Young Adult

Before he started sleeping with his step-children, Woody Allen was a pretty funny writer.  I chose this book over Without Feathers and Side Effects because it is the shortest (Without Feathers is my favorite, though).

Anything by Shel Silverstein is fantastic.  Kids and adults alike love his silly poems.  That’s why his books are the most frequently stolen from libraries and bookstores.

For anyone who loves The Far Side or is looking for a way to get students interested in science, this is a wonderful book.

This Newbery Award winner is a must-read for grade 4-6 teachers.  Reminds us that children’s possibilities are endless.

Before I ever enjoyed books, my 7^th grade reading teacher recommended I read this (another Newbery Award winner).  I love this story, and I am even more excited about it now that I live near Catalina Island.

Young Tim is caught between his brother's patriotism and his father's Tory sympathies, in this classic story of the American Revolution.   I stole that summary, as well as a review from “The Horn Book” that claims this book "earns a place beside our best historical fiction."

Alright, so it is technically too long to make our list.  It is written for young adults, and it is so good that I breezed through this award-winning book.  More kids would be interested in history if more teachers asked kids to read interesting books like this one.

This is just a cool book, as it is filled with tidbits for the historically-challenged like myself.  See who was technically the first President of the United States (a man by the name of Huntington), which statesmens’ homes were burnt for signing the Declaration (most) and how one representative stricken with cancer rode all night by horseback  to cast a crucial vote on independence (Caesar Rodney).  A great look at the lives of the men who served in the Continental Congress.  

A Newbery winner that fascinated me as a child, as it chronicles the adventures of a brother and sister who run away from home and live in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

My favorite of S.E. Hinton’s coming of age stories.  She is an amazing writer, amazing because she writes young male characters so well.

This book falls in the upper elementary category, but it is a tale that is loved by all.  The author was a WWII pilot who died a year after the book’s release, and I discovered in the Lindbergh biography that Anne Morrow Lindbergh had a crush on Antoine.  Incidentally, this is the best-selling non-religious book of the 20^th century (worldwide).

This is one of the best books I’ve ever read to students (or adults).  No matter what happens in life, there is nothing quite like friendship.  This is one of the most touching stories ever written, in my opinion.

Before having a square named after him in Oakland, Jack London wrote a few good books.  This remains one of my favorites, and I noticed that Dover Publications is offering copies for a buck on Amazon.

If you are too lazy to read this captivating tale of the man who goes from slow learner to genius, sneak a peek at Cliff Robertson’s Oscar-winning performance in the movie version Charly.

The delightful tale that inspired the movie Willy Wonka, this is a favorite of all ages.  Appropriate reading while you gorge yourself over the Thanksgiving holiday.  I also like to point out to students that Charlie wins the chocolate because the other four kids are brats.  Moral:  nice guys don’t always finish last.