Top Ten - St. John Neumann Regional Academy

Name: ____________________________________
Mr. Litchfield, Room 101, jlitch@sjnra.org
English 2 Honors
Due: 27 August 2012
Summer Reading and Home Study
Directions: Read the following two nonfiction selections and complete one of the book report formats for each book.
There will be two grades for each book: (1) the presentation of your book report format as a speech grade, and (2) a
written short essay exam. Both of these grades will enter into your first quarter’s grades, and if you read the books,
you will have no problem completing either of the requirements. If you take shortcuts, then you will suffer the
consequence of fiction. Both of the book reports are due AUGUST 27, the first day of school, and each day they are
late, starting with the period following your period on August 27, I will deduct 5 points. For example, if your period
is handed to me August 29, 2 days late, I will deduct 10 points (1 day [5 points] + 1 day [5 points] = 10 points) from
the grade you receive for your efforts.
Chew on This: Everything You Don’t Want To Know About Fast Food: By Eric Schlosser (304 pages)
The goal of this book is to encourage adolescents to make better decisions regarding their diets. Eric Schlosser looks
extensively into the fast food industry. The book examines the nature of slaughterhouses and chicken farms and the
inhumane operations of these systems. In addition, Schlosser discusses obesity and many medical conditions
resulting from fast food consumptions. Schlosser shows us what goes into the foods of the most famous fast food
restaurant in the nation: McDonalds. The reader will learn about the many health problems resulting from processed
foods in the fast lane.
My Posses Don’t Do Homework: by Louanne Johnson (226 pages)
The title of this book alone is attractive to the young reader. The students in this book have many problems to
confront and many emotional blockages to overcome in pursuit of a possible education. A determined teacher
attempts to motivate some the most reluctant and disinterested students in the inner city. The young reader can
identify with many of the teen characters within the book. Humor and fast reading are two of the qualities that add
to this book
You can purchase all your reading needs at Otto’s Book Store. They have these sheets and the books.

Mr. Litchfield, Room 101, jlitch@sjnra.org
English 2 Honors
DUE: Monday, 27 August 2012
Complete any of the assignments below for both of the books — Chew on This: Everything You Don’t Want To
Know About Fast Food and My Posses Don’t Do Homework — and hand them to me day one, MONDAY, 27
AUGUST, or you may email me your project anytime before 27 August. Email me (jlitch@sjnra.org) before the
last week of school if you have any questions concerning the projects.
1. Summarize the book in poem form with rhyme and rhythm (minimum 30 or more lines).
2. Discuss in depth the relevance of the title in a minimum of 250 words.
3. Write a letter to the author. Please follow a friendly letter format w/ a minimum of 250 words.
4. Use two other sources to research and write a report on an issue from the book (250 words minimum).
5. Write a one-minute radio advertisement persuading the public why they should buy and read this book. You
will need to read it to the class while I use a timer to keep the time.
6. Research and write a report on the author n a minimum of 250 words.
7. Q & A - Pretend you are interviewing a person from the book. Write your interview in question and answer
format. Include a minimum of ten questions and ten answers.
8. Compare and contrast the book with another you have read in a minimum of 250 words.
9. Discuss cause and effect relationships you found in the book in a minimum of 250 words.
10. Write an editorial based on a controversial issue in the book in a minimum of 250 words.
11. Design a time-line for events in the book on a piece of poster paper.
12. Write a letter to one of the characters in the book. Use a friendly letter format.
13. As a literary agent, write a letter to the publishing company designed to persuade them to publish this book.
Use a business letter / formal format in a minimum of 250 words.
14. Create a glossary of unfamiliar words and phrases and include the definitions found on the internet or
from a dictionary (minimum of 30 words).
15. Choose your favorite passage from the book. Copy it down and discuss what you found appealing about it
in a minimum of 250 words
16. Top 10 List - list ten things you learned from this book in a minimum of 250 words.
17. You are the reporter. Write a front-page news story or a report live from the scene in a minimum of 250
words.
18. Write your own test — a combination of matching, multiple choice, short answer, and essay. It must include
a minimum of 25 questions and reflect the entire book’s content.
19. Journal as you go — As you are reading the book, keep a two-sided reading journal. The left side should
have quotations from the book and page numbers. The right side should have your questions, thoughts,
observations, revelations, etc.
20. E-mail partner — Partner up with some who is reading the same book. Divide the book into four parts.
When you have read the first quarter, write a letter to your partner about your questions, thoughts,
observations, and revelations in 100 words or more for each section. Your partner is to respond. Do the
same for the next three sections of the book. When you finish, print out your letters and responses (you and
your partner are to have four letters and four responses). You must keep copies of the correspondence for the
four sections to hand-in the first day.
Remember, you are receiving a grade based on the knowledge you expose from the entire book and for your effort.
If you read the books but do not show the knowledge or effort, you will fail the assignments. In addition, unless the
writing is outstanding, a minimum of 250 words reflects a minimum effort. Do not experience trepidation about
exceeding 250 words. Moreover, do not use an on-line source without quoting and citing the source, or the
information will be considered plagiarism and will count as a failure. Good luck and enjoy the reading; I will.

I will add 5 points to your reports if you keep an accurate reading account on
the chart below, including the name of the book and the time spent reading on
each of the days.
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
JUNE 10
JUNE 17
JUNE 24
JULY 1
JULY 8
JUNE 9
Day One
JUNE 11 JUNE 12 JUNE 13 JUNE 14 JUNE 15 JUNE 16
JUNE 18 JUNE 19 JUNE 20 JUNE 21 JUNE 22 JUNE 23
JUNE 25 JUNE 26 JUNE 27 JUNE 28 JUNE 29 JUNE 30
JULY 2 JULY 3 JULY 4 JULY 5 JULY 6 JULY 7
JULY 9 JULY 10 JULY 11 JULY 12 JULY 13 JULY 14
JULY 15 JULY 16 JULY 17
JULY 22
JULY 29
AUGUST 5
AUGUST 12
AUGUST 19
AUGUST 26 AUGUST 27
FINISH BOOK 1
JULY 18 JULY 19 JULY 20 JULY 21
JULY 23 JULY 24 JULY 25 JULY 26 JULY 27 JULY 28
JULY 30 JULY 31 AUGUST 1 AUGUST 2 AUGUST 3 AUGUST 4
AUGUST 6 AUGUST 7 AUGUST 8 AUGUST 9 AUGUST 10 AUGUST 11
AUGUST 13 AUGUST 14 AUGUST 15 AUGUST 16 AUGUST 17 AUGUST 18
AUGUST 20 AUGUST 21 AUGUST 22 AUGUST 23 AUGUST 24 AUGUST 25
BOTH BOOK
REPORTS ARE DUE
AUGUST 28
TEST: MY POSSE
DON’T DO
HOMEWORK
AUGUST 29
BEGIN BOOK
REPORT
PRESENTATIONS
AUGUST 30
BOOK REPORT
PRESENTATIONS
AUGUST 31
BOOK REPORT
PRESENTATIONS
NOTE: If you are taking French next year, then you must read Tartuffe by Molière. You will take an exam on
the reading, and you will give a book report on it. If anyone wants to read more this summer and complete one
of the book report suggests, then you must use the following OUTSTANDING BOOKS FOR THE COLLEGE
BOUND list to receive English summer reading credit:

Outstanding Books for the College Bound
WEB: http://www.ala.org/yalsa/booklistsawards/booklists
Arts and Humanities
Bernier-Grand, Carmen. Frida : Viva la Vida! Long Live Life! 2007. Marshall Cavendish.
In twenty-six original, free-verse poems the author depicts the thoughts, feelings, and life events of Mexican
self-portraitist Frida Kahlo. The poems are accompanied by twenty-four full-color reproductions of Kahlo’s
paintings. Substantial background materials include a biographical sketch, chronology, and glossary.
Blumenthal, Karen. Let Me Play: The Story of Title IX: The Law That Changed the Future of Girls in
America. 2005. Simon & Schuster/Atheneum.
This nonfiction work looks at Title IX, the 1972 legislation mandating that schools receiving federal funds
could not discriminate on the basis of gender, ensuring equal treatment and opportunity for girls in sports and
education. Included are period photos, a time line, "then and now" commentary, extensive source notes, and
suggested resources for further reading.
Bowker , John. World Religions: The Great Faiths Explored and Explained. 2006. DK.
This comprehensive work introduces the reader to faiths of the world through religious artifacts, paintings,
architecture, and annotations of sacred texts. It includes a time line comparing significant events and people.
Bryson, Bill. Shakespeare: The World as Stage. 2007. HarperCollins.
Bryson hits the mark with his characteristic wit as he explores the world of Shakespeare and the mystery
surrounding the man and his plays.
Campbell, Joseph and Bill Moyers. The Power of Myth. 1988. Broadway Books/Doubleday.
A companion to the six part television documentary originally broadcast on PBS, this book covers such subjects
as the role of mythology in the modern world, the journey inward, the hero's adventure, and tales of love and
marriage.
Diamant , Anita. The Red Tent: A Novel. 1998. Picador.
This novel recreates the biblical life of Dinah, daughter of Leah and Jacob, from her birth in Mesopotamia
through her death in Egypt.
D’Orso , Michael. Eagle Blue: A Team, a Tribe, and a High School Basketball Season in Arctic Alaska. 2006.
Bloomsbury.
This true story explores the tiny village of Fort Yukon, Alaska, its vanishing cultural heritage, and its
relationship with mainstream American culture through its high school basketball team.
Engle, Margarita. The Poet Slave of Cuba: A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano. 2006. Henry Holt.
Written in verse, this is a Pura Belpre Award winning portrait of Juan Francisco Manzano, the poet who was
born a slave in Cuba in 1797.
Follett, Ken. Pillars of the Earth. 2007. Penguin.
This best-selling epic tale of ambition, anarchy, and absolute power set against the canvas of twelfth-century
England depicts fascinating characters and provides a spellbinding introduction to medieval religion,
architecture, politics, and daily life.
Freedman, Russell. The Voice That Challenged a Nation : Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal
Rights. 2004. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/Clarion.

A Newbery Honor book that accounts the life and musical career of the great African American vocalist,
Marion Anderson, in the context of the history of civil rights in the United States.
Greenberg, Jan. Heart to Heart: New Poems Inspired by Twentieth-Century American Art. 2001. Harry N.
Abrams.
Can a painting speak? This collection of lyrical responses to famous American works of art provides answers.
Gruen , Sara. Water for Elephants: A Novel. 2007. Algonquin Books.
Gruen creates a story full of enchanting circus lore, mystery, trains, romance, and danger with no-holds-barred.
Hemphill, Stephanie. Your Own, Sylvia: A Verse Portrait of Sylvia Plath. 2007. Random House/Alfred A.
Knopf.
Hemphill creates a chronological biography in verse format from the viewpoint of others in Plath’s life. This is
a worthy homage to Plath as her legend lives on.
Howe, Peter. Shooting Under Fire: The World of the War Photographer. 2002. Artisan.
Ten leading combat photographers share their experiences of horror, humor, bravery, and daring while reporting
from war-torn locations such as Vietnam, Haiti, Chechnya, El Salvador, Sarajevo, and Afghanistan. Over 150
black-and-white and color photographs provide a powerful and moving look at war and those who risk
everything to document it.
Jacobs, A.J. The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as
Possible. 2007. Simon & Schuster.
A non-judgmental and humorous look at the twelve months Jacobs lived as closely as he could to literal
compliance with biblical rules.
King, Melissa. She’s Got Next: A Story of Getting In, Staying Open, and Taking a Shot. 2005. Houghton
Mifflin Harcourt/Mariner Books.
Through pick-up basketball games and the people she meets on the streets of Chicago, the author learns
valuable life lessons.
Landis, Deborah Nadoolman. Dressed: A Century of Hollywood Costume Design. 2007. HarperCollins.
Landis showcases 100 years of Hollywood’s most memorable costumes and the characters they helped bring to
life as she reveals a behind-the-scenes look at the evolution of the costume designer’s art.
Martin, Steve. Born Standing Up: A Comic’s Life. 2008. Simon & Schuster/Scribner.
In a memoir full of humor and candor, Martin shares his personal itinerary as he negotiates the maze of honing
his profession and the pitfalls he avoided.
McGreevey , Tom and Joanne Yeck. Our Movie Heritage. 1997. Rutgers University Press.
This work provides over one hundred beautiful pictures of top stars, directors, and others in the film industry,
but the focus is on film preservation and the race against time to salvage what is left of the large number of
films that are currently deteriorating in our nation’s vaults, theaters, and private collections.
Partridge, Elizabeth. John Lennon: All I Want is the Truth. 2005. Penguin/Viking.
Partridge provides a wide-open view into the work and life of one of the most influential and complicated
persons from the world’s musical heritage.
Partridge, Elizabeth. This Land Was Made for You and Me: The Life and Songs of Woody Guthrie. 2002.
Penguin/Viking.
Guthrie was a humbling figure, while at the same time a major catalyst of social change. This work provides
insight into one of our most prolific and talented musicians, as well as the creation of his music.

Polly, Matthew. American Shaolin: Flying Kicks, Buddhist Monks, and the Legend of Iron Crotch: An
Odyssey in the New China. 2007. Penguin/Gotham Books.
The author reflects on the childhood dream that led him, as an adult, to take a break from Princeton and travel to
China’s famed Shaolin Temple to study martial arts for two years.
Sandler, Martin. Photography: An Illustrated History . 2002. Oxford University Press.
This work looks at photography as it evolved from daguerreotypes in the 1800’s to the respected art form that it
is today. Numerous compelling black-and-white and color photographs document technological developments,
the contributions of pioneers in the field, as well as the impact photography has had upon all aspects of society.
Strickland, Carol. The Annotated Mona Lisa: A Crash Course in Art History from Prehistoric to Post-Modern.
2007. Andrews McMeel Publishing.
In an accessible format, this unique work provides a basic working knowledge of art and art history through
short essays, sidebars, and photographs.
Weller, Sheila. Girls Like Us: Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon—And the Journey of a Generation.
2008. Simon & Schuster/Atria.
In three interwoven biographies, Weller chronicles the life and times of three tradition-breaking women singersongwriters
who came of age in the late 1960s.
History and Cultures
Ahmad, Dohra, ed. Rotten English: A Literary Anthology. 2007. W.W. Norton.
Language is power and for the dizzying array of writers collected here, displaying an authentic voice is a means
to reclaim what has been stolen, oppressed, or colonized. Rotten English collects the poetry, essays, short
stories, and novels of the best in global vernacular writing from Mark Twain to Junot Diaz.
Alexie , Sherman. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. 2007. Little, Brown.
Arnold Spirit, aka Junior, was born an outsider with water on his brain, lopsided eyes, and an IQ oppressed by
extreme poverty and a mediocre reservation education. After switching to an all-white high school he realizes
that though he'll never easily fit in, self-determination and a solid personal identity will give him the chance to
both succeed and transcend.
Bagdasarian , Adam. Forgotten Fire: A Novel.2002. Random House/Laurel Leaf.
“Who will remember the Armenians?” Hitler asked, referencing the Armenian genocide as his inspiration for
the final solution. This brutal hidden chapter of history is seen through the eyes of 12-year-old survivor Vahan
Kendarian, whose world was shattered within a matter of days.
Chandrasekaran , Rajiv. Imperial Life in the Emerald City: Inside Iraq's Green Zone. 2007. Knopf/Vintage.
A journalist explores the pristine "Emerald City," the American government's enclave inthe middle of war-torn
Baghdad.
Chang, Iris. The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust of World War II. 1998. Penguin.
Barely a postscript in official Japanese history, the horrific torture and murder of hundreds of thousands of
Chinese citizens took place over the course of just seven weeks.
Chotjewitz , David. Doris Orgel (Translator). Daniel Half-Human: And the Good Nazi. 2004. Simon &
Schuster/Atheneum.
From Hitler Youth to hunted “mischling,” Daniel's world unravels when he discovers his mother's hidden
history “taints” him with Jewish blood and marks him for extermination.

Delisle , Guy. Pyongyang : A Journey in North Korea. 2007. Drawn and Quarterly.
The secretive world of Communist North Korea remains a mystery to French-Canadian cartoonist Delisle, even
after spending two months inside its borders.
Diamond, Jared. Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed. 2005. Penguin.
What do the lack of Icelandic fisherman, the 2008 Chinese Olympics, and Easter Island tree cutters all have in
common? Much more than you might think. Collapse explores the political, technological, and ecological
decisions which merge in order to sustain or destroy societies.
Diaz, Junot. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. 2007. Penguin/Riverhead.
“Ghetto nerd,” outcast, and anime-loving Oscar Wao is the latest in a long line of doomed generations to suffer
the dreaded fuku curse of his native Dominican Republic. With humor and talent as his weapons, he perseveres,
knowing “you can never run away. Not ever. The only way out is in."
Egan, Timothy. The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust
Bowl. 2005. Houghton Mifflin.
Award winning New York Times reporter Egan tackles the great dust bowl phenomenon of the 1930's and 40's
in this multi-tiered account. He shares incredible eye-witness accounts as well as the overwhelming
convergences of failed agricultural practices, ill-fated government policies, and the costs of "get rich quick"
schemes.
Eggers, Dave. What is the What: The Autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng: A Novel. 2007. Knopf/Vintage.
As a young boy Valentino witnessed Arab militia men destroy his village, hid from hungry lions, wandered
through wasted, desert landscapes, and narrowly escaped fatal disease, capture, starvation, and enlistment. The
will to survive displayed here is almost as miraculous as this Sudanese "Lost Boy's" ability to recount the
harrowing genocide of home and people with such thoughtfulness and grace.
Fadiman, Anne. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the
Collision of Two Cultures. 1998. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
A Hmong refugee family in California clashes with the American medical system when they attribute their
daughter's grand mal seizures to a spiritual rather than physical problem.
Fleming, Anne Marie. The Magical Life of Long Tack Sam. 2007. Penguin/Riverhead.
In his day, Long Tack Sam was an acrobat, a magician, an entrepreneur, a world traveler, a celebrity, a father, a
ladies man, and a husband. This graphic collage biography pairs narrative writing, handbills, photographs, and
news clippings along with interviews, comics, and commentary to convey the inevitable effects of cultural shifts
and global politics on individual lives.
Jones, Edward P. The Known World. 2003. HarperCollins/Amistad.
In this Pulitzer Prize winning novel Jones approaches a little explored chapter in antebellum history, that of
African American slave owners. Set several decades before the beginning of the Civil War, this title skillfully
weaves plot, time, and perspective amongst a diverse and powerful cast of characters in order to explore the
moral complexities inherent to human freedom (or the lack thereof).
Horwitz , Tony. A Voyage Long and Strange: Rediscovering the New World. 2008. Henry Holt.
Pulitzer prizing winning journalist Horwitz uses humor and candor to literally follow in the footsteps of the first
American explorers—from the Vikings and French utopians to America’s first African-American trailblazer—
whose discoveries took place hundreds of years before the mythical landing on Plymouth Rock.
Larson, Erik. The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic and Madness at the Fair that Changed
America.2004. Knopf/Vintage.

The 1893 Chicago World's Fair captured the imagination of the whole world, and also provided a playground
for a cunning serial killer.
Maltman , Thomas. The Night Birds: A Novel. 2008. Soho Press.
Three generations of settlers and native Dakota weave a dark tale of family secrets and brutal injustice in Civil
War era America.
Roberts, Gene and Hank Klibanoff. The Race Beat: The Press, the Civil Rights Struggle, and the Awakening
of a Nation. 2007. Knopf/Vintage.
When Harry Reasoner thrust a microphone at an angry mob, and yelled "I don't care what you're going to do to
me, but the whole world is going to know it!" he spoke for all the reporters and photographers, black and white,
north and south, who played a critical role in bringing the reality of the Civil Rights movement into the living
rooms and consciousness of the American public.
Saenz, Benjamin Alire. Sammy and Juliana in Hollywood. 2004. Cinco Puntos Press.
This Hollywood is a barrio in 1968 New Mexico, where the students at Las Cruces High School struggle
through heartbreak, loss, and an entrenched racial divide to find their place in the world.
Satrapi , Marjane. The Complete Persepolis. 2007. Knopf/Pantheon.
Marjane Satrapi's memoir of her childhood in Iran during the Islamic Revolution is beautifully rendered in this
graphic novel series.
Spiegelman , Art. The Complete Maus: A Survivor's Tale. 1996. Knopf/Pantheon.
A man struggles to come to terms with his parents' brutal past at Auschwitz in this seminal graphic novel.
Ung , Loung . First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers. 2006. HarperCollins.
The perils of life under the brutal Pol Pot regime change a young woman’s life forever, as she and her family
find themselves fugitives of war, without even their names to remind them of what they lost.
Weiner, Tim. Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA. 2008. Knopf/Anchor.
With considerable research and extensive interviews, Tim Weinershowsthe grave miscalculations that have
plagued the Central Intelligence Agency since its inception.
Williams, David. Bitterly Divided: The South’s Inner Civil War. 2008. The New Press.
The Civil War was lost long before the first shot was ever fired, thanks to deep and violent divisions of class
and political allegiance that resulted in “a rich man’s war and a poor man’s fight.”
Wolf, Allan. New Found Land: Lewis and Clark’s Voyage of Discovery. 2007. Candlewick.
The epic journey of Lewis and Clark comes alive as each member of the expedition tells an intimately personal
story of struggle and discovery in this sweeping poetic rendition.
Literature and Language Arts
Allison, Dorothy. Bastard Out of Carolina. 1993. Penguin/Plume.
Bone confronts illegitimacy, poverty, the troubled marriage of her mother and stepfather, and the stigma of
being considered “white trash” as she comes of age in South Carolina.
Anderson, M.T. The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. 1: The Pox Party. 2006.
Candlewick.
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. II: The Kingdom on the Waves. 2008.
Candlewick.
Set during the American Revolution, Octavian is raised as a pampered African prince by a society of

Enlightenment philosophers who view him as an experiment. Realizing that his freedom is an illusion,
Octavian sets off on a journey to find freedom and a place in the world. These books will challenge everything
you have ever learned about the Revolutionary War.
Bond, Jenny and Chris Sheedy. Who the Hell is Pansy O’Hara?: The Fascinating Stories Behind 50 of the
World’s Best-Loved Books. 2008. Penguin.
Did you ever wonder what an author was thinking when they wrote their book? Explore the quirky back-stories
of some of the world’s most famous 50 books.
Cameron, Peter. Someday This Pain Will be Useful to You. 2007. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
James hates everyone except his grandmother. Take a look at life through this brilliant and mischievous New
York teen’s eyes as he tries to figure out life and his place in it.
Cisneros, Sandra. Caramelo . 2003. Knopf/Vintage.
LaLa learns the stories of her Awful Grandmother and weaves them into a colorful family history. The
“caramelo,” a striped shawl begun by her Great-Grandmother, symbolizes their traditions.
Dunn, Mark. Ella Minnow Pea: A Novel in Letters. 2002. Knopf/Anchor.
The people of Nollop are good citizens, but as the use of more and more letters in the alphabet is outlawed, how
will its residents communicate?
Foer , Jonathan Safran. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. 2006. Houghton Mifflin.
Oskar Schell, a gifted 9-year old, explores the mystery of his father’s death during the 9/11 attack.
Gaines, Ernest. A Lesson Before Dying. 1997. Knopf/Vintage .
When Jefferson's attorney states, "I would just as soon put a hog in the electric chair as this," disillusioned
teacher Grant Wiggins is sent into the penitentiary to help Jefferson gain a sense of dignity and self-esteem
before his execution.
Green, John. Looking for Alaska. 2005. Penguin.
Join Miles Halter, who is intrigued by famous last words, as he heads off to boarding school in search of the
“Great Perhaps.” What he finds is a beautiful but troubled girl named Alaska.
Haddon, Mark. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. 2004. Knopf/Vintage .
Christopher has two mysteries to solve: who killed Wellington the dog and what happened to his mother. But
Christopher, who has Asperger Syndrome, a form of autism, approaches these mysteries and the world itself in
a unique and special way.
Hosseini , Khaled. The Kite Runner. 2004. Penguin/Riverhead.
Years after he flees Afghanistan, Amir, now an American citizen, returns to his native land and attempts to
atone for the betrayal of his best friend before he fled Kabul and the Taliban.
Ishiguro, Kazuo. Never Let Me Go. 2005. Knopf.
Only special students are chosen to attend Hailsham, an exclusive boarding school tucked away in the English
countryside. The chilling truth of their special nature slowly unfolds as we follow the stories of three former
students.
Jones, Lloyd. Mister Pip. 2008. Dell Publishing/Dial Press.
Matilda’s Pacific Island village has been torn apart by civil war. Against this harsh backdrop, Mr. Watts, a
lonely British expatriate, maintains calm by reading Dicken’s Great Expectations aloud to the village children,
transforming their lives.
Keillor , Garrison, ed. Good Poems. 2003. Penguin.
An essential and accessible anthology of some of the best contemporary and classic poetry.

Kidd, Sue Monk. Secret Life of Bees. 2008. Penguin.
Searching for the truth about her mother’s life and death, a grieving Lily finds the answers, love, and acceptance
where she least expects it.
Kyle, Aryn. The God of Animals. 2007. Simon & Schuster/Scribner.
Twelve-year old Alice must face issues beyond her years. Her sister has run off, her mother won’t get out of
bed, and the family horse farm is failing. Can she keep the family from falling apart?
Maguire, Gregory. Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. 2007. HarperCollins.
The Wizard of Oz retold from the point of view of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West. You’ll never think
of Oz the same way again.
McCarthy, Cormac. The Road. 2008. Knopf/Vintage.
After an apocalyptic catastrophe, a father and his young son embark on a grim and perilous quest following the
road to the sea.
Murakami, Haruki. Kafka on the Shore. 2006. Knopf/Vintage.
Reality and fantasy converge in this story of a Japanese runaway’s quest to find his long-lost sister and mother.
Myers, Walter Dean. Sunrise Over Fallujah. 2008. Scholastic.
Robin believes in his country and volunteers to fight in Iraq; but when he arrives he realizes that fighting for
freedom is not always black and white.
Roth, Philip. The Plot Against America. 2005. Knopf/Vintage.
This is a fascinating alternate history that takes a hard look at one of America’s legendary heroes, Charles
Lindbergh, and at how bigotry and fear can shape politics.
Sebold , Alice. Lucky: A Memoir. 2002. Little Brown/Back Bay.
“You save yourself or you remain unsaved.” With these words, Sebold recounts the brutal rape that she was
“lucky” to survive. Tragedy and hope combine as she makes her way through a survivor’s maze of emotions.
Stoppard, Tom. Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead. 1994. Grove Press
Two bit players from Shakespeare's Hamlet are thrust into a terrifying and surreal new situation.
Thompson, Craig . Blankets. 2003. Top Shelf Productions.
A young man questions his faith and experiences bittersweet first love in this autobiographical and
groundbreaking graphic novel.
Zusak , Marcus. The Book Thief. 2006. Random House/Knopf.
Living in Nazi Germany, young Liesel and her family choose to lie and steal to protect a Jewish refugee hiding
in their basement. Narrated by Death, this is not your typical World War II story.
Science and Technology
Adams, Scott. God’s Debris: a Thought Experiment. 2004. Andrews McMeel Publishing.
Take a metaphysical journey into man’s first science, the search for meaning, as you try to deliver a package to
the smartest man in the world who won’t take it until you understand.
Anderson, M.T. Feed. 2002. Candlewick.
In this society your brain cyber feed provides an endless stream of information, entertainment and advertising.
When Violet’s feed is disrupted, she’s cast adrift and everyone is forced to examine the power of the feed in
his/her life.

Ayres, Ian. Super Crunchers: Why Thinking-By-Numbers is the New Way to Be Smart. 2008. Bantam.
With real-life examples from sports, medicine, online dating, and airline pricing, Ayres describes how data
about all of us is collected and “crunched” by statisticians and computers to profile consumers benefiting both
the consumer and the companies interested in selling to them.
Best, Joel. Damned Lies and Statistics: Untangling Numbers from the Media, Politicians, and Activists. 2001.
University of California Press.
Confused by all the contradicting statistical data being bantered around by advertisers and the media? Best
explains how these statistics are created and their social implications, which will help you distinguish truth from
hype.
Bryson, Bill. A Short History of Nearly Everything. 2004. Broadway Books.
A renowned travel writer brings complex scientific concepts to life by describing how the universe and life as
we know it came to be.
Casey, Susan. The Devil’s Teeth: A True Story of Obsession and Survival Among America’s Great White
Sharks . 2006. Henry Holt/Owl Books.
While studying migratory birds on the remote Farallones Islands, 30 miles off the coast of San Francisco,
biologists noticed red blotches in the surrounding waters. These sightings evolve into a full blown scientific
study of great white sharks revealing unknown secrets of this prehistoric beast.
Chen, Joanne. The Taste of Sweet: Our Complicated Love Affair With Our Favorite Treats. 2008. Crown.
Why does chocolate taste so good but broccoli turns many of us off? The science, history and social changes
behind the American sweet-tooth are explored from taste buds on our tongues, to slaves on the sugar
plantations.
Doctorow, Cory. Little Brother. 2008. Tom Doherty Associates/Tor Teen.
In near future San Francisco, 17-year-old Marcus, also known as w1n5t0n (or Winston), is running from the
Department of Homeland Security after he is detained under suspicion of participating in a terrorist attack.
Marcus and his friends are using technology to further their cause.
Firlik , Katrina. Another Day in the Frontal Lobe: A Brain Surgeon Exposes Life on the Inside. 2007. Random
House.
Firlik brings honest appraisal of her work with less heroism and more day-to-day problem solving as she moves
from intern to doctor. Along the way she removes a nail in a carpenter’s head and allows maggots to clean pus
out of an infected brain in this humorous and candid memoir.
Flannery, Tim. The Weather Makers: How Man Is Changing the Climate and What It Means for Life on Earth.
2006. Atlantic Monthly Press.
What are melting glaciers, disappearing frogs and a season of perfect storms trying to tell us about the
conditions of the planet we call home and what can we do to prevent a catastrophe?
George, Rose. The Big Necessity: The Unmentionable World of Human Waste and Why it Matters. 2008.
Metropolitan Books.
It isn’t hidden behind the bathroom door or quietly flushed down the toilet in this book: a look at the dirty
details of what happens to human waste around the globe and how it affects our health and sanitation.
Hoose , Phillip M. The Race to Save the Lord God Bird. 2004. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
The ivory-billed woodpecker is thought to be extinct, but some disagree. Hoose documents the scientific and
bird-watching communities’ attempts to find this lost species and save its habitat in the Southern United States.

Jones, Chris. Out of Orbit: The Incredible True Story of Three Astronauts Who Were Hundreds of Miles
Above Earth When They Lost Their Ride Home. 2008. Broadway Books.
The mission seemed jinxed from the start and nothing could have prepared the team for the challenge of being
stranded in earth’s orbit after the destruction of the shuttle Columbia and its crew. Finding a way home was a
Herculean feat of teamwork on and off the planet.
Leopold, Aldo. A Sand County Almanac. 2001. Oxford University Press.
This classic of environmental and nature writing, arranged by season, provides a poetic view through the
window of the Leopold family farm in the Wisconsin meadows. Even 60 years after this book’s original
publication, Leopold’s closing comments on land ethic and conservation are surprisingly relevant.
Macaulay, David. Mosque. 2003. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/Walter Lorraine.
Enter a community Mosque of the sixteenth century, and discover the techniques used to raise towering
minarets and a beautiful prayer hall dome. This simplistic book for all ages glorifies these magnificent buildings
that served as the center of religion, and also housed travelers, stored food, and provided public baths.
Macaulay, David. The Way We Work: Getting to Know the Amazing Human Body. 2008. Houghton Mifflin
Harcourt/Walter Lorraine.
Concerned about taking freshman biology? Get a leg up on the course by letting Macaulay take you on a
whirlwind tour of the human body with detailed illustrations and succinct explanations of its building blocks
and systems.
McKibben , Bill, ed. American Earth: Environmental Writing Since Thoreau. 2008. The Library of America.
Experience the growth of the environmental movement in poetry, essay, song, and prose from its infancy to
present day through the eyes of its champions.
Melville, Greg. Greasy Rider: Two Dudes, One Fry-Oil-Powered Car, and a Cross-Country Search for a
Greener Future. 2008. Algonquin Books.
Take a humorous, green road trip with the author and his college buddy in a converted 1980’s Mercedes from
Vermont to California, and learn a little about how to be more eco-friendly along the way.
Pollan , Michael. The Botany of Desire: A Plant’s Eye View of the World. 2001. Random House.
Through the sweetness of apples, the beauty of tulips, the intoxication of marijuana, and potato control; Pollan
proves mankind manipulates plants and they, in turn, entice us to do their bidding.
Preston, Richard. The Wild Trees: A Story of Passion and Daring. 2008. Random House.
Three buddies on spring break climb into a California redwood and discover a new ecosystem atop the trees.
Join this group of young scientists in the canopy as they learn safe climbing techniques for the oldest and tallest
trees of North America, and encounter new species of plants, animals, and love.
Roach, Mary. Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers. 2003. W.W. Norton.
Discover the amazing life-after-death adventures of human bodies in this examination of how medical and
research scientists use cadavers to make our lives better.
Schroeder, Gerald. Hidden Face of God: How Science Reveals the Ultimate Truth. 2002. Simon &
Schuster/Free Press.
This somewhat controversial book investigates the relationship between physics and metaphysics, science and
religion, but doesn’t provide any specific answers. It will evoke a sense of wonder about the cosmos and life
itself for those who have an open mind.
Silverstein, Ken. The Radioactive Boy Scout: The True Story of a Boy and His Backyard Nuclear Reactor.
2005. Random House/Villard.

What would you do if you came home to find your neighborhood quarantined? Learn the true story of how
David Hahn’s teenage obsession prompted government agents to descend on his suburban backyard.
Smith, Gina. The Genomics Age: How DNA Technology is Transforming the Way We Live and Who We Are.
2004. AMACOM.
From Crick and Watson’s discovery of the double helix, to “designer” embryos, learn the history and truth
behind the controversies in today’s news. Smith, a former network news technology consultant, gives the hard
scientific facts in an enjoyable easy to read manner.
Teresi , Dick. Lost Discoveries: The Ancient Roots of Modern Science--From the Babylonians to the Maya.
2003. Simon & Schuster.
Living in our modern technological society it’s easy to believe ancient cultures had little scientific or
mathematical knowledge. Teresi, however, demonstrates that modern science is much older than we think, and
shows how scientific and mathematical concepts of ancient cultures are the foundation of today’s technology.
Social Sciences
Albom , Mitch. Tuesdays with Morrie: an Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson. 2002.
Broadway Books.
Meet one-of-a-kind college professor Morrie Schwartz, who teaches us all to live fully as he lies dying, and his
former student Mitch Albom, who gets a chance to rediscover life through the death of his mentor and friend.
Beah , Ishmael. A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier. 2008. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
A Long Way Gone is the riveting, firsthand account of Ishmael Beah, a 12-year-old child soldier, hopped up on
drugs and wielding an AK-47, who gets swept up in the horrors of civil war in his African homeland.
Bolles , Richard Nelson. What Color Is Your Parachute? 2009: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and
Career-Changers. 2008. Ten Speed Press.
With a proven track record of more than thirty years in publication, this top-selling career guide has been
updated and revised to help first-time job seekers discover and get the right work for them.
Casnocha , Ben. My Start-Up Life: What a (Very) Young CEO Learned on His Journey through Silicon Valley.
2007. John Wiley & Sons.
Casnocha, a 19-year-old entrepreneur, tells his own story about the ups and downs of making a business idea
work and inspires readers to find their own way to make a difference.
George, Mary W. The Elements of Library Research: What Every Student Needs to Know. 2008. Princeton
University Press.
Succinct and practical, this guide provides students with the tactics, tools and confidence they need to
successfully conduct college level research.
Gladwell , Malcolm. The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference. 2002. Little
Brown/Back Bay.
Through entertaining anecdotes Gladwell explains the phenomena of fads, or how little actions can ripple
outward until a “tipping point” is reached which results in a dramatic change.
Juette , Melvin and Ronald J. Berger. Wheelchair Warrior: Gangs, Disability, and Basketball. 2008. Temple
University Press.
This inspiring story follows the transformation of a 16-year-old African American from gang member destined
for prison or death to wheelchair athlete playing for the U.S. National Wheelchair Basketball Team.

Keen, Lisa. Out Law: What LGBT Youth Should Know About Their Legal Rights. 2007. Beacon Press.
Keen introduces LGBT youth to their legal rights and provides examples of young people empowered to stand
up for themselves.
Kohl, Jana. A Rare Breed of Love: The True Story of Baby and the Mission She Inspired to Help Dogs
Everywhere. 2008. Simon & Schuster/Fireside.
The shocking cruelty of legal animal abuse is exposed through the story of Baby, a poodle who lost a leg after
years of mistreatment at a puppy mill. Rescued by Jana Kohl, they now work together with celebrity friends and
politicians to raise awareness about animal rights.
McCormick, Patricia. Sold. 2006. Hyperion.
When 13-year-old Lakshmi is sold into prostitution by her stepfather, she ends up in a brothel in the slums of
Calcutta, where her life becomes a nightmare from which she cannot escape. Although a novel, this story
reflects a situation that many girls around the world endure today.
Menzel , Peter and Faith D'Aluisio. Hungry Planet: What the World Eats. 2007. Ten Speed Press.
Hungry Planet is a photo-chronicle of families around the world, the food they eat, and how uncontrollable
forces like poverty, conflict and globalization affect our most elemental human need – food.
Mortenson , Greg and David Oliver Relin. Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace One
School at a Time. 2007. Penguin.
Lost and near death following an unsuccessful attempt to climb K2, Mortenson is sheltered and nursed in a
remote mountain village. Out of gratitude, he vows to return to build schools throughout Pakistan and
Afghanistan.
Picoult , Jodi. Nineteen Minutes. 2008. Simon & Schuster/Washington Square Press.
Seventeen-year-old Peter Houghton wakes up one day, loads his backpack with four guns, walks into the school
cafeteria, and kills nine students and one teacher in the span of nineteen minutes. Why?
Pipher , Mary. The Middle of Everywhere: Helping Refugees Enter the American Community. 2003. Houghton
Mifflin Harcourt.
They come from Laos, Bosnia, Northern Iraq, Sudan, Afghanistan, and the former Soviet Union. War-scarred
refugees, searching for freedom, move into cities across the American heartland to face one more challenge --
adjusting to life in a strange new land.
Pope, Loren. Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About Colleges.
2006. Penguin.
Prospective college students can rely upon Pope’s indispensable guide to 41 colleges where education rivals
that of the Ivy League universities in producing outstanding graduates.
Rogers, Elizabeth and Thomas Kostigen. The Green Book: The Everyday Guide to Saving the Planet One
Simple Step at a Time. 2007. Crown Publishing/Three Rivers Press.
Celebrities Ellen DeGeneres, Jennifer Aniston, Tim McGraw, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and others contribute
suggestions of small changes you can make daily to have a positive impact on the health of our planet. Learn
how you too can live green!
Sheff , David. Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey through His Son's Addiction. 2008. Houghton Mifflin
Harcourt.
A father’s anguished account of his promising son’s meth addiction and its painful impact on the entire family
is honest, raw, and full of information about the realities of drug addiction.

Sheff , Nic. Tweak: Growing Up on Methamphetamines. 2009. Simon & Schuster/Atheneum.
Nic Sheff is destined for a rich life and career until he is derailed by drugs. This wrenchingly honest account of
life as a meth addict is the companion book to Beautiful Boy.
Smith, Jodi R.R. From Clueless to Class Act: Manners for the Modern Man. 2006. Sterling.
From Clueless to Class Act: Manners for the Modern Woman. 2006. Sterling.
These unstuffy guides to good behavior will help young men and women develop the style and panache to make
a good impression in social and professional circles.
Stern, Jessica. Terror in the Name of God: Why Religious Militants Kill. 2004. HarperCollins.
Seeking to understand how religious ardor leads to violence, Stern recounts her dramatic encounters with
Christians and Muslims who use terrorism in the name of God.
Urrea , Luis Alberto. The Devil's Highway: A True Story. 2005. Little Brown/Back Bay Books.
Thousands of illegal immigrants yearly scramble across the U.S.-Mexican border and into an area of the
Arizona desert known as the Devil’s Highway. Many do not make it out alive. This is the human story of illegal
immigration told with facts, anger, and poetry.
Wallis, David, ed. Killed Cartoons: Casualties from the War on Free Expression. 2007. W. W. Norton.
Wallis’ book is full of political cartoons killed before publication. Each cartoon is accompanied by a brief
narrative explaining why it was considered too controversial for publication.
Walls, Jeannette. The Glass Castle : A Memoir. 2006. Simon & Schuster/Scribner.
This is Jeannette Walls’ memoir of growing up in chaos and poverty with a family that prized freedom and
unconventionality over comfort and safety.
Wheelan , Charles. Naked Economics: Undressing the Dismal Science. 2002. W. W. Norton.
This intriguing and approachable introduction to the field of economics is for all readers who have rejected the
topic as tedious, boring and incomprehensible.
Teens' Top Ten 2011
1. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare (Simon & Schuster)
2. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (Scholastic)
3. Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick (Simon & Schuster)
4. I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore (HarperCollins)
5. The Iron King by Julie Kagawa (Harlequin)
6. Matched by Ally Condie (Penguin)
7. Angel: A Maximum Ride Novel by James Patterson (Little, Brown & Company)
8. Paranormalcy by Kiersten White (HarperCollins)
9. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver (HarperCollins)
10. Nightshade by Andrea Cremer (Penguin)
Teens' Top Ten 2010
1. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
2. City of Glass by Cassandra Clare
3. Heist Society by Ally Carter
4. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

5. Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
6. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
7. Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
8. If I Stay by Gayle Forman
9. Fire by Kristin Cashore
10. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
2009 Teens' Top Ten
1. Paper Towns by John Green (Penguin/Dutton)
2. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)
3. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Scholastic)
4. City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare (Simon & Schuster/Margaret K. McElderry)
5. Identical by Ellen Hopkins (Simon & Schuster/Margaret K. McElderry)
6. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (HarperCollins)
7. Wake by Lisa McMann (Simon & Schuster/Simon Pulse)
8. Untamed by P.C. and Kristin Cast (St. Martin's Griffin)
9. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart (Disney-Hyperion)
10. Graceling by Kristin Cashore (Harcourt/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
The 2008 Teens’ Top Ten.
1. Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer
2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling
3. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
4. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
5. Maximum Ride: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports by James Patterson
6. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
7. The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray
8. Extras by Scott Westerfeld
9. Before I Die by Jenny Downham
10. Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson
2007 Teens' Top Ten!
1. New Moon by Stephenie Meyer (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2006).
2. Just Listen by Sarah Dessen (Viking Children’s Books, 2006)
3. How to Ruin a Summer Vacation by Simone Elkeles (Flux, 2006).
4. Maximum Ride: School’s Out – Forever by James Patterson (Hachette Book Group USA/Little, Brown
Books for Young Readers, 2006).
5. Firegirl by Tony Abbott (Hachette Book Group USA/Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2006).
6. All Hallows Eve (13 Stories)by Vivian Vande Velde (Harcourt, 2006).
7. Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer (Harcourt, 2006).
8. River Secrets by Shannon Hale (Bloomsbury, 2006).
9. Bad Kitty by Michele Jaffe (HarperCollins, 2006).
10. Road of the Dead by Kevin Brooks (Chicken House, 2006).

2007 Teens' Top Ten!
1. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling (Scholastic Press, 2005).
2. Twilight by Stephanie Meyer (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2005).
3. Eldest by Christopher Paolini (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2005).
4. Rebel Angels by Libba Bray (Delacorte Press, 2005).
5. Peeps by Scott Westerfeld (Razorbill, 2005).
6. 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson (HarperCollins Children’s Books, 2005).
7. Poison by Chris Wooding (Orchard Books, 2005).
8. Captain Hook: The Adventures of a Notorious Youth by J.V. Hart (Laura Geringer Books, 2005).
9. If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where’s My Prince? by Melissa Kantor (Hyperion Books for Children,
2005).
10. Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin (Farrar, Straus and Giroux Books for Young Readers,
Adventure Seekers
Bray, Libba. Going Bovine. Delacorte Press. 2010. $9.99. 978-0385733984
It’s a mad, mad, mad, mad, Mad Cow world.
*Carroll, Michael. Super Human. Speak. 2010. $8.99. 978-0142419052
When the superheroes fall and all hope is gone, who are you gonna call?
Cashore, Kristin. Graceling. Graphia. 2008. $9.99. 978-0547258300
She has the ultimate power, the power to kill.
Chima, Cinda Williams. The Demon King: A Seven Realms Novel. Hyperion Books CH. 2010. $9.99. 978-
1423121367
A thief and a princess share the same destiny.
Cohn, Rachel and David Levithan. Dash and Lily's Book of Dares. Ember. 2011. $8.99. 978-0375859557
Following each other's clues around NYC and into each other's hearts.
Fisher, Catherine. Incarceron. Dial/Firebird. 2011. $9.99. 978-0142418529
The prison you can’t escape is closer than you think.
Flanagan, John. Ranger's Apprentice: Book One: The Ruins of Gorlan. Puffin. 2006. $7.99. 978-0142406632
Last chosen, first to succeed.
Headley, Justina Chen. North of Beautiful. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. 2010. $8.99. 978-
0316025065
Mapping the route to her soul.
MacHale, DJ. The Merchant of Death: Pendragon Series #1. Aladdin. 2002. $8.99. 978-0743437318
He must save a world to save his family.
Marchetta, Melina. Finnikin of the Rock. Candlewick. 2011. $9.99. 978-0763652920
Rally the people! Break the curse! Restore the royal family?
Matson, Morgan. Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour. Simon & Schuster. 2011. $10.00. 978-1416990666
A cross-country road trip leads to unexpected adventures.
McClintock, Norah. Taken. Orca. 2009. $12.95. 978-1554691524
First you have to escape, then the struggle for survival begins.

Meyer, L.A. Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary Jacky" Faber. Graphia. 2010.
$8.99. 978-0152050856
How long can she keep up her high seas masquerade?
Millar, Mark. Wolverine: Old Man Logan. Marvel. 2010. $29.99. 978-0785131724
Be nice to the old man next door, he may just be a super-hero in hiding.
*Moore, Perry. Hero. Hyperion. 2009. $8.99. 978-1423101963
In the closet, in more ways than one.
Paolini, Christopher. Eragon: The Inheritance Cycle. Knopf Books for Young Readers. 2005. $10.99. 978-
0375826696
Can a boy and his dragon save the world?
Pierce, Tamora. Trickster’s Choice: Daughter of the Lioness, Book 1. Random House. 2003. $8.99. 978-
0375828799
The stakes are high when you make a deal with a trickster god.
Polly, Matthew. American Shaolin: Flying Kicks, Buddhist Monks, and the Legend of Iron Crotch: An Odyssey
in the New China. Gotham. 2007. $16.00 978-1616798956|
Wimpy American seeks butt-kicking enlightenment in China.
Reeve, Philip. Fever Crumb. Scholastic. 2011. $8.99. 978-0545222150
The past drives the present in a future England.
Scott, Michael. The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel. Delacorte Press. 2008. $8.99.
978-0385736008
Twins discover the secrets to alchemy and everlasting life.
Shulman, Polly. Grimm Legacy. Puffin. 2011. $7.99. 978-0142419045
What if you could check out seven league boots from your local library?
Smith, Roland. Peak. Harcourt. 2008. $6.95. 978-0152062682
A race to the top of the world.
Walden, Mark. H.I.V.E: The Overlord Protocol. Simon & Schuster. 2009. $7.99. 978-1416935742
It takes a villain to defeat a villain.
Waldorf, Heather. Tripping. Red Deer Press. 2009. $12.95. 978-0889954267
There’s more to surviving in the wilderness than starting a fire.
Zusak, Markus. I am the Messenger. Knopf Books for Young Readers. 2006. $10.99. 978-0375836671
Life dealt the cards, now Ed must decide how to play them.
Forbidden Romance
Adornetto, Alexandra. Halo. Square Fish. 2011. $9.99. 978-0312674366
Is love strong enough to stop hell on earth?
Booth, Coe. Kendra. Push. 2010. $8.99. 978-0439925372
A girl is only as good as the next bad boy.
Cohn, Rachel and David Levithan. Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List. Knopf Books for Young Readers. 2008.
$8.99. 978-0375844416
She wants what he can’t give her.

Condie, Ally. Matched. Speak. 2011. $9.99. 978-0142419779
In a society that offers no choices, Cassie must make one.
Cremer, Andrea. Nightshade. Speak. 2011. $9.99. 978-0142419809
Will Calla forsake her pack for love.
Divine, L. Drama High: Second Chance. Kensington. 2006. $9.95. 978-0758216359
If Jayd is so fly then why is she kicking it with a white rich boy dealer?
Elkeles, Simone. Perfect Chemistry. Walker Books for Young Readers. 2008. $9.99. 978-080279822
Latino gang member + Prim and proper cheerleader = TNT
Godbersen, Anna. Bright Young Things. HarperCollins. 2011. $9.99. 978-0061962677
Bootleggers, babes, and the Big Apple.
Hino, Matsuri. Vampire Knight: Vol. 1 & 2. Viz Media. 2007. $8.99. 978-1421508221. 978-1421511306
She's supposed to protect her classmates from the vampires, not fall in love with one.
Hopkins, Ellen. Burned. McElderry. 2007. $10.99. 978-1416903550
Trapped by a faith * Embraced by a new found love * Happiness shattered
Jordan, Sophie. Firelight. HarperCollins. 2010. $9.99. 978-0061935091
If you fall for a dragon you might get burned.
Katcher, Brian. Almost Perfect. Delacorte Press. 2009. $8.99. 978-0385736657
The girl of his dreams isn’t quite what she seems.
Korman, Gordan. Son of the Mob. Hyperion Book CH. 2004. $7.99. 978-0786815937
Mob prince seeks FBI princess. Must enjoy romantic walks on the beach, candlight dinners, and the occasional
body in the trunk.
Kulver, Cayla. Legacy. HarlequinTeen. 2011. $9.99. 978-0373210343
Enemies with benefits.
*Lindner, April. Jane. Poppy. 2011. $8.99. 978-0316084192
Jane Eyre gets a rock-and-roll make-over.
Meyer, Stephenie. Twilight. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. 2008. $7.99. 978-0316038379
When the only one you want has a secret...he's a vampire..
Nelson, Jandy. The Sky is Everywhere. Speak. 2011. $8.99. 978-0142417805
Is it really so wrong to have the hots for your dead sister's boyfriend?
Nelson, RA. Teach Me. Razorbill. 2007. $8.99. 978-1595140852
Giving her teacher an education.
Perkins, Stephanie. Anna and the French Kiss. 2011. $8.99. 978-0142419403
Forbidden liasons.
Ravel, Edeet. Held. Annick Press. 2011. $12.95. 978-1554512829
Captive falls for her captor.
Shusterman, Neal. Bruiser. HarperTeen. 2011. $8.99. 978-0061134104
His mystery might be more than Bronte can handle.

Scott, Elizabeth. The Unwritten Rule. Simon & Schuster. 2011. $9.99. 978-1416978923
She's in love with her best friend's boyfriend.
Simone, Ni-Ni. Shortie Like Mine. Dafina. 2008. $9.95. 978-0758228390
He's fine, he's popular, he's hot for you. But he’s not yours.
Tracey, Scott. Witch Eyes. Flux. 2011. $9.95. 978-0738725956
With eyes that see everything, will Branden see the danger in loving Trey?
*Tsang, Evonne. My Boyfriend is a Monster: I Love Him to Pieces. Lerner/Graphic Universe. 2011. $9.95.
978-0761370796
Is their clique-crossing romance the cause of the zombie apocalypse?
Get Your Geek On
Anderson, Laurie Halse. Twisted. Speak. 2008. $9.99.978-0142411841
Do muscles make the man?
Bancks, Tristan. Mac Slater Hunts the Cool. Simon & Schuster. 2011. $6.99. 978-1416985754
Can the geeky inventor be cool enough to land a job as a professional trend-spotter?
Banks, Piper. Geek High. NAL Trade. 2007. $9.99. 978-0451222251
It’s not all about academics.
Beal, Susan. World of Geekcraft: Step-by-Step Instructions for 25 Super-Cool Craft Projects. Chronicle Books.
2011. $19.95. 978-0811874618
Crafts for the geek in all of us.
*Black, Holly and Cecil Castellucci (ed.) Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd. Little, Brown Books for
Young Readers. 2010. $8.99. 978-0316008105
Short stories for all the geeks and nerds out there.
Brande, Robin. Fat Cat. Ember. 2011. $9.99. 978-0440240334
Be your own science experiment.
Burton, Bonnie. The Star Wars Craft Book. Lucas Books. 2011. $20.00. 978-0345511164
May the force be with you and your crafty self.
Chmakova,Svetlana. Dramacon Vol 1. TokyoPop. 2005. $9.99. 978-1598161298
What better place for love than an anime convention?
Dessen, Sarah. Along for the Ride. Penguin. 2011. $8.99. 978-0142415566
There is more to life than perfect grades.
Doyle, Larry. I Love You, Beth Cooper. Ecco. 2009. $7.99. 978-0061236174
Can the geek get THE girl?
*Falkner, Brian. Brain Jack. Ember. 2011. $9.99. 978-0375843679
End of the world, hack no!
Green, John. Paper Towns. Speak. 2009. $9.99. 978-0142414934
Is Q following the map to love, or the map to nowhere?
Going, K.L. Fat Kid Rules the World. Speak. 2004. $6.99. 978-0142402085.
Troy trades suicide for rock stardom.

Halpern, Julie. Into the Wild Nerd Yonder. Square Fish. 2011. $9.99. 978-0312653071
Choosing D&D over poser punks.
*Loux,Matthew. Sidescrollers. Oni Press. 2006. $11.99. 9781932664508
Three gamers fight football jocks and a cat from Satan to save the day and win the girl.
Lyga, Barry. Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy & Goth Girl. Graphia. 2007. $8.99. 978-0618916528
Fanboy finally meets his match in Goth Girl.
Luen Yang, Gene. Level Up. First Second. 2011. $15.99. 978-1596432352.
From gamer to gastroenterologist.
Mancusi, Mari. Gamer Girl. Dutton Children's Books. 2010. $7.99. 978-0142415092
What’s a girl to do when her only reality is virtual?
Portman, Frank. King Dork. Delacorte Press. 2008. $8.99. 978-0385734509
Imaginary rock star.
Scott, Keiran. Geek Magnet. Speak. 2009. $8.99. 978-0142414170
When KJ starts fending off her geek admirers, she also starts to lose some of her best friends.
Soto, Gary. Accidental Love. Graphia. 2008. $6.95. 978-0152061135
She's a feisty Latina; he's a shy nerd- they're a match made in geek heaven.
St. Onge, Cassie. Jane Jones: Worst. Vampire. Ever. Random House. 2011. $8.99. 978-0375868917
Jane's unlife as a nerdy vampire sucks.
Tahmaseb, Charity and Darcy Vance. The Geek Girl’s Guide to Cheerleading. Simon Pulse. 2009. $8.99.
978-1416978343.
Geeks in super short skirts.
Wittlinger, Ellen. Parrotfish. Simon & Schuster. 2011. $8.99. 978-1442406216
From girl to guy, with the help of a geek.
Zadoff, Allen. Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can't Have. Egmont USA. 2011. $8.99. 978-1606841518
jock for a few months, geek for life.
Sticks and Stones
Asher, Jay. TH1RTEEN R3ASONS WHY. Razorbill. 2011. $9.99. 978-1595141880
She continues to haunt her bullies from the grave.
Berk, Josh. The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin. Ember. 2011. $8.99. 978-0375846250
A deaf sleuth investigates the mysterious death of the school bully.
Brande, Robin. Evolution, Me and Other Freaks of Nature. Knopf Books for Young Readers. 2009. $7.99.
978-0440240303
A lesson on evolution leads to a division between Mena and her church.
Brosgol, Vera. Anya’s Ghost. First Second. 2011. $15.99. 978-1596435520
Who does this ghost think she is, anyway?
Brown, Jennifer. Hate List. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. 2010. $8.99. 978-0316041454
Hate list turned hit list.

Cassidy, Kay. The Cinderella Society. Egmont USA. 2011. $8.99. 978-1606841501.
It's a fight between the Cindys and the Wickeds to control the school.
*Giles, Gail. Shattering Glass. Simon Pulse. 2003. $7.99. 978-0689858000
They may have created a monster.
Griffin, Adele. The Julian Game. Speak. 2011. $7.99. 978-0142419731
Cyber revenge gets messy.
Hall,Megan Kelley and Carrie Jones. Dear Bully: 70 Authors Tell Their Stories. HarperTeen. 2011. $9.99.
978-0062060976
You are not alone.
*Harbison, Paige. Here Lies Bridget. Harlequin Teen. 2011. $9.99. 978-0373210282
A bully walks around in her victims’ shoes.
Harmon, Michael. Brutal. Knopf Books for Young Readers. 2011. $8.99. 978-0440239956
Sometimes bullying can be deadly.
Hawkins, Rachel. Hex Hall. Hyperion. 2011. $8.99. 978-1423121398
Witches can be bullied too!
Knowles, Jo. Lessons from a Dead Girl. Candlewick Press. 2009. $7.99. 978-0763644857
Laine's wish came true: Leah Greene is dead.
Langan, Paul. Payback. Scholastic Inc. 2007. $3.99. 978-0439904872
The bully becomes the bullied.
Myers, Walter Dean. Shooter. Amistad. 2005. $8.99. 978-0064472906
Questions remain after a school shooting.
Oliver Lauren. Before I Fall. HarperCollins. 2011. $9.99. 978-0061726811
Given a second chance, can the mean girl make things right?
Peters, Julie Anne. By the Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead. Hyperion Book CH. 2011. $8.99. 978-
1423130215
Why bothering living when life sucks…
Phillips, Suzanne. Burn. Little, Brown Books for Young Adults. 2009. $7.99. 978-0316001663
A life filled with bullying can make you snap.
Ruby,Laura. Bad Apple. HarperCollins. 2011. $8.99. 978-0061243332
Poisoned by gossip.
Summers, Courtney. Some Girls Are. St. Martin’s Griffin. 2010. $9.99. 978-0312573805
When your best friends turn out to be your enemies.
Williams, Carol Lynch. The Chosen One. St. Martin's Griffin. 2010. $8.99. 978-0312627751
Bullied into an arranged marriage.
Williams-Garcia, Rita. Jumped. Amistad. 2010. $8.99. 978-0060760939
Dominique’s out for blood.
Wiseman, Rosalind. Boys, Girls & Other Hazardous Materials. Speak. 2011. $8.99. 978-0142418192
Charlie can't escape the mean girls of her past.

Zarr, Sarah. Story of a Girl. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. 2008. $7.99. 978-0316014540
Branded forever by one mistake.