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Young Adult

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

By Kate DiCamillo 240 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

While she is best known for writing “Because of Winn Dixie,” DiCamillo has begun to convince me that she may be one of the most gifted writers alive today. If you are a parent, I want you to do two things: read this book to your children, and read it for yourself. This book is touching without being sappy, and I was blown away by how much I enjoyed it.
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Gossamer

Gossamer

By Lois Lowry 176 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Speaking of great authors, it was pointed out to me that I have not placed a Lois Lowry book on any of my lists. I apologize for the oversight. While everyone knows and loves Lowry’s compelling Newbery-winning “The Giver,” I’d like to recommend her latest fantasy, which highlights all of Lowry’s writing strengths. You can literally read this book at the bookstore (believe me, I did), and it is a couple of hours well-spent.
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Fingers

Fingers

By William Sleator 197 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

If you are not reading young adult books, you are missing out on some of the coolest stories told. When a mother’s child prodigy stops getting piano recital bookings, she creates a scheme to convince the world that a deceased composer is channeling his music from the grave through her son. The trick works until the prodigy’s older brother becomes convinced that the dead composer really has taken over the fingers of his younger brother. This is just an eerie and fascinating book.
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Pay the Piper

Pay the Piper

By Jane Yolen & Adam Stemple 192 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I am a huge fan of Jane Yolen’s many wonderful books of poetry for children. This book shows another side of Yolen, as she has created (along with her son) a fun new twist on the tale of the Pied Piper.
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47

47

By Walter Mosley 240 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Thank goodness for Walter Mosley. When I was teaching 8th grade boys in South Los Angeles, Walter Mosley was our savior. He has written so many great books that speak to so many of my students (e.g. Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned and Devil in a Blue Dress). This book represents his foray into young adult literature, and it is great. Whether he realizes it or not, Mr. Mosley has quite a fan base among teenage boys. A great author!
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Owl in Love

Owl in Love

By Patrice Kindl 224 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Let’s just say that this book is about a girl who becomes a “wereowl” at night. Yes, it is a funny book, and there is a lot more depth to it than that. My students, especially the girls, love this book.
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The Mad Scientist Handbook

The Mad Scientist Handbook

By Joey Green 144 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Yes, there are some problems with this book, as I found quite a few problems with the author’s scientific knowledge (and, believe me, science is not my area of expertise). Still, I have tried quite a few of the experiments with success, and a lot of the creations are sure to impress friends, business associates and students. The book is just meant for fun.
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The Life History of a Star

The Life History of a Star

By Kelly Easton 200 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

This one is a winner! Written as the diary of a teenage girl during the mid-1970s, this book sounded like a “girl” book all the way. Do not make that mistake. I was amazed to find the story to be captivating, funny and gripping all at once. A real page-turner about a girl’s coming of age disrupted by a ghost in the attic that happens to be her brother, who died in Vietnam.
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Where Should I Sit at Lunch?

Where Should I Sit at Lunch?

By Harriet S. Mosatche & Karen Unger 208 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Subtitled “The Ultimate 24/7 Guide to Surviving the High School Years,” this book is the perfect gift for the child who is preparing to enter high school (or even, I daresay, middle school). The book is filled with practical advice from real-life teens, checklists and interesting tidbits from the authors, who I understand are quite good speakers (I have not had the opportunity to see them yet).
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What's French For

What's French For "Ew"?

By Katie Maxwell 196 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

The title grabbed me, and the style kept my attention. One of the first young adult books that I have read that is formatted like a series of emails. Clever and funny.
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Crossing the Wire

Crossing the Wire

By Will Hobbs 224 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Not only is this a great book because it puts a human face on illegal immigration (15-year-old Victor, who must head North to earn money for his fatherless family). I appreciate how the book explores the geography of the Southwest, as I am constantly pressing students to learn more about geography (most Americans only learn where places are if there is a war or natural disaster). To find out more about why I enjoy Will’s books so much, click this link to read this month’s blog.
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Sticks and Stones

Sticks and Stones

By Beth Goobie 112 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Rumors are one of the toughest experiences for adolescents, and this book has always been popular with my students for grabbing their attention with its realistic portrayal of a girl who is falsely accused of being a slut. 
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The Last Mission

The Last Mission

By Harry Mazer 192 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I have been reading a lot of books about World War II lately, and an odd man at the bookstore insisted I read this book. Wish I could run into the fellow again, because this book is fantastic. A 15-year-old Jewish boy lies his way into the Air Force with dreams of becoming a hero. I know: there are plenty of stories like it, but I have never read such a story geared toward teenage boys. Recommend this one to reluctant middle school readers.
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Echoes of the White Giraffe

Echoes of the White Giraffe

By Sook Nyul Choi 144 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Better known for her prequel to this story, Year of Impossible Goodbyes, Sook-Nyul Choi demonstrates her captivating writing style again in this book that manages to engage readers with its characters and teach a bit of Korean history during the Korean War in the 1950s. Frankly, I will read anything that Sook-Nyul Choi writes, as she is a terrific, important author.
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The Triangle Shirtwaist Company Fire of 1911

The Triangle Shirtwaist Company Fire of 1911

By Gina De Angelis 128 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

A great nonfiction writer for young adults, DeAngelis does a superb job of supplying eyewitness accounts and descriptions of one of America’s greatest tragedies. I read this book to a fourth grade class and challenged students to figure out how we can avoid similar tragedies in the future. You may notice below that I include a novelization of the same event for my next pick.
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