The Count of Monte Cristo byAlexandre Dumas is one of those classics you feel like you should read, but will probably never get around to it. In my opinion, it would be worth it to pick up one of the many translations of this book (unless, of course, you can read French) and take a look. The writing style will vary with the translation, but the story is the same. It’s an adventure novel that also features a love story.
Edmond Dantès (also known as the Counte of Monte Cristo, an invented title to enact his revenge) is a likeable main character. He has good reason for seeking revenge: his was made to spend 9 years in prison for a “crime” he committed (delivery of a letter with traitorous leanings).
I’m honestly not sure if a young adult would even be willing to pick up a book like this, with all of its characters a subplots. I think it might take a more sophisticated reader to enjoy it, but if someone enjoys classic literature, this could be a good bet.
Even though I now know this book was probably written not by an actual teen but by an adult, I still think it’s an interesting depiction of a teen’s life as she (supposedly) descends into drug culture. However, I can’t help but imagine the entire book in Sascha Rothchild’s voice. So, unfortunately, while it’s supposed to be a serious, warning type of young adult book, it ends up seeming to me very ridiculous. I think this book actually may convince some teens to try drugs, what with the florid descriptions of getting high and sex while high. “Alice” doesn’t really do all that much to convince the reader that drugs are all that bad, because she herself doesn’t really believe it, as she writes many times, (except for the fact that she has a pregnancy scare early on, loses her virginity to a guy she barely knows, gets raped, and ultimately dies due to an overdose–allegedly). I probably wouldn’t recommend this to kids today, because it seems pretty dated and silly. There are many better written and more cautionary tales about drugs available, and maybe young adults would be interested in this from a historical perspective of life in the 1970s, but it’s really just kind of weird.
Anne Frank’s diary is still one of the most moving pieces of literature known to mankind. I’d begun reading this as a much younger teenager and couldn’t handle the seriousness of it (I was more the type to enjoy humorous YA novels, not surprisingly). Quite honestly, it’s even more difficult to read now, having read about other terrible situations in more recent times, as in the book We wish to inform you that tomorrow we will be killed with our families by Philip Gourevitch. Anne’s writing style is both simple and rich. She is very clear in her description, especially in her feelings about being in the secret annex while the war swirls around outside. I love how her personality shines through, and there are spots of humor, even while knowing her tragic end. If there are any teens who haven’t read this, I would definitely suggest it.
I listened to a very weird audiobook version of The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein and I still sit firmly on the side of the fence with the folks who believe strongly that Tolkein is best read before the age of 16. The fantastical characters and the silly situations they find themselves in just did not grab me the way that they would for younger readers. I’m not a fantasy/sci-fi reader at all, though, and I am definitely not a young boy, who it seems is the target reader for this book. I somewhat enjoyed the movie versions of The Lord of the Rings, however, I also still maintain that they are an incredibly long adventure series about a piece of jewelry. I would definitely hand this book to a 12- or 13-year old.
While Robert Heinlen’s Have Space Suit–Will Travel, is definitely not my usual style of reading material, I did get a few laughs out of it. The language is dated but still enjoyable. Kip is the main character; he’s obsessed with space travel. Putting this into perspective is the fact that the story is written in 1958. In the book, people apparently have traveled to various planets, and there’s some sort of base on the moon. Kip’s goal in life is to attend MIT, but because his father shows him how lacking his high school education is, Kip begins studying advanced science on his own (really believable, right?). Kip really does get a space suit; he enters a soap contest hoping to win a trip to outer space, when in fact he wins runner up, and the prize is an old space suit. The suit is in disrepair, but with his scientic and mechanical knowledge, he fixes it up in a jiffy. Much of the description in the book is very technical, so it’s definitely not a fast read. After the suit is repaired, Kip decides to trade it into the soap company for the cash value instead. He takes the suit out for one last go, and finds himself beamed onto a space ship… wherein the adventure part of the sci-fi takes place. I would recommend this book to heavy sci-fi readers, or readers interested in early science fiction.
Angeline Mah’s biography Falling Leaves: the story of an unwanted Chinese daughter is exactly what the title says. Angeline grows up in a family where she not only unwanted, she is emotionally and psychologically abused. Her only saving light is her tough businesswoman aunt. I’m not sure that I would hand this to just any reader with my recommendation. It’s far too disturbing and depressing for just any reader. It may fit well into some curriculum having to do with China/Hong Kong, or with the Maoist time period, or potentially with gender issues studies.
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood is not exactly a young adult novel, but it is one that young adults may find particularly fascinating. It’s the portrayal of a dystopia (though to some, it is their version of a utopia) wherein women are subjugated and categorized according to their fertility. We never know the narrator’s true name, just that she is “Offred,” meaning that she belongs to her commander, named Fred. Offred tells her version of events from “before” and “now,” giving depiction of situations and quiet moments in her life. Disturbing and also very thought-provoking, young adults interested in sci-fi or historical fiction may be particularly interested in this book.
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson is one of those books where you feel like you’re alongside the main character, living in her shoes. Melinda Sorvino is a typical high school student, but she is keeping a terrible secret. Everyone at school hates her because she called the police to a house party during the summer, everyone including her best friend. It turns out, something terrible happened to Melinda at the party, and she fled before the police showed up. The book chronicles Melinda’s journey from denial to acceptance to growth beyond what has happened. A nice mirror in the story is that Melinda takes an art class with a very supportive teacher, and she is given the assignment to draw a tree. At the end of the story, she not only draws a tree, she understands the symbolism of her own growth. I would highly recommend this book to young teen girls; it’s not really a cautionary tale, it’s more a story of gaining self-awareness and strength.
Scrambled Eggs at Midnight by Brad Barkley and Heather Hepler is a humorous romantic story, with some wonderful descriptions of how it really feels to fall in love for the first time. Since the point of view alternates between Eliot (Brad Barkley) and Calliope (Heather Hepler) we get a nice mix of tones. I like this book, but I don’t think it did as well with the switching perspectives thing as it could have. My favorite book that does the same thing amazingly well is Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan. Though, Scrambed Eggs has lovable characters who don’t use curse words, so I’d recommend this one to younger readers in the 12 to 14 range who aren’t sure what they want to read. I like the idea of being able to say to girls or boys, “This will help you know what they are thinking” (meaning the opposite sex).
Having read a handful of GLBTQ books for my LIS722 course last semester, reading Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden was a good look into the past. For my paper, I read books mainly from the 1990s-2000s, and my, how times have changed. The story of Liza falling in love with Annie is a classic romance—but it’s how their special connection is outed that is particularly painful to read. Liza faces expulsion from her prim-and-proper Foster Academy, and both girls are very fearful to let their secret love be known the world. Today, girls like Liza and Annie might be involved in a Gay-Straight Alliance, and they certainly would not be on trial for being gay.
This book is still very relevant for YAs today, but I would want to include the caveat that this book is from 1982 even though the cover image has been updated. I would probably put this on a booklist or display with the word “historical” so that readers could compare it with, for example, Kissing Kate by Lauren Myracle or Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan.
