Young Adult

I always wanted to work on a fishing boat…until I started watching Deadliest Catch! No, thank you. Really enjoyed reading this book by the always awesome Hobbs about a 16-year-old boy working a boat to save money for college, only to find out that his captain has a secret. Never a dull moment.

In this black comedy by the author of the popular Artemis Fowl series, a troubled teen must help an elderly man accomplish everything on his wish list. Touching – funny – poignant.

Deuker is one of those authors I turn to when I have a boy who tells me he doesn’t like to read. This book is about a lot more than baseball, and it makes for great discussions in class.

I just read this with some teens I am working with, and they all enjoyed the pacing and reality of this book. A good look at how two teens deal with their growing pains.

Touching memoir about an absentee father told in poems and prose and accompanied by moving black-and-white photographs that are sure to stimulate classroom conversations.

Witty memoir about Dumas’s emigration to the United States from Iran at age seven in the 1970s.

Great book for teachers and parents of adolescents. Each page presents a motivational message from a famous personality. The author is a principal, and uses these short, inspirational messages “Paul Harvey”-style to instill powerful lessons in his students.

In an effort to appear cool to the teenagers I work with, I have begun to read a lot more “manga,” which is the “in” genre at most middle and high schools. This first in a very popular series by Hayakawa impressed me by its willingness to turn conventional story structures on their heads (or maybe it is the translation). The twisted humor and “foreign” ending caught me off-guard. This is one of the better manga books I have read.

A classic. The reluctant sixth grade reader is sure to read this illustrated, funny tale because all of us can relate to Charlie Brown's trials and tribulations.

The story of a young girl growing up in a close-knit town in North Carolina. Like any adolescent child, she is struggling to find her place in the world. Poetry is Piper’s outlet, and I enjoyed the message this book sens teens about pursuing their dreams.

Ever read a book simply based on its title? I do, all the time. This time, I was rewarded for the effort, as Alexie’s main character, Arnold Spirit, is a study in adolescence. The trials and tribulations of this teen Native American are applicable to all teens who feel out of place (which describes EVERY teenager).

There are so many reasons you should read this book. This is one of the few books that I have read and not seen the movie, which earned its young star Keisha Castle-Hughes an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress…as a 13-year-old! Of all the books on this month’s list, start with this one, as it is a mythological, coming-of-age, female empowerment, spiritual – magical tale.

Particularly popular with boys, as this one gets a little graphic. An older book (written in 1973), Deathwatch is actually required reading in many high schools, despite many gruesome situations. Compared to many primetime television shows today, I think the book rates fairly tame. Tell me what you think.

I am a big fan of the Private series, which is perfect for teenage girls interested in mysteries. Add Kate Brian to your list of authors to read.

Tired of life being so serious? Why not read about the boy who never grew up? There is an innocent optimism captured in this book that should bring a smile to anyone's face.