Young Adult

I am always anxious to make history “come alive” for students, and that is why I really enjoyed this fictionalized scrapbook between two teenage friends (one white, the other Japanese American) torn apart during World War II. This month we reflect on Pearl Harbor Day and the repercussions of that event. Students get a chance to see the real turmoil that war caused on all Americans, notably the atrocities endured by interned Japanese Americans.

Four short stories for teens about relationships set around December holidays. These will get the girls in your class reading and – hopefully – understanding what “the season” of December means.

Teenagers, too, need to understand that the kindness of strangers is just one of the beauties to be learned at Christmas time. A beautiful story.

I file this under “young adult” because of my juvenile reason for selecting it off a bookstore shelf: I had never seen a book where the author’s name was so appealing (can you say her name five times fast?). This is why we need bookstores; I would have never discovered this book otherwise. It’s a quick read, it invites you into an insane mind like the protagonist in L. Ron Hubbard’s Fear and it also manages to be remarkably funny. This is a book that is begging to be discussed afterwards.

I am not a fan of horror, but I am a huge fan of books that get some of my staunchest non-reading teens to read. This is one of those books, as it deals with evil witchcraft and vintage rock and roll. Even better, its many references to classic literature inspired some students to check-out books by Joseph Conrad and John Milton in the school library!

One of my students described this book as “haunting,” and I would agree. Eeerie tale about what happens to a dysfunctional family on their private island one fateful summer.

You can quickly tell that the author of this book is an actress because I found myself visualizing the movie of this book from the first chapter. Getting teens to read science fiction and fantasy these days is about as difficult as getting a politician to accept campaign donations, which is to say that “it ain’t hard.” This story stands out, as girls and boys also appreciate the humor of the characters.

The first in what has turned out to be a very endearing series about sibling rivalry. And this book is a great way to teach kids about money and finances in an interesting manner.

Isn’t it great that the longest book I have recommended so far is a Newbery Children’s Book Award winner? I read this book in Mr. Hobbs’s seventh-grade reading class, and I loved it. I don’t remember why (I think it is about an island filled with the world’s greatest scientists, athletes, etc. (so that’s where Elvis went!). I noticed it was on sale at Amazon for 28 cents. Sally Struthers moment: for the price of a sip of coffee at Starbuck’s, you could read this delightful tale.

This book has such a warped sense of humor, I’d recommend it to anybody. If you are not reading young adult books, you are missing out, as some of the best literature being produced today is geared for this audience. I love books that feature incompetent adults, leaving the kids in charge of saving the Earth. A must read for all ages!

Either the book is based on the movie or vice versa. Regardless, I saw a preview for this movie and found myself laughing and eager to check it out. When I saw the book about a zombie who falls in love with a living human being listed under the wonderful category, “paranormal romance,” I knew I had to read it. Nothing pleases me more than seeing the creativity of authors putting new spins on old stories. A great book for teenage girls AND boys.

I used to love using this book with students, as some of my most reluctant readers who refused to pick up books would devour Gardner’s collection of riddles, “what’s missing” pictures and logic puzzles.

This is one of my favorite books of all time. Please tell me how much you enjoy the adventures of Phileas Fogg and Passepartout, as I am writing my own travel memoirs about traveling around the world in 80 days and five hours. If I only owned one book, it would be this Jules Verne classic. Happy ending, wonderful journey.

Inevitably, this book is always among the favorites of the middle school-aged boys I teach. Two eighth-grade misfits form a friendship that sees them fighting for causes in a King Arthurian vein. Yes, the book provides plenty of clichés, but I have witnessed two many students who were touched by this book. It is definitely one worth considering.

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