List of Titles

 Required Titles

1.      The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

2.      Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block

3.      The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier

4.      Forever by Judy Blume

5.      Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Realistic Fiction

6.      Paper Covers Rock by Jenny Hubbard

7.      The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Award winners and Best Books

8.      The Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

9.      Chime by Franny Billingsley

10.  Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler

11.  Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley

12.  What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell

Graphic Novel

13.  Anya’s Ghost by Vera Brosgol

14.  Ghostopolis by Doug TenNapel

Nonfiction

15.  Janis Joplin: Rise Up Singing by Ann Angel

16.  Bootleg by Karen Blumenthal

17.  Charles and Emma Deborah Heigilman

Science fiction

18.  The Future of Us by Carolyn Mackler and Jay Asher

19.  Ship Breaker by Paola Bacigalupi

Fantasy

20.  Entwined by Heather Dixon

21.  Graceling by Kristen Cashore

Paranormal

22.  Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

23.  The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

  

Horror

24.  Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs (YALSA Best Teen Fiction 2012)

25.  Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Sexuality and gender identity

26.  Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan

27.  Pink by Lili Wilkinson

Humor

28.  Spanking Shakespeare by Jake Wizner

29.  The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart

Mystery/suspense

30.  Madapple by Christina Meldrum

31.  Papertowns By John Green (Printz Award Nominee)

32.  Chopsticks by Jessica Anthony and Rodrigo Corral

Multicultural

33.  Absolute Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Adventure

34.  The Devil’s Paintbox Victoria McKernan

35.  Going Bovine by Libba Bray

Historical Fiction

36.  Wicked Girls by Stephanie Hemphill

37.  Jefferson’s Sons by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley  

38.  The Firefly Letters Margarita Engle

Cross Over

39.  The Help by Kathryn Stockett

40.  The Lover’s Dictionary by David Levithan

41.  The Lost City of Z by David Grann

42.  Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

Magazines

43.   Teen Voices

44.  Seventeen

Movies

45.  The Hunger Games

46.  17 Again

Music

47.  Speak Now Taylor Swift

 

Seventeen Magazine

Critical Review:

Seventeen is primarily a fashion magazine for teenage girls, though I was pleased to find that the magazine has changed some since I was a teenager.  While the majority of the magazine is devoted to the superficial concerns, clothes, hair, and makeup, the magazine also includes articles that deal with real issues, such as safe sex and using birth control.  The magazine not only reports on issues that teens are interested in, but addresses issues that teens might be embarrassed to discuss with their parents or other adults.  I was also pleased to find that unlike fashion magazine for older readers, Seventeen, has made an effort to use models of all shapes, sizes and races, making this a truly diverse and realistic portrait of teen girls.

Interest Level:

Grades 9 and up

Similar Publications:

Teen Vogue

Subjects/Themes:

Teenage girls

Magazine Website:

http://www.seventeen.com/

Why I chose to include this magazine:

I chose to include this magazine because it is full of articles and fashion advice that is of interest to teenage girls.  

Ghostopolis

TenNapel, Doug. Ghostopolis. Scholastic, 2010. 262 pages, $24.99 ISBN: 9780545210270 (trade)

Plot Summary:

TenNapel’s graphic novel revolves around Garth, a terminally ill teen who is accidentally sent to the afterlife by affable ghost hunter Frank Gallows.  Determined to rescue Garth, Frank enlists the help of his ex-girlfriend and ghost Claire Voyent to help him travel to the afterlife.  Meanwhile, Garth finds himself in a strange land with only a ghost horse named Skinny as a friend until he runs into someone who knows him, his grandfather.  With the help of Skinny and his grandfather Garth makes it to the capitol of Ghostopolis, where he meets up with Frank and Claire who have recently landed in the afterlife.  Unbeknownst to Garth, the ruler of Ghostopolis, Vaugner sees the living boy as a threat and enlists his minions to capture him and his accomplices.  In order to return home Garth must defeat the evil Vaugner and restore peace to the afterlife. 

Critical Review:

Doug TenNapel has created a classic hero tale in his boldly illustrated graphic novel Ghostopolis.  Garth’s sudden appearance in the afterlife and his mission to defeat the evil overlord and bring peace coincides with the classic hero archetype.  TenNapel’s characters are well developed and his illustrations are bright and beautifully colored.  Ghostopolis is an edgy, fast paced, tongue in cheek tale that will leave readers wanting more. 

Genre:

Graphic Novel

Fantasy

Adventure

Interest Level:

Grades 9 and up

Similar Books:

Anya’s Ghost Vera Brosgol

Subjects/Themes:

Death/dying

Tyranny

Author’s Website:

http://tennapel.com/

Annotation:

Ghostopolis is an edgy graphic novel in which teen Garth must defeat the evil overlord of the afterlife and bring peace to Ghostopolis. 

Book Talking Ideas:

Ghostopolis tells the story of Garth a terminally ill teen that is accidentally sent to the afterlife before his time.  With the help of rescuers, ghost hunter Frank and ghost Claire, Garth must defeat the evil ruler of Ghostopolis if he ever wishes to return home to his family again. 

Why I chose to include this book:

I chose to include this book because it is edgy and darkly humorous story teens will devour. 

Anya's Ghost

Brosgol, Vera. Anya’s Ghost. First Second, 2011. 221 pages, $19.99 ISBN: 9780316056212 (trade)

Plot Summary:

Walking to school one day Anya stumbles into an open pit, where she encounters the remains and the ghost of the last person to fall down the pit.  Lucky for Anya she is rescued, but the ghost hitches a ride when one of her bones ends up in Anya’s bag.  Initially Anya is annoyed by the ghosts hitchhiking, but when she helps Anya cheat on her test and impresses Anya’s crush, Anya changes her mind about having the ghost around.  That is until the ghost starts getting demanding and Anya discovers the true nature of her dead friend and how she really died.  

Critical Review:

Brosgol’s first book is a stunning graphic novel.  Anya is a funny and clever narrator struggling with fitting in without betraying her Russian and Jewish heritage.  Like many teens Anya feels like an outsider and yearns to fit in and be accepted by her classmates.  Brosgol’s graphic style of drawing is similar to the style of artist and writer Marjane Satrapi. 

Genre:

Graphic Novel

Fantasy

Multicultural

Interest Level:

Grades 7 and up

Similar Books:

Persepolis Marjane Satrapi

Subjects/Themes:

Ghosts

Teenage girls

High School

Judaism

Awards/Honors:

ALA Notable Children’s Books 2012

Cybil Award 2011

School Library Journal Best Books 2011

YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens 2012

YALSA Top 10 Graphic Novels for Teens 2012

Author’s Website:

http://verabee.com/

Annotation:

After falling down an old well Anya meets a ghost who returns home with her and becomes her new friend. 

Book Talking Ideas:

Anya’s Ghost is a creepy and funny ghost story.  The last thing Anya expected to find when she stumbled into an old well was a new friend, especially one that died over a hundred years earlier.  When Anya is rescued her new friend tags along, making herself comfortable in Anya’s house and butting into Anya’s life until she is trying to control Anya and threatening her family. 

Why I chose to include this book:

I chose Anya’s Ghost because it is a funny and fast paced graphic novel. 

Charles and Emma: The Darwin's Leap of Faith

Heiligman, Deborah. Charles and Emma: The Darwin’s Leap of Faith. Henry Holt and Company, 2009. 268 pages, $18.95 ISBN: 9780805087215 (trade)

Plot Summary:

Heiligman opens her biography of the influential British scientist, Charles Darwin, right after his return to England after his five year voyage on the HMS Beagle.  Upon returning home Darwin decides his life is missing the love of a wife and a family and at age 30 he married his cousin Emma Wedgewood.  Over the course of their marriage the couple had ten children, seven that lived to see adulthood.  Darwin respected Emma immensely and even though they never did agree on religious issues, Darwin being an atheist and Emma a devote Christian.  Both Emma and Darwin were extremely well read and intelligent.  Emma acted as Darwin’s editor, helping his to strengthen his arguments and refine his research.  With Emma’s help, Darwin spent 20 years perfecting his best known work On the Origin of Species. 

Critical Review:

I was touched by the relationship between Charles and Emma.  Theirs was truly a marriage based on love and respect.  While Emma feared for her husband’s soul, she was never anything but supportive of his career and his research.  They never lost the romance of their marriage continuing to write each other love letters long after they were married.  Heiligman’s biography is a winner for those who love science and for teens who are looking for a beautiful love story. 

Genre:

Nonfiction-biography

Interest Level:

Grades 7 and up

Subjects/Themes:

Evolution

Religion

Charles Darwin

Awards/Honors:

Michael L. Printz Honor 2010

National Book Award finalist 2009

YALSA Award for Excellence in Non-fiction 2010

Junior Library Guild Selection

YALSA Best Books for Young Adults 2010

Author’s Website:

http://www.deborahheiligman.com/index.html

Annotation:

Charles and Emma is the story about the marriage between pioneering scientist Charles Darwin and his devotedly Christian wife Emma. 

Book Talking Ideas:

Charles Darwin is one of the most influential scientists of all time, but he never could have accomplished all he did without the love and support of his wife Emma.  Charles and Emma is a beautiful romance between two very different people and how they managed to make their marriage work despite their different beliefs.

Why I chose to include this book:

I chose to include this book because I think it will appeal to a variety of audiences. 

They Firefly Letters

Engle, Margarita. (2010). The Firefly Letters: a Suffragette’s Journey to Cuba. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company, 151 pages. $16.99 ISBN: 9780805090826

Plot Summary:

Cecilia is a young slave girl who is owned by Elena’s family.  When Fredrika comes to stay with Elena’s family Cecilia is sent to serve as Fredrika’s translator for the duration of her stay since Cecilia’s English is better than Elena’s.  Elena is twelve and very sheltered, her days are spent inside embroidering linens for her future marriage.  Meanwhile Cecilia and Fredrika become fast friends, sketching and releasing captive fireflies together about town.  Soon Fredrika asks Elena’s father to find her and Cecilia a place to stay in the country because she is concerned for Cecilia’s health.  Cecilia is pregnant and the city air has given her a severe cough.  Elena misses the friendship of the older girls while they are away, finding Fredrika’s influence has caused her to rethink her future and immediate goals.  When Fredrika and Cecilia return to the city Elena shares with Fredrika a plan she has been developing; a plan she believe Fredrika will not only approve of, but willingly assist in. 

Critical Review:

The Firefly Letters is beautifully written in verse.  The story is based on the letters of Swedish suffragette Fredrika Bremer, who visited Cuba in 1851.  Cecilia really existed and served as translator to Bremer during her stay in Cuba, but the author notes that Elena is fictional.  Engle’s verse and imagery make it easy to imagine the lush island’s warm evenings lit by the glow of fireflies above.   Engle also describes the practice of slavery as it existed on Cuba at the time.  This story is touching, written from three the viewpoints of three very different young women: independent Fredrika, sheltered Elena, and slave Cecilia.  All three lead very different lives and yet all become true friends.  Cecilia is the only one who is literally owned, but in a way all three are captives of their gender.  Because they are women they automatically have fewer rights and less say in their futures and the futures of their children.  Cecilia realizes this as she wonders about what kind of future her baby will have.  Elena wonder what kind of future she will have with the man her father chooses for her to marry when she turns fourteen in two short years.  Fredrika refused to be trapped by marriage in Sweden and leaves to travel the world.  Engle’s story was brief, under 150 pages, but it conveyed a world of feeling and emotion.  This is a true gem.

Genre:

Poetry

Historical Fiction

Interest Level:

Grades 7 and up

Similar Books:

The Surrender Tree by Margarita Engle

Subjects/Themes:

Cuba

Slavery

Poetry

Women’s Suffrage

Awards/Honors:

Pura Belpré 2011 Honor Book

ALA Notable Book 2011

ALA Amelia Bloomer List 2011

Annotation:

The Firefly Letters tells the story in verse of three girls contemplating their futures in a world ruled by men.

Book Talking Ideas:

The Firefly Letters is an historical novel written in lyrical verse.  The story follows Swedish suffragist Fredrika Bremer as she visits Cuba in the 1850’s.  Fredrika is an independent, free thinker who refused to be tied down by marriage, deciding to travel the world instead.  In Cuba Fredrika meets Cecilia and Elena and changes their world and future by just being their friend. 

Why I chose to include this Book:

I included The Firefly Letters because I was blown away by the beautiful, lush verse and vivid descriptions in the novel.  

The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games. Produced by Nina Jacobsen and John Kilik, 2012. Directed by Gary Ross. 

Plot Summary:

The blockbuster movie The Hunger Games, based on the book by Suzanne Collins, is set in a futuristic America Katniss volunteers to take the place of her sister in the annual Hunger Games.  The Hunger Games is a competition designed to remind the districts how unwise it is to revolt against the Capitol.  Each district must send two tributes, one female and male teenager to participate in a televised battle to the death.  Katniss’ fellow tribute is Peeta, a boy who once saved Katniss’ life by giving her bread when she and her family were starving.  While Katniss is focused on winning and returning to take care of her family, Peeta is focused on keeping Katniss safe because he is secretly in love with her. 

Critical Review:

Like the book the movie version of The Hunger Games is an action packed and fast paced adventure of survival and love.  Screen writer Gary Ross did a fabulous job keeping to Collins original story.  The costuming in the movie is superb and also faithful to the descriptions in the book.  But the best thing about The Hunger Games is Jennifer Lawrence who plays Katniss.  I cannot imagine a more perfect fit for the role.  Lawrence is a very talented, convincing and emotive actor and brought just the right touch to the role. 

Genre:

Science Fiction

Interest Level:

Ages 13 and up

Subjects/Themes:

Dystopian societies

Survival

Teenagers

Movie Trailer:

http://www.thehungergamesmovie.com/

Annotation:

To save her sister, Katniss volunteers a tribute in the annual Hunger Games, which is a battle to the death between 24 teens where there is only one survivor.

Why I chose to include this movie:

I chose this movie because it is based on the extremely popular best selling young adult novel The Hunger Games.