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Young Adult

Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck

Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck

By Margarita Engle 176 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Powerful historical fiction that is sure to incite classroom conversations about slavery. Engle, a past Newbery honoree, is a terrific writer.
Head Games: A PrettyTOUGH Novel

Head Games: A PrettyTOUGH Novel

By Nicole Leigh Shepherd 288 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Trying to put her past behind her (a crazy basketball season and breaking up with her boyfriend), Kylie focuses on pursuing a softball scholarship to UCLA. Good book for teenage girls trying to manage lots of issues at once. Sound like anyone you know?
Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick by Joe Schreiber (25-Oct-2011) Hardcover

Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick by Joe Schreiber (25-Oct-2011) Hardcover

By Joe Schreiber Young Adult

Danny Says

Between the title and the book jacket description (“Ferris Bueller” meets “La Femme Nikita”), this book had me hooked right away. If you have a teenage boy in need of a book, this is your winner, as it is fast-paced and filled with action and laughs. I’d be shocked if they don’t make this into a movie, as it reads like a screenplay.
Your Friend in Fashion, Abby Shapiro

Your Friend in Fashion, Abby Shapiro

By Amy Axelrod 288 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

A great coming-of-age story set in the 1950s of an 11-year-old determined to be Jacqueline Kennedy’s personal fashion designer. It is such a pleasure to read a story with an optimistic and kind female protagonist as opposed to the typical narcissistic, suicidal ones that dominate teenage literature. Axelrod is a hoot, and this story also has a lot of heart.
Moccasin Thunder: American Indian Stories for Today

Moccasin Thunder: American Indian Stories for Today

By Lori Marie Carlson 176 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

In this impressive anthology of ten short stories about American Indians (I’ve always used the term “Native Americans,” but the book prefers “American Indians”), amazing authors like Sherman Alexie and Cynthia Leitich Smith share stories of triumph and tribulation that make great book discussions for middle school classrooms.
White Crow

White Crow

By Marcus Sedgwick 256 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

A few lazyreaders.com subscribers have asked me why I rarely include horror titles, and the simple reason is that I don’t like scary books. They give me nightmares. But, I am here to serve, and if you want a suspenseful, hide-under-your-sheets bedtime story, this book is a good place to start.
Girl, Stolen: A Novel

Girl, Stolen: A Novel

By April Henry 240 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

At the request of a bunch of teenage girls, I reluctantly picked up this book. It could have been really lame. Surprisingly, it was really well-written, fast-paced and filled with terrific plot twists. A car thief is surprised when he realizes a teenager is in the backseat. Then, it turns out she is blind. Oh, and then, it turns out her father is rich, so kidnapping becomes a profitable opportunity for the thief(s). But what happens when the blind girl proves to be less helpless than her captives realize? I’m ashamed to say that I could not put this book down. 
Vordak the Incomprehensible: Time Travel Trouble

Vordak the Incomprehensible: Time Travel Trouble

By Scott Seegert 192 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Perfect self-help guide for teenage boys looking to find their inner evil. Tons of laughs and terrific black-and-white comics in this must-read.
Upstream

Upstream

By Melissa Lion 160 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

A stirring look at how a high school senior deals with the death of her boyfriend, who was killed in a camping accident. 
The Wednesday Wars

The Wednesday Wars

By Gary D. Schmidt 272 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I try not to include books too many pages over 250, but I assure you that this one is worth the extra 22 pages (your middle schoolers be turning pages so quickly that it won’t matter). A Newbery Honor, this book tracks the trials of a seventh grader stuck reading Shakespeare during the 1960s, and how his heated relationship with a teacher turns into friendship. Funny and poignant.
Fairest: An Unfortunate Fairy Tale Book 2 (Volume 2)

Fairest: An Unfortunate Fairy Tale Book 2 (Volume 2)

By Chanda Hahn 246 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I think what I like most about Hahn’s sequel to Unenchanted is her ability to tell a compelling story with an interesting love triangle for teenage girls that does not focus on death and dreariness
365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!

365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!

By Noah Scalin 240 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I am a huge fan of Sir Ken Robinson’s creativity revolution, and I have absorbed a number of wonderfully creative efforts like Scalin’s challenge to pick a theme and create daily projects around that theme for a year. Every teacher and parent should grab a copy.
The Book of Doing: Everyday Activities to Unlock Your Creativity and Joy

The Book of Doing: Everyday Activities to Unlock Your Creativity and Joy

By Allison Arden 192 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I found this book at the checkout stand at Kinko’s. Can you believe it? It was filled with large print, fun fonts and lots of doodles, so I had to buy it. It will take you an hour to read and months to implement. Another great way to encourage creativity.
Gaia Warriors by Nicola Davies (2009-11-02)

Gaia Warriors by Nicola Davies (2009-11-02)

By Nicola Davies;James Lovelock Young Adult

Danny Says

Based largely on the research of scientist James Lovelock, this book is sure to spark interesting classroom discussions about global warming. Great way to teach students how to be respectful of one another’s divergent views.
Schooled

Schooled

By Gordon Korman 224 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I must feel some sort of obligation to promote at least one Gordon Korman book each year. I can’t help it, as he is a hit with teens (and I LOVE the way he writes). This book is cleverly written from various characters’ first-person accounts (reminding me of Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying), and it manages to do what all of Korman’s books do: it will make you laugh, cry and – most importantly – think. This one is sure to strike a chord, especially to start the school year.

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