All Grown Up: Adult Books for Teen Readers

Wonder When You'll Miss Me by Amanda Davis
After she is sexually assaulted under the school bleachers, 16-year old Faith runs away from home, accompanied by The Fat Girl, a taunting imaginary former self.

Peace like a River by Leif Enger
Life turns upside down for the Land family when Davy, the oldest son, kills two intruders who plan to harm the family. After Davy breaks out of jail, the Lands leave their home and set out to find him.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon
Christopher, an autistic math wiz, takes his life too literally and can't relate to others. Inspired by Sherlock Holmes, he investigates the death of his neighbor's dog and unravels secrets closer to home.

Plainsong by Kent Haruf (Fiction)
They were always connected, in the way people in small towns are: the elderly McPheron brothers, unschooled but wise; high school teacher Tom and his sons; and Victoria, 17 and pregnant, with nowhere to go.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Set amid the destruction of contemporary Afghanistan, this debut novel follows two boys, linked by love, lies, sacrifice, and betrayal, whose friendship endures, despite different life paths.

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
In this arresting debut romance, Henry travels through time and space and meets his bride Clare in all her stages of life, from childhood to old age.

When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka
A Japanese-American family, forced to move to cramped, humiliating detention camps set up by the American government, returns home after WWII to find suspicious neighbors and a vandalized house.

The Dive from Clausen's Pier by Ann Packer (Fiction)
A reckless attempt to impress Carrie, Mike's dive off a pier rendered him paralyzed. Now Carrie finds herself torn between the loyalty she's expected to feel toward Mike and her need to transform herself.

Drinking Coffee Elsewhere by Z.Z. Packer
The predominantly African-American characters in this debut collection of short fiction struggle to maintain their sense of self while confronting unexpected life events.

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult
13-year-old Anna knows that she was conceived in order to provide organs and other life support for her sick sister. After enduring multiple surgeries, she sues her parents for the rights to her own body.

Chang and Eng: A Novel by Darin Strauss (Fiction)
Conjoined brothers, Chang and Eng, were sideshow celebrities. This is the story of their lives, both as individuals and as one. The emotional as well as the physical effects on the brothers is fascinating.

The Girl in Hyacinth Blue by Susan Vreeland (Fiction)
The ownership of a supposed Vermeer painting is traced back to the moment of its inspiration; and as the painting moves through each owner's hands, what was long hidden or forgotten or repressed quietly surfaces. Like Vermeer's paintings, this novel illuminates the poignant moments in people's lives.

Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear
In post WWI London, Maisie takes her first case as a private investigator and experiences flashbacks to her modest upbringing and doomed wartime romance. This is a unique historical mystery.

November 21, 2006