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Six Best Books for Teens

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.