Young Adult

Perhaps the theme of this month's list should be: "The Longest Titles Ever Used in Literature." This book is almost shorter than the title, but I enjoyed it because: (a) it is the shortest thing the great Shogun scribe ever wrote; and (b) it confronts children and adults with not-so-easily answered questions taken from our daily routines.

There are plenty of books about bullying, but rarely do books address the power of friendship in overcoming the nastiness of others. Karen Bessey Pease has done all middle school and high school teachers a service in how to address the bullying of teenage girls in an informative and inspiring manner. I am so grateful for this book.

Katie tries to fit in with the “cool” kids at her high school by drinking, starving herself to death, etc. Cindy struggles with depression while maintaining a cool character on the outside. They are just two of the ten girls profiled in this book about the real issues facing many teen girls, with advice on how to deal with such situations. A good read for parents of teen girls, as well.

It is about time I added this to our list, as this is a book that all teachers should have in their classroom libraries. Opal, our young protagonist, reminds me so much of Scout from "To Kill a Mockingbird." There is not a doubt in my mind that this book about a little girl and the abandoned dog she befriends will become a classic.

Ben has always believed that someday he would sprout wings and fly, and as he grows older he tests this theory from greater heights, much to the chagrin of his disbelieving brother. I love books with short chapters because they encourage page-turning and rapid reading, and I have witnessed some of the most reluctant teenage boy readers devour this book in only a couple of sittings.

A collection of Twilight Zone-style creepy tales for pre- and early adolescent boys, often written with wicked humor and sure to delight many reluctant readers.

When a fifth grader creates his own word to defy his teacher, he has no idea that the word will catch-on across America. A funny book that I used to use with my English language-learning students.

I am going to date myself with this book, but I remember enjoying this one when I was a young lad. The story of a homeless man named Armand who reluctantly shares his “home” under a Parisian bridge with a mother and her three children, I think students, teachers and parents alike will find the story heartwarming, humorous, insightful and uplifting. It is well worth the couple of hours it will take to read.

Middle schoolers will appreciate the story of a 12-year-old African-American girl growing up in segregated Alabama. Terrific surprise ending makes for great classroom discussions.

I have a philosophy about helping struggling boys to read: when in doubt, hand them a Gary Soto novel. This collection of stories for upper elementary and middle school boys deals with the every day issues they face – and adults are too often embarrassed to discuss.

Great for teaching about propaganda and current events, this book chronicles the adventures of Luke, the third child born in a society where families are only permitted to have two children.

One of my favorite crime writers, Parker has finally written a book to introduce young adults to his crafty storytelling. Set in his hometown on the Massachusetts coast right after World War II, fourteen-year-old Bobby deals with typical adolescence issues: puberty, basketball and mystery. Particularly good book for reluctant boy readers.

A teenager witnesses a murder and is given a pill to forget the whole event. Everything would have been fine – if she took the pill. Instead, Norah and a classmate try to figure out the real story, and your middle school students will love the suspense that ensues. Smibert’s book reads like an Orwellian tale.

After a terrible accident, Eva wakes up to find she has been given the body of a chimpanzee. Intrigued yet?

In this, the second Emma Dilemma chapter book, Emma’s dilemma is that the nanny that she loves, Annie, is going away to Ireland for three weeks. Emma and her siblings fear Annie will not return, so they are determined to make life “interesting” for Annie’s substitute. Funny and very easy to read.