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10 Things to Do Before I Die
by Daniel Ehrenhaft |
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Danny Says: 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! |
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10,000 Days of Thunder
by Philip Caputo |
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Danny Says: What I like most about Caputo’s “History of the Vietnam War” is that it reveals different perspectives of Vietnam, from soldiers to student protestors. I would love candidates seeking office this November to watch students as they argue various sides of an issue without being disrespectful of one another. |
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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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365: A Daily Creativity Journal
by Noah Scalin |
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Danny Says: I am a huge fan of Sir Ken Robinson’s creativity revolution, and I have absorbed a number of wonderfully creative efforts like Scalin’s challenge to pick a theme and create daily projects around that theme for a year. Every teacher and parent should grab a copy. |
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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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50 Tools for Success and Personal Power
by Matthew Forrest |
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Danny Says: New York’s #1 high school speaker presents a solid blueprint to help any teenager get on track to succeed in whatever he or she chooses. Great book for students to carry on them at all times! |
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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). |
Young Adult books
on 45 pages, 10 books per
page.
