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Young Adult

ISSA: The Greatest Story Never Told

ISSA: The Greatest Story Never Told

By Lois Drake 224 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

This book makes for some great book discussions among teens that are interested in religion, history and Middle Eastern culture. The book can be controversial, but it is fiction and acts as a powerful catalyst for students to do some research on their own.
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Repossessed

Repossessed

By A. M. Jenkins 240 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

This book has led to some pretty fun discussions among middle schoolers. While the premise of a demon entering the body of a slacker teen makes for plenty of slapstick moments, the also book has a heartwarming message that resonates with teens. Life is precious and not to be wasted, and every teenager needs to know that. Great title, by the way.
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Enthusiasm

Enthusiasm

By Polly Shulman 224 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Too many teen books depress the heck out of me, so I am thrilled whenever I read something that is funny. Okay, so teen girls will identify more with this Jane Austen-inspired romantic comedy. Still, I enjoyed every page.
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SOLD

SOLD

By Patricia McCormick 263 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Even though I think McCormick is a wonderful writer, do not expect a happy feeling after reading her. Sold is one of the most disturbing young adult books I have ever read, but it is an important book that illuminates the horrible world of teen slavery/prostitution that is certain to stir the hearts and minds of students.
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Uninvited

Uninvited

By Amanda Marrone 204 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I am not sure if Stephanie Myer is solely responsible for the current vampire craze in literature, but I do know that I sure see a lot more vampire books appearing in teen literature lately. For yet another alternative for teens obsessed with the Twilight series, check out Marrone’s book about a teen dealing with issues of bad choices that include her ex-boyfriend (who happens to be a vampire).
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The Knife That Killed Me

The Knife That Killed Me

By Anthony McGowan 224 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Best book I have read in years for reluctant teen boys. This one gripped me in the same way as S.E. Hinton did with The Outsiders. I am now anxious to read McGowan’s previous young adult novels – he is not to be missed.
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Shelter from the Wind

Shelter from the Wind

By Marion Dane Bauer 112 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I forgot all about this short classic. Definitely a hit with girl readers, as it chronicles the story of a 12-year-old girl in search of her real mother. One of the few books with a girl main character that does not totally annoy boys.
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Nuts

Nuts

By Kacy Cook 160 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

This was not what I expected. It is funny (like I thought) in parts, but it is largely a story that makes for great classroom discussions on animal welfare and tough decisions. Really good for fifth and sixth graders.
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Party

Party

By Tom Leveen 240 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

There is something that draws teens to books that are written from multiple points of view. I remember actually enjoying Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying when I was in high school simply because it shifted gears from chapter to chapter (and it includes one of the shortest chapters of any book I have ever read). This is Leveen’s first novel, but his involvement in theatre is apparent in the vivid teen characters he creates here.
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A Step from Heaven

A Step from Heaven

By An Na 160 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

One of the best immigrant stories I have ever read with my students. Na introduces us to Korean immigrant Young Ju and her family, and while there are the usual struggles that are apparent in many immigrant stories, what sets this book apart is how the narrative matures as Young Ju matures into a young woman. Beautiful writing.
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10,000 Days of Thunder: A History of the Vietnam War

10,000 Days of Thunder: A History of the Vietnam War

By Philip Caputo 128 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

What I like most about Caputo’s “History of the Vietnam War” is that it reveals different perspectives of Vietnam, from soldiers to student protestors. I would love candidates seeking office this November to watch students as they argue various sides of an issue without being disrespectful of one another. 
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Vampire High

Vampire High

By Douglas Rees 240 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Finally a vampire story that I can sink my teeth into (ugh – I cannot believe I wrote that sentence). This is the first vampire story I have read with students that gets them laughing, as it follows the misadventures of Cody Elliot, who flunked-out of one public high school only to enroll in a private school that he soon discovers is populated by student vampires. Especially great for boys who despise girls going ga-ga over the Twilight series.
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Stuck in Neutral

Stuck in Neutral

By Terry Trueman 144 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Talk about a wonderful book to discuss with students! Shawn McDaniel is a 14-year-old with severe cerebral palsy who cannot communicate his gift: he remembers everything he has ever heard (my wife also has this gift). Seriously, what I enjoyed most about this book was the relationship between Shawn and his father, who struggles with whether to euthanize his son.
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Walking Zero: Discovering Cosmic Space and Time Along the PRIME MERIDIAN

Walking Zero: Discovering Cosmic Space and Time Along the PRIME MERIDIAN

By Chet Raymo 208 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

A MUST READ! Raymo’s wonderful tale of how the prime meridian came to being is a constant page-turner for all ages, as I rarely come across an author who can take an obscure scientific topic and hold my attention with every paragraph. Raymo is an outstanding writer, and this book is pure joy.
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Lupita Manana

Lupita Manana

By Patricia Beatty 147 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Following the death of their father, a girl and her brother cross into America seeking a better life for their family in this often depressing narrative. Good companion to Will Hobbs’s Crossing the Wire; I think people should read stories like this around Thanksgiving, in particular, to be reminded of all of their blessings here in the United States.
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