This particular books to read list features forthcoming young adult and juvenile titles. If I read and review an advanced copy, I link the title to my review. At the close of every month, I move that month's remaining titles from this list to my backlist of books to read.

May 2008
Airhead by Meg Cabot (read)
Alive and Well in Prague, New York by Daphne Grab
Climbing the Stairs by Padma Venkatraman
Death By Bikini by Linda Gerber
The Debutante by Kathryn Williams
Ever by Gail Carson Levine
Fact of Life #31 by Denise Vega (read, review to come)
Geek Magnet by Kieran Scott (read, review to come)
Generation Dead by Daniel Waters
Hershey Herself by Cecilia Galante
How I Found the Perfect Dress by Maryrose Wood (sequel to Why I Let My Hair Grow Out)
How to Be Bad by E. Lockhart, Sarah Mlynowski, and Lauren Myracle
How to Build a House by Dana Reinhardt (read, review to come)
A Kiss Before the Apocalypse by Thomas E. Sniegoski
A Likely Story by David Van Etten (Chris Van Etten, David Ozanich, and David Levithan)
Love in the Corner Pocket by Marlene Perez (read)
Madapple by Christina Meldrum (read)
Maggie Bean Stays Afloat by Tricia Rayburn
Mind the Gap: A Novel of the Hidden Cities by Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon
Moon & Sun: Ruby Key by Holly Lisle
Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs (read, review and interview to come)
Penelope by Megan Shull
Picture Perfect by Catherine Clark
Pretty Little Liars #4: Unbelievable by Sara Shepard
Princess Ben by Catherine Murdock
Savvy by Ingrid Law
Shelter Stories: Love. Guaranteed. by Patrick McDonnell
Shift by Jennifer Bradbury (read, interview to come)
Stealing Heaven by Elizabeth Scott
Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson
Take Me There by Susane Colasanti (read, interview to come)
The Temptress Four by Gaby Triana
Twice Upon a Marigold by Jean Ferris
What Happens Here by Tara Altebrando

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There are many, many stories for kids and teens told in diary entries or otherwise involving personal journals, notebooks, sketchbooks, or blogs. This style reveals the innermost thoughts of the main characters. Here are a few of those private (or not-so-private) diaries.

Picture Books
Diary of a Wombat by Jackie French, illustrated by Bruce Whatley

Series for Kids
(shelved alphabetically by series title in the juvenile series section)

The Amazing Days of Abby Hayes series by Anne Mazer
- First book: Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining
-- Full list of titles

The Amelia books by Marissa Moss
- First book: Amelia's Notebook
-- Full list of titles (first book at the bottom, newest the top)
* Also look for this series in the American Girls section

The California Diaries by Ann M. Martin
- First book: Dawn
-- Full list of titles

Dear America series by various authors

From the Files of Madison Finn series by Laura Dower
- First book: Only the Lonely
-- Full list of titles

The Royal Ballet School Diaries by Alexandra Moss
- First book: Ellie's Chance to Dance

The Royal Diaries series by various authors

Series for Kids
(shelved alphabetically by author in general juvenile fiction)

Harriet the Spy stories by Louise Fitzhugh
- Harriet the Spy
- The Long Secret
- Sport
(I have yet to read the Harriet books written by Helen Ericson)

Lucy Rose series by Katy Kelly
- Here's the Thing About Me
- Big on Plans
- Busy Like You Can t Believe
- Working Myself to Pieces & Bits

Lily B. books by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel
- Lily B. on the Brink of Cool
- Lily B. on the Brink of Love
- Lily B. on the Brink of Paris

Millie trilogy by Lisa Yee
- Millicent Min, Girl Genius
- Stanford Wong Flunks Big-Time
- So Totally Emily Ebers

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid
- Rodrick Rules

Additional Titles for Kids
Middle School is Worse Than Meatloaf by Jennifer L. Holm and Elicia Castaldi with additional art by Matthew Holm
Pieces of Georgia by Jen Bryant
Strider by Beverly Cleary (This is the sequel to Dear Mr. Henshaw, which is told in a series of letters)
How My Private, Personal Journal Became a Bestseller by Julia DeVillers (made into the TV movie Read It and Weep)
Diary of a Would-Be Princess: The Journal of Jillian James, 5B by Jessica Green
Mable Riley: A Reliable Record of Humdrum, Peril, and Romance by Marthe Jocelyn
What I Believe by Norma Fox Mazer
Swan Town: The Secret Journal of Susanna Shakespeare by Michael J. Ortiz
The Book of One Hundred Truths by Julie Schumacher
Tru Confessions by Janet Tashjian
Runaway by Wendelin Van Draanen

Series for Teens
(alphabetical by author, as they are shelved)

The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot
- First book: The Princess Diaries
-- Full list of titles
-- There have been two movies based on the books.

True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet by Lola Douglas
- True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet
- More True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet
-- Related Booklist: But I DO Want to Be Famous!

Alice MacLeod books by Susan Juby
- Alice, I Think
- Miss Smithers
- Alice MacLeod: Realist at Last
-- The books were made into a Canadian TV show.

The Confessions of Georgia Nicholson by Louise Rennison (which is being made into a movie)
- First book: Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging
-- Full list of titles
-- A movie based on the books is in production.

Additional Titles for Teens
Evolution, Me, and Other Freaks of Nature by Robin Brande
Banana Splitsville by Catherine Clark (original title: Truth or Dairy)
- Sequel: Rocky Road Trip (original title: Wurst Case Scenario)
Storky: How I Lost My Nickname and Won the Girl by D. L. Garfinkle
Don't You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale
I Am the Wallpaper by Mark Peter Hughes
- Spinoff: Lemonade Mouth by Mark Peter Hughes
Returnable Girl by Pamela Lowell
Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie by David Lubar
My Life Starring Mum by Chloë Rayban
Deep and Meaningful Diaries from Planet Janet by Dyan Sheldon (originally published as two separate books: Planet Janet and Planet Janet in Love)
The Actual Real Reality of Jennifer James by Gillian Shields
Various titles edited by Beatrice Sparks
Heart on My Sleeve by Ellen Wittlinger

Related Booklist: Comedies for Tweens and Teens

This list was initially created for Deb and her son in middle school. I then added titles for other age groups.

( Check out titles by Matt Christopher, Megan Shull, and many other authors. )

Note: I consider dancing a sport, and I have created a separate booklist for dancing.

I can think of many other sports stories which I have not read, so I'll post those titles in the comments below.

Congratulations to all of my readers who are about to or have recently graduated from high school or college. You did it!

Times of transition can be difficult. The summer following the completion of high school is typically an interesting one as teens prepare for more changes in vocation, location, education, and life.

The following books follow characters as they live through that summer...

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
- Two guys go on a road trip and end up in an interesting little town.
This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen
- One of my favorite Dessen novels, second only to The Truth About Forever.
Cubanita by Gaby Triana
- A summer filled with family, culture, heartbreak, and art.
The Temptress Four by Gaby Triana
- Four best friends take a cruise together after high school graduation.
How to Be Bad by E. Lockhart, Lauren Myracle, and Sarah Mlynowski
- Three girls take a three-day road trip.

...and/or as they make the transition between high school and college.

The Body of Evidence series by Christopher Golden and Rick Hautala
- There are ten books in this series. The main character, Jenna Blake, enters college in the first book, Body Bags. The first chapter begins with the line, "It was a beautiful day to grow up." Isn't that perfect?
Cupcake by Rachel Cohn
- The third in the CC trilogy, following Gingerbread and Shrimp.
Rocky Road Trip (previously published as Wurst Case Scenario) by Catherine Clark
- Sequel to Banana Splitsville (previously published as Truth or Dairy).
It's Not About the Accent by Caridad Ferrer
- A girl reinvents herself upon entering college.
Finding Grace by Alyssa Brugman
- A high school graduate becomes a sort of caretaker to a brain-damaged woman.
Shift by Jennifer Bradbury
- Two guys go on a biking trip after high school, but only one starts college.
Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson
- Two of Scarlett's siblings consider college and work.

Related Booklist: Set in School

In March, I had a special request from high school English teachers who needed books for their students reading at a high elementary/middle school level. Here, in part, was my response:

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin is one of my all-time favorite books. It has characters of every age, and I consider it a book for all ages. It's also a Newbery Award winner, and there are teaching guides for it out there.

Have them try short stories by classic authors. That way, they aren't reading "books for babies," but something they can really sink their teeth into and build on later. Try the short stories of Jack London, Lewis Carroll, and Edgar Allan Poe. Delicious.

For a magic/fantasy series, get OutCast by Christopher Golden and Thomas E. Sniegoski. It's imaginative and action-packed. It's done especially well with boys who are reluctant readers. The quartet must be read in order:
- The Un-Magician
- Dragon Secrets
- Ghostfire
- Wurm War

Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli is a contemporary read that is memorable, award-winning, and straightforward, as is Nothing but the Truth by Avi. Of the two, I favor Maniac Magee, but note that Nothing but the Truth takes place in high school.

Of the contemporary collections included on my Quick Reads and Short Stories booklist, Twice Told: Original Stories Inspired by Original Art by Scott Hunt really jumps out for analysis, because though the stories are brief, many of them are deep and address gender/cultural identity, orientation, death, and abuse.

The same for 21 Proms edited by David Levithan (stories about prom written by various authors) How They Met, and Other Stories by David Levithan (18 stories all written by David) - short stories with older content - some stories are tame, others more racy.

Also try the Orca Soundings line, which is written specifically for high schoolers who don't want (or can't get through) long books and want contemporary, daring storylines. Think Degrassi: the Next Generation.

For more suggestions, just ask.

What if you are a famous athlete or actor who wants to (or is forced to) spend some time out of the spotlight? What do you do when you are the child of famous parents? What if your sibling is world-famous while you are completely shy? Here is a list of fun teen fiction that deal with fame. Some titles are comedies, some are melodramas, but all are sassy.

( Read more... )

Related Booklists:
But I DO Want to Be Famous!
Hey There, Sports Fan
Sing Sing Sing
I Am a Dancer

jenahville needed recommendations for her son. Here are some great books for ages eight to twelve.

FANTASY / SCIENCE FICTION
OutCast by Christopher Golden and Thomas Sniegoski - Everything and everyone in the world has magic . . . except for 12-year-old Timothy. A four book series, starting with The Un-Magician. Good guys (and girls), bad guys, dragons, warriors, inventions, and more. Give this to avid readers who enjoy action-packed fantasy series and to reluctant readers who like Star Wars.
The NeverEnding Story by Michael Ende - An imaginative, amazing book! Very long, very deep, so if it's too much for him on his own, read it aloud and trade off reading duty every few pages!

COMEDY
Henry Huggins series by Beverly Cleary - Start with the aforementioned title and prepare yourself for innocent hijinks with a boy and his dog. Ribsy is adorable. Companion to the Ramona Quimby series.
Otis Spofford by Beverly Cleary - Otis is a third-grade goof. Companion to the book Ellen Tebbits.
Ralph trilogy by Beverly Cleary - A mouse, a motorcycle, and many adventures.
I, Houdini by Lynne Reid Banks - An escape-artist hamster has plenty of stories to tell.
Wayside School books by Louis Sachar - Start with Sideways Stories for Wayside School. Great read-alouds.
Peter Hatcher series by Judy Blume - Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing kicks off Peter's stories of life with his parents, his pets, and his little brother Fudge, who seems to get all of the attention.
Sam books by Lois Lowry - Another little brother companion series. His big sis is Anastasia Krupnik.
Everyone Else's Parents Said Yes by Paula Danziger - and the other books about Matthew Martin
Judy Moody by Megan McDonald and Stink by Megan McDonald - Judy is in 3rd grade; Stink is in 2nd grade, so the books revolving around him are shorter and easier to read.

MYSTERY / HORROR
Every single book by John Bellairs - Start with The Mummy, the Will, and the Crypt, and proceed!
Coraline by Neil Gaiman - creepy, twisted, good.
Selected titles from Goosebumps by R.L. Stine - The Girl Who Cried Monster, Welcome to Camp Nightmare, Let's Get Invisible and The Haunted Mask are recommended.

MYSTERY / ACTION
The Hardy Boys - Action. Adventure. Mystery. Need I say more?
Choose Your Own Adventure - This series lets readers make their own decisions with the turn of a page. (A quick, fake example: Want to go sledding down the hill with your wild uncle? Turn to page 14! OR Would you rather follow the treasure map and walk down the hill? Turn to page 37!) Readers may get a different ending with each re-read. This is a fantastic series for reluctant readers. I am so glad that it is finally back in print!

MODERN-DAY DRAMA
Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli - I cannot recommend this book enough! It's about tolerance. It's about literacy. It's about family. It's about belonging. It's so powerful.

DRAMA WITH FANTASY
The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks - A fantastic series in which a young boy gets a cupboard with a key - and discovers that if he puts his plastic little figures in the cupboard, twists the key, and re-opens the cupboard, the figures come to life.

SPORTS
Anything in juvenile fiction by Matt Christopher - stories about kids playing football, baseball, basketball, soccer, extreme sports, you name it! - as well as the biographies of big-name athletes by the same author.

I have many more sports-related books on my list entitled Hey There, Sports Fan!

CLASSICS
Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
White Fang by Jack London
Call of the Wild by Jack London

If you love the misadventures of Ramona Quimby, you'll love these contemporary releases as well. With plenty of laughs and just enough drama, these series feature sassy young girls who like to take charge of things.

Judy Moody series by Megan McDonald, illustrated by Peter Reynolds
- Judy Moody
- Judy Moody Gets Famous
- Judy Moody Saves the World!
- Judy Moody Predicts the Future
- Judy Moody, M.D.: The Doctor is In!
- Judy Moody Declares Independence
- Judy Moody Around the World in 8 1/2 Days
- Judy Moody & Stink: The Holly Joliday
Judy's little brother Stink has his own series.

Zibby Payne series by Alison Bell
#1 Zibby Payne and the Wonderful, Terrible Tomboy Experiment
#1 Zibby Payne and the Drama Trauma
#3 Zibby Payne and the Party Problem (April 2008)
#4 Zibby Payne and the Trio Trouble (April 2008)

Clarice Bean series by Lauren Child
- Utterly Me, Clarice Bean
- Clarice Bean Spells Trouble
- Clarice Bean, Don't Look Now

Lucy Rose series by Katy Kelly
- Lucy Rose: Here's the Thing About Me (illustrated by Adam Rex)
- Lucy Rose: Busy Like You Can't Believe (illustrated by Adam Rex)
- Lucy Rose: Big on Plans (illustrated by Adam Rex)
- Lucy Rose: Working Myself to Pieces and Bits (illustrated by Peter Ferguson)

Clementine series by Sara Pennypacker
- Clementine
- The Talented Clementine
- Clementine's Letter

Emma series by Sally Warner
- Only Emma
- Not-So-Weird Emma
- Super Emma
- Best Friend Emma

Related Booklist: Funny Fiction for Kids

Crafty Blogger: Ramona fans must check out this adorable reversible bracelet made by Bookshelves of Doom.

There are two sides to every story - or three, or four, or more. Here are a dozen or more stories that employ multiple narrators, most of which are young adult releases. Listed alphabetically by author:

The Poison Apples by Lily Archer (classmates)
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher (classmates)
When It Happens by Susane Colasanti (classmates, then...)
Take Me There by Susane Colasanti (friends)
If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period by Gennifer Choldenko (classmates)
Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan (strangers, then...)
Naomi & Ely's No-Kiss List by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan (friends)
The Fruit Bowl Project by Sarah Durkee (classmates)
Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles (antagonists, then...)
Split Image by Mel Glenn (classmates)
Takeoffs and Landings by Margaret Peterson Haddix (siblings)
Grand & Humble by Brent Hartinger (classmates)
A Time for Dancing by Davida Wills Hurwin (best friends)
Feathered by Laura Kasischke (best friends)
Going Under by Kathe Koja (siblings)
The Girls by Amy Goldman Koss (friends)
The Cheat by Amy Goldman Koss (classmates)
Poison Ivy by Amy Goldman Koss (classmates)
The Realm of Possibility by David Levithan (schoolmates)
Are We There Yet? by David Levithan (brothers)
How to Be Bad by E. Lockhart, Sarah Mlynowski and Lauren Myracle (friends/co-workers)
The Year of Secret Assignments by Jaclyn Moriarty (best friends)
Many novels by Jodi Picoult, such as My Sister's Keeper (relatives and accquaintances)
Harmless by Dana Reinhardt (friends)
A Bad Boy Can Be Good for a Girl by Tanya Lee Stone (schoolmates)
The Last Days by Scott Westerfeld (bandmates)
Leftovers by Laura Wiess (best friends)
Anyone But You by Lara M. Zeises (raised like siblings)

One afternoon in the bookstore, a young woman in her late teens approached me and said, "Excuse me. Can you help me? I want some books like . . . " She named a few teen fiction titles that dealt with drug abuse and anorexia. She looked slightly uncomfortable but mostly excited. I told her that I could recommend many good books. Within minutes, she was sitting on the floor in the teen fiction section, a plastic basket full to the brim with books, with additional titles in her hand and next to her knees and her feet.

We had a great discussion. I was happy on any levels: happy that she felt comfortable enough to come to me, happy that she was open-minded, happy that I got some realistic, well-written books in her hand. This urged me to make a list of books dealing tough issues - eating disorders, loss and grieving, addiction, abuse, and so forth.

Due to their subject matter, the majority of these books are recommended for older teenagers as well as adults - be they parents, teachers, librarians, or simply avid readers.

I've read every title on this list, and have given each book a rating according to the United States movie rating guide - G, PG, PG-13, or R - based on content, and a number of stars - four being the best - based on quality (my personal opinion).

PARENTAL ABUSE OR NEGLECT - Physical or emotional abuse, alcoholism, etc.
( Read more... )

ABUSE BY OTHERS - physical or emotional abuse; date or acquaintance rape; accusations, secrets and lies
( Read more... )

TEACHER/STUDENT RELATIONSHIPS - romantic relationships or nasty rumors
( Read more... )

PLATONIC TEACHER/STUDENT RELATIONSHIPS - teachers that positively influenced their pupils
( Read more... )

PARENT/CHILD RELATIONSHIPS - reconnecting with absentee parents, dealing with restrictions and expectations
( Read more... )

ORIENTATION AND/OR GENDER ROLES
( Read more... )

VIOLENCE AT SCHOOL
( Read more... )

EATING DISORDERS
( Read more... )

PHYSICAL DISORDERS/INJURIES/SPECIAL NEEDS - protagonist, siblings, friends
( Read more... )

TEENAGE PREGNANCY - may also deal with adoption and/or abortion
( Read more... )

TEENAGE ALCOHOLISM
( Read more... )

MENTAL ILLNESS OF A PARENT OR RELATIVE
( Read more... )

MENTAL ILLNESS OF A PEER
( Read more... )

DEPRESSION
( Read more... )

RECOVERY/SUPPORT GROUPS
( Read more... )

DIVORCE, SEPARATION, AND/OR STEPFAMILIES - or parents dating
( Read more... )

LOSS OR PHYSICAL ILLNESS OF A PARENT
( Read more... )

LOSS OR ILLNESS OF A SIBLING
( Read more... )

LOSS OR ILLNESS OF A FRIEND OR PEER
( Read more... )

LOSS OR ILLNESS OF A GRANDPARENT
( Read more... )

PROTAGONIST WITH AN ILLNESS
( Read more... )

DRUG ADDICTION
( Read more... )

AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS
( Read more... )

ADOPTION - Also foster care, group homes, and counseling
( Read more... )

KIDNAPPING
( Read more... )

CULTURAL IDENTITY
( Read more... )

SUICIDE OR SUICIDAL TENDENCIES
( Read more... )

ACADEMICS - cheating or excelling
( Read more... )

SOCIAL STATUS - at school or otherwise with peers
( Read more... )

PEER PRESSURE
( Read more... )

RELIGION
( Read more... )

POLITICS
( Read more... )

ACTIVISM
( Read more... )

INTERNET SAFETY
( Read more... )

I hope that this list helps readers of all ages find books they may be too shy to openly discuss with a bookseller or librarian. I want those readers to know they may leave a comment here and tell me which books they have found valuable. Most of all, I want them to know they can talk to their friends or adults they know in order to get the answers and help they may need.

If you would like for me to add more titles about a certain subject, or if you want more information about any of the books on the list, please leave a comment.

Special thanks to those who have shown their support of this list by offering me links, comments, and compliments, such as Jen Robinson, Bookseller Chick, Robin Brande, and Sassymonkey at BlogHer.