Bookmarks – Teaching English

English Reading List for Teenagers 8/12/2019

Here is an opinionated and non-inclusive list of English novels or literature worth reading. I emphasize recent (post-1850) literature. Start with a subject that interests you. I would buy these books used at Amazon. The books are roughly presented in order of which ones should be read first, but choose by subject matter first (what interests you) rather than by my judgment.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K Rowling. Modern classic; enough said.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. This parable, maybe even several parables in one of a shepherd who goes in search of fortune and his personal legend, should appeal to most people older than fifteen. I think it should be especially appealing to teenagers.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. GoodReads says, “Bestselling author Sherman Alexie tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Determined to take his future into his own hands, Junior leaves his troubled school on the rez to attend an all-white farm town high school where the only other Indian is the school mascot.

Heartbreaking, funny, and beautifully written, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, which is based on the author’s own experiences, coupled with poignant drawings by Ellen Forney that reflect the character’s art, chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one Native American boy as he attempts to break away from the life he was destined to live.”

I think this book will appeal to most minorities.

Bluford Series. According to their website, “The Bluford Series is a collection of twenty-one young adult novels that focus on the lives of a group of high school students and their families.”

“Set in contemporary urban America [and mostly featuring black Americans], each novel addresses complex topics relevant to the lives of today’s students: family, friendship, trust, isolation, violence, and peer pressure, to name a few.”

“In addition, the books feature male and female characters and include elements from many literary genres, such as mystery, suspense, romance, and a touch of the supernatural. In other words, the Bluford Series offers something for almost every reader.”

“Finally, the books are short (less than 200 pages) and written in a highly readable style [written at a low level]. Reviewed in a national reading journal and praised by students and teachers nationwide, the Bluford Series appeals to readers of all ages.”

This is young adult fiction for inner city youth, or black youth.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. The following quote is from Wikipedia. “The story is narrated by Hazel Grace Lancaster, a 16-year-old girl with thyroid cancer that has affected her lungs. Hazel is forced by her parents to attend a support group where she subsequently meets and falls in love with 17-year-old Augustus Waters, an ex-basketball player and amputee.” It is a tear jerker and is more for girls than boys.

Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. This classic about adolescence still holds it own because it captures the isolation of the teenage years, and the end result that some teenagers never succumb to society or grow up. “The novel’s protagonist Holden Caulfield has become an icon for teenage rebellion.”(Wikipedia). The novel is written from the point of view of HC.

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. The following description paraphrases Wikipedia. Hinton was 15 when she started writing the novel but did most of the work when she was 16 and a junior in high school. Hinton was 18 when the book was published. The book details the conflict between two rival gangs divided by their socioeconomic status: the working-class “greasers” and the upper-class “Socs” (pronounced /ˈsoʊʃɪz/—short for Socials). The story is told in first-person perspective by teenaged protagonist Ponyboy Curtis. The story in the book takes place in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1965, but this is never explicitly stated in the book.

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle. The following description paraphrases Wikipedia. The main characters, Meg Murry, Charles Wallace Murry, and Calvin O’Keefe, embark on a journey through space and time, from universe to universe, as they endeavor to save the Murrys’ father and the world. The novel offers a glimpse into the battles between light and darkness, and goodness and evil, as the young characters mature into adolescents on their journey. The novel wrestles with questions of spirituality and purpose, as the characters are often thrown into conflicts of love, divinity, and goodness.” It has received numerous awards.

Collections textbook.