Young Adult

Many children grow up with an imaginary friend. Slacker teen Jane White, on the other hand, created an imaginary enemy that she can blame all of her problems on. Nothing is ever Jane’s fault (sounds like a typical American, yes?), so when Jane’s imaginary friend writes her back, silliness sure to bring a smile to your face ensues.

Yes, there are some problems with this book, as I found quite a few problems with the author’s scientific knowledge (and, believe me, science is not my area of expertise). Still, I have tried quite a few of the experiments with success, and a lot of the creations are sure to impress friends, business associates and students. The book is just meant for fun.

I think a lot of us could use a book to escape with right about now, so grab a copy of this tale of one girl’s European travel adventures as she tries not to think about her father’s recent death or her mother’s deployment to Iraq. Moving and extremely well-written.

This one is a winner! Written as the diary of a teenage girl during the mid-1970s, this book sounded like a “girl” book all the way. Do not make that mistake. I was amazed to find the story to be captivating, funny and gripping all at once. A real page-turner about a girl’s coming of age disrupted by a ghost in the attic that happens to be her brother, who died in Vietnam.

I guess I was on a British authors’ kick this past month. Linda Newbery crafts a compelling mystery around Matt, “a new kid in town,” who feels a connection to a boy with the same initials who died on a road where Matt bicycles. Matt’s new chums, Robbo and Tig, torment the boy’s killer, but maybe there is more to the story than Robbo and Tig let on. This one is sure to entice middle schoolers.

An intriguing story that follows the lives of Molly, Janine and Mary Anne. All are born on the same date in the heart of the Midwest, and this easy-to-read and compelling tale examines the effects of their different families on the fulfillment, or lack thereof, of their childhood dreams.

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.

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.

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

The first in The Kiesha’ra Series, this book is perfect for the fantasy lovers in your classroom – especially girls. God bless Atwater-Rhodes, as students become addicted to everything she publishes.

The title grabbed me, and the style kept my attention. One of the first young adult books that I have read that is formatted like a series of emails. Clever and funny.

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!

For truly lazy readers, make sure to check out one of Japanese director Kitano’s many wonderful films (I particularly enjoyed Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman). This book will provide anyone a glimpse of Kitano’s world, as it includes three short stories that are strong enough to pull even teens to watch a foreign film with subtitles!

Hugely popular on YouTube with teenage girls, this book will be hard to keep on the shelf of your classroom library.

One of the more popular books I have introduced to middleschoolers, this tale of a 13-year-old heroin addict is sure to spark lively classroom discussions. A very honest and vivid look at the harshness of drug addiction.