By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: July 13, 2010
To capture the interest of a teen/young adult while summer is in full swing, books need to have an engaging story line and strong characters. The following books represent just that, they are all very hard to put down!
The Cardturnerby Louis Sachar
Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (May 11, 2010)
Source: Publisher
What to expect: Summer, Family, Game of bridge, Self-discovery
Louis Sachar, a Newberry-winning (Holes, 1998) and bestselling author, sure knows how to take a subject that may be seen as boring—the game of bridge—and turn it into a riveting story of self-discovery, integrity and morals. The story moves around a teenage boy, Alton Richard, and his great-uncle Lester—a rich family member with a large inheritance that everyone is trying to get a piece of. When you combine a teenage boy and a cute girl, old men, greed, and the game of bridge, (you may not believe me but …) you get a real page-turner. Great book!
Add this book to your collection: The Cardturner
Fallenby Lauren Kate
Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 464 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers; First Edition/First Printing edition (December 8, 2009)
Source: Publisher
What to expect: Angels, Boarding school, Love
Thrilling, exciting, and engaging is what this love story is. Too much vampire talk going on at your house? Lauren Kate has certainly launched us into a new phase: angels. Fallen angels, at that! The characters are captivating and have strong voices. This is a suspenseful book that is very hard to put down.
Add this book to your collection: Fallen
Three Rivers Rising: A Novel of the Johnstown Flood
by Jame Richards
Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (April 13, 2010)
Source: Publisher
What to expect: Johnstown, Pennsylvania flood; Social classes; Summer
Providing a book of interest is key. This is a book for a true historical-fiction lover. It will also convert your regular-fiction reader into a historical-fiction lover before you know it. Jame Richards takes on social class, romance, and the Johnstown Flood of 1889, and truly touches the hearts of his readers with this novels believable characters and real backdrop. Very satisfying.
Add this book to your collection: Three Rivers Rising: A Novel of the Johnstown Flood
by ofer aronskind
Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 174 pages
Publisher: iUniverse, Inc. (January 13, 2006)
Source: Publicist
What to expect: Sleep-away summer camp, Self-discovery, Family, Friends
Mattie, a 12-year-old boy, goes to a sleep-away summer camp. Not knowing anyone at the camp and being away from his family forces him to take the path of self-discovery. For any child that is embarking on their first sleep-away camp, this is a reassuring story and an enjoyable read. The narration is smooth and allows readers to connect with Mattie easily.
Add this book to your collection: Summer Sleep-Away
You may also enjoy the following summer reading lists:
Kids’ Summer Reading Lists: Prereading / Ages 3-5
Kids’ Summer Reading Lists: Emerging Readers / Ages 4-8
Kids’ Summer Reading Lists: Early-Fluent to Fluent Readers / Ages 6-10
Leave us a comment: Now is your chance to share with us your favorite young adult book. Go on. What are you waiting for?
