Young Adult

This is one of the best books I’ve ever read to students (or adults). No matter what happens in life, there is nothing quite like friendship. This is one of the most touching stories ever written, in my opinion.

This book is what earned me a place in folklore with a bunch of fifth-grade girls in South Los Angeles, as they loved this book. The scary tale of a 12 year old who discovers a dollhouse in her attic that is an exact replica of her house. It turns out, the dolls in the dollhouse move on their own will. What’s more, the dolls are trying to say something. Interested yet? This one had a class begging for recess to end and read-aloud time to begin.

I don’t know how I missed this book. You have to grab a copy of this funny, intelligent page-turner. Twelve-year-old Livvie throws away a chain letter, only to be reprimanded by her superstitious friend, Joyce. Hilarity and suspense ensue.

To Kill a Mockingbird is arguably the most important American book of the last 50 years. McDonagh Murphy interviews a variety of writers and celebrities to find out what Harper Lee’s masterpiece has meant to them. A great way to get students excited about reading and writing.

While the book could be classified as an adult collection of short stories, I find the book to be a great way to encourage students to keep travelogues – one of my favorite genres. Roe’s dry British wit throughout his 18 stories take readers around the globe and got me yearning to travel abroad again.

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.

If you have a boy who does not like to read, I’d recommend checking out Stone Arch Books. They produce all sorts of wonderful books, and I especially enjoy their graphic novels. This gem includes a lot of funny cartoons, writing prompts and discussion questions and works particularly well with 7-10 year-olds. 

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.

When I read Stead’s writing, I feel like I know her. Have you ever felt that way about an author? No, she doesn’t need me publicizing her work, since she won a little award known as the “Newbery.” I have to confess, though, that one of the things that drew me to Rebecca Stead was how she claims to write for “children, teenagers and open-minded adults.” Bravo! Stead’s books are a hit with middle school students, and parents should treat themselves to a peek.

One way to intrigue students to read more is to offer them unorthodox books. This book encourages every student’s artistic genius, a creative capacity that is too-often ignored in today’s test-crazed schools. Great investment for any teacher.

Telgemeier is the author of the wonderful graphic memoir Smile. She has crafted another winner here with a book that any middle/high school theatre geek can appreciate, and all of your teenage girls will gravitate to this delightful and funny graphic novel.

Don’t let cartoons like Calvin and Hobbes fool you: the vocabulary and situations in this collection of comic strips is a great way to boost reluctant readers’ interest and ability in reading. Of course, the cartoons are hilarious, too.

This is another recently published treasure that the fifth graders I am reading aloud to love. Boys especially want to know all about this story of 32 whaling ships that were trapped in the Arctic in 1871…with over 1200 people. If an Inuit ever warns you to watch out for the ice, I’d suggest you listen to her advice. Read this book and find out what happens to our frigid refugees.

Playfully subtitled “The Perils of a Paranormal Preteen,” this book is perfect for your reluctant fifth or sixth grade boy reader (almost a young adult novel – this is a good “tween” transition book). Fast-paced and fun, students particularly enjoy taking the “ESP” test. You’ll get a kick out of this, too.

Terrific coming of age story of a teenage Japanese-American boy during World War II. Wonderful for book discussions.