The Original YA Novel

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

I thought I would use this last entry to pay homage to the original young adult novel, The Outsiders. 16-year-old S.E. Hinton wrote this novel because realistic teen fiction did not exist in the 1960s, and she wanted something that would interest kids her age. I absolutely love this book and everything it has done to introduce a new breed of books especially for teens. I taught this book my first year of teaching, and I loved it so much that I have used it ever since. When I arrived at my present school three years ago, I insisted we add this book to the curriculum because I couldn't imagine any kid not getting to read it. It's about gangs, violence, friendship, family, the "haves and have-nots"... just about anything that would interest a young adult. And kids don't care that it was written 40 years ago because the themes are still relevant to their lives today. This book will interest boys and girls from all backgrounds, and it's a great way to get them hooked on reading.

An updated version of the 1983 movie was released in 2005. It's 22 minutes longer and also includes a new soundtrack.

Click below to listen to the S.E. Hinton interview with Don Swaim in 1987:

Another Fantastic Soon-to-be Trilogy

A Great and Terrible Beauty and Rebel Angels by Libba Bray

A Sweet Far Thing to be released December 2007

Click the first two pictures for a video and an excerpt


I actually saw Rebel Angles in another blog for this class, so I thought I would share something about these great books.

Set in the late 1800s, this is the story of Gemma Doyle, who at the age of 16 witnessed her mother's brutal (and supernatural) murder. After her mother's death, she moves with her father from their home in Bombay to England where she is sent to boarding school. There, she discovers that she has powers that allow her to enter a spiritual realm where everything seems perfect. Her mother is there, and she even brings some of her friends along from school. Soon, however, she learns that her powers hold an element of danger, and she must try to escape the same fate as her mother.

I really loved these books, and I think most kids who are into fantasy and magic will enjoy them as well. Here are some reviews:

“A Great and Terrible Beauty is just the book for anyone who loves mystery, magic, intrigue and adventure.” —Detroit News & Free Press

“A delicious, elegant gothic.” —Publishers Weekly

“Shivery with both passion and terror.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Will draw a large, enthusiastic audience, who will come away wanting more about stubborn, willful Gemma and the strange world whose doors she can open at will.” —Booklist

“A Great and Terrible Beauty is a multi-layered, ambitious work that mixes history, magic, romance, humor and mystery, making it a good choice for a wide range of readers.” —BookPage

Week Two..here we go.

Uglies, Pretties, and Specials by Scott Westerfield

This is a great series for fans of dystopian literature. It's about futuristic society where everyone must undergo reconstructive surgery when they turn 16 to make them "Pretty." 15-year-old Tally is the main character, and she can't wait for her transformation. That is, until she meets Shay and a group of rebel Uglies that cause her to question her fate.

This book does a great job of combining action and romance. It will definitely interest girls and boys alike. It also addresses the controversial issues of body image and common conceptions of beauty.

The sequels are definitely not a let down, and the third book in the trilogy, Specials, was Scott Westerfield's first NY Times bestselling book. If you do like this series, you might also check out his Midnighters trilogy

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Scott Westerfield website

Welcome!

I consulted my 8th graders (As I often do when technology confuses me) as to what to do with this blog. They told me to use it like a journal or write about something that interests me. So, I have decided to dedicate this blog to something that I might use with my class next year, and who knows, maybe someone else will find it interesting along the way. My goal is to share some information about young adult literature- to recommend some great books for kids and adults who are still kids at heart.



Twilight and New Moon by Stephene Meyer


This series is about 17-year-old Bella Swan, who moves across the country to live with her father in dreary Forks, Washington. Bella gets off to a rough start at school when Edward Cullen, the most beautiful boy she has ever seen, seems to despise her for no reason at all. His behavior only makes her more determined to get to know him, and she soon finds out that he doesn't hate her, he just wants to drink her blood. Of course they fall in love and the conflict is pretty obvious: how can a girl and a blood-thirsty vampire have a normal relationship?



This book (Twilight) sat on my shelf for about six months before I finally broke down and read it, and once I opened it I couldn't put it down. I never thought I would be interested in a book about vampires, but I was so wrong. I haven't had a single student (or teacher...I've seen a few reading this book) say they didn't like it, and most go on to check out the sequel. Kids love monster stories, and this is a great way to introduce them to those intimidating, longer novels.

To find out more about one of these books, click on the cover below.

The third book, Eclipse, will not be out until August.