Books, Children's services, Young Adults

Another book hunt! Book recommendation for defiant young teen?

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We are passing on another Reader’s Advisory question, and a few suggestions in case this one comes up for you. If you have suggestions, please share them below!

“I have a tricky readers’ advisory quest. I’ve been asked by a parent to recommend some books (by tonight!!!) for a defiant 14yo boy who reads on a 12yo level. He dislikes reading, prefers nonfiction, and has Asperger’s. His parents are going to require him to write a book report. It sounds like she wants something like the Bernstein Bears’ books – but for teens (!)  They have not let him read or watch Hunger Games or the like, but he has been allowed to watch/read Percy Jackson and Harry Potter.

She wants a book on why he shouldn’t defy / lie / resist /  etc. She is not finding anything but parenting books on dealing with defiant children/teens.

I’ve explained books that focus on “change your ways or look what horrible things will happen”  are difficult to find for his age group and that I’m going to give her a wide range of books to look at that perhaps will get them talking about relevant issues. Tricky also since he prefers nonfiction *and* I need to stay away from edgier books for the older YA audience.

Any ideas?”

  • Our library has a Choose Civility book list for children that has a wide range of books that might be appropriate – fiction and non-fiction.http://choosecivility.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/civilitychildrens13.pdf

    There’s also a teen book list that you might be able to pull some non-fiction books from.

    http://choosecivility.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/civilityteens13.pdf

  • I might look at historical fiction like My Brother Sam is Dead  or realistic fiction with that kind of “morality” to it like On My Honor. I wish I could think of a good biography, since that almost sounds like it could fit the request while maybe avoiding the morality tale formula…
  • Clay Marble
    On My Honor
  • What about “Monster” by Walter Dean Myers? It is a pretty frightening account of what happens when you get mixed up with the wrong people. Plus, the screenplay format makes it a quick read. It might be a little too intense for their purposes but is an excellent book and I know some 8th grade teachers who have used it in class.
  • What about Discovering Wes Moore by Wes Moore?
  • This might be on the young side but what about Troublemaker by Andrew Clements–it’s about a middle school prankster who decides to make some changes after his older brother gets in more serious trouble with the law, but is finding it hard to shake his old reputation.