Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

Paulsen, G. (1987). Hatchet. Simon and Shuster Books for Young Readers.

Brain is a 13 year old boy on his way to see his Dad in the oil fields of Northern Canada. He is taking a bush plane when the pilot suddenly has a heart-attack. Brian escapes the crash landing into the lake with only the hatchet that his mother gave him.  He uses the hatchet to help him in the wild. He struggles at first but quickly learns what he needs to do in order to survive including making fire, hunting and fishing, and building a shelter. During this time, Brian reflects on his parents divorce and his life back home. One day a tornado destroys his shelter but turns up the airplane that had sunk in the lake. Brian swims to it to collect a survival pack that includes a transmitter.  He doesn't know what it is, but soon finds himself being rescued.

Hatchet is a classic young adult survival story.  It is considered a "robinsonnade" because it closely follows the basic concept of the adventures of Robinson Crusoe.  Hatchet has the elements of an adventure and survival story because it shows Brian's hardships in the wilderness and his life and death situations with animals and the elements. The story shows his loneliness as well as courage and problem solving skills. I would consider this novel timeless but it seems to be especially intriguing in the world we live in today full of modern conveniences and technology. It raises a good question to readers (and for teachers of these readers), would we be able to survive in the same situation? Along with the study of great literary elements, this question could add meaning and value when teaching with this book.

Unwind by Neal Shusterman

Shusterman, N. (2007). Unwind. Simon and Shuster Books for Young Readers. New York. 

In a far away future in America, a civil war of Pro-Life and Pro-Choice has ended and the new nation has negotiated sides with a "Bill of Life" which states that while abortion is illegal, "unwinding" can now be practiced.  Unwinding is the term used to describe a retroactive termination of a teenager (age 13-17).  The teenager is killed with a parent's consent, and their organs are given to those who need them and they are considered to be living fully but divided.  The story focuses on 3 teenagers who are trying to escape unwinding. Connor, Lev, and Risa runaway and through a series of events find the Graveyard which serves as a home for abandoned, broken air planes as well as a shelter for teenagers escaping their unwinding until they turn 18.  With the help of The Admiral (the leader of the Graveyard), they manage to survive and escape the unwinding with some physical damage along the way.

The story meets the criteria of Dystopian literature, a futuristic world is created where teenagers have no rights or say in their own future.  This would be a great addition for any teacher who is exploring Dystopian genre and is brave enough to bring up important issues and themes in the book such as abortion, the value of human life, personal choice and rights and the governments role in all of it.  These themes are issues of the futuristic and created world of Neal Shusterman but can be applied to our world today.  The book can also be compared to other Dystopian classics such as Brave New World  where citizens are similarly forced to do things deemed necessary by the state.  Anyone who likes Dystopian literature will find books 2-4 (UnWholly, UnSouled, UnDivided) great for follow up reading.

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Stiefvater, M. (2009). Shiver. Scholastic. New York.

 Grace remembers that she was almost killed by wolves when she was 11 years old, until one yellow-eyed wolf saved her. That wolf is Sam and he and Grace watch each other outside her window every winter.  Sam is a human in the summer months. Now as young adults, Grace discovers who Sam really is after he shows up at her doorstep having just been shot.  Grace and Sam fall in love and Sam reveals the history of his parents and Werewolf background.  Together they look for a way that Sam can stay human forever based on the knowledge that they know about how Grace survived a wolf bite herself.  This is the first book in a trilogy.

 Shiver is a fantasy novel with supernatural characters being werewolves.  Stiefvater creates a romance between a human and a werewolf who is struggling to become human once again. A characteristic of fantasy is for the supernatural elements to make sense. Stiefvater succeeds in this by describing the rules and possibilities of how werewolves work in this world which makes for a good foundation and introduction to the rest of the books within a series.  The book uses both Sam and Grace's points of view in alternating chapters.  Recommendations for follow up readings include the the sequels- Linger and Forever as well as the werewolf romance trilogy by Bree Despain- The Dark Divine novels.

Glory O'Brien's History of the Future by A.S. King

King, A. (2014). Glory o'brien's history of the future. Little Brown and Company. New York; Boston.

Glory is graduating high school but hasn't any idea of what the future holds for her.  Her mother committed suicide when she was just four and this event has her thinking about lots of things including the meaning of life in general. One day she and her friend Ellie decide to make a drink from dead bat remains and beer and suddenly have the power to see a person's past and future. She has an ability to see the world and its disturbing future which includes a  civil war, a cruel new leader, and the disappearance of women's rights and safety.  She attempts to write down all that she sees in order to make a difference in a future world.

Glory O'Brien's History of the Future is considered to be a specific kind of fantastic fiction called Magical Realism which contains magical elements in an otherwise realistic world.  In this story the magical element is Glory's ability to see the world's future through the sudden power she receives after drinking bat remains and beer together...who knew?  The story also has elements of dystopian literature when describing the government of the future.  This book has powerful themes about women's rights and although Glory is a teenager, her points of view are not stereotypical of one. It is a book that combines many serious issues both personal and worldly with a lot of entertainment value.

Mexican White Boy by Matt de la Pena

de la Pena, M. (2008). Mexican white boy.  Decelerate Press. New York.

Danny is a biracial, 16 year old boy who goes to a predominately white prep school in San Diego. His mother is White and his father  is Mexican but no longer lives with them because he is in a prison in Mexico.  During the summer his mother decides to go live with her boyfriend in San Francisco and so Danny decides to go live with his cousin on his father's side of the family in National City. Danny feels like "a white boy among Mexicans and a Mexican among white boys." Danny does not know where he fits in.  He comes to know himself better through a friendship with a boy named Uno and his love for baseball.

Young men (older high school level), baseball lovers, or anyone seeking to learn more about being multicultural would be the intended audience of this book.   Mexican White Boy is a fictional sports story that "incorporates significant themes and well developed characters who grow, learn and have the potential of improving their lives." (Chance, p. 59).  This book is not only about the love of baseball and the journey of growth through this sport, but also the growth and change of a young man coming to terms with and embracing being multicultural.

Deadline by Chris Crutcher

Crutcher, C. (2007). Deadline. Greenwillow Books, NY.

Ben Wolf is a senior in small town Idaho.  After going for a routine sports physical, he has just received the news that he has a rare blood disease. The doctor gives him a year to live and so Ben decides to refuse treatment and keep his illness a secret from everyone. During his year he plays on the school football team with his brother, reads books that teach him about real life, makes friends with a homeless man, and starts a relationship with the beautiful Dallas Suzuki.  During his time living life to the fullest and with guidance from a character in his dreams (Hey-Soos), he realizes how keeping his secret would be hurting those who love him.

Deadline is a realistic fiction book about living life to the fullest. It is a great read for all but I believe like many of Chris Crutcher's books it has a certain appeal to young men. It includes topics of sports, friends, family, school, and liking girls.  Teacher's might see value in this book as an accompanying book to The Autobiography of Malcom X which is a text connection that has meaning in the book.  It also would be a great theme to center around a writing topic based off the question on the front cover of the book." What if you only had one year to live...and you knew it?"  What would you do? How would you live life differently than if you didn't know?  The Book lends itself to many quality writing opportunities.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Green, J. (2012). The fault in our stars.  Dutton Books. New York.

Hazel is a sixteen year old girl and a thyroid cancer patient.  Her parents force her to go to a support group where she meets Augustus who is surviving a rare bone cancer through an amputation of his leg.  They share their favorite books with each other. Hazel feels connected to the main character of An Imperial Affliction and Augustus and her eventually find the means to travel to Amsterdam  to ask the author about his story.  While on their trip, Augustus shares the news that his cancer is spreading. Augustus dies shortly after but not without knowing how much he loved Hazel and how much she loves him.

This realistic fiction deals with themes of death and grief, love, and living with cancer.  The book's strengths lies in the fact that it is so relatable to many young adults today who have connections to cancer. Living with and dying from cancer is a very real part of life for many . Unfortunately, it seems that the struggle and the pain of cancer is more connected to the modern world than it ever has before.  Fault in Our Stars is modern, popular, current, and not only because it is well written, but because so many people have experienced something similar for themselves. This connection is what makes it that much more emotional, heart-breaking, and page turning.

Paper Townes by John Green (New York Times Bestseller List)

Green, J. (2008). Paper towns. Dutton Books. New York, NY.

 In Jefferson Park, Florida, Quentin "Q" Jacobson has grown distant from his once very close childhood friend Margo.  Now towards the end of their senior year, Margo surprises Q by showing up at his window with a revenge plan of pranks to all those who have hurt her.  Q helps her complete her mission through out the night and is even more surprised when she does not show up at school the next day.  Q and his group of friends find a series of clues that help them realize where she has run away to.  After skipping their own graduation and driving 19 hours to the "paper town" of Agloe, New York, they realize that Margo is not everything they thought she was.

This is a realistic fiction and puzzling mystery in which  there are no murders but instead a "problem that seemingly cannot be solved" (Chance, p.67).  This particular book is a fun read for young adults because although it makes you think, it is not a dark or overly serious mystery.  The book would be a wonderful addition for a literature teacher to accompany the study of Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass because of the connections to this text within the story. It  has teachable literary elements such as the many uses and symbolism of "paper towns" , "paper boy", and "paper girl".  It also has strength in the coming of age themes of knowing and being your true self.  A great read to promote this summer to young adults before they see the movie.


Chance, R.  2014. Young adult literature in action: a librarian's guide/ second edition.  Libraries Unlimited. Santa Barbara, California

How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff (2005 Printz Award Winner)

Rosoff, M. (2004). How I live now. Wendy Lamb Books. New York.

 The story begins with Daisy as a fifteen year old girl. Her father and stepmother are forcing her to move from their home in New York city to her aunt's farm in England because of the threat of a war.  Daisy is reluctant about her new situation at first, but quickly finds comfort and joy in her new surroundings with her aunt, 3 boy cousins that are around her age, and the youngest girl cousin Piper. Her aunt leaves the farm for work and the group of cousins are left to do as they please on the farm.  Daisy is falling in love with her cousin Edmond, but their blissful world on the farm is quickly torn apart when the war comes directly to them and an army comes and separates the girls and boys from each other.  Daisy and Piper together struggle to find the boys again in the midst of war.

 This realistic fictional novel is the story of how a young women goes from self-absorption to understanding the importance of taking care of others. This is how a teenager becomes an adult in the truest sense.  This book is full of lessons for young adults who are living blissfully with all of the conveniences of modern America. With the thought of war as a place and time from long ago, a vast majority of teenagers live ignorantly of the issues of the world around them so this book would help them to perceive a life that could be quickly changed.  Lessons and questions raised from this book could include;  What if war came to your doorstep? What would you do and how would you act in those times of survival?  This is  another great teachable book to help young adults wrap their brain around the world around them through a touching and personal story of love and family.

A Step from Heaven (2002 Printz Award Winner) by An Na

Na, An. (2001). A step from heaven. Front Street. Asheville, NC.

 Young Ju is a  Korean born girl and moves to America with her family when she is a young child.  Young Ju thinks that America is Heaven but she soon realize it is not quite everything that she imagined it would be.  As Young Ju is growing up in southern California, she deals with the struggles of making new friends, learning English, having a new little brother and becoming a teenage American with Korean roots and heritage.  During this time the family learns of her grandmother's death. Her father, Apa grows even more abusive with alcohol and physically towards his family.  She is brave enough to call 911 and the police take her father away.  He leaves the family the next day and she never sees him again.  Despite all this Young Ju grows up to be a strong, smart, and appreciative young lady.

 A Step from Heaven is a realistic fiction book, but not a typical coming of age story.  The book is both a Printz Award Winner and an Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature recipient.  The APAAL award honors and recognizes individual work about Asian/Pacific Americans and their heritage based on literary and artistic merit.  I would highly recommend this book to benefit both Literature and World Culture teachers because of its themes of immigrations and acculturation.  It offers a personal story about diversity and the struggles with keeping one's culture and embracing another.  It is a story all young adults should read to help understand other cultures or with helping one to relate to their own personal journey into American culture. 

Looking for Alaska by John Green

Green, J. (2005). Looking for Alaska: A novel. New York: Dutton Children's Books. 

 Miles Halter (later nicknamed "Pudge") is beginning his Junior year of high school at Culver Creek Preparatory School in Birmingham Alabama. He instantly makes friends with his new room mate Chip Martin (nicknamed "The Colonel").  The night before school starts Pudge is kidnapped and thrown into the lake by a group of kids the Colonel has nicknamed "The Weekday Warriors".  Pudge grows close to Chip and also makes friends with Takumi, Laura, and Alaska.  Laura and Pudge have a short-lived romance but Pudge is falling deeper in love with Alaska.  The group of friends plays a revenge prank on The Weekday Warriors and celebrate afterwards. Alaska has to leave in a hurry in the middle of the night after receiving a phone call and Chip and Pudge help plan her escape from school. The next morning they find out that Alaska was in a car accident and has died.  The two friends have to come to terms with her death by asking questions and finding answers for themselves.

 In this realistic fiction, dealing with grief is a major theme that makes this book so emotionally powerful.  Dealing with those emotions and coming to terms with the shock of death are themes that young adults can relate to if they have had or are going through an experience with death.  For this reason, I think that this book strengths lies in the fact that it is so real and relatable to many young adults. The relationships, pranks, school life, destructive behaviors, and tragic deaths are a part of almost every teen's life and reading this book is both powerful and comforting.

My Friend Dahmer by Derf Backderf

Backderf, D. (2012). My friend Dahmer: A graphic novel. New York: Abrams. 

 This graphic novel is the memoir of Derf Backderf who knew the infamous serial-killer Jeffery Dahmer in high school.  It is about the adolescent Jeffery, who makes the monster of a man that we know of today, seem at least a little more human. It also gives us clues to why he may have turned out to be a murderer.  It seems that he always had strange and antisocial behavior but add in a not so happy home life, alcoholism, and the fact that nobody at school seem to care about him either, then it helps to explain a lot.  

 This is a unique non-fiction graphic novel.  It is an entertaining way to present the pre-murderous man because of the great format of graphic novel.  It shows many of the criteria for YALSA Great Graphic Novel for Teen award list including the  integration of images and words and ability of images to convey necessary meaning.  The intended audience for this book would be a mature young adult (high school level) and/or graphic novel enthusiast. 

I Hunt Killers by Karry Lyga

Lyga, B. (2012). I hunt killers. New York: Little, Brown.

 In this first book of a trilogy, Jasper (Jazz) Dent is trying to live the life of a normal teenage boy. However, he happens to be the son of an infamous serial killer Billy Dent, who killed 120 people over the last decade.  Although his dad has been locked up for 4 years now, Jazz cannot seem to forget everything his dad has taught him...everything about how to be a murderer. A body turns up in the small town and this raises questions from everyone including Jazz.  Jazz, while trying his best not to become his own father, can't help but use this knowledge to find the new serial-killer  called "The Impressionist".   A lot of internal conflict goes on while he becomes a hunter of killers.

 This dark modern realistic fiction story is best described as a murder mystery and psychological thriller combo. It meet the characteristics of both genres through terror, suspense, socio and psychopaths as well as having the "challenge of unraveling a puzzle" (Chance, p.68)  We experience the mind of a young adult who was raised by a murderer and even though he doesn't want to be a murderer, he can not help but think exactly like one.  If you are a reader who is fascinated with the psychological component  and vigilante themes of these mysteries, then similar (although not necessarily young adult) books that would be recommended for following up reading are the Dexter series by Jeff Lindsay.

Chance, R.  2014. Young adult literature in action: a librarian's guide/ second edition.  Libraries Unlimited. Santa Barbara, California

Monster by Walter Dean Myers

Myers, W. (1999). Monster. New York: Harper Collins.

 Monster  is the story of a young 16 year old boy, Steve Harmon. Steve is on trial for murder as he is accused of being a lookout to the two other boys who rob and kill the owner of a Harlem drugstore.  The story is told in two different points of view. Steve writes the story of his time in jail and his trial in a screenplay format because he wants to become a filmmaker.  It is also told in first person in the form of a journal or diary.  Steve's personal journey describes life as he knows it on the streets and his view of himself as well as how other's view him as a person.

This story is considered a dark modern realistic fiction story based on its account of street violence and experience in jail.  I believe this would be a valuable book for a literature teacher to help teach point of view and empathy.  There are many deep and important questions that this story lends itself to when teaching young adults including questions about Steve's internal conflict, peer pressure, the judicial system and race, growing up as an African American on the streets of Harlem, and personal responsibility and how all of these effect each other and impact Steve.

Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith

Smith, A. (2014). Grasshopper jungle: a history. New York: Dutton.

 Grasshopper Jungle is the story of a young man named Austin Szerba and the end of the world.  He write this history from his own personal perspective which includes living in small town Iowa, explaining his historical Polish roots and constant thoughts on his relationship and sexual fascination with both his girlfriend Shann and his gay best friend Robby. A series of events causes the outbreak of humans turning into large hungry praying mantises that also like to mate. 

 This is a science fiction, apocalyptic story because it is based on the outbreak of a scientific strain of a plague.  It deals with both large events such as the take over of humanity by giant insects caused by "MI Plague Strain 412 E" and small events in the life of a teenage dealing with his non stop obsession with sex.  It is a quirky read intended for the mature young adult but also for the science fiction fan or even something different for a reluctant reader.  It also has strength in its straight forward narration and teenage male point of view making it a recommended read to teenage boys in general.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Wein, E. (2012). Code name verity. New York: Hyperion.

Code Name Verity is the story of two friends. Two young women who both work for the British war effort with two different jobs. Julia also known as Queenie (code name Verity) and is a spy.  Maddie (code name Kittyhawk) is a pilot. The story is told in two parts. One is the confession of Queenie to the Gestapo who have kept her a prisoner after she has been tortured and interrogated. The confession is also her story of friendship with Maddie. The second part is through the diary of Maddie who has crashed landed in France after taking Queenie to her mission.

Code Name Verity is classified as historical fiction based on the setting details of a particular time and place.  The characters "personalize history by showing how societal conditions affect their lives" (Chance, p.76).  It focuses on friendship within the cruel conditions of war particularly the inhumane conditions of WWII. I would highly recommend this book to both literature and history teachers as part of any high school students required reading in combination with their study of history in this particular time.  It's a different and unique point of view than that of a male war hero or a runaway Jewish family, yet it still shows the intense and heart breaking conditions of the war through a personal story of friendship.

Chance, R.  2014. Young adult literature in action: a librarian's guide/ second edition.  Libraries Unlimited. Santa Barbara, California

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Lockhart, E. (2014). We were liars. New York: Delacorte.

 We were liars is the story of a very privileged family. The Sinclairs are rich and beautiful, but are hiding among the lies that cover their problems, pills, and alcohol addictions. It is more specifically the story of Cady or Cadence  Sinclair Eastman and her amnesia that has given her migraines and has made her forget the tragedy that caused it in the first place.  She spends her summers on her grandfather's private island with her cousins Johnny and Mirren and a visiting family friend Gat who she has fallen in love with. Together they are "The Liars".  Cadence slowly puts puzzle pieces together in order to come to terms with reality of the tragedy that has already occurred.

 We Were Liars is considered to be a dark modern realistic fiction because it centers on dark lies such as addictions, a tragic accident, death and dealing with grief.  It also focuses on the social issue of privilege and the lack of awareness of what is going on in the "real" world. It is a book that has strength in its entertainment value because although it is realistic in the fact that these events could happen in real life, it also has the appeal of a fantasy story. These beautiful and rich characters are not relatable to most readers.  It's almost like reading about famous people....it's entertaining because private islands and servants are not probable in our life yet still remain fascinating. 

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

Ness, P. (2008). The knife of never letting go. Cambridge, Mass.: Candlewick Press.

 Todd lives on a colony in the New World called Perentisstown with his adopted parents Ben and Cillian.  The community has no females.  Todd is told that they all died from the germ that was spread to them from the alien race called the Speckle. The side effect from the germ is the Noise which is the constant thoughts heard aloud from all men and animals in this community .  Todd discovers a hole or silence in the Noise.  When this happens, he is forced to runaway while the entire town is chasing him.  He soon finds out the silence is caused by a girl Viola and together they continue to run away while Todd discovers that everything he knew about his life and his world is a lie.

This is the first story in the a Dystopian book series called Chaos Walking.  The book is characterized as Dystopian for its controlling society and has other science fiction elements such as aliens, world wide infection, and the strange ability to hear everyone's thoughts. It's a valuable book for young adults in showing the theme of always questioning and never believing  any  knowledge for truth without their own discovery of it. It's a valuable book for teachers show elements of Dystopian literature.  Recommended books to follow this reading are other Dystopian books such as Hunger Games and the Divergent series.

Scowler by Daniel Kraus

Kraus, D. (2013). Scowler. New York: Delacorte.

 Ryan (Ry) Burke grew up on a farm with his family. His father is an inhumane monster, physically beating his mother and himself to a near death that had him hospitalized and his father Marvin sent to jail.  Ry is now 19, the farm is dying, a meteor shower is coming, and Marvin has returned after an explosion at the prison.  Ry calls on 3 of his childhood toys to help him through the terror of what is to come now as they did when he was 11 years old.

 In all honesty, I did not finish Scowler. I don't do horror books or movies and this most definitely was a thriller/horror book without a doubt. A very graphic one in fact, that caught me a bit off guard. I gave it a shot, but I guess I am in fact "the faint of heart" because I could not handle it.  Which is funny because when I was a young adult I LOVED horror films and books. I can't watch Horror movies now, I can't handle the feeling inside me...it's just to much.  So while I think this may not be suited for many young adults I know that there is a mature YA audience for this book..  I can remember loving that thrill (something to do with thrills that all teenagers seek?) when I was a young adult and so I know there is a following.  And if I'm too afraid to finish the book, then that is some good horror writing! Stephen King books are good recommendations for follow up reading and those who, unlike me, seek to be terrified.

Annie On My Mind by Nancy Garden

Garden, N. (1982). Annie on my mind. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

 Annie and Liza are both high school seniors. Liza attends a private school and Annie attends a "rougher" public school in New York city. They meet one day at the NY Metropolitan Museum of Art and begin a friendship that soon turns in to a blossoming love.  Annie helps Liza deal with her problems at school by showing her the reality of her world in public school and explaining that her problems are small in the grand scheme of things.  Their love affair accidentally goes public when a classmate and the secretary at Liza's school finds them together at the home of two lesbian teachers and threatens expulsion for both Liza and the teachers. After the dust settles, and both girls are at separate colleges, they reconnect with the hope of a continued relationship because they both truly love each other.


Annie On My Mind was a ground breaking book in the early 80s and has paved way for the publication of many more young adult novels about sexual orientation.  It remains a classic for its timeless themes of young love and coming to terms and identifying sexuality as one discovers it.  This book has strength in the fact that the story is simple and real.  It could be a great book in discussing banned books and how society views this book now and differently then when it was first published 30 years ago.  Lessons can also be connected from society's views within the story and characters within the book.

Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger

Carriger, G. (2013). Etiquette & espionage. New York: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

 Sophronia Temminick is a 14 year girl who has been sent to "charm school" by her annoyed and  embarrassed mother.   Charm school is more specifically called Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality.  Sophronia leaves home with whom she thinks is the head mistress and her adventure into an unusual world begins.  She is met with a series of events that include taking on a troop of thieves, werewolves, and meeting her new professors (one of which happens to be a Vampire) at her floating school,  all the while discovering all the mechanical inventions that are apart of this school.  Sophronia sets out to get the "prototype" (a communication devise) with a few new friends a long the way only to be embarrassed in front of her family yet again.

 Etiquette and Espionage is the first novel of the Finishing School Series.  It is an imaginative fantastic fiction with a combination of many different elements. It is part science fiction and more specifically Steampunk fiction. It incorporates technology and design that is inspired by 19th century steam powered machinery. The story is set in a Victorian world that also happens to includes supernatural ware wolves and vampires. So much unusual and unique imagination keeps the readers inspired to read more. The intended audience is for young adult females (not exclusively of course) and has a certain appeal to that group showing that women can be strong,powerful, charming and highly intelligent.  Other books that would make for a good follow up reading of this series is the Parasol Protectorate series of books written by the same author, Gail Carrier.

Andre the Giant: Life and Legend by Box Brown

Brown, B. (2014). Andre the giant: life and legend. New York: FirstSecond.

 This is the unique biography of "Andre the Giant" or Andre Rousimoff in that it is also happens to be a graphic novel.  The story describes his life including his famous moments as an actor in The Princess Bride and as a professional wrestler but also his journey and physical and emotional struggles with his rare disease that caused his super size, enlarged features, and organ complications.  It is an emotional story that remembers and honors him as a person not just a character. The book includes a bibliography, author source notes, and a glossary of professional wrestling terminology. It also describes the entertainment and performance aspects of professional wrestling. 

 This book is a great updated version of what a biography can be. It is not just a list of facts but a personal story unravelled. This biography helps "young adults get to know people different from themselves" (Chance,p. 110) as well as to demonstrate "how decisions, opportunities, and changes influence one's life."  This book might be a valuable resource for a teacher who is in need of some more exciting biographical research choices, for boys who have an interest in sports and wrestling, or for any reluctant reader who likes the experience that a graphic novel can provide.  It is a valuable book that offers both a research opportunity and enjoyable entertainment.

Chance, R.  2014. Young adult literature in action: a librarian's guide/ second edition.  Libraries Unlimited. Santa Barbara, California

It's Perfectly Normal: A book about changing bodies, growing up, sex, and sexual health by Robie H. Harris and Michael Emberley

Harris, R. (1994). It's perfectly normal: A book about changing bodies, growing up, sex, and sexual health. Cambridge, Mass: Candlewick Press. 

 It's Perfectly Normal is an informational book for young adults and children who are about to become young adults or are going through puberty or have questions about changing bodies, growing up, sex and sexual health. It also includes topics about pregnancy, birth, sexual orientation, birth control, sexually transmitted diseases, and sexual abuse.  It covers all these topics in an intelligent and clear way with the support of comic-like illustrations that simultaneously inform and provide humor as to "lighten up" the subject matter. The illustrations are a perfect choice for such a book and the young audience that it is intended for. Although it makes us want to blush at times, I would highly recommend this as a parent looking to inform their children or even to a health science teacher to use as an informative text (with parental permission). It's a book that young adults need to read just before or at the beginning stages of adolescence. It is probably the most important topic of this time in their lives and it's best to explain these topics in the clearest way possible. This book meets the needs of this age group by doing just that.

Freak Show by James St.James

St. James, J. (2007). Freak show. New York: Dutton.

 In the realistic fiction book  Freak Show, Billy bloom moves to Florida to live with her father. She was born a girl trapped in a boys body. She is gay and a drag queen. She is different than anything that her very conservative, rich, white high school has ever seen or experienced.  This is the story of her struggle not to fit in amongst them but to stand out as her true self with pride by dressing in drag and even running for homecoming queen. Despite the cruelness of others through physical and verbal abuse, Billy keeps true to herself. 
 Billy is a character that has some very real experiences in the world of homosexual teenagers.  This strong and heroic character's story is one that "young adults find identity, safety, and comfort in reading about" (p.63, Chance) because of her similar sexual orientation. Although I would strongly recommend this book to students looking for specific books on novels that explore gay-lesbian-bisexual-transgender relationships, it is an mind opening book for all. The book shows it's greatest strength through the main character and her personal journey.

Chance, R.  2014. Young adult literature in action: a librarian's guide/ second edition.  Libraries Unlimited. Santa Barbara, California

The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier

Cormier, R. (1974). The chocolate war: A novel. New York: Delacorte. 

 The Chocolate War is a realistic fictional story of a young man, Jerry, as he enters the "universe" of an all boys Catholic high school. The high school is run by a group of young men called The Vigils who are leaders in the school in that they obtain control and power through fear.  Archie Costello is the smart and cruel leader of the group who keeps everybody in check with the use of psychological punishments rather than physical.  Archie gives out "assignments" to classmates to carry out as part of his control.  Jerry accepts his assignment of refusing to sell chocolate as part of the school fundraiser. When his assignment is to end after refusing for 10 days, instead of accepting he once again says "no".  This is a declaration of war on Archie, The Vigils, and Brother Leon (his corrupt teacher).  His refusal to conform and not to sell is a direct disruption of the universe and the way things work at Trinity High School which in the end have painful consequences.

 The Chocolate War is now considered to be a young adult classic because of its timeless themes on youth and non conformity. The book, its characters, plot, and high school setting are all relatable today as they were over 40 years ago.  A book about a chocolate fundraiser at school might seem over dramatic to some but young adults can relate to such a world like their own.  This classic is chalked full of symbolism offering a great teachable book for any high school literature teacher.

Speak by Laure Halse Anderson

Anderson, L. 1999. Speak. Farrar Straus Giroux. New York, NY.

 Speak is a dark modern realistic fiction focusing on the issue of rape and how it has complicated the life of  high school freshman Melinda Sordino. The summer before high school started, Melinda went to a party, got drunk and was raped.  She called the police and now the entire school views her as the "nark" but nobody knows the real reason she did it, not even her parents.  She struggles to start the school year with no friends and has almost gone entirely mute.  This book takes us on her emotional, mental journey through out the school year and how she learns to grow, be strong, and eventually speak up with the help of some new friends and her art teacher.

 Speak is a wonderful novel that focuses on the issue that unfortunately so many young women have gone through. It centers on the emotional issues that one goes through after the physical act of rape.  Through the metaphor of a tree, seeds, and seasons, the potential for healing is acknowledged and Melinda eventually realizes that what she has done is not her fault and she needs to speak in order to save her friend and others. This book would be especially valuable to any young girl who has gone through the same experience.  It is one that any counselor should keep in their collection as well.  It can also serve to be an "eye-opener to teen girls and will make them more cautious in their relationships with the opposite sex".  (Chance, p.70).

Chance, R.  2014. Young adult literature in action: a librarian's guide/ second edition.  Libraries Unlimited. Santa Barbara, California. 

Feed by M.T. Anderson

Anderson, M.T. (2002). Feed.  Candlewick Press. Cambridge, Massachusetts.

In this unique dystopian novel, Titus life is forever changed when he meets Violet on a Spring Break trip to the moon.  Titus, like his friends and most of America was born of a test tube, and implanted with a "feed" or transmitter like chip that connects his brain and entire body to the corporate communication and marketing of the world. People have loss the ability to read, write and think for themselves and that's what makes Violet different.  She has vocabulary, the ability to write, and knows what issues are profoundly effecting the world.  She even chooses to fight the feed. He finds himself growing and changing because of her, but when it is discovered that she is dying because of the feed, he doesn't even know how to handle his emotions.  This book is a  look into a possible destructive future of humanity that is disturbing because of the current need and addiction to media.

This book is a great read for students today as they are surrounded by technology and social media.  It could be a great comparison book for Literature teachers  to A Brave New World as it questions how we see the world and the future differently because of the technology that has actually been created.   I believe young adults would connect to this book because it speaks of their future, their current use of technology and language. Lessons can be gained about important decisions in how we want the world to be in the future and how technology can be used for both good and bad.  

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black

Black, H. (2013). The coldest girl in coldtown. New York, NY. Little, Brown and Company.

In this vampire romance, Tana wakes up to find that she and her ex-boyfriend, Aidan, are the only survivors of a massacre from a party the night before.  She escapes with Aidan and rescues a lone vampire boy, Gavriel, who seems to be in trouble and in need of saving from the other vampires.  With a few new tagalongs for the ride and the risk of possible infection,  the group enters the walls of Coldtown, where vampires and humans both live and die in a new sort of civilization.  It's here where Tana learns what it truly means to survive as a series of gruesome and action pact events reveal how she will risk it all to save the lives of Aidan, her sister, and herself.  She also makes new friends, and finds herself overwhelmed with many new feelings for the mysterious Gavriel.  She shows herself to be a heroine, but is still left humbled when she takes on the fight of infection so that she might someday see the sun again.

The book is definitely for the vampire romance enthusiast starting at the high school level. It's a good read for 14 years old and up.  Anyone who loved the Twilight saga will love this.  A little bit of romance, horror, action and mystery.  It definitely took some time to read, not only because it was a big book, but moved the story pace was slow.  In addition to the characteristics listed above the book is science fiction based on its explanation of how the infection or "cold" could or could not spread to create new vampires. In other words, supernatural elements were all explained by science.  It also had some historical flashbacks which took us back in time and across the world.  I loved that Holly Black kept these characters true to their time through their language and dialog even when the story was taking place in the modern setting. This book has strength in its appeal to connect to young adults today. It is no doubt intriguing because of the mix of imagination and reality. The supernatural with the truly millennial language and use of technology throughout the book including tweeting, texting, reality t.v., live feeds, blogs, etc.  to the point that there is no doubt that this book had to be written recently. But even more so its just a good read for anyone who falls in love with Vampires.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Sherman, A. (2007). The absolutely true diary of a part time indian.  New York, NY.  Little Brown and Company.

In this modern realistic fiction novel, Junior, also known as Arnold decides to leave his Spokane Indian reservation school to go to one of the best small schools in the state, Reardan, which is 22 miles away. He knows he will have a better chance of having a hopeful future and leaving the reservation if he does this.  This decision comes at a cost as he has to leave a best friend, be labeled a "traitor" by his entire community, and deal with the struggle of fitting in at a new and very different school.  Arnold also deals with more serious issues including his own health issues, family financial issues,  physical abuse (of his best friend), alcohol abuse (his Dad), racism and the death of friends and close family.  Despite many obstacles, he never seems to give up on life and doing the best that he can.

This story is a a great read for anyone dealing with similar issues and boys in particular. It's coming of age story for boys that is written with a lot of humor, matching cartoon pictures, and very straight forward content.  Sherman Alexie doesn't "beat around the bush". In fact he is so blunt about his writing that it sometimes surprises me. I feel this is the way boys think sometimes and would probably be drawn to this book because there isn't a lot of "fluff" or integrate or unnecessary writing.   It is written very much the same that boys write and think. It's an honest story that deals with so many real young adult issues including the five developmental areas- physical, social, emotional, intellectual and moral.  This is a great read for all but I would put at the top of my list for young adult males.

Invisible by Pete Hautman

Hautman, P. (2005). Invisible.  New York, NY. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division. 

 

In this dark modern realistic fiction, Doug Hanson deals with the loss of his best friend by escaping reality.  He builds an elaborate model train track and miniature town in his basement.  He also talks to his deceased best friend, Andy, about everything.  Slowly the story of Andy's death is revealed and    a series of disturbing events leads Doug farther into the mental unknown.

The age range for this book is 12 and up. Similar books that I would recommend to follow up after reading Invisible are Rules by Cynthia Lord, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Marc Haddon and The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie.  These books have similar themes, characters and points of view. Themes of being an outcast because of their mental or physical disability and dealing with death are common among these books. 

A Language Arts or English teacher might find this book valuable to teach point of view to students. We see a story unfold from the point of view of someone who is mentally disturbed but does not really think of himself as such.

This book deals with modern issues of violence, grief, dealing with traumatic events, death and mental illness.  These issues are serious but many of them are very real for today's young adult.  Hautman's story draws us in as we read about a teenage boy who seems just introverted but later reveals the very disturbing thoughts, actions, and conversations that he has as a result of loosing his best friend in such a tragic way.  Young adults are drawn to the very real issues that Hautman creates along with an intriguing plot and straightforward writing. The book will leave you a little bit disturbed yourself.