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21 Balloons, The
by William Pene DuBois |
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Danny Says: 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.com for 28 cents. Sally Struthers moment: for the price of a sip of coffee at Starbuck’s, you could read this delightful tale. |
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39 Clues, The: The Maze of Bones
by Rick Riordan |
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Danny Says: The first installment in this cool series, The 39 Clues provides teens with their own cross between National Treasure and The DaVinci Code. This is one even reluctant readers cannot put down. |
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47
by Walter Mosley |
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Danny Says: Thank goodness for Walter Mosley. When I was teaching 8th grade boys in South Los Angeles, Walter Mosley was our savior. He has written so many great books that speak to so many of my students (e.g. Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned and Devil in a Blue Dress). This book represents his foray into young adult literature, and it is great. Whether he realizes it or not, Mr. Mosley has quite a fan base among teenage boys. A great author! |
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911 Report, The: A Graphic Adaptation
by Sid Jacobson & Ernie Colon |
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Danny Says: Wow! I have my friend Nancy Frey to thank for this pick, as she mentioned every student at Hoover H.S. in San Diego seemed to be reading this graphic novel (which, I confess, is a genre that I have not done a good enough job of recommending on past lists). What an AWESOME book. Don’t take my word for it, though. Here is what Stan Lee (the creator of Spider Man) has to say: “Never before have I seen a non-fiction book as beautifully and compellingly written and illustrated as The 9/11 Report, A Graphic Adaptation. I cannot recommend it too highly. It will surely set the standard for all future works of contemporary history, graphic or otherwise, and should be required reading in every home, school and library." |
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A-List, The
by Zoey Dean |
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Danny Says: Let me begin by saying that I did not enjoy this book. Why include it on the list, you ask? My purpose in generating these book recommendations is not always to give you the best books; sometimes it is my responsibility to feature books that will get people reading (go to this month's blog to see ways to make your classroom library come alive for reluctant readers). This series is very popular with girls. Boys are typically the greater reluctant readers, but that does not mean every girl enjoys reading. I have managed to spark a lot of girls’ interest in reading with these books, and I know that the best way to get anyone to read more is to get them reading anything. As literature, however, this book belongs on the F-list. |
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Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, The
by Sherman Alexie |
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Danny Says: Ever read a book simply based on its title? I do, all the time. This time, I was rewarded for the effort, as Alexie’s main character, Arnold Spirit, is a study in adolescence. The trials and tribulations of this teen Native American are applicable to all teens who feel out of place (which describes EVERY teenager). |
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Across Five Aprils
by Irene Hunt |
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Danny Says: A touching story about the cost of war on families over the course of the Civil War. I re-read this recently on an airplane where I sat next to a Marine returning home with the body of a fallen brother in Iraq, and I realized that some themes are timeless. Poignant and compelling for boys and girls (and their parents). |
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Adventurous Women: Eight True Stories About Women Who Made a Difference
by Penny Colman |
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Danny Says: I love this book. If you are a teacher trying to decide on books to buy for your classroom with your limited personal funds, this is the type of book I would recommend (along with anthologies). Boys and girls alike (but especially girls) will enjoy these brief biographies and hopefully be drawn to read more about these amazing women (I particularly enjoyed the essay on educator Mary McLeod Bethune). |
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Al Capone Does My Shirts
by Gennifer Choldenko |
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Danny Says: So I like coming-of-age stories? Who doesn’t? They are usually uplifting, and that’s what I look for in most books. This Newbery Honor winner trails young Moose Flanagan as he adjusts to living on Alcatraz where his father works as a prison guard. |
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Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
by Lewis Carroll |
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Danny Says: Sterling publishers have a wonderful series of unabridged classics that I think everybody should be made aware of, as the series includes books ranging from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and Gulliver’s Travels to Frankenstein and The Wind in the Willows. As a dedicated lazy reader myself, I found these books to be especially enjoyable as an adult (when I willingly chose to read them rather than had them mandated to me by a teacher). |
Young Adult books
on 32 pages, 10 books per
page.
