Young Adult

The two-time Newbery Honor winner Schmidt delivers the shattering story of Joseph, a father at thirteen, who has never seen his daughter, Jupiter. After spending time in a juvenile facility, he’s placed with a foster family on a farm in rural Maine. Here Joseph, damaged and withdrawn, meets twelve-year-old Jack, who narrates the account of the troubled, passionate teen who wants to find his baby at any cost. In this riveting novel, two boys discover the true meaning of family and the sacrifices it requires.

Who better than a recent graduate to help students navigate their lives ahead? And why wait until graduation to contemplate life’s deeper questions? With encouragement and advice, McHenry has collected the wisdom of 50 young women and men who share what they learned the hard way – so current students can better prepare for the same challenges. Short, insightful essays that address the real struggles, opportunities and fears that students might eventually face as they go out into the “real world” after graduation.

Using the story of a fictional NFL franchise in need of a turnaround, Hall of Famer Tony Dungy draws on more than 40 years of experience coaching and developing teams to explore the four essential principles practiced by truly effective teams. He identifies the most common issues preventing a team from reaching its full potential, then lays out a practical, proven game plan for creating a winning environment that fosters continued success on and off the field. Great read for students and coaches beginning Fall sports.

The move from elementary school to middle school can be difficult, especially for boys. Too big to be little yet too little to be big, they face the perfect storm of changing bodies, rushing hormones and learning challenges. Catherman and his two sons (one current and one former middle schooler) offer boys the practical help they need to make the move to middle school as painlessly as possible.

Do you know any boys that want to play in the NBA? Heck – almost all of my students – male and female – had dreams of playing professional basketball. What I love about this autobiography – and what sets it apart, in my mind – is Iguodala’s incredible honesty dealing with racial tensions and succeeding not just in basketball but in life as a successful investor and philanthropist. His insights into his own grit and drive provide excellent lessons and guidance. And I’m not even a Golden State Warriors fan!

To Georg Røed, his father is no more than a shadow, a distant memory. But then one day his grandmother discovers some pages stuffed into the lining of an old red pushchair. The pages are a letter to Georg, written just before his father died, and a story, “The Orange Girl.” But this is no ordinary story - it is a riddle from the past and centers around an incident in his father's youth. Now, from beyond the grave, he is asking his son to help him finally solve the puzzle of her identity. A modern fairy tale with a philosophical twist.

The second entry in Pierce’s Protector of the Small series, main character Kel has come to the palace to learn how to become a knight. Although there has been one other woman who has succeeded, she still faces many hurdles – often from those who are training her, as well as those training with her. This book covers the second and third years of that preparation, including battles with bandits and with beings from the Immortal Realm who threaten the kingdom. Fantasy with a female protagonist. Yay!

Great “tweener” for upper elementary and middle school students. A newbie to the track team, Patina must learn to rely on her teammates as she tries to outrun her personal demons in this follow-up to the National Book Award finalist Ghost by New York Times bestselling author Reynolds.

Fantasy fans – you’re in for a treat. Part four of five books in The Dark Is Rising Sequence Newbery Award-winning series, this one may be the best. It’s Will Stanton’s task to wake – with the golden harp – the six Old Ones (immortals dedicated to saving the world from the forces of evil) who must be roused from their long slumber in the Welsh hills to prepare for the last battle between the Dark and the Light.

I sound like a broken record, but one of the best ways to hook young readers is to find them a series or author that they cannot get enough of. Moyes was a British crime novelist best known for her Henry Tibbett series, and middle schoolers, in particular, devour these books.

Happened to pick this book up by pure chance in Carlsbad, California, where the bulk of the story takes place. Odder still, I read it on Memorial Day weekend, and it deals with a Vietnam vet’s struggles once he is back home. Found myself truly enjoying this book, which I acquired by happenstance!

Got a teenage boy who hates reading? One of the ways I have drawn a lot of boys’ interest in reading is through Westerns, like Louis L’Amour. This latest installment in the Callers Spring Ranch Western series is a great way to attract reluctant readers to read.

A National Book Award for Young People’s Literature Finalist tells the story of Nina Faye. When she was fourteen, Nina’s mother told her there was no such thing as unconditional love, and she believed her. Now Nina will do anything for the boy she loves to prove she’s worthy of him. But when he breaks up with her, Nina is lost. What is she if not a girlfriend? What is she made of? Broken-hearted, Nina tries to figure out what the conditions of love are.

Since he turned twelve and a half, Wyatt Reaves has been living with his uncle, a traveling salesman of mysterious agenda and questionable intent. Soon, Uncle Spade sees the potential in “kiddo” to earn cash. And that’s enough to keep the boy around for nearly six years. But what life does Wyatt deserve? Astounding story of one teen’s trials and tribulations, especially popular with boy reluctant readers.

Last year, Jett and his mother had moved to a new town for a fresh start after his father went to jail. But Jett soon learned that fresh starts aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. Smith tells a powerful and emotionally charged story of redemption that makes for great class discussions.