The Distance Between Us

In this compelling memoir, Reyna Grande offers a glimpse into the immigrant experience through the eyes of the children left behind. When Reyna was young, her parents made the dangerous trek across the border to the United States in pursuit of the American Dream, leaving her and her siblings in Mexico. Living with their impoverished grandmother, the children struggle with feelings of abandonment, longing for the day the family will be reunited. But when things don’t go according to plan, Reyna begins her own journey to El Otro Lado, “The Other Side,” to live with her father, a man she hardly remembers.

The 57 Bus

In 2013, two lives changed forever after an assault during a bus ride home from school. As part of a prank gone wrong, 16-year-old Richard lit another passenger—an agender teen named Sasha—on fire. Told in a narrative format by journalist Dashka Slater, this nonfiction work explores the incident and its subsequent court case and media fallout from all angles. If you’re looking to incorporate social justice and LGBTQ+ topics into your curriculum, The 57 Bus makes a compelling choice.

Every Falling Star

Based on a true story and appropriate for young adult readers, Every Falling Star offers a firsthand account of life under the brutal regime of the North Korean government. As the son of a North Korean military officer, Sungju Lee lives a comfortable life in comparison to the average citizen. But after his father commits an unforgivable indiscretion, Sungju finds his world turned upside down. Forced to live in the streets at the age of twelve, Sungju quickly learns he must do anything he can, no matter the consequences, to survive in this oppressive society.

Last Night at the Telegraph Club

Set in San Francisco’s Chinatown at the height of the Red Scare, this National Book Award winner offers a powerful exploration of identity. Despite acting like the perfect Chinese daughter and all-American teenager, Lily Hu struggles with understanding her feelings towards women. But everything becomes clear when she and her friend Kath Miller visit a lesbian bar called the Telegraph Club. Between her secret relationship with Kath and the threat of deportation looming over her family, Lily must decide whether to hide her true self or stand up against prejudice and fear.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Aristotle and Dante are two vastly different Latino boys who randomly meet at a public pool, but this chance encounter changes their lives in ways neither of them could have predicted. This young adult novel effortlessly captures the feelings and fears of being a teenager, thanks to its deep themes on identity, sexuality, friendship, and family.

I’ll Give You the Sun

In this School Library Journal and Stonewall Honor Book for exceptional LGBT literature for teens, twins Jude and Noah are inseparable. Both are budding artists who, with their mother’s encouragement, aspire to attend a prestigious art school. But in the span of three years, the two are barely speaking, a devastating event having torn them apart. As they follow the narrative from each twin’s point of view, readers will slowly discover the truth behind the circumstances that forever altered the twins’ lives. Sexual content makes this book better suited for mature readers.

The Hate U Give

Poignant and topical, The Hate U Give is being lauded as one of this generation’s most important books. When a police officer kills sixteen-year-old Starr Carter’s childhood best friend, her world is irrevocably upended. This New York Times bestseller deftly tackles weighty themes of racism, police brutality, and societal injustice and will undoubtedly lead to plenty of interesting conversations, both in and out of the classroom. Due to some sexual content, profanity, drug abuse, and underage drinking, we recommend this book for older readers.

Born a Crime

In Born a Crime, actor and comedian Trevor Noah reflects on his youth in South Africa through eighteen personal essays, beginning with his birth during the dark days of apartheid. Students from all backgrounds will find Noah’s hilarious accounts of his childhood antics and awkward high school years all too relatable. Aside from being a witty coming-of-age tale, Born a Crime is also an insightful look into South African culture and makes an excellent resource for learning more about the country’s history.

Long Way Down

After his brother is murdered, fifteen-year-old Will sets out for revenge, tucking his brother’s gun into the waistband of his jeans. But as he rides the elevator down from his family’s apartment, Will is confronted by the elevator’s ghostly occupants, all of whom were killed by gun violence. This verse novel takes an unflinching look at teenage gun violence and the perpetual cycle of destruction revenge can bring.

All American Boys

One single act of violence is all it takes to completely change the lives of two teenagers. This bestselling novel written by authors Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely will foster important and necessary discussions in your classroom about race relations, privilege, police brutality, and the meaning of community in modern America.

The Poet X

Written by award-winning slam poet Elizabeth Acevedo, The Poet X is an empowering novel-in-verse that explores the complexities of growing up and finding one’s identity. Xiomara Batista, an Afro-Latina teenager, just wants to be heard, but her family’s strict rules and unwanted attention from the neighborhood boys force her to keep quiet. It’s not until she joins her school’s slam poetry club that she musters the courage to speak her mind. High school students of all backgrounds will surely relate to Xiomara’s struggles and triumphs while appreciating Acevedo’s witty writing.

Bronx Masquerade

After reading poetry out loud in their English class, Wesley Boone and his high school classmates establish weekly poetry sessions where, one by one, they reveal their inner struggles through the written word. A mix of prose and verse, this moving book tackles topics relevant to adolescent readers, including self-image, personal expression, and dreams.

Maus I

Recognized as serious literature with a special award from the Pulitzer Prize committee, this graphic novel relates the events of the Holocaust to students in a way that is both meaningful and interesting. Irony abounds, and understatement and sarcasm permeate the pages, making Maus I a great tool for teaching various literary techniques.

The Bluest Eye

This powerful examination of the human obsession with beauty and conformity tells the story of a young African American girl who yearns for the blue eyes and blonde hair that she believes will help her to fit in. This poignant commentary on race, class, and gender identity will show your students the merits of being unique. Due to its frank discussion of child molestation, racism, and incest, The Bluest Eye is best suited for your more mature classes.

The Handmaid’s Tale

This fable of the near-future takes place in the former United States, where reactionary ideals have been carried to extremes. Women are strictly controlled, unable to have jobs or money, and are assigned to specific societal roles. Told from the perspective of one downtrodden handmaid whose sole purpose is to reproduce, Atwood’s 1985 novel will be sure to spark classroom discussions and student responses.

Dry

A cautionary tale, Dry offers a harrowing look into a future marred by climate change. In California, extreme drought has changed the rules of water usage: no watering the lawn, no long showers, no filling up pools. Alyssa has gotten used to the situation—until the taps run dry. Suddenly, Alyssa’s quiet suburban street spirals into chaos as neighbors turn against each other on the hunt for water. When her parents go missing and her brother’s life is threatened, Alyssa must make impossible choices if they’re going to survive.

Ship Breaker

In a post-apocalyptic future, the forces of climate change have devastated America’s Gulf Coast region. Here, Nailer, a teenage boy, scavenges abandoned oil tankers for copper and other valuable materials. But when a storm grounds a massive ship, Nailer must make an important decision: walk away from the wreckage or rescue its lone survivor, the daughter of a wealthy merchant? The first book in a trilogy, Ship Breaker will take your students on a thrilling, high-stakes adventure.

No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference

In 2018, Greta Thunberg, then fifteen years old, made headlines when she skipped school to protest the climate crisis outside the Swedish parliament. Soon after, millions of students around the world joined her strike, asking governments to take action against climate change. This book compiles eleven of Thunberg’s speeches, including her famous speech “Our House Is on Fire,” first presented at the 2019 World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

Classroom Library Packs

Introducing your students to stories featuring diverse protagonists and perspectives is simple with Classroom Library Packs. Filled with high-interest paperbacks, these book bundles are sure to keep your students eager to read more!