Selected Bibliography of Adolescent Literature
Prepared by Dr. Gwen Athene Tarbox
Rationale
Listed below are a number of texts
that I have taught during the last few years; they have been favorites of
my students and of the critics. I hope that you enjoy them.
Each entry includes bibliographic information, a brief annotation, and
a reading level designation. “Adult” texts are those that have
been targeted to an adult readership, but are favorites of young readers.
“YA” texts are those that publishers have marketed to 13-18 year olds.
“Intermediate” texts are those that publishers have marketed to 9-12
year olds.
Bibliography
Almond, David. Kit’s
Wilderness. Delacorte, 2000.
A haunting and intense story about a young boy who moves back to his grandfather’s
Welsh mining village and becomes caught up in a secret society of children
who play “a game called Death.” At various points, the hero moves between
a number of realities, including ones that he has created in his imagination.
This is an intricate, moving, and mystical story. Intermediate
Alvarez, Julia. How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents
. Algonquin Books, 1991.
Told from the viewpoint of Yolanda, a gifted poet and social observer,
this novel traces the lives of the four Garcia sisters who, with their parents,
escape political turmoil in the Dominican Republic in the early 1960s.
Like most coming of age narratives set during this time period, How the
Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents is concerned with intergenerational
conflict, both within the immediate Garcia family and between the girls and
their island relatives. YA
Anderson, Laurie Halse. Fever 1783. Simon & Schuster,
2000.
When the dreaded yellow fever hits antebellum Philadelphia, young Mattie
Cook finds her pleasant, routine life turned upside down. Anderson has
meticulously researched the epidemic and shows, especially through Mattie’s
visit to a sanitarium, the state of healthcare in the early republic.
Anderson also depicts the life of Eliza, Mattie’s friend and the family
cook, who becomes a founding member of the African Free Society, a group
of freed slaves who worked tirelessly to stem the suffering of the victims
of the fever. A compelling read. Intermediate
Anderson, Laurie Halse. Speak. Farrar, Straus, and
Giroux, 1999.
Melinda Sordino begins her freshman year of high school as a social outcast
because she calls the cops to an “end of summer” party and her friends get
busted. However, more happened on the night of the party than even
Melinda will admit. In order to cope with the stress, she stops speaking:
"My throat is always sore, my lips raw.... Every time I try to talk to my
parents or a teacher, I sputter or freeze.... It's like I have some kind of
spastic laryngitis." In Anderson’s compelling first novel, Melinda learns
to speak again, once she faces the truth. This is a great outsider story;
the prose is electric. YA
Bat-Ami, Miriam. Two Suns in the Sky. Front Street,
1999.
This historical novel, set during World War II in Oswego, New York, focuses
on the relationship between Catholic school girl Christine Cook and Jewish
refugee Adam Bornstein. In addition to recreating a genuine feel for
the era, Bat-Ami allows readers to see the story from the viewpoint of both
main characters, and her attention to descriptive detail is superb.
YA
Bell, William. Zack. Simon & Schuster, 1999.
The son of a Canadian college professor and an American blues singer, Zack
Lane makes a trip to Natchez, Mississippi to find his maternal relatives.
Bell is sensitive to family dynamics, and this is a believable and touching
narrative of adolescent self-discovery. YA
Block, Francesca Lia. Weetzie Bat. HarperCollins, 1989.
Block is the preeminent chronicler of the adolescent scene in Los Angeles.
Her blend of magical realism and pop culture sensibility has captivated young
readers for the last decade. In this, her first novel, she chronicles
two young LA teens’ search for belonging and vocation. Intermediate
---. Violet and Claire. HarperCollins, 2000.
Violet, a precocious Los Angeles teen, has dreams of making movies that
value girls and women; however, she is seduced by an unscrupulous producer
into writing a slasher movie that becomes very popular. Rather than
feeling flush with success, Violet drowns her guilt in drugs and other self-destructive
behavior. Her best friend Claire, a soulful poet, has her own problems
– especially as her first love is a morally bankrupt teacher. When Claire
comes to Violet’s rescue, and Violet comes to Claire’s rescue, the two girls
leave L.A. behind and form an independent movie company in the California
desert, thus avowing their own brand of “girl power.” YA
Bloor, Edward. Tangerine. Apple, 1998.
Paul Fisher, an observant teenage boy, may have lousy vision, but he sees
into the motives of others with amazing clarity. In addition to chronicling
his own unlikely soccer triumph, he watches closely as his football hero
brother self-destructs. Even though this is a dark novel in some respects,
Tangerine is a great book for those of you who love atmosphere – the town
of Tangerine, Florida is an eerie place, where schools are sucked into sinkholes
and termites scamper around underneath stormy skies. YA
Cadnum, Michael. Zero at the Bone. Viking, 1996.
Cray is devastated when his sister Anita goes missing. Cadnum, who
is a master of suspense, depicts the strain that Anita’s disappearance places
on Cray and his parents. The Buchanans are an industrious family,
and they mobilize their many friends and neighbors to aid in the search.
As long as they have “something to do,” they can put aside their pain.
Unfortunately, Anita has left few clues, and the police do not unearth any
leads. As the weeks turn into months, the Buchanan family learns to
cope in the vacuum of Anita’s absence. Cadnum works from the premise
that we can live with a family member for decades and not really know him
or her at all. This is the realization that Cray ends up accepting.
Intermediate
Chbosky, Stephen. The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
Pocket Books, 1999.
Many critics have called this first novel a 1990s Catcher in the Rye
, and there is no denying Chbosky had Salinger’s classic in mind.
However, Chbosky’s milieu is 1990s Midwestern suburbia, in which Charlie and
his grunge influenced friends create Rocky Horror zines, switch alliances
with breakneck speed, and try to figure out how to escape following in their
own parents’ bland footsteps. Told from the viewpoint of fifteen year-old
Charlie, the novel also concerns a secret that paralyzes his own family and
leads to a meaningful catharsis. A truly absorbing and thought-provoking
book originally published by – I am not making this up – MTV Press.
YA
Chin, Frank. Donald Duk: A Novel. Coffee House
Press, 1991.
When I taught Multi-ethnic Adolescent Literature in California, many of
my students recommended this novel for its humorous and innovative portrayal
of a young boy’s journey of self discovery in mid-1980s San Francisco.
Chin understands family dynamics in a way that is engaging, informative, and
witty. Adult
Cisneros, Sandra. The House on Mango Street. Vintage,
1991.
One of the classics in adolescent literature (even if it was originally
written for an adult audience), The House on Mango Street is
the poetic, rich description of the coming of age experiences of Ezperanza,
a young girl living in a tightly knit Chicago neighborhood.
Adult
Colfer, Eoin. Artemis Fowl. Harpercollins, 2001.
This fascinating, cinematic fantasy has been described by the author as
" Die Hard meets faires." Set in contemporary Ireland, this novel
chronicles the diabolic plans of one Artemis Fowl, heir to a legacy of professional
crime and eager to exploit the information he has gleaned from an ancient
fairy spell book. The action-packed attempts of the faires to recover
their property makes for an entertaining read. Intermediate.
Cofer, Judith Ortiz. An Island Like You: Stories of the
Barrio. Puffin, 1995.
This collection of twelve short stories chronicles the experiences of a
group of teenagers growing up in El Building in Patterson, New Jersey’s Puerto
Rican neighborhood. Cofer raises issues of peer pressure, intergenerational
conflict, and identity construction. YA
Coman, Carolyn. Many Stones. Front Street Press,
2000.
Like Wendy Orr, Carolyn Coman has the ability to depict a character’s isolation
from herself and others and then show, in careful detail, the way that the
character manages to find her way back to normalcy. In Many Stones,
Berry and her estranged father travel to South Africa to attend a memorial
service for Berry’s sister Laura, who was murdered while working as a volunteer
in a Capetown school. A moving and fascinating read. YA
Couloumbis, Audrey. Getting Near to Baby. Putnam, 1999.
Set in rural North Carolina, this story concerns the way an overbearing
woman and her niece come to terms with each other and with their grief over
a death in the family. Couloumbis understands the minutiae of a teenager’s
existence, and she also understands how to draw out suspense – slowly, we
are drawn into Willa Jo’s world so that by the end of the novel, we understand
why she and her Aunt Patty are so alike. A moving read. Intermediate
Creech, Sharon. The Wanderer. Harpercollins, 2000.
This compelling narrative, told from the alternating viewpoints of thirteen
year-old Sophie and her cousin Cody, chronicles a transatlantic sea voyage
that tests the courage of the crew. The need to prove herself to her
uncles and cousins is not the only challenge Sophie faces – she must also
come to terms with her mysterious past. Creech does a wonderful job
of faithfully recreating the workings of a 45 foot sailboat – the reader feels
as if he or she is onboard with the crew, sharing in their adventure.
Intermediate
Cunningham, Laura Shaine. Sleeping Arrangements.
Plume, 1989.
READ THIS BOOK. It is one of the funniest coming of age narratives
ever written. Lily, a ten year old girl who is looked after by two eccentric
uncles, survives her 1950s and 1960s Bronx adolescence, trips to a sadistic
summer camp, and the loss of her beloved uncle. I cannot recommend
this book highly enough, and it will be out in a paperback edition next month.
Adult
Curtis, Christopher Paul. Bud, Not Buddy. HarperTrophy,
1999.
This Newbery winning novel is set first in Flint, Michigan, and later in
Grand Rapids – but it is the Michigan of the Depression era. Upon the
death of his mother, young Bud Caldwell escapes from an abusive foster home
and sets out in search of his father, a man he has never met. Armed
with one clue – the fact that his father might have been a jazz musician named
Herman E. Calloway -- Bud encounters a number of friends as he heads to Grand
Rapids to track down the Dusky Devastators of the Depression, Herman E. Calloway’s
band. Intermediate
Curtis, Christopher Paul. The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963
. Delacorte, 1995.
Two young Flint, Michigan schoolboys travel to Birmingham, Alabama to visit
their grandmother. After witnessing the 1963 church bombing that took
the lives of four young girls, the boys recognize the importance of the Civil
Rights Movement. Intermediate
Cushman, Karen.
Catherine, Called Birdy. Harper, 1994.
Intermediate
The Midwife’s Apprentice. Harper,
1996. Intermediate
The Ballad of Lucy Whipple. Harper, 1997.
Intermediate
Matilda Bone. Harper, 2000. Intermediate
Cushman, a museum curator, writes vivid historical novels, all of which
have garnered major awards. Catherine, Called Birdy won
a Newberry Honor, and The Midwife’s Apprentice won the Newberry Award.
Both of these novels are set in the 12th century, as is Matilda Bone
, and Cushman renders the time period with painstaking detail and provides
many humorous descriptions. The Ballad of Lucy Wipple chronicles
the adventures a girl who experiences the 1849 Gold Rush.
Davis, Ossie. Just Like Martin. Silver Burdett & Ginn,
1992.
Fourteen-year-old Isaac Stone greatly admires Martin Luther King, Jr.,
and is anxious to participate in the 1963 march on Washington with a group
from his church, but his father feels differently and will not permit the
boy to go. The novel, which delineates the difficulty of maintaining a nonviolent
stance in the midst of violence, is an authentic voice of a troubled time
in the history of America. Intermediate
English, Karen. Francie. Farrar Straus and Giroux,
1999.
As a teenage girl growing up in the 1930s in Noble, Alabama, Francie holds
on the promise that her father has made that he will send for her and her
mother and brother, once he establishes himself in Chicago. However,
as it becomes apparent that her father is not going to keep his word, Francie
sets her sights on gaining an education so that she can help herself and her
family. English creates a lively, thoughtful protagonist who faces life’s
challenges with courage and who perseveres in the face of adversity.
This is a great period piece. Intermediate
Ewing, Lynne. Goddess of the Night. New York: Hyperion
Books for Children, 2000.
In the first of a series of science fiction novellas, four Los Angeles
teenagers who possess special powers band together to defend themselves and
the world from dark forces. Intermediate
---. Party Girl. Knopf, 1998.
During the 1980s and 1990s, Ewing, a native of Peru, worked for the Los
Angeles County Department of Public Social Services. Her experience
with young gang girls is the basis for this compelling novel in which Kata
tries to face out of a gang and get over the death of her best friend.
Intermediate
Flake, Sharon G. The Skin I’m In. Hyperion, 1998.
This moving story won the Coretta Scott King John Steptoe Award for new
authors. Flake shows the way a young girl deals with skin color prejudice
and develops a mentoring relationship with a dynamic teacher. Intermediate
Frank, E.R. Life is Funny. Dorling Kindersley Publishing,
2000.
Frank, a social worker from Brooklyn, has an uncanny ability to render
the voices of her characters in a truly realistic fashion. The novel
is told from the viewpoints of a variety of teenagers who are coming of age
in varying degrees of safety. The characters weave in and out of each
other’s lives and mature through their attempts to find vocation and love.
A great novel from a talented new author. YA
Gantos, Jack. Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key. Harpercollins,
1998.
The first in a new series by Gantos, Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key
, a National Book Award Finalist, takes the reader into the mind of a young
boy with attention deficit disorder (ADD). Joey disrupts field trips,
swallows his house key, and copes with a fractured family life. Gantos
treats his subject with respect and manages to inject humor at various
points in the narrative. An intense read. Intermediate
Garden, Nancy.
Annie on My Mind. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux,
1982. YA
Good Moon Rising. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux,
1996. YA
Dove and Sword: A Novel of Joan of Arc
. Scholastic, 1995. Intermediate
One of the first authors to openly address lesbian issues in her novels,
Garden is an expert at creating characters who struggle with their identities,
but eventually learn to trust themselves. Good Moon Rising is
particularly interesting as a counterpoint to Miller’s The Crucible
. In Dove and Sword, Garden turns to historical fiction.
In a twist on the Joan of Arc tale, the novel centers on the experiences of
Gabrielle, a friend from Jeannette’s home town, who disguises herself as
a boy and follows the girl warrior into battle. Gabrielle is a strong
character, whose wit and keen observational skills bring the time period to
life.
Giff, Patricia Reilly. Lily’s Crossing. Delacorte,
1997.
The story of a young girl’s experiences on the “home front” during WWII,
Lily’s Crossing – like all good historical fiction – evokes a rich sense of
time and place. This is an excellent novel to teach alongside Bat-Ami’s
Two Suns in the Sky. Intermediate
Gottlieb, Lori. Stick Figure: A Diary of My Former Self
. Simon & Schuster, 2000.
Okay, this is not a work of fiction; Lori Gottlieb has published her 1978
diary, a chronicle of her experiences with anorexia nervosa. Set in
affluent Beverly Hills, California, Gottlieb’s diary is full of humor, despite
the serious nature of her subject, making it more than just a cautionary
tale. Adult
Grove, Vicki. The Starplace. Putnam, 1999.
Celeste is the first black student to attend the white junior high school
in Quiver, Oklahoma, in 1961, and she is treated with contempt by her fellow
students. However, Frannie, a self-conscious 8th grader becomes her
friend, and the two girls test the limits of that friendship while learning
important lessons about Quiver’s past. Intermediate
Holm, Jennifer. Our Only May Amelia. Harpercollins,
1999.
For those of you who enjoy historical fiction, especially The Little
House books, this novel will be a wonderful surprise. Set in an
1899 Finnish settlement, located on the Nasel River in Washington state, this
novel chronicles the struggles and triumphs of twelve-year old Amelia May.
In addition to earning the respect of her five brothers, Amelia May attempts
to avoid becoming “a proper lady.” Intermediate
---. Boston Jane. Harpercollins, 2001.
Beginning in mid-nineteenth century Philadephia and ending in the Oregon
Territory, this exciting and often graphic account of a young pioneer girl
is superb historical fiction. There is an interesting sub-theme in which
the heroine must confront 19th century ideals of feminine behavior. A
must read. Intermediate
Holt, Kimberly Willis. When Zachary Beaver Came to Town
. Henry Holt, 1999.
Winner of the National Book Award, this novel follows the experiences of
Toby Wilson during a hot summer in Antler, Texas. With his mother away
in Nashville pursuing a career in country music, his favorite neighbor fighting
in Vietnam, and the girl of his dreams in the arms of another, Toby figures
that there will never be any excitement in his life. Then, he meets
a boy who is carted around the country as a sideshow exhibit, and his life
changes forever. Intermediate
Ibbotson, Eva. An Eva Ibbotson Collection: Which Witch?
The Secret of Platform 13. The Island of the Aunts. Dutton, 2001.
Intermediate
This collection is a reprint of all three of the author’s most popular
1990s fantasy novels. Ibbotston understands how to thrill and amuse
her readers with stories that are inventive and that teach empathy.
The fantasy worlds she creates are both original and familiar; they are people
by eccentric wizards, jealous witches, gentle sprites, and cranky ghosts.
Frankly, I enjoy her novels as much, if not more than Rowling’s Harry Potter
series. Great, entertaining reads.
Ingold, Jeanette. Pictures, 1918. Puffin, 1998.
Asia McKinna, a Texas teenager with a love for animals and a keen eye for
detail, becomes obsessed with the art of photography. At a time when
most girls were being groomed for marriage, Asia trains to become a photographer
– all with help from her daring and outspoken grandmother. There are
interesting subplots involving the war effort, making this a fascinating
historical read. Intermediate
Jennings, Patrick. Faith and the Electric Dogs. Scholastic,
1996.
In Mexico, a stray dog is called “un perro corriente” – a common or no
good dog – and since the word “corriente” or “current” is like the
word “electric,” the term “un perro electrico” has evolved and become part
of the language. This fascinating novel, narrated by un perro electrico
named Edison, describes the journey that he and his unhappy owner take in
a rocket ship that she builds herself. You have to suspend disbelief
a great deal, but this narrative is rich in language and style. A great,
inventive story that should appeal to those of you who are tired of jaded,
cynical protagonists. Also check out his charming sequel, Faith
and the Rocket Cat. Intermediate
Kerr, M. E. Deliver Us From Evie. HarperTrophy,
1995.
Fifteen year old Parr Burrman and his older sister Evie have spent their
lives growing up on a farm in conservative rural Missouri. When Evie
falls in love with a local banker’s daughter, the two girls incite the anger
of their parents and of the town. This novel, told from Parr’s perspective,
chronicles the way the issues of class and sexual identity influence his
relationship with his sister and with his friends. YA
Kessler, Cristina. No Condition is Permanent. Philomel
Books, 2000.
Kessler, an American who has lived in Africa for over twenty-seven years,
admits that writing this novel about a California teenager’s experiences
in Sierra Leone was difficult for her. Jodie, the protagonist, attempts
to interfere when her new friend Khadi begins the ritual that will lead,
ultimately, to female circumcision or FGM (Female Genital Mutilation).
Kessler respects both cultures, and although she, like many women’s advocates,
opposes FGM, she also opposes the blatant interference of one culture’s mores
upon those of another. This tension is apparent in the novel, making
it a bit uneven in places, but it is a valuable read. YA
Konibsburg, E.L. Silent to the Bone. Atheneum, 2000.
What a stunning novel from an author whose works continue to astound.
Connor, a middle school student and a loyal friend, works methodically to
uncover what happened when his schoolmate Branwell Zamborska is accused
of nearly killing his baby sister by “shaking her.” Since calling
911, Branwell has gone completely mute, but Branwell has faith that his
friend is innocent. This stirring, suspenseful novel is a compelling
addition to the genre of psychological realism. Intermediate
---. The View from Saturday. Atheneum, 1997.
This Newbury Award winning novel concerns the unique combination of students
who end up serving on a junior high quiz bowl team. Mrs. Olinsky,
the students’ coach, brings together a group of kids whom one might not
expect to succeed, but their quirkiness and solidarity brings them success.
Simply put, this is a beautifully written story, NOT “Revenge of the Nerds.”
Intermediate
Konecky, Edith. Allegra Maud Goldman. Harper, 1976
(Feminist Press Reprint, 1990).
The story of a precocious daughter of a famous New York clothes designer
who attempts -- at the age of twelve – to cure her parents of their
bourgeois malaise. At turns funny and poignant, this Depression-era
coming of age narrative is also a mediation on gender and religion – Allegra
is Jewish, and she wants to be included in trips to the synagogue with her
brother, David. YA
Levine, Gail Carson. Dave At Night. Harpercollins,
1999.
In this Depression-era historical novel, Dave is sent to the Hebrew Home
for Boys, after his parents’ death. Although his life has taken a horrible
turn, Dave remains optimistic and ready for adventure – and he has plenty
of it on his way to finding solace in a most unlikely place – the jazz clubs
of Harlem. A great read. Intermediate
---. Ella Enchanted. HarperTrophy, 1997.
My students agree that this fantasy novel provides one of the wisest takes
on the “Cinderella” story. A truly empowering book for girls.
Intermediate
Levine, Gail Carson. The Two Princesses of Bamarre.
Harpercollins, 2001.
Destined to become a classic in the genre of novels that present a strong
female role model, this novel chronicles the attempt of Princess Addie to
overcome her fears of… well, of just about everything, and save her brave
and boisterous sister Princess Meryl from the mysterious Grey Death.
This novel has it all – ogres, dragons, cunning sorcerers, and romance – not
to mention witty dialogue and many twists of fate! Intermediate
---. The Wish. Harpercollins, 2000.
In all her work, Levine compels young readers to imagine the consequences
of wish fulfillment. When Wilma’s wish to become the most popular kid
in school comes true, she begins to wonder if popularity is all it has been
cracked up to be. A very funny read. Intermediate
Lowry, Lois. The Giver. Laurel Leaf, 1994.
A chilling science fiction story in which a young boy learns to fight against
his society – a strange world in which every aspect of human interaction
has been regulated to assure “happiness.” An absorbing and thought-provoking
novel. Intermediate
---. Number the Stars. Laurel Leaf, 1989.
Set in WWII Denmark, this is the story of a brave young girl who helps to
ferry a Jewish family to safety. Intermediate
Martinez, Victor. Parrot in the Oven, mi vida. HarperCollins,
1996.
This first novel by poet Victor Martinez won the National Book Award, and
deservedly so. In addition to charting the fourteenth year of Manny
Hernandez, a bright high school student who strives to become a “vato firme”
(a respected guy), the novel also contains a poignant portrait of the Hernandez’s
family’s attempt to survive the economic roller coaster of 1970s Fresno,
California. Intermediate
Mazer, Norma Fox. Good Night, Maman. Harcourt Brace,
1999.
For those of you who have read WMU Professor Miriam Bat-Ami’s Two Suns
in the Sky, the story of a Jewish refugee boy who is sent to an Emergency
Refugee camp in Otswego, NY, or, if you enjoyed The Diary of Anne Frank,
then this novel is a must-read. Karin and her younger brother Marc are
also sent to the same camp in Otswego, and there Karin learns English, makes
friends, and tries to cope with the fact that she and her brother had to
leave their beloved mother behind in France. Intermediate
Meyer, Carolyn. White Lilacs. Gulliver, 1993.
Based on a true story set in 1921, this thought-provoking novel chronicles
the response of a Texas town's black community when they learn that local
whites plan to raze their section of town in order to build a park.
Meyer creates a fine portrait of intergenerational storytelling.
Intermediate
Mohr, Nicolasa.
El Bronx Remembered. HarperCollins, 1975.
YA
Felita. Dial, 1979. Intermediate
Going Home. Dial, 1986. Intermediate
All of Mohr’s novels were reprinted in 2000, making them readily available
for a new generation of readers. I have taught Felita and its
sequel Going Home for years now, and students are impressed with the
way that Mohr filters issues such as prejudice and familial conflict through
the viewpoint of her young narrators.
Mowry, Jess. Babylon Boyz. Aladdin, 1997.
A realistic, poignant and stark depiction of a group of “misfit” boys who
are forced to make difficult decisions against the backdrop of Oakland, California’s
gang culture. YA
Myers, Walter Dean. Monster. Harpercollins, 1999.
The author of dozens of acclaimed young adult novels, Walter Dean Myers
turns his attention in his most recent book to the juvenile “justice” system.
Sixteen year old Steve Harmon is a serious film student at one of New York
City’s finest high schools. However, in his Harlem neighborhood, he
is a “nobody” – a guy whom the other boys think is a square. When Steve
tries to prove them wrong, he ends up getting into serious trouble.
This is a fascinating novel, written in screenplay format, that asks the reader
to ponder some serious philosophical question. YA
Nicholson, Joy. The Tribes of Palos Verdes: A Novel
. St. Martin’s, 1997.
Nicholson captures perfectly the alienation that can occur in the lives
of affluent, but detached Los Angeles families. Medina Mason, the heroine
of the novel, uses surfing as an outlet for her frustration; hence, the novel
also explores the coastal culture of Southern California. YA
Nye, Naomi Shihab. Habibi. Aladdin, 1997.
Fifteen year old Liyana Abboud moves to her father’s hometown of Jerusalem,
after spending her childhood in St. Louis, Missouri. This lyrical
tale, told from her perspective, not only deals with the relationship between
Jewish and Arab citizens of the West Bank, it provides an excellent portrait
of what happens when “old” and “new” world values co-mingle in a young person’s
consciousness. Intermediate
Okada, John. No-No Boy: A Novel. (1957; Reprint,
University of Washington Press, 1980).
When U.S. government recruiters entered the Japanese internment camps in
1942 and asked young men to join special “Nisei units” in the armed services,
those who agreed signed “Yes” twice – once to a declaration of loyalty to
the U.S., once to a declaration of their intention to fight. Those young
men who refused signed “No” twice, and were thus termed “No-No Boys.”
In this sensitive coming of age novel, Okada recounts the experience of Ichiro
from his decision to become a “No-No Boy,” to his subsequent imprisonment,
and to his return to a hostile reception in his native Seattle, Washington.
Adult
Orr, Wendy. Peeling the Onion. Laurel Leaf, 1997.
A car accident changes forever the life of Anna Duncan, a popular, pretty
karate champion. The once powerful athlete not only has to go through
the rigors of rehabilitation, she has to cope with the changes in the way
that everyone from her parents to her boyfriend treats her. This is
a beautifully written, complex novel. YA
Randle, Kristen. Breaking Rank. Morrow, 1999.
This timely novel, in which a crowd of outcast high school students attempt
to find a place for themselves, is eerily reminiscent of the atmosphere that
may have lead to the school violence in Littleton, Colorado. The text
also contains a critique of the way that kids are often locked into academic
and non-academic tracks. Thomas, a member of The Clan, breaks rank and
takes a school aptitude test. It turns out that he is gifted, and he
begins to harbor ambitions that threaten the other members of the gang, especially
his older brother, who wants him to be a mechanic. YA
Rue, Nancy. Do I Have to Paint You a Picture? Waterbrook,
1998.
Brianna and her mother from move Oakland to Reno to escape racial tensions
and to give Brianna a chance to concentrate on her art. But when Brianna's
boyfriend Ira gets into a game of "chicken" with a group of white supremacists
and is critically injured. Brianna is thrown back into the middle of black/white
violence. YA
Sacher, Louis. Holes. Farrar, Straus and Giroux,
1998.
The winner of the 1999 Newbery Medal, Holes takes place at Camp
Green Lake, a detention center with no lake and no recreation. Stanley
Yelnats, the victim of mistaken identity, is sentenced to the camp and is
forced, along with other inmates, to dig a five foot by five foot hole every
day. Why are the boys digging the holes? Is it a pointless exercise,
or are there deeper forces at work? If you liked Catch-22, you will
love this novel. It is surreal and powerful. Intermediate
Santiago, Esmerelda. When I Was Puerto Rican. Vintage,
1994.
This coming of age memoir chronicles Santiago’s early years in the countryside
outside San Juan and teenage years in Brooklyn. I have taught this
text alongside Alvarez’s How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents and
asked students to consider the conflicts that arise when young people move
from one culture to another at an impressionable age. YA
Sinclair, April. Coffee Will Make You Black. Avon,
1994.
Sinclair’s heroine Jean “Stevie” Stevenson and her friend Roland Anderson
come of age in 1960s Chicago. Though both are “squares” in grade school,
their growing involvement in the Civil Rights Movement encourages them to
explore life beyond textbooks. The novel contains an excellent description
of the social justice movements that arose after Dr. King’s assassination,
and it chronicles Stevie’s gradual realization of her sexual identity.
YA
Sone, Monica. Nisei Daughter. (1953; Reprint Edition,
University of Washington Press, 1998).
Part autobiography and part cultural history, Sone’s influential text traces
the way that Kazuko (Monica) learns to integrate what she views as the dual
nature of her upbringing. The Sone family’s life in Seattle, both
before and after internment, is described in crisp detail. Adult
Soto, Gary. Buried Onions. HarperCollins, 1997.
Like many of Soto’s protagonists, Fresno native Eddie just wants to go
to college and make a good living, but the discrimination and poverty that
characterize his city are formidable opponents. Some critics have pointed
out that Soto’s bleak, almost naturalistic depiction of Fresno lends a helplessness
to his characters that is too nilihilistic. Many of my students, however,
would term Soto’s style “gritty realism.” YA
Spinelli, Jerry. Stargirl. Knopf, 2000.
Stargirl Carraway, a home schooled iconoclast, enrolls in the eleventh
grade at Mica Area High School and makes an impact on the first day of class.
Dressed in outlandish outfits and eager to perform random acts of kindness,
Stargirl becomes the most popular girl in school…for a while. Then,
in the amazingly fast manner that high school opinion shifts, she is an outcast.
Told from the viewpoint of Leo Borlock, a fellow classmate who falls in love
with Stargirl, this novel is quirky, yet deep. Intermediate
Spinelli, Jerry. Wringer. Harper, 1997.
Winner of the Newberry Award, Wringer presents a fascinating portrait
of one boy’s attempt to avoid the violence that characterizes the coming of
age experience for so many young men. Poetic and jarring, this novel
is a perfect example of recent trends in psychological realism. Intermediate
Taylor, Mildred. Song of the Trees. Dial, 1975. 4-8.
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
. Dial, 1976. 9-12.
Let the Circle Be Unbroken
. Dial, 1981. 9-12.
The Friendship. Dial,
1987. 4-8.
The Road to Memphis.
Dial, 1990. YA.
Mississippi Bridge, Dial,
1992. 4-8.
The Well: David’s Story
. Dial, 1994. 4-8.
The Land. HarperCollins,
2001. Intermediate
Taylor describes the early Civil Rights struggles of the Logans, one
of the few African-American landowning families in their section of Mississippi.
In each of these texts, the older family members share stories of their
struggles during Reconstruction, and the younger family member fight their
own battles during the1930s and 1940s.
Trice, Dawn Turner. Only Twice I’ve Wished for Heaven.
Crown Publishers, 1996.
Told from the point of view of two narrators – Miss Jonetta Goode, the
proprietor of a grocery store and Tempestt Rose Saville (“Temmy”), a determined,
but confused eleven year old, this novel explores the racial divide among
the black community in 1970s Chicago. A must read, and a wonderful
counterpoint to Toni Morrison’s Sula. Adult
Uchida, Yoshiko.
Journey Home. Atheneum, 1978. Intermediate
Journey to Topaz. Creative Arts Books,
1985. Intermediate
Yuki Sakane and her family are part of the Japanese “evacuation” to “relocation
camps” during the Second World War. In Journey to Topaz, Uchida
describes the family’s comfortable life in the Berkeley Hills prior to the
war, and then shows how the fiber of the family is tested once the FBI arrests
Mr. Sakane and orders the rest of the family into the camps. Journey
Home describes the way that the Sakanes – especially their war veteran
son Ken – adjust to life back in the Bay Area.
Wallace, Rich. Wrestling Sturbridge. Knopf, 1996.
Seventeen year old Ben, a senior on the varsity wrestling squad, feels
trapped in his small town of Sturbridge, Pennsylvania. Eager to beat
out his best friend Al for the state wrestling championship, Ben hopes that
a win will be his ticket out of town. Told in diary form, this compelling
novel chronicles Ben’s aspirations and his struggle to find purpose in what
may end up being a “purposeless life.” Intermediate
White, Ruth. Belle Prater’s Boy. Farrar, Straus &
Giroux, 1996.
A wonderful tale of adolescent repression and recovery, Belle Prater’s
Boy follows the experiences of two young children, both of whom try to
sort through parental abandonment. A great read. Intermediate
---. Memories of Summer. Farrar, Straus & Giroux,
2000.
What happens when your beloved sister begins to drift away? In this
compelling novel of psychological realism, White depicts the way a family
adjusts to the mental illness of their once vivacious daughter, Summer.
Set in Flint, Michigan in 1955, Memories of Summer also concerns
the coming of age of thirteen year old Lyric, whose attempts to help her
sister are often met with rebuff. Although this is a serious novel,
it is also filled with warmth and humor; White’s depiction of Flint during
General Motors’ heydey is historically accurate and moving in its own right.
Intermediate
Wittlinger, Ellen. Hard Love. Simon & Schuster,
1999.
John Galardi, a loner who only expresses his true self in the pages of
a zine, finds himself attracted to Marisol Guzman, a self-proclaimed "rich
spoiled lesbian private-school gifted-and-talented writer virgin." When they
attend a zine conference together, John tries to express his feelings, and
Marisol tries to let him down gently. This funny and compelling coming-of-age
narrative is a great read. YA
Wolff, Virginia. Bat 6. Scholastic, 1998.
Set in post-WWII Oregon, this fascinating novel is told from the viewpoints
of a number of sixth grade girls who compete in a legendary softball tournament.
The voices ring true to the period, especially as the girls quite literally
fight it out over whether Japanese Americans should be welcomed back to their
towns after they are released from “relocation centers.” Intermediate
Yamanaka, Lois Ann. Name Me Nobody. Hyperion, 1999.
Emi-lou and her best friend Yvonne have always been close, but when Yvonne
falls for a fellow softball team member, Emi-lou must learn to accept her
friend’s lesbianism and to find her own sense of self without Yvonne’s constant
coaching. Yamanaka’s artful use of Hawaiian dialect adds to the verisimilitude
of the novel. YA
---. Wild Meat and the Bully Burgers. Harvest Books, 1996.
Yamanaka’s first novel is a vivid, boisterous look at the life of Lovey,
a young Japanese Hawaiian girl, who tries to emulate “haole” (white) culture
by immersing herself in 1970s pop culture (the segment on her Barbie doll
collection is priceless). The novel also focuses on Lovey’s relationship
with her father, especially as he recounts his experiences as a plantation
worker. Adult
Yang, Dori Jones. The Secret Voice of Gina Zhang.
Pleasant Company, 2000.
Jinna, a shy fifth grader from China, finds it difficult to adjust to her
family’s move to Seattle, Washington. However, when she meets up with
a classmate who is also having trouble adjusting, Jinna begins to find her
voice. Intermediate
Yep, Laurence. The Amah. Putnam, 1999.
Twelve-year old Amy Chin’s world is turned upside down when her father’s
death compels her mother to serve as a nanny (“an amah”) to another twelve-year
old girl, Stephanie. Now, Amy must take care of her four siblings and
endure the fact that Stephanie seems to be taking over her house and monopolizing
her mother. A really well-crafted story of intergenerational conflict
and peer relationships set in contemporary San Francisco. Intermediate
Yolen, Jane. The Devil’s Arithmetic. Viking, 1988.
Hannah, a privileged New York teenager, is suddenly transported into a
Nazi concentration camp, where she is eventually called upon to act in a
courageous manner. This cautionary tale is rich in descriptive detail
and historical information. A must read for those students who were
moved by Anne Frank’s diary. Intermediate