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.

Suggested Summer Reading List for Young Adults, Part One

I started working on this list near the beginning of June because I've read several books that I thought would be exciting to teens. However, since I hadn’t been following the Christian scene for a while, at least in fiction, I thought I would ask some other people for their opinions. In particular, I asked some authors and teens. Wow, was I overwhelmed with responses! The truth is, I got such a variety of responses that I haven’t been able to get it all together for an article. So here it is the beginning of July already. If I don’t go ahead, it will be too late for any summer reading. Well, this certainly won’t be an exhaustive list, but I hope it may lead my teen friends and parents of teens to some enjoyable reading for those summer days.

To begin with, here are some books I personally liked. I realize we are all different, but I’ll include a synopsis and a few notes of my own.

1. Flashpoint: Book One of the Underground by Frank Creed. Not specifically YA, but one that guys over 14 should really enjoy.

Persecution in Chicago has reached the Flashpoint. In the year 2036, all nations are run by a one-world government. The One State has only one threat: Fundamentalist terrorists. The One State has declared that every Fundamentalist is a terrorist.
Bible believing Christians are now ‘terrorists’! But the One State has not yet encountered Calamity Kid and e-girl...

When peacekeepers bust a home-church in Ward-Six of the Chicago Metroplex, brother and sister, Dave and Jen Williams, are the only members who evade capture. Their only place to turn? A Christian ‘terrorist’ cell known as the Body of Christ.

You can read the first three chapters here: http://frankcreed.com/flashpoint.html

2. Never Ceese by Sue Dent. Classified as YA although lots of adults (me included) like it.

A vampire . . .
A werewolf . . .
Can two who were wronged make it right?
By their faith.
A determined young werewolf, acting on her long-held wish to free herself of her curse, teams up with a skeptical vampire who can no longer admit that having his curse removed is something he wants.

Will Cassie Felts be able to help them, as her grandmother implored her to do, or will they suffer at the hands of a radical and evil stem cell researcher?

Excerpt here: http://www245.pair.com/sdent/newtext.htm


3. Seabird by Sherry Thompson. I really love this fantasy. The heroine is a girl, but I think guys will like it, too. In the same vein as The Chronicles of Narnia, but not as low a reading level with a bit more intensity and violence. Intended for a wider audience than just Christians.


When high school senior Cara Marshall is transported to Narenta, she is proclaimed champion of its people against the daemagos--a cadre of sorcerers. Amid the grateful welcomes, Cara protests that neither the title nor the mission are hers.
"They've got the wrong person and they're going to get me killed because they won't admit it." Is Cara's world-napping a mistake? The daemagos don't care as long as she's dead.
Pursued by ruthless werewright warriors, vicious serpent-hawks and the sorcerous daemagos, how can she know in whom to place her trust when even humans lurk as assassins in the shadows? As she races across an eerie and perilous ancient world, can Cara find the courage and strength to enter the heart of evil in order to save her companions and the Tethran kingdom?
Grounded firmly in the tradition of C.S. Lewis, this character-driven first installment of The Narentan Tumults is an epic tale of adventure, courage and faith.

Excerpt: http://khivasmommy.googlepages.com/seabirdextracts


4. Gentle Journey by Elaine Lyons Bach. Again, not specifically for teens, but it is about an older teen girl. It is set in the time period of Jane Austen, and written very much like her style. I truly believe anyone who loves Jane Austen will love this book.

Eden Barret longs to help society's downtrodden with her talent as an artist. When her initial plans fail, as a last resort, she finds work as a governess in the home of Colin Ashton, Seventh Earl of Edmund. There she hopes to continue to pursue painting in her spare time. Her beliefs and her choice to rescue two climbing boys from their abusive master, yet refusal to give testimony against the sweep cause her to cross swords with her handsome employer more than once, putting her employment in jeopardy. Her charge, Diana, is an intelligent, though lonely preteen, confused about what she perceives as her power to cause things to happen - bad things. Though diametrically opposite in beliefs, against her better judgment, Eden is attracted to the thoughtful and thought provoking Lord Edmund. All signs point to the fact, however, that Colin is courting his beautiful and sweet natured neighbor Cassandra Bradley. Diana is doing her best to keep her brother and Eden apart by encouraging him to believe Eden is secretly engaged to the handsome officer who brought her to Chadilane. Cassandra's military brother forms a tender for Eden while his family stays at the manor for a house party. Eden must defend herself when this suitor forces himself upon her, only to be placed in greater peril when the sweep returns with a secret grudge. Lives are transformed in this adventure of passionate faith and enduring love.

Excerpt: http://outskirtspress.com/webpage.php?ISBN=1598008862

5. Asulon: The Sword of Fire Book One by William R. McGrath. This is a wonderful coming-of-age book that the guys should like. Not just teens; in fact, it has depth in many areas that most teens will not understand, yet it is a great adventure full of action that all guys will go for. Great description with martial arts but fantasy. Asulon is a “manly” novel if I ever read one. Hunting, survival in the wilderness, adventure, coming-of-age for a young prince, martial arts, assassins, intrigue, political hijinks, secret society, strategic warfare, swordplay, danger on every hand, the future of a country and the whole world at risk. With great detail and relish, Bill McGrath has written a fantasy filled with elements that are obviously close to his heart, creating a compelling tale of a young prince who is embroiled in a war of epic, even Biblical, proportions. It is not just a war of human enemies but Abaddon versus the forces of Heaven fighting for the souls of men.
Excerpt: http://www.theswordoffire.com/samples.htm

6. Across the Wide River and The Light Across the River by Stephanie Reed. Historical Underground Railroad. Reading level appropriate for middle school. Fiction based very closely on true history. Very engaging stories based on real life abolitionist John Rankin and his family, whose house still stands in Ripley, Ohio as a museum to the work of the Underground Railroad. He and his family risked beating and arrest for hiding and helping many runaway slaves find their way to freedom.

Excerpts: http://kregelhomeschool.blogspot.com/2007/08/lesson-on-slavery-from-across-wide.html
and
http://kregelfiction.blogspot.com/2008/01/sneak-peak-at-light-across-river-sequel.html

7. The Seed of Seerling by Amy Kennedy. This one is being released today (July 1), and I haven’t even got a review up for it yet (coming very soon). Although the main characters are teens, well, the heroine is, it is actually more of an adult fantasy in many ways. I know my adult women friends will like it, the ones who like fantasy anyway. But so will the teens, girls and guys. Women Warriors in a tribe that worships an evil Goddess, magical powers, and another group of people who worship the One True God and have a society a lot like King Arthur’s. Great fantasy stuff . Intense. For older teens and up.

I didn’t find an excerpt, but here’s the author’s website: http://www.seerling.com

8. My Life, Unscripted by Tricia Goyer. This isn’t fiction, but it’s a little hard to describe. An interactive kind of book where you can write out your own life scripts. Using the metaphor of screenwriting, My Life, Unscripted explores relationships in every teenage girl's life-with herself, her friends and enemies, her parents, guys, and with God.
Real-life scripts, screenwriting terms, and timely topics, make this an interesting read for teen girls as they delve into their own inner struggles and outward relationships. They'll also learn the importance of "scripting" their own responses BEFORE challenging life-situations arise, so they are able to think about, pray about, and consider how to face these situations before the scene begins. By contrasting real-life with TV or movies, teens discover they don't have to get caught up in the drama.

Tricia is running a video contest for teens right now. Go to this page for details and to read the first chapter: http://www.triciagoyer.com/Youth.html

9. Time Masters by Geralyn Beauchamp. This is another action-packed, fun novel with a teenage girl for one of the main characters. The other is a big hunk of a Scottish guy. Guys and girls should both love it, but one warning: it's about 500 pages long. I thought it would take me forever to read, but it was so much fun that it didn't take long after all. And anyone who can handle a Harry Potter book can surely tackle this one.

Get ready for one wild ride! The year is 3698 and the threat of civil war is not only brewing, but near boiling. Kwaku Awahnee, Time Master of Muirara, must pass on his Time Mastership to his pre-chosen successor, Dallan MacDonald, to prevent the inevitable. Councilor John Eaton must tell the unsuspecting Scot of his new office and all it entails. There are, however, a few slight problems. To become a Time Master, the Highlander has to willingly join with a Muiraran Maiden, who, stolen as an infant, hidden in another time, and now grown, must mate or die. Dallan’s job of convincing her that she is Muiraran, not human, and persuading her to fall in love with him is a small task compared to their impossible race against time. John’s job is make sure the Scot is ready to listen. And then, of course, talk him into it along the way…

Excerpt: this is from amazon.com page

10. Chenoa's Spiritual Journey by Becky Jane Dice. What would you do if your parents made an important decision concerning your future; a decision that meant you had to give up family, friends, and the only home you've ever known? For 16-year-old Chenoa Fawn Gray Owl, her parent's decision to leave the White Mountain Apache Indian Reservation in Arizona and move to Ohio would change her life forever. Chenoa is about to embark on a spiritual journey.

Excerpt: http://members.fortunecity.com/beckyjdice/sample.html

11. Faith Awakened by Grace Bridges.
Ireland as it has never been seen before – in a future where hope is hard to come by. Mariah, living in the dark time after the advent of a one world government, seeks the light in the underground Fellowship of the Awakened. Shortly afterwards, nearly the whole earth is silenced, and she struggles through the shock with a handful of survivors. Yet the danger has not passed away entirely, and they are forced to fight for their lives using an untested technology.
Faith, too, grows up in Ireland, but it has little in common with the homeland Mariah knew. Sometimes she thinks her life is perfect, asking herself, “If this is a dream, when am I going to wake up?” Other times it seems repetitive and monotonous. She experiences much to delight her, but also suffers from inexplicable bouts of amnesia that rob her of the past again and again. Seeking answers, she travels much in the free world, where disappointments and successes vie for the upper hand until she finally finds fulfillment in spite of all her disasters.

Excerpts and more: http://www.faithawakened.com/index.html


Yikes! I have barely begun to scratch the surface!! I haven’t even mentioned the books that were most popular with the teens who responded to my queries or the ones that should be in your library. To be continued tomorrow!