Thanks to all. Here is the list I have compiled. There are some
duplications, but I haven't yet cleaned it up. I was able to go through and
find a number of titles to add to my grant application. I am also using this
list as a starting point for identifying the books I already have who appeal
to these student groups. Thanks again.
pj
-----------------------------
BOYS & RELUCTANT READERS
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and the sequels, Catching Fire and
Mockingjay
Unwind by Neil Shusterman
Bruiser by Neil Shusterman
The Schwa Was Here by Neil Shusterman
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan
Trouble by Gary Schmidt
The Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt
I Am the Cheese by Robert Cormier
The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan and the sequels
Bone (the graphic novel series) by Jeff Smith
Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy and the sequels
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
The Last Apprentice/Wardstone Chronicles series by Joseph Delaney
Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer and the sequels
The Maximum Ride series by James Patterson
Paper Towns by John Green
An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
Looking for Alaska by John Green
Angus, Thongs, & Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison and sequels
The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks by E. Lockhart
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
ranger's apprentice series
graphic novels - ranma 1/2, identity, full metal
historical fiction
fallen angels
cars
sports
record books - top 10, guiness, etc.
Unwind by Neal Shusterman
White Cat by Holly Black
Son of the Mob by Gordon Korman
The Juvie Three by Gordon Korman
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins
The Compound by S.A. Bodeen
The Thrawn trilogy of Star Wars books by Timothy Zahn
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
I highly recommend looking into graphic novels for your reluctant readers.
I've had good luck with the Amulet series by Kazu Kibuishi, although the
kids get frustrated that it's an ongoing series and they have to wait for
the next one. The Ultimate Spider-man series has also been a favorite.
I like to use "Guys write for guys read" edited by Jon Scieszka. Boys really
end up liking it, even the reluctant ones!
Maus
A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park
Make Lemonade by Virginia Euwer Wolff
Seth Grahame-Smith books
Graphics – Romeo & Juliet, Hamlet, MacBeth, The Odyssey, Julius Caesar,
Frankenstein
The First Part Last, by Angela Johnson
Every Time a Rainbow Dies, by Rita Williams-Garcia
Looking for Alaska, by John Green
Saving Francesca, by Melina Marchetta
The House of the Scorpion, by Nancy Farmer
The Flag and Bone Shop, by Robert Cormier
Fiction:
Gordon Korman’s Son of the Mob never fails. It is the most popular book for
guys who hate to read. He has a sequel, Hollywood Hustle, as well as other
titles: Born to Rock, Juvie Three, Pop, Swindle.
Nonfiction:
Jack Gantos’ Hole in My Life has been a word of mouth favorite. Same with
Burn Journals by Brent Runyon.
Boys:
Jonah Hex/ Justin Gray
Percy Jackson series and The Red Pyramid / Riordan
Tamora Pierce books (my boys are reading these, even though written by a
'girl')
Warrior series by Hunter
Cirque du Freak
Ranger's Apprentice
The Hunger Games series
Eragon series
Pendragon series by MacHale
Dragon Ball Z
Girls:
Bluford
Kimani Tru
Lousie Rennison books
Lauren Myracle books
What do you have by Walter Dean Myers? We read Monster in my YA class, and
I loved it! It's about a teenage boy arrested for murder. It's very good.
The Bluford Series by Paul Langan and some are written by Anne Schraff:
The Bully
The Payback (the gun)
Someone to Love Me
Stone Fox by Gardiner
Looking for Alaska - Green
Twisted - Anderson
Orca Soundings Collection
exploits of a reluctant but extremely goodlooking hero – Fergus
My guys like to read the Cherub series by Muchamore (though he's a British
author and his books often need to be special-ordered), the Ranger's
apprentice series by Flanagan, Anthony Horowitz of course, Higson's Young
bond series, Zahn's Dragonback series, Dean Hughes' books, The things they
carried, Darren Shan's books, Star wars novels, Amelia Atwater-Rhode's
novels, the Pendragon series by Machale.
I've only gone through two major book selection cycles (one Dec 2009, one
April 2010) since I'm beginning my 2nd year. Our English and social studies
teachers incorporate book projects in many forms, several of which are
choose-your-own book. The book projects which are focused included 'any
book from [insert time period or a theme]', which Things that I considered
were the YALSA Best Books lists, including the one for reluctant
readers. Also,
I've considered the interests and comments from students as they respond to
my questions regarding what they like to read, or what they like to do/watch
(if they don't like to read). Such responses included: sports, war,
mystery, musicians. A couple of students mentioned hunting, but most titles
I've found were either young students or for specific instructions of how to
hunt, techniques, and other things that are beyond the high school. Your
students may have similar interests, but that's where I would start...
Also, I was able to 'sell' Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson. He liked light
mysteries & some realistic fiction (my words) based on the shows and movies
he watched.
I would recommend books by these authors:
Gary Paulsen
Will Hobbs
Louis L'Amour
Darren Shan
S.E. Hinton
John Flanagan
Rick Riordan
DJ Machale
The "Bluford High" series is very popular with reluctant readers.
Boys like the books by Mike Lupica.
Bluford High, Orca Soundings, Hip Edge Novels - all series of realistic,
generally urban, fiction written about 3rd to 4th grade level. Our kids eat
them up - boys and girls. Individual titles from Sherman Alexie, Walter
Dean Myers, Jordan Sonnenblick, Gary Soto are good too.
These have never failed me:
Fiction: What Happened, by Peter Johnson
Non-Fiction: Goat, by Brad Land
Amory, Jay. The Fledging of Az Gabrielson and Pirates of the Relentless
Desert (sequel). also boys
Bauer, Joan. Peeled.
Berry, Julie. The Amaranth Enchantment.
Oppel, Kenneth. Airborn; Skybreaker; and Starclimber (sequels). also boys
Pearson, Mary. The Adoration of Jenna Fox. girl protagonist, but I think
would have boy appeal
Perkins, Mitali. Secret Keeper.
Paula Joseph-Johnson, LMS/Yearbook Adviser
Bristow High School (Bristow, OK)
*Respond to*: welshaires@gmail.com
*School email*: pjohnson@bristow.k12.ok.us
*Twitter*: pjojo
*Currently Reading*: Bones Would Rain from the Sky, by Suzanne Clothier
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