Reading Suggestions for Young Adults and Mid Grades, Part 2

I’m a day late getting part two posted, but it has been a bit difficult or me to figure out how to handle it. These books are mainly ones that my friends, mostly teens or the parents of teens, have recommended. The List is much longer than I expected. Some of the books are actually for mid grades. Since I haven’t read most of these, I am putting a little disclaimer. All I know is that others like them.

Some authors that are very popular are:

C. S. Lewis—The Chronicles of Narnia can be enjoyed at different levels. Readability makes it accessible to children in elementary school, and quite satisfying on a surface level. Middle school and high school age can see a deeper level. College age and up read at an even deeper level. Some of his other titles are recommended for older teens. Available at the library.

Donita K. Paul ( http://www.donitakpaul.com/ )—Her Dragonkeeper series is tremendously popular with teens and younger (and some of us older folks). Enjoyable fantasy. I have read the entire series and highly recommend it. Available in library.

Bryan Davis ( http://www.dragonsinourmidst.com/ )—two related series, Dragons in Our Midst and The Oracles of Fire concern Dragons (surprise!). These have been widely read by teens. A new series has begun with Beyond the Reflection's Edge, a sci-fi novel with parallel worlds. All of the dragon books should be available at the library.

Wayne Thomas Batson (http://www.enterthedoorwithin.blogspot.com/) —one more with dragons, but also very popular. The Door Within Trilogy is in my public library here. His new series is kind of piratey: The Isle of Fire and The Isle of Swords.

Melody Carlson (http://www.melodycarlson.com/ ): she has an enormous number of books and was recommended many times by my respondents. Good for different age levels. Many should be in the library.

Frank Peretti (http://www.frankperetti.com/ ). His books are written in three levels. The Cooper Kids Adventures are like young Indiana Jones and sister but with a very Christian side. Good for most kids 9 and up. Teens seem to like them, too. Level 2: Nightmare Academy, No More Bullies, Hangman’s Curse (also on DVD-movie) Definitely for teens.
Level 3 includes his most popular This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness. Exciting page-turners once you get into the story a bit. All of them should be in the library.

Ted Dekker (http://www.teddekker.com/site.php ) —I personally wouldn’t recommend these for the younger teens, but they are extremely popular with older high school age. Not for the squeamish. Many are in the library.

Lisa Samson's "Hollywood Nobody" series (http://www.lisasamson.com/ )

Girls love Robin Jones Gunn’s series (http://www.robingunn.com/ )

Bill Myers (http://www.billmyersbooks.com/ ) was mentioned several times for books at levels for young readers and teens as well. One of the teen titles is The Wiccan.

Randy, Angela & Karina Alcorn (http://www.epm.org/ )
Lord Foulgrin’s Letters #1
The Ishbane Conspiracy #2





Karen Hancock ( http://www.kmhancock.com/ ) has the Guardian King series. High fantasy. Long, but still quite popular with those who love fantasy.





Sharon Hinck usually writes books for women's lit, but her trilogy of The Restorer, The Restorer's Son, and The Restorer's Journey are extremely well liked by teen fans as well. Fantasy with a soccer mom and her family drawn into another world.




Mid Grades and Middle School

Boys (and many girls) should like:
Max Elliot Anderson (
http://www.maxbooks.9k.com/catalog.html ) , Books for Boys (http://booksandboys.blogspot.com/ ). Max has a special interest in high level interest, low reading level books that reluctant readers will get interested in. Nature and adventure.

Bill Myers (http://www.billmyersbooks.com/ ) My Life as... Series for younger readers. Boys should enjoy. Fun.

Robert Elmer (http://www.robertelmerbooks.com/ )
Adventures Down Under
Escape to Murray River #1
Captive at Kangaroo Springs #2
Rescue at Boomerang Bend #3
Dingo Creek Challenge #4
Race to Wallaby Bay #5
Firestorm at Kookaburra Station #6

Matthew Peterson : Paraworld Zero. The main character is a middle schooler who is bullied and seems to have no talents, but this girl from a parallel world drops in and changes everything--big time. Funny and lots of action. Boys should like it.


Now for quotes from the suggestions I received. Warning: there are a ton of them!!

do hard things by brett and alex harris
Be the change - Zach hunter
Tricia Goyer's My Life, Unscripted
love Erynn Mangum's Lauren Holbrook series but they're very chick-lit.

Jenny B. Jones "Katie Parker Production" series
Michelle Buckman's "The Pathway Collection"
Shelley Adina's new series for YA

At the top of my list would be Robin Parrish, T. L. Hines, Kathryn Mackel, Ted Dekker, Frank Peretti, Robert Liparulo, Creston Mapes, Sharon Hinck and Michael Snyder. Oh, and Donita K. Paul too!

M. L.Tyndall for her pirate series: The Redemption, The Reliance, The Restitution. Exciting, full of action and romance. They are for adults, but older teen girls and guys would enjoy them.

George Bryan Polivka also writes some great swashbuckling tales in his Trophy Chase series. These are fantasy, however, and filled with spiritual insights that are different than Tyndall.


Family Honor Series by Karen Ball - I've only read the 3rd book What Lies Within, which I would consider a Romance/Suspense. I loved it and want to read the other two. (Probably appropriate for 14/15 and up - younger would up to the parent's discretion)

The Novels of the Gifted
by Lisa T Bergren - This is a historical Trilogy of which the first two are
currently available. The Begotten and The Betrayed, The Blessed (Book 3)
releases this fall. (These get pretty involved in spy type situations and
historical background but I enjoyed that and if the kids like historical fiction
there's enough action here to possibly appeal to the males as well - again
probably the older teens would be more likely to appreciate these as they are
long books and have some obscure language)

Wanda Brunstetter writes
about young Amish characters and reminds me a bit of Beverly Lewis. This would
probably appeal more to girls than boys

Carterhouse Girls Series by
Melody Carlson (The first two are out - I've only read the first but I think
even as young as 10-12 might enjoy them. These are written for a YA audience)

Ruby Among Us by Tina Ann Forkner (Another historical and a romance as
well. Again I would say probably up to parent discretion if the kids are under
15)

Goldeneyes by Delia Latham (Historical Suspense and lots of Romance,
Guys depends on what you like to read if you'd get into this or not but the
girls would probably love it especially if they are into Romance and history).

Daughters of Boston Series by Julie Lessman (Another great historical A
Passion Most Pure (Book 1) - Book 2 releases this fall - This I'd recommend for
16 and up)

Auralia's Colors by Jeffrey Overstreet (The lyrical prose in
this book appeals to a variety of readers and fantasy lovers; look out you'll be
hooked on Overstreet's world. The reading might be a bit challenging for the
younger set but 15 and up if they are avid readers should be able to manage it).

With Endless Sight by Allison Pittman (Again a historical novel. Not so
much romance in this one but it is quite intriguing though I'd still call it a
girly book.)

Hollywood Nobody Series by Lisa Samson (I've read the first
2, Hollywood Nobody and Finding Hollywood Nobody, the last 2 books are due out
this year. This is another YA series but I an looking forward to the 3rd and 4th
books - these would appeal to both guys and gals)

Just As I Am and Sincerly Mayla by Virginia Smith (feature a 20 something main character and address some pretty serious topics, I haven't read the first one yet but loved
the second and think these would be appealing to especially older teens as the
topics are very timely.)

Tuesday Night at the Blue Moon by Debbie Fuller Thomas (Again this is a pretty intense book so parents might want to check it out before giving it to younger teens to read. 16 and up in most cases could probably determine if it's up their alley or not.)

Fatal Deduction by Gayle Roper (Another "adult" book but visibly featuring teen characters who would appeal to the teenaged readers. Plus it's a mystery involving puzzles for the reader to solve along the way).

I love Erynn Mangum's Lauren Holbrook series, but they're very chick-lit.
Melody Carlson puts out the diary of a teenage girl series(s), there's 3 complete right now. there's also the Christy Miller series, The Sierra Jenson and now the Katie Weldon series by robin jones gunn. There's a follow-up series to them Called Christy & Todd the college Years. Christy & Julie by Catherine Marshall are
great "classic" reads

The door within by Wayne Batson is really good for
both boys and girls

For a evolution vs. intelligent design Donald James
Parker's book "all the voices of the wind" is good

From author Cindy Williams: "a lot of young girls seem to be attracted to my book, Brigid of Ireland. One of my biggest fans is the daughter of a Christian novelist, Sharon Hinck. Just last weekend a young girl (maybe 10 or 11) was at a women's meeting I spoke at with her mom. Her mom bought my book for her. Once I had a mom tell me that is so hard to find Celtic stuff for her daughter to read that isn't filled with "icky stuff."

From Chris Well-- FORGIVING SOLOMON LONG,
DELIVER US FROM EVELYN, and TRIBULATION HOUSE - all of which take place in Kansas City, feature mobsters, and when the cops show up you recognize them from the other books. (But the main story in each of the three is still a
self-contained, standlone story.) (older teens)

The Secret of the Lonely Grave by Albert Bell is wonderful! He's a Christian, but the book isn't evangelical -- it's a cozy mystery filled with fascinating history facts
surround slavery.

by Robin Hardy it's a series of three books;
Chataine's Guardian, Stone of Help, and Liberation of Lystra. They're a bit hard
to find, but worth it

Suggestions: Zora Nicky by Claudia Mair Burney,
Every Good and Perfect Gift by Sharon K. Souza, The Cat Detective Series by
Gilbert Morris, Carter House Girls series by Melody Carlson; The Lost Book
series by Ted Dekker; Christy Miller series by Robin Jones Gunn; The Door Within Trilogy by Wayne Thomas Batson; The Prophet's Oracle series by Bud Rogers, Ben Avery, Mat Broome; Beyond the Reflections' Edge by Bryan Davis; King Raven Trilogy by Stephen R. Lawhead; Cyndere's Midnight, Auralia's Thread Series by Jefferey Overstreet; Light Restoration series by Terri Blackstock; Binding of The Blade series by L.B Graham; Country Roads Chronicles by Leisha Kelly

I just finished Liz Curtis Higgs trilogy called Thorn in My Heart, Fair
is the Rose, and Whence Come a Prince ... there is a fourth, too, now called
Grace In Thine Eyes. They are the biblical story of Jacob, Leah, and Rachel
retold in 18th century Scotland and I found it fascinating! Definately
appropriate for teens (my 13 year old daughter is reading the series now) and a
wonderful venue for discussion/comparison.

I would also recommend any of the books by L.M. Montgomery, particularly the Anne of Green Gables series and the Emily series. All of her books are wholesome, and even though they were written 100 years ago, they are still excellent reads.

Vonda Skelton--The first two books in the series, "Bitsy and the Mystery at Amelia
Island" (2005) and "Bitsy and the Mystery at Tybee Island" (2003) are loved by
both boys and girls 8 to 13 years old.

EyeWitness series (graphic readers/comic) Robert Luedke {note from me: Yeh, I recommend these, too.}

Christopher Hopper—The Lion Vrie and Rise of the Dibor

Debbie Vigule's The Summer of Cotton Candy
Melody Carlson's Mixed Bags: A Carter House Girls
Claudia Burney's Zora & Nicky
Claudia Burney's The Exorsistah
Andrea Carter series. On the ranch. Mid
grades

Here are my two cents (as a teenager myself): The Chronicles of
Narnia (of course!) and The Seven Sleepers (can't remember who wrote them - it's
a series). {my note: they were written by Gilbert Morris, an author also
mentioned by another friend}

From Susan McGeown
(http://www.faithinspiredbooks.com ); , I've written a trilogy about a 13 year
old white girl who is captured by the Cherokees (Call Me Bear, Call Me Elle, and
Call Me Survivor) as well as another historical fiction called Rosamund's Bower
set in 13th centure England. Both have been termed YA as their heroines are in
their teens for a majority of the story. I'd be happy to send you free e-copies
if you want as I'm self published and "just trying to get my stuff out there".
If you look on my website, www.faithinspiredbooks.com all the first chapters are
available to read to see if they appeal. Let me know if you're interested

I am reading the Animal Ark Series myself. They are chock full of animal
facts, habitat facts and information about the geography of whatever place they
are in at the time. There are lots of little known facts about the particular
species covered in the book. These books are sold by Scholastic to homeschooling
parents and teachers. A few of the series I have not read yet, so I don't know
what age group they are for, but most of them are for the teens. The House of
Winslow is a fantastic treatise on the history of this nation. The Trailblazer
Books are about heroes of the faith and The Forbidden Doors Series is about
demonic and occultic pitfalls that teens today should avoid. I loved this series
myself also-lots of information! Many of the series deal with teen issues like
anorexia, chat room use, pregnancy, etc. The kids in the Cooper series are
teens; my son enjoyed these books in high school, and he was not a big reader. I
have read some of them myself, and I would not consider them for elementary
school readers. And of course Janette Oke is timeless.


Judy Baer
Live from Brentwood High
Risky Assignment #1
Price of Silence #2
Double Danger #3
Sarah’s Dilemma #4
Undercover Artists #5
Faded
Dreams #6
Adventures on the American Frontier
Daring Rescue at Sonora
Pass #1
Dangerous Ride Across Humboldt Flats #2
Mysterious Robbery on
the Utah Plains #3
Jack Cavanaugh
American Family Portraits
The
Puritans #1
The Colonists #2
The Patriots #3
The Adversaries #4
The Pioneers #5
The Allies #6
The Victors #7
The Peacemakers #8
Dave & Neta Jackson
Trailblazer Books
Jerry B. Jenkins
AirQuest Adventures
Crash at Cannibal Valley #1
Terror in Branco
Grande #2
Disaster in the Yukon #3
Jerry B. Jenkins/Chris Fabry
Red
Rock Mysteries

Nancy Rue

The Rescue #1
The Stowaway #2
The Guardian #3
The Accused #4
The Samaritan #5
The Secret #6
The Williamsburg
Years #2 1780-1781

Randy, Angela & Karina Alcorn (http://www.epm.org/ )
Lord Foulgrin’s Letters #1
The Ishbane Conspiracy #2


KidWitness Tales
The Worst Wish #1 Lissa Halls Johnson
Trouble Times Ten #2 Dave Lambert
Ruled Out #3 Randy Southern
Crazy Jacob #4 Jim Ware
Galen and Goliath #5 Lee Roddy
Dangerous Dreams #6 Jim Ware
Escape Underground #7 Clint Kelly
The Prophet’s Kid #8 Jim Ware

Whew!!! I gave putting the websites after a while; SO MANY!! But I know you can
Google and find these books, either the author’s website or on sale at Amazon
and Barnes and Noble.