This
is my first time participating, and I am excited to have my first time be on
the books I recommend the most.
The
key to helping someone find the “right” read is to know a little about them, so
I went off what I know about my kids. I teach high school juniors, and many of
them hate to read. My goal is to always try to help them find “their book,” the
one that is going to hook them and never let them go. I hope.
While
I know this says Top Ten, I’ve taken the liberty to do a Top Fifteen. Here are
the fifteen books I recommend the most to my students. The list is in
alphabetical order by author.
Enjoy!
1. ‘The
Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian’(Sherman Alexie)
Summary
(from Goodreads): In his first book for
young adults, bestselling author Sherman Alexie tells the story of
Junior, a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian
Reservation. Determined to take his future into his own hands, Junior
leaves his troubled school on the rez to attend an all-white farm town
high school where the only other Indian is the school mascot.
Heartbreaking, funny, and beautifully written, The Absolutely True Diary
of a Part-Time Indian, which is based on the author's own experiences,
coupled with poignant drawings by acclaimed artist Ellen Forney, that
reflect the character's art, chronicles the contemporary adolescence of
one Native American boy as he attempts to break away from the life he
was destined to live.
Why
I recommend it: I recommend this to both male and female readers. It is funny,
it is heart-breaking, it speaks their language. There are also graphics that go
along with the storytelling, which many teens enjoy.
2. ‘Zombies
vs. Unicorns’(Holly
Black)
Summary
(from Goodreads): It's a question as old
as time itself: which is better, the zombie or the unicorn? In this
anthology, edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier (unicorn and
zombie, respectively), strong arguments are made for both sides in the
form of short stories. Half of the stories portray the strengths--for
good and evil--of unicorns and half show the good (and really, really
bad-ass) side of zombies. Contributors include many bestselling teen
authors, including Cassandra Clare, Libba Bray, Maureen Johnson, Meg
Cabot, Scott Westerfeld, and Margo Lanagan. This anthology will have
everyone asking: Team Zombie or Team Unicorn?
Why
I recommend it: It doesn’t matter if they are Team Zombie or Team Unicorn, this
book has something for all of them. With the zombie YA lit craze, many teens
enjoy the fact that they don’t have to read this book cover-to-cover. They can
pick and choose which stories to read—and which team is worthy of their
support.
3. ‘Evolution,
Me, and Other Freaks of Nature’(Robin
Brande)
Summary
(from Goodreads): Your best friend hates you. The guy you liked hates you. Your entire group of friends hates you. All because you did the right thing. Welcome
to life for Mena, whose year is starting off in the worst way possible.
She's been kicked out of her church group and no one will talk to
her—not even her own parents. No one except for Casey, her supersmart
lab partner in science class, who's pretty funny for the most brilliant
guy on earth. And when Ms. Shepherd begins the unit on evolution,
school becomes more dramatic than Mena could ever imagine . . . and her
own life is about to evolve in some amazing and unexpected ways.
Why
I recommend it: I did this book as an audio years ago, and it really spoke to
me. I have many students who take AP Biology, and I always recommend this book
to them because it brings up really good, and pertinent, questions on how we
view science as a country as well as how religion affects those views.
4. ‘All-American
Girl’(Meg
Cabot)
Summary
(from Goodreads): Samantha Madison is an
average, cool Washington, D.C., teen: She loves Gwen Stefani (who
doesn't?), can draw like nobody's business, and enjoys being opposite to
her sister's annoying ultra-social personality. But when she ditches
art class one day, she doesn't expect to be jumping on the back of a
wannabe presidential assassin. Soon the young hero is receiving
worldwide acclaim for her bravery, having dinner with her family at the
White House, and is even being named teen ambassador to the UN. As if
this weren't enough, she and David, the president's son, strike up a
friendship that everyone wants the dirt on, which starts to give her
romantic "frisson" feelings. Unfortunately, Sam thinks her sister's
boyfriend, Jack, is the true love of her life, and she makes a few wrong
turns that could screw up what she's developing with David. Will she
ever stop following what she knows and start following what she sees?
Why
I recommend it: Another audio, this book is always a “go-to” for the reluctant
female reader. It is witty. It made my husband ask me to drive around the block
a few more times so he could know how it ended. When I tell my kids that, they
usually take it. They want to see what it was that kept him enthralled until
the very end.
5. ‘The
Hunger Games’(Suzanne
Collins)
Summary
(from Goodreads): Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with everyone out to make sure you don't live to see the morning? In
the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of
Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The
Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing
them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and
eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death
on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone
with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when
she steps forward to take her sister’s place in the Games. But Katniss
has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature.
Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. If she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.
Why
I recommend it: The writing is fast-paced, which is great for the teens who
live fast-paced lives. They don’t seem to have a lot of time devoted to “reading”
because their plates are full, but usually once they start they cannot put this
down.
6. ‘The
Lonely Hearts Club’(Elizabeth
Eulberg)
Summary
(from Goodreads): Love is all you need... or is it? Penny's about to find out in this wonderful debut. Penny
is sick of boys and sick of dating. So she vows: no more. It's a
personal choice. . .and, of course, soon everyone wants to know about
it. And a few other girls are inspired. A movement is born: The Lonely
Hearts Club (named after the band from Sgt. Pepper). Penny is suddenly
known for her nondating ways . . . which is too bad, because there's
this certain boy she can't help but like. . .
Why
I recommend it: This is great for that sweet, girly-girl in my class. Eulberg
is such a great “girlfriend” writer because her novels are true realistic
fiction. There are no suppositions within her plots. Her plots are about as
realistic as it comes, and once I put one Eulberg book in the hands of my
girls, I end up putting her other as well.
7. ‘Hush,
Hush’ series
(Becca Fitzpatrick)
Summary
(from Goodreads): Romance was not part of
Nora Grey's plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at
her school, no matter how hard her best friend, Vee, pushes them at
her. Not until Patch comes along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem
to see inside her, Patch draws Nora to him against her better judgment. But
after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust.
Patch seems to be everywhere she is and seems to know more about her
than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into
his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she
finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything
Patch makes her feel. For she is right in the middle of an
ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and,
when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost Nora her
life.
Why
I recommend it: Not just girls are into paranormal romance (thank you
Twilight), and I have more males asking for suggestions than girls. I always
hand this one to them because I love Patch and Nora. They are one of my
favorite paranormal couples.
8. ‘The
Graveyard Book’(Neil
Gaiman)
Summary
(from Goodreads): After the grisly murder
of his entire family, a toddler wanders into a graveyard where the
ghosts and other supernatural residents agree to raise him as one of
their own. Nobody Owens, known to his friends as Bod, is a normal
boy. He would be completely normal if he didn't live in a sprawling
graveyard, being raised and educated by ghosts, with a solitary guardian
who belongs to neither the world of the living nor of the dead. There
are dangers and adventures in the graveyard for a boy. But if Bod leaves
the graveyard, then he will come under attack from the man Jack—who has
already killed Bod's family . . . Beloved master storyteller
Neil Gaiman returns with a luminous new novel for the audience that
embraced his New York Times bestselling modern classic Coraline.
Magical, terrifying, and filled with breathtaking adventures, The
Graveyard Book is sure to enthrall readers of all ages.
Why
I recommend it: It’s Gaiman. That is all. No—really, this is aimed at children
but my teens love it too. Something about the opening pics of a murderer going
up stairs to murder a baby, a graveyard embracing that baby, and the child
growing up within a graveyard intrigues my kids. They also feel accomplished
because they can read it in just two to three hours. FYI: do it as an audio as well; Gaiman is the reader and...swoon!
9. ‘The
Fault in Our Stars’(John
Green)
Summary
(from Goodreads): Diagnosed with Stage IV
thyroid cancer at 13, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical
miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now. Two years
post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too;
post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she
could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered
to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant
chemical assault. Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer
kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to
her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected
destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how
sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that
everyone leaves behind.
Why
I recommend it: I have a handful of students that are obsessed with Green, for
the win, and I don’t usually have to hand his books off because he is the one
they always recommend. This is many of their favorites for many reasons, and
one of mine as well.
10.‘Hex
Hall’ series
(Rachel Hawkins)
Summary
(from Goodreads): Three years ago, Sophie
Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few
scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible,
consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only
when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a
prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her
punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward
Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters. By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus.Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect. As a series of blood-curdling mysteries start to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.
Why
I recommend it: Hawkins, a former teacher, really understands the language of
teens. Her witty dialogue draws them in—a chuckle here, laughter there—and they
enjoy her fast-paced plots.
11.‘The
Unbecoming of Mara Dyer’ series (Michelle
Hodkin)
Summary
(from Goodreads): Mara Dyer doesn’t think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there. It can. She believes there must be more to the accident she can’t remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed. There is. She doesn’t believe that after everything she’s been through, she can fall in love. She’s wrong.
Why
I recommend it: One of the creepiest series I have read, so I love to share it
with my kids. Once I start talking about this novel, I can usually hand it off
immediately…and create a bit of a waiting list.
12.‘The
Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks’ (E. Lockhart)
Summary
(from Goodreads): Frankie Laundau-Banks. No longer the kind of girl to take “no” for an answer. Especially when “no” means she’s excluded from her boyfriend’s all-male secret society. Not when her ex boyfriend shows up in the strangest of places. Not when she knows she’s smarter than any of them. When she knows Matthew’s lying to her. And when there are so many, many pranks to be done. Frankie Landau-Banks, at age 16: Possibly a criminal mastermind. This is the story of how she got that way.
Why
I recommend it: Girl power all the way! One of my favorite reads. I usually
recommend this book to my girls that invoke the idea of “girl power.” Every now
and again a girly-girl will pick this up and enjoy it as well.
13.‘Anna
and the French Kiss’
(Stephanie Perkins)
Summary
(from Goodreads): Anna is looking forward
to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best
friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is
less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in
Paris--until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Étienne has it all...including a serious girlfriend. But
in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of
romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss?
Why
I recommend it: Perkins, the queen of teen romance. I handed this book off to a
girl who told me she never reads. The next day, she had three chapters left.
WIN! Perkins appeals to a wide variety, and I always tell my male students that
Perkins is great to teach them the idea of true romance.
14.‘The
Raven Boys’(Maggie
Stievfater)
Summary
(from Goodreads): Every year, Blue Sargent
stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past.
Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges
from the dark and speaks directly to her. His name is Gansey, and
Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local
private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys.
Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble. But Blue is
drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it
all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much
more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven
Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around
him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah,
the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very
little. For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned
that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would
be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and
sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.
Why
I recommend it: For every reader, but especially those looking for something
fresh and new. I recently had another teacher’s student visit my room for
reading material, and I discussed this book with him. He was sold, and he now
wants to read all of her books.
15.‘Spanking
Shakespeare’ (Jake
Wizner)
Summary
(from Goodreads): SHAKESPEARE SHAPIRO HAS
ALWAYS hated his name. His parents bestowed it on him as some kind of
sick joke when he was born, and his life has gone downhill from there,
one embarrassing incident after another. Entering his senior year of
high school, Shakespeare has never had a girlfriend, his younger brother
is cooler than he is, and his best friend's favorite topic of
conversation is his bowel movements. But Shakespeare will have
the last laugh. He is chronicling every mortifying detail in his memoir,
the writing project each senior at Shakespeare's high school must
complete. And he is doing it brilliantly. And, just maybe, a
prize-winning memoir will bring him respect, admiration, and a
girlfriend . . . or at least a prom date
Why
I recommend it: Years ago I was challenged by a male student to “find him a
book” that he would love and that would deal with teen male relationships with
females. Enter this book—years later I still recommend it. I simply need to
share chapter titles with students to get this in the hands. One year, every
single student in one of my classes read this book. It was off my shelf for the
entire semester while they read and discussed the truths behind it. For my
female students, I tell them to read this if they really want to know what
males are thinking. Score!
What's on your Top Ten list?
Happy Reading!
- The Hodgenator
