reading_list

Am I Blue? edited by Marion Dane Bauer. This is a collection of short stories writen by authors for young adults that discusses the subject and theme growing up gay or lesbian.

An Island Like You:Stories of the Barrio by Judith Ortiz Cofer. This is a collection of short stories about Latino teenages of the barrio and their world.

Wild Meat and the Bully Burgers by Lois-Ann Yamanaka. This coming-of-age novel is about a young girl, Lovely, who is the daughter of working-class Japanese parents who live in Hilo, Hawaii. Lovely desires to become just like the "Barbie doll" girls with straight blond hair and long legs.

A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks Jamie Sullivan, the daughter of the town's Baptist minister lands the leading role in the Chritsmas play, her co-star, Landon Carter. Landon never thought twice about Jamie until one day...

From the Notebooks of Melanin Sun by Jacqueline Woodson, this book deals with racism and sexuality. The close relationship of Melianin and his mother is in jeopardy when his mother's new lover is introduce to Melanin.

The Diary of Latoya Hunter: My First Year in Junior High by Latoya Hunter. This autobiography gives the reader a look into the life of a junior high student in the Bronx.

Two Suns in the Sky by Miriam Bat-Ami. This story is about a 15 year old American girl, Chris, who meets a Yugoslavian Jew who has come to America as a refugee. The town has mixed feelings about the refugees being in their town, including Chris's father.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling is a fun novel about a young boy who realizes his magical powers and decides to go to Hogwarts, a boarding school for witchcraft and wizardry.

Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary. A young reader book where we read about Ramona's struggles in school and with her brother.

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. Noah moves back to coastal North Carolian after World War II and runs into a lover of the past, Allie. This book shows that passion can be ageless and timelss.

Message in a Bottle by Nicholas Sparks is the search for a storybook love that float to shore in a glass bottle.

Heidi by Johanna Spyri. Heidi is forced to live with her grandfather who is a hermet in the Alps. A classic story of an unwanted child who finds love and happiness against all the odds.

Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt is about the Tillerman kids-Dicey, James, Sammy and Maybeth-are left by their mother in the mall parking lot.

Lurlene McDaniel writes about Dawn Rochelle and her ongoing fight with leukemia in the books Six Months to Live, I Want to Live, So Much to Live For, and No time to Cry.

Here on Earth by Alice Hoffman. March Murry returns to the small town she grew up in. During her return she is reunited with old friends, family and lover. March is spellbound once again by Hollis and the love they once had...

The Face of Fear by Dean R. Koontz. Frank Bollinger has a fear of heights after a terrible fall from the side of a mountain. One nigth while working late on the 40th floor Frank must run for his life, the only way down is out the window.

Watchers by Dean R. Koontz. A geneticly altered dog excapes from the lab along with another creature. Einstine, the dog, is taken in while the other is running lose-Einstine must save the day but how does he let the humans know what is happening?

Intensity by Dean R. Koontz is about a girl who goes home with a college friend for the holiday season when her friend's family is killed. She sneaks into the travel van to get more information only to be discovered by the killer...

Catherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman. Catherine's father searching for a suitor for his young daughter. Through her diary we learn about the ways she scares off the men who come to see if she will make a good wife.

Babylon Boyz by Jess Mowry is about four boys growing up in Oakland Califorina and the challenges of their lives. From the struggles with the local drug dealers to homlessness the boys slowly realize that life is full of choices.