Got a reluctant teen reader? Have them give these books about everyday & epic dangers a whirl!

Sometimes it's hard to get teens reading.  They read for school, & then when they're not at school, they have so many other activities!  If you have a teen who's reluctant to crack open a book that's not assigned, some librarians recommend hi/lo fiction, particularly if  the teens "read below grade level and can’t find books they can read that interest them".  Also you might consider the titles listed below, recommended by Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) magazine. Some titles may also be available in alternate formats (eBook, audio). Notes by the title such as "eBook only" refer to ABC Libraries' holdings. As always, concerned parents may want to preview the book's subject matter to test its appropriateness for their teen!

Not for the Faint of Heart: Rude Language, Challenging Authority, Physical Violence

"And now I write books for teenagers because I vividly remember what it felt like to be a teen facing everyday and epic dangers. I don't write to protect them. It's far too late for that. I write to give them weapons - in the form of words and ideas - that will help them fight their monsters. I write in blood because I remember what it felt like to bleed." ~Sherman Alexie


The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

One Hundred Demons by Linda Barry

Fat Kid Rules the World by K. L. Going

Looking for Alaska by John Green

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

Blood Red Road by Moira Young

The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer

The Curse of the Wendigo by William James Henry; edited by Rick Yancey

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi


*Most books in this post were suggested by articles in Voya magazine (2/12, vol 34, # 6)