Summer Time!
Grab a popsicle, some sunscreen, and good book!
Need some ideas? Click on your favourite fiction genre below.
Have an idea? Email me at wdriscoll@staff.ednet.ns.ca and I can add your choice to my list!
Mrs. Driscoll's Dozen - A dozen fiction categories with at least a dozen books each. - Don't tell me you have nothing to read!
This is a list of TEEN FICTION compiled to give you some ideas of what to look for when choosing a book that’s "just right" - that means interesting to you at your reading level. There are many books to choose from! These book lists contain suggestions from students, teachers, and librarians, as well as some publishers and book sales lists and was first organized as part of a course I was taking (you know, teachers learn new things too! :))
This compilation is dedicated to two of my students – W.R. who boasts that he has yet to read a whole book, and A.H. who finally did!
May 2010
|
Student pick: The
Bluford Series
My Pick: Miracle’s
Boys
Colleague Pick:
Monster
|
Teen Urban Fiction is a type of young adult literature which is realistic and
contemporary and deals specifically with urban life. It is also known as or has
merged with “street literature” and “hip/hop lit”. It is sometimes met with
criticism, especially among advocates for African-American/Canadian students,
who feel that this genre negatively stereotypes students of African descent. On
the other hand, many educators and librarians report an increase in student
reading when offered book choices which include urban fiction.
Bluford High Series – 15 books - Authors: Paul Kangen, Peggy Kern, Anne Schraff, John Langen, D.M. Blackwell, Ben Alirez (themes include: bullying, gangs, guns, family violence, friendship, drug abuse)
Drama High series – 10 books by L. Devine (themes; school issues, violence, friends)
Fight Game by Kate Wild (theme: street kids, crime)
First Stone by Don Aker (takes place in Halifax. themes: delinquency, friendship)
Miracle’s Boys by Jacqueline Woodson (themes: violence, family hardships)
Monster by Walter Dean-Myers (criminal justice, violence)
Night Hoops by Carl Deuker (theme: family issues, friendship)
Of Things Not Seen by Don Aker (theme: family violence)
Somewhere in the Darkness by Walter Dean Myers (themes: crime, family issues)
The Book of Michael by Lesley Choice (themes: crime, murder)
The Juvie Three by Gordon Korman (juvenile crime)
This genre of teen fiction has been popular for a long time. Arguably, with classics like Hinton’s The Outsiders and Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye, it is the genre which put YA fiction on the publishing map. As trends come and go, this category never goes out of style for teens.
|
Student Pick: Stuck
in Neutral
My Pick: Speak
Colleague Pick:
Egghead |
Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo (main issue: acceptance, broken family) – This is considered a children’s book but has some teen interest because of the subject reading level)
Cut by Patricia McCormick (main issue: family dysfunction, self-harm)
Dear Toni by Cyndi Sand-Eveland (main issue: social acceptance)
Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick (main issue: terminal illness)
Egghead by Caroline Pignat (told from two different points of view - main issue: bullying)
Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick (main issue: self-esteem, friendship – There is a sequel Max the Mighty
It Happened to Nancy by Anonymous (edited by Beatice Sparks) (rape, AIDS)
Lush by Natasha Friend (main issue: parent alcoholism)
Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan (main issue: relationships – told from two different viewpoints)
Orca Soundings and Orca Currents collections by various Canadian authors (specifically written for teens who need an easier read but high interest stories)
Perfect by Natasha Friend (main issue: eating disorders, popularity)
Schooled by Gordon Korman (friends, differences, school)
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (main issue: rape, acceptance)
Stuck in Neutral by Terry Trueman (main issue: disabilities, euthanasia – Also, there is an interesting companion book, Cruise Control, which tells the same story from the brother’s point of view)
The Clique series by Lisi Harrison (social pressure, school)
The Skin I’m In by Sharon G. Flake (main issues: image, bullying)
Theories of Relativity by Barbara Haworth-Attard (life on the streets)
Thunderbird Spirit by Sigmund Brouwer (hockey setting, part of the Orca Sports collection - main issue: racism)
Wounded by Eric Walters (war, family challenges)
You Don’t Know Me by Davis Klass (abuse)
These are not your same-old comic books! While comics have been loved by kids for ages, graphic novels have recently become more appreciated by adults who care about young adult literature. Why? Because kids read them. While they aren’t packed with descriptive writing, they are interesting and enjoyable to read, and in some cases even expose students to classic literature or involved storylines more effectively than if they had read the original. Fiction in the public domain, well-known stories such as “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” and “Henry V” are among the popular titles, as are many original works.
|
Student Pick: Bone
series
My Pick: Diary of a
Wimpy Kid
Colleague Pick:
Maus, Maus II |
300 by Frank Miller (Battle at Thermopylae)
American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Tang
Bone series by Jeff Smith
Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney
Fullmetal Alchemist series by Hiromu Arakowa
Maus and Maus II by Art Speiglemen (a holocaust survivor story)
The Runaways series by Brian K. Vaughan and Adrian Alphona
Vampire Knight series by Matsuri Hino (this is a “manga series” translated from Japanese and read right-to-left)
Romantic Fiction continues to be a favourite among readers of all ages, particularly girls. The boy-meets-girl storyline might change with the times, but the appeal is always there, especially if it has a happy ending.
|
Student Pick:
Sisterhood of the Travelling Pant
My Pick:
Reincarnation
Colleague Pick: The
Notebook |
Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
Both Sides of Time by Caroline Cooney (time travel and romance combined – four books in the “time travelers” series)
Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen (a he-said, she-said book)
Reincarnation by Suzanne Weyn (time travel, romance and historical fiction combined)
Sister of the Bride by Beverly Cleary (a classic)
Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants by Ann Brashares (also considered a “coming of age” novel- 4 books in the series)
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks – also A Walk to Remember and The Notebook
The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot
The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen
The Unlikely Romance of Kate Bjorkman by Louise Plummer
What makes a book a classic? In my opinion, if it has been appreciated by more than one generation of readers, it’s a classic. It may have even been enjoyed for a century!
|
Student Pick: Go Ask
My Pick: The
Outsiders
Colleague Pick:
Pride and Prejudice |
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl - 1964
Forever by Judy Blume – 1975
Go Ask Alice – anonymous - 1971 (is almost always out in the school library)
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte – 1847
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott- 1868-69
Lord of the Flies by William Golding – 1954
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen – 1813
The Call of the Wild – 1903 and White Fang – 1906 -by Jack London
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger – 1951
The Hardy Boys series by Franklin W. Dixon (pseudonym) – first published in 1937, extensively revised in 1959 – New editions including “The Hardy Boys Case Files” and “Undercover Brothers” – 190 volumes
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien – 1937
The Naughtiest Girl in the School by Enid Blyton - 1940
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton – 1967 (also That Was Then, This Is Now)
Watership Down by Richard Adams - 1972
Multicultural Literature is that which depicts cultural, racial and ethnic diversity in its storylines and characters. In terms of young adult fiction, it is an important genre. Generally, young readers who see some reflection of their culture in a multicultural novel benefit from the reading experience. Of crucial importance is how someone of another culture will come to enjoy that reading experience. In this area, the multicultural genre is still slow-moving at times.
|
Student Pick: Black
and White
My Pick: Does My
Head look Big in This?
Colleague Pick: The
Breadwinner |
Bifocal by Deborah Ellis and Eric Walters (issue: racial stereotypes)
Black and White by Eric Walters (also considered contemporary realistic – the story of an interracial relationship)
Does my Head Look Big in This? by Randa Abdel-Fattah (A girl is challenged to be true to her Muslim faith)
Heaven Shop by Deborah Ellis (Malawi and children of AIDS)
Revolution is Not a Dinner Party by Ying Chang Compestine (life in China’s cultural revolution)
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie (native-American culture, racism)
The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis (a girl in Taliban-era Afghantistan)
Weedflower by Cynthia Kadohata (A Japanese-American girl in WWII – also historical fiction)
|
Student Pick: The
Face on the Milk Carton
My Pick: Young James
Bond
Colleague Pick: The
Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time |
Mystery novels for young people
include a wide range of themes: kidnapping, crime witnesses, murder,
supernatural, etc. Some mysteries are frightening, even gruesome, while others
challenge the reader to solve them before the end. Students seem to enjoy
stories which have surprise twists or unexpected endings.
Blood Sinister by Celia Rees (a family secret with a vampire connection)
Chasing Vermeer and The Wright 3 by Blue Baillet (younger teens)
Do You Know the Monkey Man? by Dori Hillestand Butler (a girl searching for her father uncovers secrets about her sister’s death)
Paper Towns by John Green (piecing together clues to a friend’s disappearance)
Pretty Little Liars series by Sara Shepard (the 8th book in this clique mystery series is due out this summer)
Road of the Dead by Kevin Brooks (brothers seek revenge for sister’s murder)
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon (a boy with Aspergers discovers family secrets)
The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney ( a teenage girl find out that she isn’t who she thought she was- also several sequels)
The Night Runner by Max Turner (a vampire mystery geared more for boys)
The Red Kayak by Priscilla Cummings (a young boy faces ethical questions as he discovers something about a mysterious drowning)
What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundel (betrayal set in post WWII era)
Young Bond series by Charlie Higson (5 books about school-aged James Bond)
Zach’s Lie by Roland Smith (a family’s struggle for safety in the witness protection program – the sequel is called Jack’s Run)
Historical fiction has a wide teen appeal. Twentieth Century events such as WWII are popular, as are medieval times, but whenever teens can read about young people in another time period, they seem to enjoy it. Learning about an historic event or time period in this way is a great way to bring history alive.
|
Student Pick: The
Boy Who Dared
My Pick: Dear
Colleague Pick:
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas |
A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libby Bray (fantasy novel in 1800s India and England- first in a series)
Dear Canada Series by various authors (diary-style novels set in various historic Canadian events and places such as Red River, the war of 1812, and the Halifax explosion)
Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis (Underground Railroad)
Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers (Vietnam War – also deals with racism)
If I Should Die Before I Wake by Han Nolan (alternating modern and WWII)
Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli (WWII)
Number the Stars by Lois Lowery (WWII)
Postcards from No-man’s Land by Aidan Chambers (alternates between 1990s and 1940s Amsterdam)
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne (WWII Germany and Poland)
The Boy Who Dared by Susan Campbell Bartoletti (WWII Germany – based on a true story)
The Nine Days Queen by Karleen Bradford (Tudor England)
Sports fiction is a popular genre for both boys and girls however, boys seem to gravitate towards these choices first. Usually, the sport provides the setting and is central to the conflict, but the conflict often involves an issue or issues other than the sport itself. Some sports novels are also considered contemporary realistic.
|
Student Pick:
Thunderbird Spirit
My Pick: Summer Ball
Colleague Pick:
Ironman |
Crackback by John Coy (football)
Heart of Champion by Carl Deuker (baseball)
Home of the Braves by Davis Klass (Soccer)
Ironman by Chris Crutcher (triathlon)
Mikayla’s Victory by Cynthia Bates (track)
My 13th Season by Kristi Roberts (baseball)
One on One by Tabitha King (Basketball)
Orca Sports series by various authors (high interest, lower reading)
Peak by Roland Smith (mountain-climbing)
Rebel Glory by Sigmund Brouwer (hockey)
Screech Owl Series by Roy MacGregor (hockey)
Slam! By Walter Dean Myers (basketball)
Slam Dunk by Sharon Robinson (basketball)
Summer Ball by Mike Lupica (basketball)
The Perfect Distance by Kim Ablon Whitney (horseback riding)
Thunderbird Spirit by Sigmund Brouer (hockey)
Since the days of Treasure Island, adventure novels have appealed to young readers. Today’s adventure novels include a wide range of escapades with a regular cross-over to fantasy as well.
|
Student pick: Holes
My Pick: SIlverwing
Colleague Pick: Hacket |
Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitx (teenage spies)
Bridge to Teribithia by Katherine Paterson (friendship and imagination)
Everest series by Gordon Korman (young people climb Mount Everest)
Flush by Carl Hiaasen (crime-solving and environment)
Hacket series by Gary Paulson (wilderness survivial)
Holes by Louis Sachar (mystery and a family curse)
Silverwing series by Kenneth Oppel (the quests of a group of bats)
Son of the Mob by Gordon Korman (mafia and romance)
The 39 Clues series by various authors (interactive reading, on-line and card-collecting)
The Island Keeper by Harry Mazer (wilderness survival)
The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley and the Avalon Series by Bradley and Diana L. Paxson
|
Student Pick: Twilight
My Pick: Harry Potter
Colleague Pick: Artemis Fowl |
Fantasy
and Fantasy Series
Most fantasy books for teenagers could also be
considered adventure stories. Fantasy novels are very popular and many authors
have written fantasy series to expand their stories and characters. 
Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer (six novels in the fairy/crime series)
Bartimous Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud (three books in this spirit trilogy)
Coraline by Neil Gaiman (horror fantasy)
Eragon series by Christopher Paolini ( four books in the dragon “inheritance” series)
Gatekeepers series by Anthony Horowitz (also know as the Power of Five series)
Harry Potter series by J.K Rowling (seven books in the magic series)
Inkheart series by Cornelia Funke (three books on this series where book characters come to life)
Magic or Madness series by Justine Larbalestier (magic trilogy)
Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan (four books in this mythology series)
Redwall Series by Brian Jacques (19 books in this otherworld series)
The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott (six books in the magic series)
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis (seven books in this classic fantasy adventure series)
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (ghosts and ghostly abilities)
The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings “trilogy” by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold (a murdered girl sees what happens to her family after she dies)
The Spiderwick Chronicles by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black (five books in this fairy series and several companion books)
Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer (four vampire novels with a companion book on the way)
Science Fiction and Futuristic
Science fiction and futuristic novels are popular
and offer teens a wide range of topics and ideas to read about. Post-apocalyptic
stories are popular, especially those which also involve young protagonists or
storylines where humanity is at risk. Science fiction involving other worlds,
life-forms and adventures also generate interest. Many of these stories also
involve moral or good-evil struggles. 
|
Student Pick: The Hunger Games
My Pick: The Bar Code Tattoo
Colleague Pick: The Adoration of
Jenna Fox |
Flash Forward by Robert J. Sawyer (science, destiny, and reality collide)
Gone by Michael Grant (supernatural society of only children)
Maximum Ride series by James Patterson (a flock of part human/part birds tries to fight evil forces)
Star Trek series by various authors (there are numerous editions including some aimed specifically for young adults)
The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson (science fiction and medical ethics)
The Bar Code Tattoo by Suzanne Weyn (government control of people in a future America)
The Giver by Lois Lowery (set in a future Utopia which is not exactly perfect)
The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer (medical ethics in a near-future society)
The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins (an annual fight to the death in a futuristic society)
The Uglies series by Scott Westerfield (brainwashing and image in a futuristic society)