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Favorite Books
This is the place for read-alikes, recommendations, and cool author websites.
Books You Might Like If You Like Mine
Breathing Underwater read-alikes
* Inexcusable by Chris Lynch (a brand new book about date rape in the viewpoint of the rapist)
* Ironman by Chris Crutcher (anger management class, father-son relationship)
* When Jeff Comes Home by Catherine Atkins (living with trauma)
* The Killer's Cousin by Nancy Werlin (Narrator dealing with consequences of his actions)
* The Great Santini by Pat Conroy (father/son relationship)
* Don't You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey by Margaret Peterson Haddix (diary)
* Things Change by Patrick Jones (abusive relationship, two viewpoints)
Breaking Point read-alikes
* Amandine by Adele Griffin (the girl version of Breaking Point)
* The Girls by Amy Goldman Koss (peer leader issues)
* Give a Boy a Gun by Todd Strasser (school violence)
* On the Fringe by Donald R. Gallo and others (short stories about fitting in)
* Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher (treatment of "different" peers. This is an incredible book, and everyone should read it)
* The Burn Journals by Brent Runyon (just very edgy and unpleasant for teens who like that stuff)
Nothing to Lose read-alikes
* The Beet Fields by Gary Paulsen (based upon the author's own carnival experiences)
* See You Down the Road by Kim Ablon Whitney (wandering lifestyle)
* The Last Chance Texaco by Brent Hartinger (teen finds an unusual "family")
* The Rag and Bone Shop by Robert Cormier (criminal investigation, suspense)
* The Body of Christopher Creed by Carol Plum-Ucci (criminal investigation)
* Double Helix by Nancy Werlin (mystery, teen's relationship w/ parents)
Fade to Black read-alikes
* Night Kites by M.E. Kerr (the first YA book about HIV, slightly dated, but good)
* Ryan White: My Story by Ryan White (first-person AIDS story)
* What's in a Name? by Ellen Wittlinger (multi-viewpoints on same issue)
* Out of Order by A.M. Jenkins (Clinton-like narrator)
* We All Fall Down by Robert Cormier (multi-viewpoint crime)
Diva read-alikes
* Dancing in Red Shoes Will Kill You by Dorian Cirrone (performing arts h.s.)
* Heart on My Sleeve by Ellen Wittlinger (singing and e-mail)
* Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen by Dyan Sheldon (performing)
* One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies by Sonya Sones (divorced parent relationship and some performing arts)
* The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things by Carolyn Mackler (body issues and some parent issues)
* Notes from the Midnight Driver by Jordan Sonnenblick (performing arts)
Beastly read-alikes
* Repossessed by A.M. Jenkins
* Beauty by Robin McKinley
* Beast by Donna Jo Napoli
* The Rose and the Beast by Francesca Lia Block
Kiss in Time read-alikes
* Fairest by Gail Carson Levine
* Princess Ben by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
* The Thirteenth Princess by Diane Zahler
* Bella at Midnight by Diane Stanley
* Mira, Mirror by Mette Ivie Harrison
The great thing about being a writer is that, sometimes, your favorite authors are people you actually know. Here are a few of mine:
Joyce Sweeney is one of my favorite people, my writing teacher, and a top-notch writer, author of the adventure novel, Free Fall. Look for her new book, The Guardian, an exciting tale of a foster child who is being stalked by a motorcyclist who may be an angel.
Other authors in my Miami critique group include Marjetta Geerling, Debbie Reed Fischer, Dorian Cirrone, Laurie Friedman, Danielle Joseph and Gaby Triana.
Middle Grade/YA Author Links (Basically, cool people I know)
Hall of Fame—My favorite books ever:
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
Matilda by Roald Dahl
The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo
Bird by Bird by Ann Lamott
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Wicked by Gregory Maguire
Rats Saw God by Rob Thomas
The Accidental Tourist by Ann Tyler
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
For good book group selections, click Reading Group Guides to go to the page. It has guides for my books plus tips for starting your own group.
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