Everlost book trailer

Looking for your next YA book club book? Check out Everlost by Neal Shusterman.

Young Adult Literature... You've Come a Long Way, Baby!

Okay, I'm just gonna come right out and say it. I was never much of a reader in high school. While I enjoyed reading as a child, somewhere along the way I lost interest in reading by the time I was in high school. Don't get me wrong, I read plenty for my classes... just not so much by choice. I remember being disenchanted with the book choices in my high school library And speaking of the library, it wasn't a place I frequented as a teenager. I remember it being a quiet, boring, uninviting place.
     Thankfully, my disenchantment with reading was short lived. I rediscovered the joy of reading while I was in college. Fast forward now to 2011. I just finished reading a popular YA title, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.This one took me a while to get my hands on since there was a waiting list a mile long at my public library. But it was worth the wait. I'd say it's kind of like survival skills reality show meets CSI in a disturbing futuristic kind of way. Collins draws the reader in quickly and doesn't let go till the last page. You can read a more complete review of The Hunger Games written by Bookmomma here. The Hunger Games series has captured the attention of young adults as well as those of us adults who are forever young at heart.
     With so many YA books like Suzanne Collin's The Hunger Games and Stephanie Meyer's Twilight series hitting the big screen, YA literature is growing in popularity among teens as well as adults. And thank goodness, gone are the days of mediocre, predictable YA books. I'm not saying all YA books are quality literature, but YA authors are becoming more crafty at grabbing and holding their readers' attention... and teens (as well as adults) are noticing.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Title: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Author: J.K. Rowling
Illustrator: Mary GrandPre
Publisher / Date: Scholastic / 1999 (Reprint)
Genre: Young Adult Novel, Science Fiction
Themes: Science Fiction, Adventure, Mystery, Magic
Summary: Eleven year old Harry has never had a birthday party. While living with his strict and rather odd aunt and uncle, an invitation arrives via an owl for Harry to attend a school for wizards. Harry's discovery of his own magical powers leads him on an adventurous journey complete with mystery, new friends, new enemies, challenges and more magic.
Curriculum Connections: Language Arts: Leisure Reading; Science Fiction Genre
Notes: The Harry Potter series has been challenged by parents in some schools because of the element of magic, wizardry and sorcery. They have also been credited for renewing an interest in reading for many students. Rowling's art of drawing elementary age to adult readers into the fantasy world of Hogwarts is magical in itself.
Book Talk Guide about the book from Scholastic (free)
Harry Potter Discussion Guide from Scholastic (free)