Teen Realism: Life as We Know It
School, sports, friends, dating… sound familiar? No matter what your interests are, there’s sure to be something here that’s similar to your own life. Artists and athletes, students and slackers—whoever you are, there’s a book for you.
Firegirl, by Tony Abbott
Tom isn’t that popular, but he’s happy enough. But then Jessica joins their class—Jessica, whose entire body is badly scarred from a fire. Jessica, whom nobody wants to touch, or even talk to. So when Tom has to bring her the homework assignments after she leaves early one day, he’s not prepared for what might happen...
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie
Junior (actually Arnold Spirit, Jr.) is already something of a stand-out on the reservation, and unfortunately it's not in the good way. He's a smart kid who draws cartoons and gets beaten up a lot. But a teacher sees something in him, and tells him that it's okay to have hope. That hope takes Junior away from the reservation to an all-white school, where the only other Indian is the mascot. He doesn’t fit in at the new school, but his best friend on the reservation hates him now, too. This is a familiar story of longing to belong, of feeling out of place, and of trying to navigate high school, social groups, and family dynamics, but it's also a brand-new story of tolerance and hope. Junior’s writings and cartoons make his diary both tragic and hilarious.
The Unthinkable Thoughts of Jacob Green, by Joshua Braff
Jacob is living his father’s dream for him: he’s the good son, the prodigy who will dazzle the synagogue with his Hebrew readings. But Jacob wants to be more like his rebellious older brother (who was suspended from Hebrew school for some drawings of the rabbi). Or even just more like kids his own age. But he can’t tell his overbearing father that. Or what would happen if he did?
The Plain Janes, by Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg
When Jane moves to suburbia from Metro City, that could be the end of her life. But Jane finds a way to start over: rejecting the popular table, Jane befriends three other Janes. Together, they form P.L.A.I.N.—People Loving Art In Neighborhoods—and plan “art attacks” around town. Art is powerful enough to disrupt a whole town, and this graphic novel proves it!
Desire Lines, by Jack Gantos
Walker, a high-school sophomore, catches two of his female classmates secretly dating. Rather than tell them he knows, he keeps the secret to himself—until the rest of the school, led by a creepy Preacher Kid moving in across the street, starts accusing him of being gay. Love, courage, and betrayal mix together while Walker stands in this dark, troubled novel.
Looking for Alaska, by John Green
Miles Halter enrolls at Culver Creek boarding school to seek his “Great Perhaps.” Accepted into a group of exceptionally smart pranksters, Miles finally has some true friends, among them the smart, sexy, self-destructive Alaska Young. But “The Great Perhaps” is not always what you bargained for.
Donorboy, by Brendan Halpin
It’s hard enough for Rosalind to have two moms. But it’s even harder for her when they’re both killed in a car accident, and the only family she has is the sperm donor who never intended to raise a teenage girl. This is the surprisingly funny story of the creation of a new family.
Geography Club, by Brent Hartinger
Russel is sure he's the only gay kid at Goodkind High School. Then his online gay-chat buddy turns out to be the popular but closeted star of the school's baseball team. Min and Terese tell everyone they're just really good friends. And there's Terese's politically-active friend, Ike. But how can kids this diverse get together without drawing attention to themselves? "We just choose a club that's so boring, nobody in a million years would ever join it. We could call it Geography Club!" Their secret should be safe.
Thursday’s Child, by Sonia Hartnett
Tin was born on a Thursday, and so was fated to wandering. His older sister, seven-year-old Harper, can hardly blame him for wanting to escape: the family is mired in poverty, their land is barren, the new baby cries all the time. Tin burrows into the earth to get away from it all, digging elaborate subterranean tunnels, his eccentricity tolerated—even overshadowed—by his family’s larger problems. In lyrical, heartbreaking prose, Harper weaves her family’s struggle and Tin’s surreal underground existence together into a dark and dreamy tale.
Life at These Speeds, by Jeremy Jackson
Kevin is a mediocre half-miler for his school track team—and the only remaining member after the team bus slides off a bridge after a meet. In his grief, Kevin starts running. And winning. Despite his claims that he hates running, he finds peace in it, and genuinely misses it when he can’t compete. Kevin’s voice is just distant and distracted enough to make him as much of a mystery to the reader as he is to the other characters in this coming-of-age sports story.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, by Jeff Kinney
Greg Heffley isn’t an especially good kid, or an especially bad kid. But he is especially honest in his journal, which makes him especially funny. Greg’s journal details his first year of middle school: get-rich-quick schemes, haunted houses, school plays, bullies, and a near-legendary piece of cheese.
The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl, by Barry Lyga
Fanboy has only one friend in school, and even that friend can’t be around all the time. So when the Goth Girl notices the outcast comics Fanboy, their friendship means everything to him—a fact that he only finds out after he says some things he can’t take back.
Good Girls, by Laura Ruby
When a compromising photo starts circulating around the school, Audrey couldn’t be more humiliated. Then even her friends turn against her, and Audrey is on her own to decide how she’s going to correct her mistake—if that’s even what it was.
Maybe, by Brent Runyon
At 16, Brian has just moved with his parents, trying for a fresh start after a family tragedy. Brian is starting a new school, struggling to make new friends and be part of the cool group. His observations about the school, his peers, and his romantic prospects are sharply funny and recognizable.
Teen Angst? Naaah…, by Ned Vizzini
This all-too-true account of Ned’s academic career is laugh-out-loud funny, from his daily schedule of Nintendo-playing in his junior-high days straight through the senior prom.
Razzle, by Ellen Wittlinger
Ken’s stay on the Cape becomes much more bearable after he meets the free-spirited Razzle. But when she introduces him to the alluring Harley, Ken learns some hard lessons about art, love, trust, and what it means to stand by your friends.
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