Adolescent Literature Cards: In this section, you will find many, many novels appropriate for adolescent reading. They are alphabetically listed. Communication Arts/Literature majors will be asked to add to this collection in EdSe 5215.

Bookcards are listed alphabetically under the author's last name. The A bookcards are on this page. To get to the other bookcards click on the following links:

B, C, D-E, F-H, I-J, K, L, M-N, O-P, Q-R, S-T, U-Z.

Abbey, Edward. Desert Solitaire. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1968.

Summary: This book is a personal account of Abbey's time spent in Arches National Monument Park. Abbey lived there for an entire summer in a trailer by himself. He helped out in keeping up the park. He observes the growing separation between humans and nature, and the need for humans to escape into nature. He observes how nature is not something that is part of peoples everyday lives but instead something that they must go to.

Appropriate: Grades 11-12.

Teach it or circulate it? I would say that this book could be used either way and be effective. In my personal unit I am teaching it, because I feel there are many teachable moments to be had in a book like this.

Dense Questions: Why do you think that humans are so separate from nature that they need to go somewhere to be with it, instead of having it be a part of their every day lives?
Have you ever felt separate from nature and why?
I think that any of the similar auto biography books written by Thoreau or Olson would help. Also A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold would be good.

Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. New York: Doubleday, 1959.

Summary: Okonkwo is a self made man living in the Umofia village in lower Niger. His father left him nothing, and so all that Okonkwo has he has attained by the sweat of his brow. Okonkwo struggles with several different improprieties throughout the book. In the end, the white colonists have arrived and have already started to dismantle Okonkwo's people's culture. Seeing that he can do no more, Okonkwo takes his own life.

For Whom is it Appropriate: 11th and 12th grade students.

Teach it or Circulate it? This book should be taught to the whole class because of the variety of learning experiences that could accompany the reading of this book and the richness of the history and culture thatit portrays.

Dense Questions: What course of action could Okonkwo have taken to protect his people if this situation happened today? How would it be different than the past? Some cultures still believe in polygamy - having many spouses - what do you think would happen to the institution of marriage (according to today's standards) if the United States decided to make polygamy legal in all fifty states?

Thematically Related Literature: Native Son(?) by Richard Wright, Walkabout by James Vance Marshall, The Joys of Motherhood by Buchi Emecheta

Adams, Douglas. The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. New York: Harmony Press, 1979.

Summary: Earth is destroyed to make way for a hyperspace bypass five minutes before finishing the computation of the question of the meaning of life. Arthur Dent avoids destruction with the aid of his incognito alien friend, Ford Prefect. They are on a quest to reconstruct Earth - the greatest super computer of all time. If they can survive being blown out of the air lock into space.

For Whom Appropriate? 9th grade +.

Teach it or circulate it? Well I think that it should be circulated. Not because the content is difficult to grasp, but simply not every student would truly enjoy reading this. For the student interested in science fiction humor, this should be an exciting and compelling text.

Dense questions: The HHGG lists Earth's definition as "mostly harmless". This makes Arthur feel insignificant an unimportant. What definition would you put about Earth and why? On the Heart of Gold, Arthur has to cope with living on a ship with an improbability drive. What techniques could Arthur use to better adapt himself to life a such a ship and why?

Thematically Related Literature: Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency- Douglas Adams

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Alder, David A. Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds New York: The Viking Press, 1980. (Summary and questions by Amanda Doroff.)

Summary: The Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds is about two friends, Cam and Eric, while they are babysitting Eric?s baby brother in a mall, outside of a jewelry store. There was a robbery in the store and Cam took a picture of the ?robber? with her photographic memory. After the police released the robber, Cam and Eric followed him. The robber led Cam and Eric to the actual robbers and they saved the day by notifying the police.

The Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds is a fun book to read, but not challenging enough for most middle school students.

The Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds is probably not a significant enough book to be taught in class, but it would be a good book for personal reading.

Questions: How would you have felt under the pressure that Cam was under when she was at the robber?s house? Describe a time when you (and a friend) did something really brave that had a positive outcome.

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Alborn, Mitch. Tuesdays with Morrie. New York: Doubleday, 1997.

Summary: An old student of Professor Morrie Schwartz decides to write about the world as seen by his dying friend. Sixteen years have passed since graduation and Mitch has lost his enthusiasm for life. He writes this biography to get in touch with what is real.

For Whom Appropriate? 10th through 12th grades

Teach or Circulate? It wouldbe interesting to teach in conjunction with a fiction book since it delves into so many important issues.

Dense Questions:
Why would someone like Albom write this book?
What makes Morrie, and others like him, good teachers?

Thematically-related Literature: Poems of Emily Dickinson, The Diary of Anne Frank

Allen, Thomas B. Possessed: The True Story of an Exorcism. New York: Bantam Doubleday Dell, 1993.

Summary: The detailed account of a real-life exorcism, pieced together from a priest's diary and interviews of clergymen. In the late 1930's, a Maryland boy referred to a "Bobby" became stricken by a strange ailment or possessed by unearthly forces. From the beginning, there are numerous eye witnesses accounts of objects moving in Bobby's presence. Later when it was "discovered" that the boy was possessed by a demon called "strife," there would be several corroborating accounts of seemingly supernatural
phenomena surrounding the boy: he could speak in Latin, he manifested bloody scratches and welts as well as strange writing on his body, and he reacted violently, to the point of maiming a priest, to holy symbols and exorcism. The case of this boy inspired the William Peter Blatty novel, The Exorcist, on which the film of the same name is based.

For Whom appropriate: The telling of the tale is chilling and harrowing, along with the religious implications, it'd be appropriate for only the most mature readers: 11th and 12th graders.

Teach or Circulate? I'd circulate this one, but with extreme caution.
I'd probably like to have a parental permission slip before I allow a student to borrow this.

Dense questions: What are the implications of Allen's assertion that
"psychologists often play the role of the exorcist today"? Why, would you think, that the Catholic church would be reluctant to perform exorcisms, or even to school their priests in the rites of exorcism, in today's world?

Thematically related literature: The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty;
Psycho by Robert Bloch; The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson; Christine by Stephen King;

Alvermann, Donna. Ecology. Massachusetts: D.C. Health and Company, 1995.

Summary: Ecology is a compilation of different short stories, poems and exercises by an array of different authors all addressing the environment. It includes many photographs and artwork as well. It is a illustrative magazine used to teach middle school students.

Appropriate: Grades 7-9.

Teach it or circulate it? This would be a great magazine to circulate. It is a fun, engaging magazine that could be passed around during free reading time.

Dense Questions: This is not in depth enough to write a dense question for, and is to scattered in content to write one.
I think that any other magazines of the same type would be equally as effective.

Andrews, V.C. Flowers in the Attic. New York: Pocket Books, 1979.

Summary: After the death of their father, four children are locked in their grandmother's attic while their Mom tries to win back the affection of her father. With the affection comes a huge inheritance, as long as no one knows that she has children. She leaves her children to slowly wither away in the attic for over three years. This forces the two older children to grow up quickly as they face the wrath of their wicked grandmother.

For Whom Appropriate? 9th grade students

Teach it or circulate it? Because it is easy reading that was meant for enjoyment, it should be circulated. However, you may want to be careful about recommending this book because of the sexual content.

Dense questions: How or why do you think greed overcomes love as it did with Corrine? Do you think that the children's view of the outside world was accurate? When is it appropriate for an adolescent to disobey an adult as Cathy often did?

Thematically related Literature: The Girl in the Box by Ouida Sebestyen

Angell, Judie. What's Best For You. New York: Bradbury Press, 1981.

Summary: Lees family is split up; she lives with her father, and her brother and sister live with her mother. She loves both of her parent but they treat her differently. She spends the summer working at a camp with three other girls whom she becomes very close to. The other girl's parents are divorced too, so they all have at least that in common. She makes great friends and learns that her life is o.k..

Appropriate for whom?: I would recommend this book for junior high and up.

Teach it or circulate it?: This book is an easy read and would be a good book to read and relate with the characters. I would circulate this book.

Dense questions: Lees friends are very important to her. Think of some reasons peers are sometimes just as important as family to high school students. Why are they important to her and why are they important to you? Lee lives with her father, while her siblings live with her mother. What are your views on splitting up the children? Whose decision is it, the kids or the parents? How would things have been different if the kids lived together in this story?

Thematically related literature: One Bird- Kyoko Mori, In The Wings-Katie Goldman, The Divorce Express- Paula Danziger, Holding Me Here- Pam Conrad, The Melinda Zone-Margaret Willey, My Mother Is Not Married to My Father- Jean Davies Okimoto, Unfinished Portrait of Jessica- Richard Peck A Smart Kid Like You- Stella Pevsner, Please Don't Kiss Me Now- Merill Gerber, The T.V. Guidance Counselor- A.C. LeMieux, Now That I know- Norma Klein.

Anonymous, Go Ask Alice. Simon and Shuster: New York. 1971. (summary and questions by Bridget Noonan)

Summary:
This book is written with journal entries by a 15 year old girl who is introduced to drugs. The struggle the girl goes through is shown through each journal entry. The girl lives on and off the streets through out the book. New drugs are introduced to her, and she soon discovers sex and other things. This book shows the true results of a deadly addiction.

Appropriate for 9-12th grades-

Teach or circulate:
I would definitely teach this book. I would teach it because it brings really great awareness to students who may be dealing with choices in their lives. Students at this age are discovering who they are and trying new things, this book will help them understand the dangers of drugs.

Shaded and Dense Questions:
How is the situation that the girl in the story goes through similar to a situation in your life? The parents in the book are very forgiving and always seem to welcome the girl back in their home, would you, as a parent be as forgiving as they? How would you help a friend that is dealing with a substance abuse problem? Are your experiences with peer pressure similar/ different from those of your friends? Other classmates? Other generations? Which journal entry best portrays the hardships of peer pressure? Adolescence?

Related Literature: Smack, Catcher in the Rye, Tex, The Outsider, Crank ? Ellen Hopkins

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Applegate, K. A. Every World: Search for Senna. New York: Scholastic, 1999.

Summary: This book is part of a fantasy series about three teenagers searching for their friend, Senna, in a parallel world consisting of Vikings, Trolls, and other creatures from fantasy. As the teenagers move between our world and
the fantasy world, they learn that their friend Senna is considered to be a witch, and an evil king is in search of her. Now they need to figure out how to get her back, and how to keep themselves from returning to this confusing and often terrifying place.

Age Level: 12 - 14+

This book belongs to the fantasy genre. It is a series, and I would have it available for distribution to individual students. There is some violence in the book, and I would only recommend it to more mature and higher level readers. The quality is such that I would consider it a "fun" title.

Thematically Related Literature:
Christopher Pike, Stephen King, Hobbit, Lord of the Rings, and other Tolkien

Dense Questions:

Do you think David was right to risk his life to save Senna? Do you think you would do the same in his place? Can you think of anyone you might risk your life to save?

In what ways do you think the world David falls into could be appealing? Or if you don't, why do you think David finds this world attractive in some ways? Can you think of any ways that we create fantasy worlds in our society? Why do you think they have appeal?

Armstrong, William H. Sounder. New York: First Perennial Library, 1969.

Summary: The boy's father is a share cropper who has to steal food in order for his family to survive in the south during the 1950's. The father is caught and taken to jail. The boy's story is one of finding the self and the ability of success in a pessimistic and discriminating world.

For whom appropriate? fifth and sixth grade students

Teach or circulate? The book is very good and deals with issues of segregation and prejudice. It also deals with goals and growing up. It would be good to teach.

Dense questions: 1. What is the relation between the dog Sounder and the father coming home? Have you ever had to deal with a stereotype or prejudice?

2. What made the boy decide to go to school? When did he truly find knowledge? Did he benefit from knowing the state of his family?

3. Why do you think they omit names for all the people in the story? Was it to make the reader think more about the effects of prejudice? To devalue the people?

Related literature: Hatchet

Arrick, Fran. What You Don't Know Can Kill You. New York: Dell, 1992.

Summary: Ellen, a senior in high school, is admired by her younger sister, Debra. When Ellen volunteers to give blood, she is discovered to be HIV-positive. Arrick tells the story from different points of view, including Debra's, Ellen's boyfriend, Jack's, and Ellen's parents as they all come to terms with the news.

For whom appropriate? Grades 9-12.

Teach it or circulate it? Circulate. Girls would definitely enjoy this more than boys would.

Dense questions: 1) If you were Debra, how would you have handled Ellen and her condition? How would your handling differ from Debra's?

2) How is Jack's definition of being faithful to Ellen different or similar to your own definition or experiences?

Thematically related literature:

Arrick, Fran. Steffie Can't Come Out To Play. New York: Bradbury Press Inc. 1978

Summary: Steffie has always wanted to be a model and get away from her small Pennsylvania town. She's tired of cleaning the house because her parents are working all the time and her sister is to ill. So one day, she leaves for New York on bus. She is picked up by a rich pimp and is turned very quickly to a life of prostitution because of her naivete and belief that her pimp actually cares for her. It seems as though her life is going down the drain until one day when a beat cop intervenes.

For Whom is it Appropriate? Tenth Eleventh and Twelfth graders.

Read it or Circulate it? Circulate it. Not a hard read, but have some class discussion because of the mature content.

Dense Questions:

1.) Favor, Steffie's pimp took advantage of her naivete using her belief that he cared for her to turn her to prostitution. There were many warning signs early in their relationship that he was not the great man he seemed to be. What were they? Why don't you think that Steffie noticed them?

2.)Favor plays off Steffie's emotions to get what he wants from her. Have you ever had someone do use your emotions to get what they want from you?

Arundel, Honor. The Longest Weekend. New York: Tempo, 1973.

Summary: Eileen, a nineteen-year-old mother, tries to make a life for herself and her 3-year-old daughter, Gay. She deals with feelings of inferiority next to her own mother, as well as a love/hate longing for Gay's father, Joel.

For whom appropriate? Grades 8-10.

Teach it or circulate it? Circulate. This is a book written towards a female audience.

Dense questions:1) How is Eileen's parenting like or unlike her mother's parenting? How is it like or unlike your parents' parenting?

2) How does Eileen represent the stereotype of teen mothers? How does she challenge the stereotype?

Thematically related literature:

What You Don't Know Can Kill You

Asimov, Isaac. The End of Eternity. New York: Random House, 1955.

The End of Eternity tells of a possible future in which man has learned to travel in time. He has used this ability to maintain a peaceful and orderly society by making changes in future or past centuries. Asimov questions the wisdom of creating a society that has no intellectual challenges by including in the text the hidden centuries in which man has become extinct due to a lack of these challenges.

Appropriate for grades 9-12.

I would circulate this book as an outstanding work of science fiction. This book is more enjoyable if not taught. It can stand alone without needing an educator to clarify it.

Do you see similar trends in todays society as compared to the society described in The End of Eternity.

Does man need to be intellectually challenged to stay alive? In other words would humankind become extinct they did reach an intellectual peak and had nothing left to create?

At the conclusion of the novel Eternity is ended when Harlan makes a choice to allow man to follow the road to galactic dominance. Is Asimov using Harlans choice to describe his vision of the future?

Atwood, Margaret. Selected Poems II. Boston: Oxford Press, 1987.

Summary: This is a collection of poems by popular Canadian poet and novelist Margaret Atwood. Her literary talent is shown these works as she takes a prominently feminist view. With that her poems both feel for compassion and fellowship. The first half of the collection contains a number of her earlier works which are focused on the bodies relationship with physicality. The second half contains some of her more recent works which deals with physical union.

For Whom Appropriate? 11th or 12th grade students

Teach it or Circulate it? These poems are very deep and complicated and contain complex imagery which should be understood with teacher guidance. Correct interpretations and guidance will be essential. Definitely teach it.

Dense Questions: What examples are there in Atwoods works that would explain the feminist view? How is Atwoods evolution as a poet, distinguish in the books two halves, follow the evolution of feminism?

Avi. The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. New York: Orchard, 1991.

Summary: The year is 1832 and 13 year old Charlotte finds herself as the only passenger and only female aboard the Seahawk. She is crossing the Atlantic in the ship to meet her family in Rhode Island. What begins as a normal journey turns disastrous when Charlotte learns of the crews mutinous intents. Soon Charlotte finds herself mixed up in the plot, and becomes a member of the crew. And finds herself accused, and found guilty, of murder. Eventually she is reunited with her family, but will she be a free woman? The novel portrays Charlotte as a strong female and his enough adventure and plot twists to satisfy even the most reluctant reader.

For Whom Appropriate? Grades 6-8

Teach or Circulate? I'd teach this one. There is a lot of historical
significance in it. Also there are several great themes, and it portrays a strong female character. I think it would interest most students.

Dense Questions: Can you think of some jobs or activities that are considered to be only for women or only for men? What do you know about trans-Atlantic crossings in the early 1900s?

Thematically Related literature: Mutiny On the Bounty by Robert Louis Stevenson