Young Adult

Why wouldn’t I include a book on this list with a title like that? Heartwarming and hilarious, a fat black cat named Zorba learns the value of caring for others in this magnificent story.

Pete Hautman is an author you NEED to read, and not just because he won a National Book Award. His novels always say something, and they guide readers effortlessly into worlds that may seem absurd yet familiar at the same time. I enjoyed this book for its female protagonist’s decline from joy rider to certified car thief, which is just a canvas Hautman uses to paint teenage angst. A book that middle schoolers, in particular, can easily identify with.

So what if this book doesn't make you laugh? It's a good book that you can read while you wait in lines. Some books are just worth reading because they touch your heart. This is one of those books.

I must confess that I have not seen the movie version of this excellent book about two boys living beside one another in Poland who discover they share the same birthdate. One lives outside the fence, and the other lives within the fence wearing striped pajamas. The boy on the outside never knew what his father did for a living, and this book strengthens my theory that some of the best stories of atrocities like the Holocaust are told from the points of view of children (see The Diary of Anne Frank).

Great book for discussions about current events, as it examines a suicide bombing of a bus in Israel told through the perspectives of very different characters. I love how it pushes readers to consider different points of view.

Don't worry - I've seen editions of this book range from 175 - 275 pages. It is worth the read, especially if you enjoy reading about the value of friendship.

The sequel to McMann’s wonderful Wake (and precursor to the upcoming Gone), this is the series I recommend to girls after they get over Stephanie Meyer’s enormously successful Twilight series. Ever see the movie Dreamscape with Dennis Quaid back in the ‘80s as a dream catcher who could dream the dreams of others? Picture that with a female protagonist, and you get this promising series.

It’s about time someone came out with a beautifully photographed cookbook for teens. Perfect for latchkey kids (or, should I say, their work-weary and exhausted parents).

I have a rule to include a Farley Mowat recommendation every now and then, as I have found him to be one of the best lures to teenage boys who don’t like to read. His outdoor adventures, most often in the Arctic, are always fast-paced with an important eco-message. I absolutely love Farley Mowat.

I flew through this book and found myself nodding and saying “Amen” a lot. The authors do a remarkable job of reminding teens that some of their most important life choices take place during adolescence, and it is their responsibility to choose wisely.

It’s a fable, but readers (at least me) must recognize how the plot resembles the events of 9-11. Hoffman’s brilliance is in the way her female protagonist deals with these events.

Teens will love you for this book, as Brown encourages everyone’s creativity by providing a thorough account of the research behind doodling and how it is characteristic of brilliant minds.

Sethi’s writing style is loose, and he says he wrote the book for 20-35 year olds. I think financial literacy is even more critical for teens, though, and I would encourage anyone to invest in this book for their teenagers, as it is fun, but – more importantly – provides clear direction to anyone truly interested in taking control of their finances.

If I were teaching a writing class, I think I would use this book to demonstrate how to write compelling characters. We are all flawed, and that is what makes us all special. Holt sets this story in rural Texas in 1971, where a couple of teens meet “the fattest boy in the world.” Beautiful writing, which is probably why it won a National Book Award winner for fiction.

Cameron Johnson had started, run, and sold twelve successful companies by the time he was twenty-one. If that doesn’t impress and inspire teens to look into the merits of entrepreneurship, well – they get the lives they deserve. This book kicked me in the butt to start taking more action.