YALSA-bk is a listserv with lively discussions among librarians, educators, and beyond about all things YA lit. Sometimes one listserv member will ask for help finding books around a certain theme or readalikes for a particular title. This post is a compilation of responses for one such request.
The original request
I have a (male) teacher working with a group of Grade 7 and 8 (male students) who for various reasons need reading support but don’t read far below level. In their regular English curriculum they have been doing a lot of dystopian themed works — 1984, Animal Farm etc. — and he was seeking something that is more about overcoming the odds, coming of age, becoming a man, growing into yourself (for want of better words). It can be a short story (he was thinking Hemingway but I’m reluctant to hold him up as the sole emblem of masculine writers), short-ish novels, graphic novels…
Suggested titles
- The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
- Feed by MT Anderson
- Empire of the Sun by JG Ballard
- Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury
- The Watsons Go to Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis
- Master of Reality by John Darnielle
- Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
- Hole in My Life by Jack Gantos
- The Honest Truth by Dan Gemeinhart
- Lord of the Flies by William Golding
- Downriver and River Thunder by Will Hobbs
- Alabama Moon by Watt Key
- The Body by Stephen King
- Catch by Will Leitch
- Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen
- Kick-Ass by Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr.
- Bad Boy: A Memoir by Walter Dean Myers
- A Small White Scar by KA Nuzum
- Bamboo People by Mitali Perkins
- When I Was the Greatest by Jason Reynolds
- Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt
- Winger by Andrew Smith
- Peak by Roland Smith
- Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
- American Born Chinese and Shadow Hero by Gene Luen Yang
- I Am the Messenger by Marcus Zusak
Suggested authors
- Chris Crutcher
- Gary Paulsen
Have more titles you think should belong on these lists? Add them on the YALSA wiki or leave a comment! Looking for more compiled booklists? Check out the YALSA wiki or other booklists here at The Hub.
— Gretchen Kolderup, currently rereading Flora’s Dare by Ysabeau S. Wilce