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Young Adult

Life Is Fine

Life Is Fine

By Allison Whittenberg 181 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I teach a lot of African-American teenage girls who complain that there are not a lot of good things out there to read, so they challenged me to read a lot more African-American literature. I guess the great thing about discussing books is that I stumble upon sweet pieces I probably would have never discovered on my own. This wonderful second novel by Whittenberg is a very quick read that reminds me of an African-American version of Dead Poet’s Society (but I enjoy this book a lot more than I enjoyed that movie, and you can email me if you want to know why I am not a fan of that flick).
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Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 1

Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 1

By Jeff Kinney 224 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I have spoken at three school districts in the last month and a half that are discouraging students from reading this book. What “book banners” do not seem to comprehend is that banning books is precisely the way to make a book a bestseller. In fact, I pray that some day I may author a book that causes protests and boycotts. Why anyone would want to ban this book is beyond me. Boys love it, and – frankly – I rejoice whenever I can find a book that boys like that does not include graphic language or images. Kinney is hilarious, and this book should find its way off banned reading lists and on to recommended summer reading. I highly recommend this book (and its recently released sequel).
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The Opposite of Invisible

The Opposite of Invisible

By Liz Gallagher 160 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

It seems to be increasingly difficult to find books for teens that do not deal with sex, drugs and guns. I grabbed this book solely because I liked the author’s photo and was excited this was her first book. What I was treated to was a book that relies more on the author’s writing ability than any shock value…a simple and sweet story about a girl that learns the difference between love and a crush.
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Arf and the Metal Detector

Arf and the Metal Detector

By Philip Wooderson 72 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

If you have a boy who does not like to read, I’d recommend checking out Stone Arch Books. They produce all sorts of wonderful books, and I especially enjoy their graphic novels. This gem includes a lot of funny cartoons, writing prompts and discussion questions and works particularly well with 7-10 year-olds.  
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Kandide and The Secret of the Mists

Kandide and The Secret of the Mists

By Diana S. Zimmerman 286 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Okay, I confess that the book is actually 288 pages, but it is big print and includes several appendices and illustrator Maxine Gadd’s gorgeous full-color art pages of various characters. Fantasy is all the rage right now, and I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys The Chronicles of Narnia series. What I like best about this book is the message of overcoming adversity and maintaining hope. Precisely the kind of book I like to see adolescents reading.
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Passion and Poison

Passion and Poison

By Janice M. Del Negro 64 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

This is the perfect book to read aloud to a class of sixth graders after a break with the lights turned off. Place a flashlight under your chin and relate any of the seven creepy tales, all featuring strong female protagonists.
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Legend of the White Wolf

Legend of the White Wolf

By Max Elliot Anderson 116 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Nothing makes me happier than finding books that reluctant boy readers will enjoy. If you know a boy who hates reading, grab a book by Max Elliot Anderson. He, like me, hated reading growing up. We may share the same brain, as he thinks in terms of action. Reading this book was like watching a movie: fast and fun. Perfect summer reading.
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Sneaky Uses for Everyday Things

Sneaky Uses for Everyday Things

By Cy Tymony 176 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

The best way I know to get boys to read is to give them a book they can put to good use, and this one does not disappoint. Filled with all sorts of tips for “aspiring MacGyvers,” the book is especially popular with boys who have short attention spans (which is most boys). 
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Secrets of the Cicada Summer

Secrets of the Cicada Summer

By Andrea Beaty 176 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Last month I had the pleasure of speaking in beautiful Kentucky, and I asked everyone I came across what was making that deafening noise outside? “Cicadas,” Derek Shouse said, and that peaked my interest in learning more about these annoying and freaky insects. Lo and behold, the first book I came across with cicadas in the title turned out to be Beaty’s first young adult novel, and what a treat. Eleven-year-old protagonist Lily is a Nancy Drew lover, and this book should impress fellow Nancy Drew devotees.
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Unexplained

Unexplained

By Judy Allen 144 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Jackpot! If you have a ten-year-old boy who does not like to read, I insist you buy this book. It is filled with the cool types of stories that draw boys to read The Guinness Book of World Records and Ripley’s Believe It or Not.
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Like a Thorn

Like a Thorn

By Clara Vidal 128 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I admit, when faced with lots of “girlie” books to read, I try to always choose the slimmest. What this slim volume rewarded me with was an intriguing coming-of-age story about a teenager who has learned to deal with her mother’s psychotic mood swings and now must learn to find herself. On top of a good read, it is a slim, small book with big print (my favorite)!
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The Mystery of the Burmese Bandicoot

The Mystery of the Burmese Bandicoot

By Judy Cox 254 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

The story of two rats fleeing the cage of Ms. Dove’s fifth grade classroom and embarking on a marvelous adventure. This is the kind of book that makes me sound like a curmudgeon wondering, “Why don’t they write books like this anymore?” You can tell the author used to be a teacher, as this is a book any teacher could read aloud to students.
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So Far from the Bamboo Grove

So Far from the Bamboo Grove

By Yoko Kawashima Watkins 192 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

A spectacular, true account of the author’s harrowing experiences as a ten-year-old daughter of a Japanese official in Korea. The story follows the family as they flee Korea for post-WWII ravaged Japan. The action is non-stop, and I’d love to see this book made into a television mini-series. While the story is spellbinding, my guess is that Watkins actually downplays the atrocities she had to endure. A book that belongs in every middle school classroom.
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Skin and Other Stories

Skin and Other Stories

By Roald Dahl 224 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

One of the short stories in this collection, “Lamb to the Slaughter,” sealed my interest in everything by Roald Dahl when I was in ninth grade. In “Lamb,” a wife murders her husband with a leg of lamb before feeding the murder weapon to local investigators. Dahl’s wicked sense of humor is perfect for teens.
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Dear Zoe

Dear Zoe

By Philip Beard 208 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

A lot is going on in this book about a 15-year-old girl who witnesses her sister die in a car accident on September 11th. I sort of felt that all the stuff was a distraction, as I enjoyed the main character’s attempts to cope with her grief. I have had many wonderful book discussions with middle schoolers on this book.
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