It was just announced that the procedural drama Bones will be entering its final season this fall. I have been keeping up with Dr. Brennan and her gang of “squints” since the beginning, and although I think it would be difficult to convince her to read any young adult fiction, if she were to ask me for suggestions, these are books I think she would enjoy:
Ask the Dark by Henry Turner. There are boys missing in Billy’s neighborhood, and Billy wants to earn the reward for finding them, which will help his family keep their home. He may be in for more than he bargained, however.
Confessions of a Murder Suspect by James Patterson. Tandy wakes up to find police in her home and her parents dead. She was the last one to see them alive. If no one entered their apartment in the night, she or one of her siblings must be the murderer.
Fans of the Impossible Life by Kate Scelsa. Selby, Mira, and Jeremy are thrown together and attempt to survive high school as Jeremy discovers that Mira and Selby are keeping things hidden. Can they overcome their secrets together?
Guy Langman, Crime Scene Procrastinator by Josh Berk. No one is more surprised than Guy when his high school forensics club encounters a genuine corpse, but when Guy realizes his father’s mysterious past may have something to do with his current case, he might be in over his head.
Oblivion by Sasha Dawn. Callie was found in an apartment, writing I KILLED HIM over and over on the wall. Her father is missing, as is her memories of that day and the hours before it. She is convinced she has something to do with it, but she’s not sure what.
Orbiting Jupiter by Gary Schmidt. Jack’s parents become foster parents for Joseph, a boy who has left behind an abusive father, a sordid past, and a son. All Joseph wants is to find his son and care for him.
Peas and Carrots by Tanita Davis. Hope’s family takes in Dessa as a foster child, and Hope and Dessa immediately begin butting heads. How can two people who are so different ever learn to live together?
Rules for Disappearing by Ashley Elston. Megan has had a score of different identities in the past year as her family moves through the Witness Protection Program. She is fed up with moving and doesn’t understand why they are in witness protection in the first place, until she realizes it’s because of her.
Truth and Lies by Norah McClintock. Mike is the perfect suspect for the murder of his friend Robbie. He was at the park where Robbie was killed and he’s covered in bruises and scratches. Mike insists, though, that he’s innocent, but can he prove it?
Vitro by Jessica Khoury. Sophie is searching for her mother, a scientist who is working on a remote island in the Pacific. What she finds defies description. Genetically engineered super humans aid her as she attempts to both find her mother and escape those who want to erase her.
What if I’m an Atheist? A Teen’s Guide to Exploring Life without Religion by David Seidman. This nonfiction work explains atheism and how to explore what you believe or don’t believe, as well as how to handle friends and family who may disagree with you.
I might not be able to convince Dr. Brennan to pick up any of these books, but I might be able to entice her to read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling. Many people relate to Harry’s outsider status, and Temperance would be no exception to this. She may also appreciate his excitement about getting real presents once he’s away from the Dursleys. If nothing else, she might be convinced to read this book so she can discuss it with her daughter, and the fantastical world Harry lives in would be a great break from the reality she faces every day.
—Jenni Frencham, currently reading The Copper Gauntlet by Holly Black