The Giver Lois Lowry Paperback $5.50 Order now		The winner of eight prestigious children's book awards, including Newberry, this compelling novel tells the story of a young boy living in a world very different from ours: one in which there is no war, no fear, and no pain, but also one in which there are no choices. The Giver is one of the most frequently assigned young adult novels for students at the middle school level, not only because of its originality and grace, but also because it gives young people a whole lot to think about. Parents, teachers, and kids agree - this is a great book!

A Wrinkle in Time Madeleine L'Engle Paperback $5.50 Order now		An ingenious hybrid of mystery and science fiction, this book, written by one of our most prolific and honored authors of children's and young adult fiction, spins a fantastic and engaging tale of travel and discovery. The story involves two children's search for their father after he has suddenly and mysteriously dispappeared while experimenting with time travel. This novel is thoroughly engrossing, masterfully written, and just the thing for a young person looking to lose herself in the pages of a book.

The Outsiders S.E. Hinton Paperback $4.99 Order now		To say that The Outsiders is a book about teenagers and gangs would be to ignore so much of what the book really is. For a certain generation of young readers, Hinton's book became an absolute staple of the literary diet. Of course, the popularity of the novel was advanced significantly by the hit movie which gave many "brat pack" actors their first big break. But it's been almost 20 years since the movie came out and judging from our sales, the appeal is still there. Simply put, it's a great story, highly readable, evocative, and relevant. With sensitivity and insight, the books tackles issues of class, gender, family, social status, violence, love, and death, and it does so without being preachy or sensational. This book is very human, very real, and very good.

Go Ask Alice: A Real Diary Anonymous Paperback $4.50 Order now		This is the actual diary of a teenage girl on drugs, on the run, home again, happy, loved by her family and harassed by her peers. It is candid, at times painfully naive, but always very moving, and quite powerful.

A Break With Charity: Story About the Salem Witch Trials Ann Rinaldi Paperback $5.00 Order now		This ALA Best Book for young adults represents the very finest in historical fiction for the young reader. The setting of Rinaldi's book is the Salem witch trials; the story unfolds as a series of flashbacks recalling the narrator's experiences of that tumultuous time, a time in which the narrator's mother must face the scorn and anger of a community at war simply for defending her friend. In addition to being a fascinating read, this book, like Rinaldi's other historical novels, offers teachers and parents a fun alternative to the standard history text. The stories are so good, kids won't realize how much their learning.

Indian Captive Lois Lenski Paperback $4.95 Order now		Another Newberry Award-winner, Indian Captive is a masterful retelling of the true story of a 12-year old girl named Jemison who, in 1758, is captured by a band of Yenesee warriors and separated from her family forever. She spends the rest of her life among them, is treated with genuine kindness and care, and eventually becomes known as the legendary "white woman of the Yenesee." Not only is this an engaging story, it is a wonderful resource for teachers and parents who would like to familiarize their children with at least a small aspect of Native American culture.

Homecoming Cynthia Voight Paperback $4.99 Order now		The New York Times calls Homecoming "a glowing book, an enthralling journey to a gratifying end." No doubt your young reader will feel the same. Voight's novel chronicles the travails of four children abandoned by their mother in a parking lot, forced to turn to their eldest sister for leadership, trying desperately to find an adult they can trust , while attempting to steer clear of the "authorities" they know will separate them. This story strikes so many chords, and resonates on so many levels -- the pain of childhood, the power of solidarity, the hope of renewal and salvation -- it has already become something of a contemporary classic. Add this wonderful title to your child's library; you'll be thankful you did.

A Separate Peace John Knowles Paperback $5.50 Order now		A consistent best seller for over 20 years, and one of the titles most commonly found on middle school and high school reading lists, Knowles book speaks to its audience in a way that few pieces of young adult literature can. This haunting and moving parable of the dark side of adolescent existence takes place at a prep school during the early years of WWII. It is a book about amity and enmity among "brothers," a "quietly vital book" which moves skillfully towards the tragedy of its end. A true classic of the genre.

Island of the Blue Dolphins Scott O'Dell Paperback $5.50 Order now		This Newberry Award winner tells the story of Karana, a young Indian girl who lives alone on this fish-shaped island, waiting for a ship to resuce her. While she waits, she manages to survive by being ingeniously self-sufficient. This is an extraordinary story of survival, and a beautifully rendered tale of individual discovery, a wonderful book.

So Far from the Bamboo Grove Yoko Kawashima Watkins Paperback $4.95 Order now		One of our favorite reads of the year, this memoir takes a poignant look back to the narrator's eleventh year. Having lived all their lives as Japanese expatriates, at the end of WWII Watkins' privileged family is suddenly torn asunder and she, her mother, and her sister are forced to begin a harrowing trek across Korea to their homeland. This is wonderful story, gracefully rendered and thoroughly engaging, as well as a valuable resource for teachers of history and parents interested in giving their children a somewhat different perspective on a very extraordinary time.

Catherine, Called Birdy Karen Cushman Paperback $4.95 Order now		A highly entertaining and authentic chronicle of a young girl's life in 12th century England, Cushman's fictionalized diary is set in 12th-century England, and tells the tale of a domineering and father and his defiant daughter at odds over a proposed arranged marriage. The father is determined to see this through for his own financial gain; the plucky young maiden is dead set against the union and sets about thwarting all his plans. This is an amusing, enlightening little book, as readable for adults as it is for young adults, a great book for anyone interested in Medieval Europe. Winner of four prestigious awards, including Newberry and ALA.

The Pigman Paul Zindel Paperback $4.99 Order now		A funny, quirky, chaming story within a story about two "misfit" high school sophomores who befriend a lonely old man named Mr. Pigmati,a.k.a "The Pigman." The two kids, John and Lorraine, not only become The Pigman's friend, they become his "as told to" biographers, the tellers of the sad, bizarre story of Mr. Pigmati's life. This is a highly entertaining and thoughtful book about intertwined lives and the role of story-telling in those lives. A really great book!

Redwall Brian Jaques Paperback $5.99 Order now		The first in Jaques' series of adventure tales, Redwall is an enthralling story, complete with danger, hairbreadth escapes, tragedy, mystery, villiany, and of course, heroism. In this first book the hero is a mouse who must overcome fears and failures to rescue his friends trapped at Redwall Abbey. Kids who read this first book can't wait to get their hands on the next one (Moss Flower). Parents with reluctant readers should give one a shot.