Keeping your student’s academic skills honed over the summer break
is easy when you provide a wealth of great reading material. When students
read they improve their spelling, their grammar, their creative writing
skills and they add to their general knowledge. Here is a list of ten
of the best books for teens so that you can stock up on great summer vacation
reads for your students. Read them yourself so that you can discuss the
themes and characters in these novels.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
This is an oldie, but a goodie and the hilarious misadventures of Arthur
Dent in his quest to find love, happiness and the answer to the ultimate
question (its 42 by the way) drag him from the mattress swamps of Sqornshellous
Zeta to the Restaurant at the End of the Universe. Douglas Adams’
wonderful ‘trilogy in four parts’are perfect for the sophisticated teen.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
This delightfully offbeat book is the subject of a recent movie with the
same name starring Emma Watson. This book by Stephen Chbosky is a coming-of-age
novel about geeky teen Charlie who struggles with the alienation and shyness
that dogs many in their teenage years. When a group of misfits adopts
Charlie as one of their own, he must come to terms with the complexities of love.
The Mortal Instruments Series
This trilogy by Cassandra Clare deals with demons and those who hunt them.
Protagonist Clary Fray is drawn into the world of the Shadowhunters; those
who hunt demons. Through her journey to the City of Glass, she uncovers
some disturbing truths about her family and their secret past.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime
This wonderful tale by Mark Haddon deals with the life of mathematically
gifted Christopher John Francis Boone. Christopher’s autism makes
him fearful of interacting with people, but when his neighbor’s
dog is mysteriously murdered, he overcomes his fears to investigate the
murder and makes some rather surprising discoveries about his mother.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian
Written by Sherman Alexie, this book deals with the difficulties of moving
as a teenager. Already awkward social situations are further complicated
when Junior moves from the Spokane Indian Reservation to an all-white
high school. Junior struggles to adapt to his new surroundings and the
ghosts of the friends and family members he has left behind.
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
A pair of jeans is what unites lifelong friends Lena, Tibby, Carmen and
Bridget as they embark on adventures that will have you laughing, crying
and begging for more! A great summertime read by Ann Brashares.
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