What Are They Reading for Fun? Teen Edition
This article originally appeared in SLJ’s Extra Helping. Sign up now!
compiled by Marlene Charnizon -- School Library Journal, 6/18/2008 3:56:00 PM
Aside from the titles on summer reading lists, kids are asking mainly for fiction.
Sharon Senser McKellar, Oakland Public Library, CA:
We're seeing a lot of Anne Schraff’s “Bluford High” books (Scholastic) borrowed by teens, while last summer they seemed more interested in adult urban fiction, such as Sister Souljah’s The Coldest Winter Ever (2004) and Zane’s Addicted (2001, both Atria). We have our fair share of graphic novel fans who are into Tokyopop’s manga series; last year we saw more readers of Masashi Kishimoto’s “Naruto” series (Viz Media) and superhero comics. We've noticed a decrease in interest in Harry Potter (Scholastic) and other completed series, although Philip Pullman’s “His Dark Materials” is still popular. Tween boys are happy to have Eagle, in Jeff Stone's “Five Ancestors” series (Random, 2008), while the girls are checking out Annie Bryant’s “Beacon Street Girls” books (B’tween).
Lisa Prolman, Greenfield Public Library, MA:
For teens, one word sums up the most popular books throughout the last few years: vampires, especially Stephenie Meyer’s “Twilight” series (Little, Brown). Other hot titles are Scott Westerfeld’s Uglies, et al (S & S), Libba Bray’s Gemma Doyle novels (Delacorte), Holly Black’s Tithe (S & S, 2002), Melissa Marr’s Wicked Lovely (2007) and Ink Exchange (2008, both HarperTeen), Annette Curtis Klause’s Blood and Chocolate (Delacorte, 1997), and anything by Sarah Dessen and Jodi Picoult. Manga is big, with Masashi Kishimoto’s “Naruto” series (Viz Media) topping the request list. While last year everyone was reading and rereading the Harry Potter books, this year in Greenfield many readers rediscovered J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. Other favorites include Tamora Pierce’s “Beka Cooper” books and C. S. Lewis’s Prince Caspian (HarperTrophy), riding on the popularity of the movie.
Mary N. Oluonye, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH:
Stephenie Meyer’s “Twilight” series and Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid books (Abrams) are surefire hits. However, a small (unscientific) poll of preteens and teens revealed that there are other novels that they plan to read this summer, too; there was no mention of nonfiction. Here are some of their picks: The Clique Summer Collection, created by Lisi Harrison (Little, Brown), Scott Westerfeld’s Extras (S & S, 2007), Rick Riordan’s The Battle of the Labyrinth, Book 4 in the “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” series (Hyperion/Miramaz), Joe Craig’s Jimmy Coates books (HarperCollins), Brian Selznick’s The Invention of Hugo Cabret (Scholastic, 2007), John Feinstein’s Last Shot: A Final Four Mystery (Knopf, 2005), Sarah Dessen’s Lock and Key (Viking, 2008), and Sharon Draper’s November Blues (S & S, 2007).
