Good Books for young adults

[Youngcatholic]

I work as a school librarian. My main job is to promote reading in a public school (middle school). However, I am getting tired of reading “bad” books that are written for teens (ages 12 and up). Teen angst, books about abortion, crime, pregnancy. Tons of series books published way too often. Hoopla over Harry Potter, etc. Books with shallow characterizations or dead-end plots. And teen books that are published so frequently that I can barely keep up with reading them!

I need a good tool for finding really good books to share with teens. I spent TOO much time reading children’s books that really aren’t that great. I am trying to revisit some classics, but students don’t always gravitate toward the classics… I want to promote really good books, and I am just not finding them!

I have visited websites from the American Lib. Association, and the annual award-winners (Newberry, etc.) but I can’t say I am always impressed by what these groups deem as “good literature”. And judging the books that they now use as part of middle school language arts curriculums, it seems we are losing our definitions of good literature for young people.

Are there any Catholic book selection tools that also incorporate some “secular” fiction as appropriate/great books for young readers? How can I find the books that will still interest teens without resorting to teen angst, realistic fiction books, or books with shallow plots/dull characters.

 

[BasBleu]

I’m a school library media specialist as well, though in a public elementary school, so I don’t run into the same problems with teen/YA books, but I can sympathize on some levels. (I HATE Captain Underpants!) I would be interested to hear people’s reponses and suggestions too.

My primary reminder is that though you are there to promote reading, your job should be to support the curriculum. Maybe you could focus on appealing nonfiction for your students. Even my fifth and sixth graders really gravitate in that direction.

I always recommend *Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, *Sharon Creech, for MS students (though I’m sure you know all this!) I would put out feelers on LM_NET for good selection tools, especially asking for feedback from Catholic or other Christian school librarians.

I’ll also ask for some ideas from my district’s middle school librarian too. I’ll give it more thought myself too, of course!

Feel free to PM me anytime; it’s so good to see another public school librarian trying to provide and promote quality literature for young people!

God Bless!