Adolescent Library Resources Log

Jessica Gruntorad
YA Novels

Title/Author/Publisher/ Award/Review Personal Interest Interest Curriculum Connection

Year Level

Looking for Alaska by Winner of the Michael I loved the realistic, witty characters YA ●independence
John Green, 2015 L. Printz Award in this John Green novel and I believe ●death
NPR's Top Ten Best-Ever students would too. The narrator is a ●boarding school
Teen Novels teenage boy who becomes
TIME magazine's 100 infatuated with a smart talking girl,
Best Young Adult Alaska, but is left reeling over her
Novels of All Time mysterious death in the end.

The Seventh Most Kirkus Reviews, 2015 Although this story is set in the 5-8 ●friendship
Important Thing by 1960s, students today would love this ●redemption
Shelley Pearsall, 2016 timeless story of a teenage boy, ●artwork
Arthur, who is struggling with his ●Smithsonian Art
father’s death. After being sentenced Museum
to community service as part of his ●primary source
probation, Arthur ends up connection
inadvertently creating a piece of art -
which is actually based on a real life
work - I had to research this after
reading and it’s so neat.

I am Not Your Perfect New York Times, 2017 I can relate to Julia and her envy of YA ●Hispanic heritage
Mexican Daughter by her “perfect” sister Olga; however, ●family
Erika L. Sanchez, 2017. when Olga is tragically killed, Julia is ●secrets
driven to find out more about what ●LGBTQ+
Olga was hiding. Students at my high
school would be able to make many
connections to this family.
All American Boys by 2016 Corett Scott King This is a hard hitting realistic story of YA ●racism
Jason Reynolds and Author Honor Book race and division. I think students ●police brutality
Brendan Kiely, 2015 Walter Dean Myers would empathize with Rashad, a ●friendship
Award for Outstanding black teen, and his story of injustice ●BLM
Children’s Literature after being accused of shoplifting
and Quinn, a white teammate of
Rashad’s, who both face tough
decisions and consequences.

Touching Spirit Bear by ALA Notable Children’s This book is about a criminal teen 5-8 ●survival
Ben Mikaelsen, 2001 Book, 2002 boy, Cole, that avoids jail by ●self-doubt
Voice of Youth spending a year in Alaska. He ends ●Ketchitcan, Alaska
Advocates, 2001 up learning more about life than
expected after he is attacked by a
bear - I found myself rooting for Cole
the whole time despite his faults - I
loved this story.

Picture Books

Title/Author/Publisher/ Award/Review Personal Interest Curriculum Connection

Year

The Junkyard Wonders School Library Journal, I enjoyed this touching story about a K-3 ●bullying
by Patricia Polacco, 2010 teacher’s love and support for her ●can be used with up to
2010 students. It includes hard topics like middle grades readers
learning disabilities, bullying, and
death, but I think students would
find it memorable.

Brothers in Hope by Library Media Garang, a Sudanese boy, leads 35 3-6 ●civil war
Mary Williams and Connection, 2005 other orphans to regufe. On a ●Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya
Illustrated by R. journey through thirst, starvation, ●faith and courage
Gregory Christie, 2005. and violence, Garand tells a tale that
is unexpected and enlightening for
all readers. I think YA readers would
 learn a lot in this short picture book.

Long May She Wave by Booklist, 2017 This is a fun book filled with K-3 ●American History
Kristen Fulton wonderful illustrations. It tells the ●American flag
Illustrated by Holly story of Caroline, a young girl who ●4th of July
Berry, 2017 helps stitch the American flag that ●non-fiction
flew throughout the American connections
Revolution against the British and ●can be used with up to
inspired the National Anthem. middle grades readers

Titanicat by Marty Crisp School Library Journal, I love the history of the Titanic and K-3 ●Titanic
and Illustrated by 2008 this picture book is illustrated with ●non-fiction
Robert Papp, 2008 the most realistic illustrations; it is so connections
fascinating! This text takes on an ●can be used with up to
interesting point of view - a cat! middle grades readers

Fiery Night by Sally M. Follet, 2020 This book is based on the true story 3-6 ●Chicago Fires
Walker and Illustrated of an 1871 Chicago Fire. My favorite ●non-fiction
by Kayla Harren, 2020 part about this book, besides the connections
endearing story, are all of the
resources provided including maps,
photos, and additional suggested
reads. I could spend a lot of time
teaching with this text.

Non-fiction

Title/Author/Publisher/ Award/Review Personal Interest Curriculum Connection

Year

My Thirteenth Winter: A Booklist, 2004 It was worthwhile to read a first YA ●Biography/Memoir

Memoir by Samantha person point-of-view account from ●learning disabilities
Abeel, 2005 someone with a learning disability
because I teach students with SLDs
everyday. I believe students would
appreciate and relate to this text as
 well as find it inspiring.

A Long Way Gone by School Library Journal, This young man’s story is traumatic, YA/AD ●Biography/Memoir
Ishmael Beah, 2007 2007 but his tale is also full of resilience.
Readers may find parts of it (such as
the weapons and drug addiction)
concerning, yet also become
captivated by the tumultuous life of
this young boy.

The Boys in the Boat by Horn Book Magazine, Adapted for younger readers, this 5-8 ●WWII
Daniel James Brown, 2015 text follows the lives of the rowing
2015 team from the University of
Washington who face many personal
hardships. It goes on to tell about
their competition in the 1936
Olympics in Berlin, Germany; this
could easily be paired with a
historical unit.

Hidden Figures (Young New York Times Students gravitate toward texts that YA/AD ●Civil Rights Movement
Readers Edition) by Publishers Weekly have been adapted for the big ●Women’s Rights
Margaret Lee The Science Teacher screen, and I think they would love
Shetterley, 2016 (NSTA) this story about a group of African
American women who made
American space exploration possible.
This would also pair nicely with a
history cross-curricular unit on the
civil rights era.

I am Malala: How One Publishers Weekly, 2015 The Young Readers Edition of this 5-8 ●Women’s Rights
Girl Stood Up for Horn Book Guide, 2015 memoir provides readers with ●Pakistan
Education and Changed photos and a true story of Malala, a
the World (Young young girl who was shot by the
Readers Edition) by Taliban and nearly died seeking an
Malala Yousafzai, 2014 education. Malala is now an
internationally known Nobel Peace
Prize winner. This story is full of
tragedy but can help students
understand someone in a different
setting.

Free Choice

Title/Author/Publisher/ Award/Review Personal Interest Curriculum Connection

Year

Wonderstruck by Brian Parent’s Choice Gold I absolutely love books with stories 5-8 ●mystery
Selznick, 2011 Award, 2011 that intertwine and this is an
ALA Notable Children’s extremely unique work which
Books, 2012 provides one story in words and one
in only pictures. It is about two
different kids, who live 50 years
apart, but whose lives eventually
intercept.

All the Bright Places by Booklist, 2015 Two quirky teen voices make this a YA ●suicide
Jennifer Nive, 2015 Voice of Youth fun read, but it does include heavy ●friendship
Advocates, 2015 topics such as suicide. Students
would breeze through this book with
enjoyment.

Wintergirls by Laurie Horn Book Magazine, This was a tough read due to the YA ●eating disorders
Halse Anderson, 2009 2009 extreme anorexia and depression ●death
Voice of Youth that threaten Lia’s life - even after
Advocates, 2009 she loses her best friend to the same
issue. Lia’s parents are unable to
help her, and she really has to work
hard to heal - could be either
triggering or helpful for YA readers.
House of the Scorpion New York Public Library Not usually a fan of sci-fi, I know this 5-8 ●Sci-Fi
by Nancy Farmer, 2003 Books for the Teen Age, novel is of high-interst to teen ●High-interest
2004 readers. It is set in the future, and
tracks Matt, who is clone, as he flees
and then returns to bring down a
country ran by a drug lord.

Concrete Rose by Angie Michael L. Printz Award, This book surprised me-as a YA read YA ●Multicultural - African
Thomas, 2021 2022 it presented some very mature ideas. American
Maverick is struggling in ways that I
think some of my students could
relate to however.