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Young Adult

Looking for Alaska

Looking for Alaska

By John Green 221 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Miles Halter lives a dull teenage life until coming to an Alabama boarding school and meeting the girl of his dreams. She and his roommate introduce Miles to a world of mischief and meaning that makes for a story that all students can easily relate to and discuss.
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Fangs for Freaks (Half-Blood Vampire Novels)

Fangs for Freaks (Half-Blood Vampire Novels)

By Serena Robar 224 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I am sort of irked by the popularity of vampire literature, as it is severely over-represented on bookshelves. That said, I find that if I want to relate to middle schoolers, I need to read what they read. I found myself actually enjoying the vampires in this story. What I like about Robar’s writing is she is very funny, and I hope she writes outside the vampire genre (I’d like to read more of her work). 
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Perfect: A Novel

Perfect: A Novel

By Natasha Friend 232 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Let’s face it: every teenager is messed up. That’s a fact. The world collapses for every teenager, regardless of the degree of seriousness. Popularity contests, bulimia – this book has everything your middle school girls will love to talk about in literature circles.
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The Face on the Milk Carton

The Face on the Milk Carton

By Caroline B. Cooney 208 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

When the face of a missing child on a milk carton begins to bring back memories, 15-year-old Jane begins to question if her loving parents are truly hers. An older book (it’s about 15 years old), but a real page-turner. 
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Keeping the Moon

Keeping the Moon

By Sarah Dessen 228 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I wholeheartedy endorse Sarah Dessen’s books, as she is one of the increasingly rare young adult authors who manages to tell a contemporary story without lots of negative language and graphic scenes. Still, girls are drawn to this book about a modern day Cinderella shedding pounds and a negative self-image in a story that manages to entertain and seem real and honest at the same time.
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Runner

Runner

By Carl Deuker 224 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

This is a no-brainer. Sports, suspense – this book has it all. What I like best is the evolving relationship between high school senior Chance Taylor and his Gulf War veteran-turned-alcoholic father, as I am a sucker for redemptive endings.
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I Can't Keep My Own Secrets: Six-Word Memoirs

I Can't Keep My Own Secrets: Six-Word Memoirs

By Larry Smith,Rachel Fershleiser 192 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Want to know how to get reluctant writers to write? Turn them on to one of my favorite websites, smithteens.com (or, for all ages, sixwordstories.net). The editors of SMITH magazine have compiled this book of over 800 teenage six-word memoirs, ranging from the funny “Sometimes, Little Debbie wins. She’s evil” to the painful “Five elementary schools and two obituaries.” This is one of the best motivational tools I have ever used with reluctant writers.
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10 Things to Do Before I Die

10 Things to Do Before I Die

By Daniel Ehrenhaft 224 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

While I cannot say I am a fan of some of the scenarios in this book, I do appreciate how Ehrenhaft employs a variety of literary devices in telling this story that some of the middle school boys I have worked with say is their favorite funny book. And I have a creedo: if it gets boys laughing and reading, I support it wholeheartedly!
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JUDY MOODY WAS IN A MOOD (BOOK #1)

JUDY MOODY WAS IN A MOOD (BOOK #1)

By Megan McDonald 176 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I just realized that I had never included Judy Moody on a previous list, and I figure with the film opening this month that now is a good time to get kids excited about the books. I love this edition, in particular, as it includes wonderful artwork by one of my favorite illustrators, Peter Reynolds.
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Things I Have to Tell You: Poems and Writing by Teenage Girls (Betsy Franco Young Adult)

Things I Have to Tell You: Poems and Writing by Teenage Girls (Betsy Franco Young Adult)

80 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Subtitled Poems and Writing by Teenage Girls, this collection (edited by Betsy Franco) includes over 30 compelling poems and stories accompanied by intense black-and-white photographs by Nina Nickles. A great way to inspire teenagers to share their own stories through poems and writing.
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The Hoopster

The Hoopster

By Alan Lawrence Sitomer 224 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Sitomer is a former California Teacher of the Year, and I can assure you that he writes in the authentic voice that any inner-city middle schooler can relate to. Make sure to check out Sitomer’s latest venture, Nerd Girls. He is a terrific author.
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The Many Faces of George Washington: Remaking a Presidential Icon (Exceptional Social Studies Titles for Intermediate Grades)

The Many Faces of George Washington: Remaking a Presidential Icon (Exceptional Social Studies Titles for Intermediate Grades)

By Carla Killough McClafferty 120 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I am quite a fan of Carla Killough McClafferty, as her books tend to take subjects (like World War II) or people (George Washington) that I thought I knew a lot about and leave me turning pages to find out fascinating undiscovered details. Quick, pleasant reading – and great for dinner conversations.
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Lunch-Box Dream

Lunch-Box Dream

By Tony Abbott 192 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

A wonderful piece of historical fiction that teachers can use to introduce students to the Civil Rights Movement. Makes a great read aloud.
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The Wikkeling

The Wikkeling

By Steven Arntson 224 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

This one may keep your students up at night, as the combination of Arntson’s creepy story and Daniela J. Terrazzini’s illustrations make this an unexpected page-turner, perfect for students who enjoy Suzanne Collins’s The Hunger Games.
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Theodore Boone: the Abduction

Theodore Boone: the Abduction

By John Grisham 256 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I try not to publicize well-established authors, as I know they need no help selling books. However, John Grisham is precious to me, as he is the person who got me interested in reading for fun. I read all of his paperbacks when I lived in Spain (there were only three then: A Time to Kill, The Firm and The Pelican Brief), and his books set me on the path to reading lots of other authors. What a treat it is that he has written this Theodore Boone series, as now Grisham can attract a younger audience to his wonderful legal suspense thrillers.
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