Book clubs are popping up in high schools and libraries across the country; however, adults facilitating those groups may find it difficult to identify the right books for discussion. Books should include characters that are relatable, story lines that are engaging, and messages that cause teens to wrestle with the difficult questions of what it means to be a young adult. Below are some suggestions for selecting books and a top-ten list of young adult books.
Tips for Book Club Selections
Tip #1: Consult the Charts
The current best-seller lists will identify which books teens are reading; specifically, the "Latest Children's Fiction Books Best Sellers" list on the Publisher's Weekly website provides the top 15 titles for any given week. Book group facilitators can select titles from this list or utilize this to track trends about particular authors or themes that are popular over a given period of time.
Tip #2: Complement the Curriculum
Many teens do not like to read assigned books; however, interested librarians and authors can use the school's approved curriculum as a starting point in directing the reading list for the book club. For example, if a school included Moby Dick in their curriculum, the book club might decide to read Paper Towns, a novel by award-winning young adult author John Green that uses the reading of Moby Dick as a plot device. This contemporary novel could serve as a complement to the classic novel and be used to encourage students in their required reading.
Tip #3: Collaborate with the Children
Allowing the students to have a say in which books are included on the list will increase the likelihood that teens will be interested in reading the book club selections. This will allows the participants to act as stakeholders in the group, and would provide them with a sense of ownership in the book group's success. Additionally, adult facilitators may consider allowing students to take turns in leading the book discussions, which is another means to ensuring their active participation.
Top Ten List of Books for Young Adult Book Clubs
- Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher. This debut YA novel weaves a heart-wrenching tale of suicide within a mystery plot device--dual narration and complex themes will make this a book that will easily stimulate discussion amongst students.
- City of Bones (Mortal Instruments Series Book 1) by Cassandra Clare. This book uses an urban paranormal story of shadow hunters, vampires, demons, faeries, and warlocks to present themes of acceptance and unity, a message that is important in an increasingly divisive and judgmental society.
- An Abundance of Katherines by John Green. This book was an honorable mention for the ALA's Michael Printz award in 2007 and extols the virtues of true friendship and self-acceptance within the story of quirky boy "genius" Colin Singleton.
- Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale. Hale reinvents a classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale in a mythological Asian landscape that addresses issues of the power of young people to decide their fate and to determine their worth as individuals.
- Slam by Nick Hornby. This best-selling author branches into YA fiction with this tale of an avid skateboarder who experiences the supernatural and seeks answers to life's tough questions about growing up and becoming an adult.
- The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl by Barry Lyga. Misfits come to understand their place in the world in this story of an "outsider" comic book artist and the girl who shows him how to fit into the world. This story will be highly relatable to many teens and will spark discussions about cliques and fads that are rampant in high schools.
- Twilight (Twilight Saga Book 1) by Stephenie Meyer. Although this book is light on symbolism and thin in areas of dialogue, book groups can use this book to broach deeper subjects, such as denial of the id and a comparison of literary heroes with the hardships faced in real-life relationships.
- Converting Kate by Beckie Weinheimer. This novel of a young teen who escapes a strict religious community deals with the problems that many teens face--divorce, death, loss of friends, and loss of community in an honest and emotional tale.
- The Pigman by Paul Zindel. This classic piece of young adult literature leads readers on a story of self-discovery as they wrestle with the impact they make on the world and their own significance. Compelling characters make this an easy and enjoyable read.
- The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. A reinvention of themes prevalent in Fahrenheit 451, this book is set in Nazi Germany and will allow young adult readers to understand the pressures of that time through the eyes of a 13-year-old looking to literature for escape and hope.
This article is intended as an aid to book clubs that are already organized. For tips on how to start a book club at your school, read this article by Debbie DeSpirt.
Heather Kemp - Heather is a freelance journalist from Indianapolis, Indiana, who happens to pay the bills by working in finance for clinical researchers. ...
