Young Adult

My kind of book, as it has 66 chapters (I am convinced that is one of the secrets to Dan Brown’s success). Teaching in the inner city allowed me a glimpse into the triumphs and travails of students living in poverty. This magnificent book follows a couple of teenagers, LaVaughn and Jolly, as they deal with issues like poverty, unwed motherhood, etc. Uplifting and poetic, it is one of the best books I’ve read for any age in the last five years (although this book is suitable for about a seventh grade level and beyond).

Dickinson is an interesting author. I have read quite a few of his books, and about the only thing I know I can expect is a compelling, unpredictable story. Let’s just say that when a student handed me this one to read, I did not expect a story about a salamander that lives inside a volcano and sheds healing tears while excreting liquid gold. I found myself turning pages pretty quickly, and I think you will, too.

Since this book is about a 6th grade quiz bowl team's funny tales, I'd recommend this to those of you with 6th graders (and quiz bowl teams).

John and Lorraine come to realize that "Our life would be what we made of it--nothing more, nothing less" in this wonderful (yet sad) story.

I read excerpts from this book to a class of delighted sixth graders (it helped that I turned out the lights and placed a flashlight under my chin). This is the sequel to another book where 11-year-old Allie Nicholas determines she has the ability to see ghosts.

Poems and stories about one girl's ability to rise from her dire environment. I especially enjoy a poem called "Four Skinny Trees." It amazes me that it has taken me so long to recommend this book.

Joey mysteriously disappears one night and returns two years later, the same age, with memories of an alien presence. Great for kids who love The X-Files.

I admire some authors just for their titles, and I would place this book in that category. Strasser is a wonderful author for boys, as his books are filled with goofiness. Boys are sure to enjoy this first in the “Tardy Boys” series. Very funny.

I adore Bryson’s humorous travelogues and books on language. I include this book as a young adult pick in order to help teachers make Shakespeare more appealing to their teenagers. Bryson’s funny observations and interesting insights are sure to motivate students to pick up copies of Shakespeare’s plays to find out what all the fuss is about.

This book will remind you to teach your students nicely. It is also great for jumpstarting students' crime and mystery tastes so that they can someday graduate to Patricia Cornwell & Sue Grafton.

Light and funny, the perfect book to help you learn to “go with the flow” when things don’t seem to be going your way.

While Randy Pausch’s The Last Lecture has received countless accolades, here is a book I love to recommend. Thoughtful and challenging, Harper is an author students (and I) really appreciate.

National Book Award finalist. Chapters alternate in the views of different main characters, as protagonist Leticia battles with whether or not to inform a girl that a classmate intends to beat her up. Story makes for a great class discussion on responsibility.

What a cool story! Anyone who ever saw Jaws knows the true, harrowing story of the survivors of the U.S.S. Indianapolis who battled sharks in the South Pacific after their ship sank. What many – including me – did not know was that the navy blamed the captain of the ship, despite sailors’ pleas that their captain was not to blame. Fifty years later, an 11-year-old boy’s history project becomes a crusade to restore the captain’s name. This book had everything, and I honestly caught myself turning pages before students were ready. The kind of book every teacher needs to read to inspire her students to write.

This is the classic that began the Super Fudge phenomenon. Enjoy tales of Peter Hatcher's trials with his little brother Fudgie, among other delightful storylines.