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Young Adult

Playground

Playground

By 50 Cent 320 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Subtitled “The Mostly True Story of a Former Bully,” hip hop star 50 Cent’s debut young adult novel makes a great classroom discussion starter about the all-too-prevalent bullying that occurs in schools. 
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Requiem: Poems of the Terezin Ghetto

Requiem: Poems of the Terezin Ghetto

By Paul B. Janeczko 112 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Subtitled “Poems of the Terezin Ghetto,” Janeczko – who has written all sorts of wonderful books for teachers to inspire a love of poetry in their students – creates moving first-person accounts of Jews incarcerated in the infamous Czech concentration camp for “artistic” Jews. Good poetry is meant to be read aloud, and this book is the impetus for wonderful classroom lessons about tolerance and humanity gone awry in world history.
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Freewill

Freewill

By Chris Lynch 176 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Written in second person, Freewill (an interesting play on words) deals with the thoughts of “Will” as he tries to come to terms with the deaths of his father and stepmother. Definitely a page-turner that will provoke interesting class discussions.
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Zitface

Zitface

By Emily Howse 224 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Acne is calamitous for just about every teenager, but for Olivia – an actress – it can spell the end of her career. Howse does a great job of addressing a number of teen issues without belittling them or judging them. Your girls, especially, will flock to this one.
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Rules of the Road

Rules of the Road

By Joan Bauer 208 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I read a lot, but I do not read enough. That is how I frequently encounter a brilliant author for the first time. Sorry to be so behind, as Joan Bauer is well-known in circles outside of my own (which includes only me). She is hilarious, but that discounts her truly gifted writing ability. Excited to read all of her other books!
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One Fat Summer (Ursula Nordstrom Book)

One Fat Summer (Ursula Nordstrom Book)

By Robert Lipsyte 240 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Having struggled with my weight my entire life (especially during adolescence), I identified with almost everything in this funny and uplifting coming-of-age story. Who says that all young adult literature has to deal with suicide and vampires?
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Is Kissing a Girl Who Smokes Like Licking an Ashtray?

Is Kissing a Girl Who Smokes Like Licking an Ashtray?

By Randy Powell 208 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I chose the book for its funny title and was treated to a funny yet moving story of an odd teen couple who, oddly, fit together perfectly.
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An Abundance of Katherines

An Abundance of Katherines

By John Green 272 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Just when I thought most young adult literature was written for nitwits and goths, I discovered this gem by John Green. This book will either delight or annoy your students, but it will definitely spark discussions with its DaVinci Code-style of anagrams and other quirks (I LOVED that it included footnotes and appendices, but – then again – I am a nerd).
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The Woman I Kept to Myself

The Woman I Kept to Myself

By Julia Alvarez 176 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Julia Alvarez is a magnificent author of such great books as How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents and In the Time of the Butterflies. This collection of her poems will introduce readers to her enticing writing style and keen eye for examining life across cultures in America.
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Where Quirky Meets Menacing: an autobiography in collage

Where Quirky Meets Menacing: an autobiography in collage

By Kim Smith 96 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Smith’s “autobiography in collage” is aptly titled, as this gem is filled with anecdotes that are sure to make you laugh. With entries on false teeth, dog poop and dead beetles, this is also a great way to inspire students’ creativity in their writing (the Table of Contents alone should draw plenty of giggles and questions).
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The Gospel According to Larry

The Gospel According to Larry

By Janet Tashjian 246 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

When 17-year-old Josh Swensen creates a popular website through his alter ego to impress Beth, havoc ensues in this page-turner that boys and girls alike will love.
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The Suburb Beyond the Stars

The Suburb Beyond the Stars

By M.T. Anderson 240 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

M.T. Anderson is simply one of my favorite authors for teens, as his books are filled with plenty of twists and turns, lots of action and humor and even a subliminal message every now and then. Your middle schoolers will greatly enjoy this sequel to Anderson’s The Game of Sunken Places.
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Real Time

Real Time

By Pnina Moed Kass 192 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Great book for discussions about current events, as it examines a suicide bombing of a bus in Israel told through the perspectives of very different characters. I love how it pushes readers to consider different points of view.
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Teen Cuisine

Teen Cuisine

By Matthew Locricchio 207 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

It’s about time someone came out with a beautifully photographed cookbook for teens. Perfect for latchkey kids (or, should I say, their work-weary and exhausted parents).
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Lost in the Barrens

Lost in the Barrens

By Farley Mowat 208 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I have a rule to include a Farley Mowat recommendation every now and then, as I have found him to be one of the best lures to teenage boys who don’t like to read. His outdoor adventures, most often in the Arctic, are always fast-paced with an important eco-message. I absolutely love Farley Mowat.
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