Top Ten Tuesday 5

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the ladies at The Broke and the Bookish.  This week's topic is to list the top ten books you would hand to someone who says he or she doesn't like to read.  As a teacher, I find myself in this position... A LOT.  Truth be told, I don't think I could list my top ten, as it really depends on who the reader is.  So, these are perhaps the top ten books that I've had the most success with in recent years.






Top Ten Books I'd Hand to Someone who Says He/She Doesn't Like to Read:


1.  Red Kayak by Priscilla Cummings:


I've had a lot of success with this book, both with the ladies and the gentlemen.  I think it's largely due to the themes of loyalty and friendship that run throughout.  The main character, Brady, finds himself stuck between choosing to do what's right, and sticking by his friends.  Reluctant teen readers connect with this theme on many levels.  (Plus, as much as I hate to say it, it's short, which matters to some of my busy kids!)


2.  Graceling by Kristin Cashore:

I LOVE this book - it has romance, action, and everything in between.  The characters are deep and believable, despite the fact they live in a fantasy kingdom.  Again, I've had success with both guys and girls on this one, though admittedly, more of my girls.  This book is just beautiful, and anyone who can appreciate beauty would love it.




3.  The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling:


Words cannot express how much I, and everyone I am close to, love these books.  The characters seem so realistic that I will openly admit to wishing Rowling's world was real (I mean, who doesn't want to go to Hogwarts?).  As far as teacherly qualities, I love the fact that even though these books are written for younger readers, everyone can connect to them.

4.  The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins:


Again, reluctant male and female readers have fallen in love with this series.  The action, mystery, and romance have hooked so many of my students.  We are all counting down to the movie release!


5.  Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan:


Seriously, this series has been on every list I've written - or at least close to.  Enough said.  It's fabulous.




6.  Looking for Alaska by John Green:


I myself am a John Green neophyte, but this book was so good I cried.  Green's ability to create a strong male narrator, with the appropriate amount of humorous inappropriateness, makes him gold in my eyes.


7.  Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson:


I originally read this book for a YA literature class I took in college, and have been recommending it to students ever since.  This one is certainly a pick for the girls, but Melinda's painful narration can melt even the hardest of hearts.

8.  The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie:


Okay, so I'm only being partially facetious when I say that one of the reasons I've had success with this book is because it has pictures.  Seriously - it's like a more mature version of Diary of a Wimpy Kid.  Hilarious and heartbreaking!


9.  The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer:


I've had many a reluctant reader get completely engrossed in this dystopian novel.  The writing style is approachable, and the story premise is messed up enough to intrigue just about anyone.  In particular, I've found my squirrelly gamer boys have liked this one.  :)

10.  Evermore by Alyson Noel:


This series is absolutely adorable, and full of action at the same time.  While perhaps not something that will later find admittance into the literary canon, the idea of two people who find one another, lifetime after lifetime, is enough to tickle any high school girl's fancy.  After all, who isn't hoping to find love as a teenager!?