of his first books, and I think it is one of the best coming of age stories available to middle school students. Do yourself a favor and treat yourself to any book by Will Hobbs.

Attention to parents and teachers with reluctant boy readers: I have found a solution to your problems. Chris Lynch is the kind of writer that gets boys interested in reading, and once your boys zip through this book, hand them copies of its predecessors, Slot Machine and Extreme Elvin. Any teenage boy will be able to identify with Lynch’s loveable protagonist, Elvin Bishop.

The first book in the “Blast to the Past” series that features stories of people who persevered. I love how young readers come away realizing that everyone has doubts but successful people keep on trying. This book is also filled with all sorts of little-known historical goodies (like how the White House was not known as such in the 1860s), and it makes for easy reading.

I wish this book was around when I was a teenager. For those teenagers nervous about entering high school, college or, heaven forbid, the real world, this is a great “career guide.” What I mean is that it works as an inspirational guide to get kids thinking about goals and directions to take to meet those goals. Frankly, I’d recommend this book to 90 percent of the adults I know. Great for those in need of “focus.”

Filled with juvenile humor (plenty of nose-picking, etc.), this book appealed to me because of the main character, Guy Strang, who feels he must have been switched at birth. Who hasn’t felt that way at one time or another? His solution to the dilemma makes for an entertaining page turner.

Students ask me about my favorite news publications: The Los Angeles Times? The International Herald-Tribune? USA Today? Those are all fine, but my preference is The Weekly World News. It is the only tabloid that I feel is harmless, as its stories are so completely out there that, as Geico would suggest, even a caveman could figure out the articles are false but funny. I am not ashamed to admit that one of my greatest joys in life is relaxing with a cup of coffee (or other potent beverage) and a copy of The Weekly World News. By the way: this is a great book for reluctant readers, as it includes hilarious photos, too.

This one is sure to make you cry, even if you’re self-centered and obnoxious. It is based on the true story of a girl’s courage in dealing with post-atom bomb disease. I highly recommend this book.

The first installment in this cool series, The 39 Clues provides teens with their own cross between National Treasure and The DaVinci Code. This is one even reluctant readers cannot put down.

Billingsley writes teen dialogue that rivals Sharon Draper, and African-American teenage girls – in particular – rave about this book.

One of the greatest young adult authors of our time provides teachers this gift for teaching writing. Spinelli (of Maniac Magee fame) recounts his experiences growing up in Norristown, Pennsylvania. I absolutely LOVED this book and thank Jerry Spinelli for constantly inspiring young authors (and even older ones, too).

This book reads like a written version of the movie Slumdog Millionaire, as it follows three teens living among the trash heaps of a third world country whose world is transformed when they discover a mysterious bag. Compelling page-turner that can be used for great classroom conversations about poverty and the silent voices of the poor.

This is an interesting story a former student handed me. A Connecticut woman seeks to find out the truth about her Colombian grandfather, who was not all that he seemed. Good for exposing students to Colombian culture.

Okay – so it is really 288 pages. The appendix alone is thirty pages; cut me some slack! I am a sucker for anything on Charlie Chaplin, and placed in the hands of masterful author Sid Fleischman, this is a terrific biography about a cinematic comic icon.

I am always on the lookout for books that engage teens with positive messages. King’s book is funny and easy to read, and it provides very useful strategies anyone can use to maintain a proper and product positive perspective (how’s that for alliteration?).

Newbery Honor book that pits 13-year-old Matt, a white settler, with Attean, a Native American boy in the 1700s. Matt teaches Attean how to read in English, and Attean teaches Matt how to survive in the wilderness. An unlikely friendship ensues, and Matt faces a difficult choice in this highly-popular book among middle school students.