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Young Adult

Celebrating the Hero

Celebrating the Hero

By Lyll Becerra de Jenkins 192 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

This is an interesting story a former student handed me. A Connecticut woman seeks to find out the truth about her Colombian grandfather, who was not all that he seemed. Good for exposing students to Colombian culture.
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Heaven

Heaven

By Angela Johnson 160 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I’ve been on a roll lately, as it seems like every book I pick turns out to be amazing. Thus is the case with Angela Johnson’s riveting story of a 14-year-old girl who discovers her family is not exactly as it seems. Perfect book for discussing the differences in 21st century families. Who’s to say what a family is supposed to look like? A book that will stick with you days later.
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The Samurai's Tale

The Samurai's Tale

By Erik C. Haugaard 256 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Wow! Yeah, this is the kind of book I would have liked to read when I was a teenage boy. Haugaard immerses the reader in 16th century Japan. There, the young protagonist Taro (an orphan – of course!) serves the great warlord Takeda and avenges the death of his family. Boys can read this book faster than the Nestle Quik bunny downs a glass of chocolate milk.
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The Wolves of Willoughby Chase

The Wolves of Willoughby Chase

By Joan Aiken 192 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

For those who often complain of not enough stories with strong female protagonists, I give you Joan Aiken. She has the rare gift of creating tales that girls and boys can appreciate, and all of her books fly off bookcases once teachers and parents treat their children to this first tale of misery, suspense and adventure. A fantastic book.
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Fat Kid Rules the World

Fat Kid Rules the World

By K. L. Going 224 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Another wonderful treat from a first time author. The title caught my eye, and the story grabbed me immediately. My biggest complaint with so many young adult authors is that they fail to depict realistic characters or situations. The strength of this book is the friendship between an unlikely pair – a skinny punk rocker and a suicidal “fat kid.” A moving, honest story.
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Vampire Kisses

Vampire Kisses

By Ellen Schreiber 128 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I have never understood all of the hubbub over vampires. To me vampire stories work best when there is some humor involved (like The Lost Boys, Once Bitten and Vampire’s Kiss). I grabbed a copy of this book because the author used to be a stand-up comic, so I figured it might be entertaining. Boy, is it, as I am now an Ellen Schreiber fan. Parents, you’re in luck, as she has written a series of fun vampire novels for teens.
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Burnt Orange

Burnt Orange

By Melody Carlson 208 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

When Amber just tries to fit in, she finds her life spinning out of control. I liked this story for the message it sends teens about losing one’s self in the race to be popular.
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Going Too Far

Going Too Far

By Jennifer Echols 245 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

There are a lot of trashy teen romance stories out there. Believe me. So whenever I come across an author who can create characters that I empathize with who do not live in a mansion or attend an elite prep school, I am relieved. Echols writes witty banter between her main love interests that sets her writing apart from a crowded field of garbage.
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Orion Paperback

Orion Paperback

By Michael Berman 192 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I am always looking for great books to hook adolescent boys. Bingo! Berman’s sci-fi thriller is a page-turner that even the most reluctant readers will plow through.
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Lush

Lush

By Natasha Friend 192 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Some writers understand the way teenagers think and the way they talk. Friend does a superb job of dealing with a teen’s struggles with her alcoholic father. A sensitive and compelling story.
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On the Devil's Court

On the Devil's Court

By Carl Deuker 208 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

A modern day Faustian tale about a 17-year-old named Joe “Faust” whose heroics on the basketball court and in the classroom prompt him to wonder if he truly made a deal with the devil. I liked this book because it caused a few boys to learn more about Faust. 
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Get Well Soon

Get Well Soon

By Julie Halpern 224 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I LOVED this book. Halpern’s debut is a quirky and – to me – hilarious story about a depressed teen committed to a mental hospital with a cast of wonderful characters.
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Confessions

Confessions

By Kate Brian 232 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I am a big fan of the Private series, which is perfect for teenage girls interested in mysteries. Add Kate Brian to your list of authors to read. 
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How To Steal A Car

How To Steal A Car

By Pete Hautman 176 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Pete Hautman is an author you NEED to read, and not just because he won a National Book Award. His novels always say something, and they guide readers effortlessly into worlds that may seem absurd yet familiar at the same time. I enjoyed this book for its female protagonist’s decline from joy rider to certified car thief, which is just a canvas Hautman uses to paint teenage angst. A book that middle schoolers, in particular, can easily identify with.
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The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

By John Boyne 215 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I must confess that I have not seen the movie version of this excellent book about two boys living beside one another in Poland who discover they share the same birthdate. One lives outside the fence, and the other lives within the fence wearing striped pajamas. The boy on the outside never knew what his father did for a living, and this book strengthens my theory that some of the best stories of atrocities like the Holocaust are told from the points of view of children (see The Diary of Anne Frank).
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