Young Adult

I must confess that I am a Cliff Clavin at heart, meaning that I adore filling my brain with all sorts of useless information. This book is a treasure mine filled with tidbits about musicians ranging from Beethoven to Woody Guthrie. I love it!

Grabbed this book because I liked the cover, and I was treated to a terrific story about an 11-year-old who meets a teenager who happens to be her estranged grandfather. One of the more clever takes on adults and kids switching places that I have ever read. Your middle school boys will delight in this book just as much as the girls.

If you want to get a reluctant boy into reading, show him a book with a mummy on the cover. You will be fascinated to learn about human remains uncovered in peat bogs throughout the United Kingdom and northern Europe. The photos are what keep kids opening this book, though. A great read for those interested in following the Indiana Jones path to archaeology.

Okay, I confess that the book is actually 288 pages, but it is big print and includes several appendices and illustrator Maxine Gadd’s gorgeous full-color art pages of various characters. Fantasy is all the rage right now, and I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys The Chronicles of Narnia series. What I like best about this book is the message of overcoming adversity and maintaining hope. Precisely the kind of book I like to see adolescents reading.

This is the perfect book to read aloud to a class of sixth graders after a break with the lights turned off. Place a flashlight under your chin and relate any of the seven creepy tales, all featuring strong female protagonists.

Nothing makes me happier than finding books that reluctant boy readers will enjoy. If you know a boy who hates reading, grab a book by Max Elliot Anderson. He, like me, hated reading growing up. We may share the same brain, as he thinks in terms of action. Reading this book was like watching a movie: fast and fun. Perfect summer reading.

A Newbery winner that fascinated me as a child, as it chronicles the adventures of a brother and sister who run away from home and live in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The best way I know to get boys to read is to give them a book they can put to good use, and this one does not disappoint. Filled with all sorts of tips for “aspiring MacGyvers,” the book is especially popular with boys who have short attention spans (which is most boys).

This book has led to some pretty fun discussions among middle schoolers. While the premise of a demon entering the body of a slacker teen makes for plenty of slapstick moments, the also book has a heartwarming message that resonates with teens. Life is precious and not to be wasted, and every teenager needs to know that. Great title, by the way.

My favorite of S.E. Hinton’s coming of age stories. She is an amazing writer, amazing because she writes young male characters so well.

Too many teen books depress the heck out of me, so I am thrilled whenever I read something that is funny. Okay, so teen girls will identify more with this Jane Austen-inspired romantic comedy. Still, I enjoyed every page.

Even though I think McCormick is a wonderful writer, do not expect a happy feeling after reading her. Sold is one of the most disturbing young adult books I have ever read, but it is an important book that illuminates the horrible world of teen slavery/prostitution that is certain to stir the hearts and minds of students.

This is a good book to inspire teens interested in improving the world to go out and improve it. Adults are pretty good at messing things up, and Hunter calls on our nation’s youth to take action and fight problems like homelessness, global warming and worldwide hunger. Hunter’s own story of trying to end modern-day slavery is an amazing tale in itself.

I am not sure if Stephanie Myer is solely responsible for the current vampire craze in literature, but I do know that I sure see a lot more vampire books appearing in teen literature lately. For yet another alternative for teens obsessed with the Twilight series, check out Marrone’s book about a teen dealing with issues of bad choices that include her ex-boyfriend (who happens to be a vampire).

I’m a sucker for puppies on covers of books, although I always fear the poor dog is going to be abused or die. There’s plenty of sadness in this heartwarming book, but Bauer is a masterful author because, among other things, she manages to take dire circumstances and make them humorous and touching. This book just makes you feel good.