This page consists of the top 10 books adolescents chose as their favorite when interviewed. The list includes books chosen by the adolescents as well as favorite books that were assigned to read in school.
When the adolescents were asked why they chose these particular texts as some of their favorite to read the responses included " because you think the outcome is going to come out one way but then it totally changes, so it makes it like you NEED to read it- you NEED to finish it. If you stop half way you won't know how it will end!" Another response was "because there is always something happening - there is always action or something." When asked how did you get into them, one student responded "umm, I read Percy Jackson in school then I found the ones in the library that were kind of like that. I thought if I liked the one then maybe I would like the others like it." Another student replied "I liked it because of the detail that the author included, also because of the way it painted a picture in my mind because there was so much detail." Lastly, the students mentioned that they liked that some of the books had movies out and that they liked to read the book then watch the movie to see what was the same or different. One said "I like to see what movies are coming out, then I'll get the book and read it and get my friends to read it and we will all go watch the movie together and talk about what was the same and different. It's fun!"
Books that adolescents choose to read
Below are a list of books that 5 adolescents chose as their current favorite books to read. The student sample is from one family.
Silver
This story about students from a boarding school dealing with teen issues, crushes, jealousy, and bullying until they are all confronted with a terrifying infection that spreads across the campus. A mix of science and horror with a fight for survival.
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The Kane Chronicles Series
Brother and sister, Carter and Sadie, have faced the loss of their mother and now live separately. Carter with his father and Sadie with her grandparents in London, until their father brings them together and tragedy strikes as an Egyptian god, Set, is unleashed and they loose their father. As they journey to escape Set, they discover truths about their family. This is book one of three in the Kane Chronicles Book Series.
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The Heroes of Olympus series
A great example of how a book that was a required reading in sixth grade ( Percy Jackson and the lightening thief) can encourage students to want to read more. The Heroes of Olympus five book series is the continued story of camp Half-Blood and the demigods that are trained there.
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Books in the classroom
All books listed below are currently being read in class by students in jr/sr high school.
To Kill a Mockingbird
This novel explores civil rights and racism in the Southern United states in the 1930's. The story is told through the prospective of Scout Finch. Through the novel the reader is introduced to Scouts father, Atticus Finch, who tries to prove the innocence of a black man who was unjustly accused of rape. She also tells of Boo Radley, a neighbor who saves Scout and her brother Jem from being killed.
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Inside Out and Back Again
A novel about a ten year-old girl, Ha who lived in Saigon, South Vietnam, with her mother and three older brothers, Vu, Khoi, and Quang. The semi-autobiographical novel tells of Ha's struggles in 1975 Vietnam and her family's journey to immigrate to the United States.
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The Lord of the Flies
The Lord of the Flies is a novel about British schoolboys stranded on an island. At first they attempt to set up a rule of order that they are familiar with, however feuding between the two tribes ensues and tragedy befalls the young boys. The novel speaks to the savage nature of humanity.
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The Giver
This novel told in the third person, explains the future world where society's goal is to achieve sameness. The population is directed from a group of elders who make all decisions for the citizens. As the novel progresses the main character Jonas is chosen as the next receiver of memories. Through this process he discovers the horrors of his society and he and the giver (the previous receiver of memories) plan to end society as they know it.
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