Best of the Best: 1995 - 1999

At a recent ‘Best of the Best’ conference held during the annual ALA (American Library Association) conference, 100 titles were chosen as the best books written for teens in the past 15 years. Click on the title below to see the book in our online catalog:

In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez, 1995
Dede and her three sisters, ‘Las Mariposas,’ turn from begin interested in hair ribbons to gunrunning and acts of political sabotage against the despotic Dominican Republic dictator, Trujillo.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, 1999
Melinda is shunned by her friends when they don’t understand the reason she called the police during a party.

The Lost Years of Merlin by T.A. Barron, 1999
Emrys, a young boy who washes ashore with no memory, travels to the mythical land of Fincayra to discover his true parentage and destiny

Am I Blue: Coming Out from the Silence, edited by Marion Dane Bauer, 1995
Sixteen short stories, told from gay and lesbian perspectives by popular young adult authors, explore pride, individuality, and struggle.

Baby Be-Bop by Francesca Lia Block, 1997
Sixteen-year-old Dirk struggles to come to terms with being gay, fearful that his family and friends will no longer love or accept him.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, 1999
The hilarious, heartbreaking tale of Charlie, a high-school wallflower in full bloom.

Heroes by Robert Cormier, 1999
Eighteen-year-old Francis returns home from World War II with his face blown off and a mission to murder the childhood hero he feels betrayed him.

Ironman by Chris Crutcher, 1995
When he calls his teacher an a**hole in class, Bo is forced to attend an anger management program, where he learns to deal with his real problem--his cruel father

The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis, 1995
Because Kenny Watson’s older brother, Byron, is fast becoming a juvenile delinquent, the family drives from Detroit to Birmingham so Grandma can straighten him out.

Catherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman, 1995
Fighting fleas, unsuitable suitors, and her mother's attempts to make a lady of her, Catherine writes in her diary about her frustrations with her life as a young noblewoman in medieval times.

The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm by Nancy Farmer, 1995
When General Matsika's three children are kidnapped, their mother hires the best detective team available in 2194 Zimbabwe--the appropriately named mutant partners--the Ear, the Eye, and the Arm.

Whirligig by Paul Fleischman, 1999
After killing a girl when driving drunk, Brent Bishop learns a lot about himself and life when he's forced to pay for his crime by traveling to the four corners of the U.S. to build whirligigs in her memory.

Far North by Will Hobbs, 1997
Stranded in the Canadian wilderness, two boys endure a brutal sub arctic winter of bear, wolf, and moose attacks while they repeatedly struggle to escape.

Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause, 1998
Beautiful teenage werewolf Vivian falls in love with Aiden, a human - a meat-boy - and longs to share her secret with him.

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer, 1997
Leaving a comfortable life behind for an adventurous one, Chris McCandless dies on a poorly planned hike in the Alaskan wilderness.

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine, 1997
Imagine this: Cinderella’s real problem isn’t her cruel stepmother and stepsisters, it’s just that she cannot refuse a direct command from anyone!

Letters from the Inside by John Marsden, 1995
With each letter, teenage pen pals Tracey and Mandy share personal experiences, each fearing the future – then Tracey’s letters come back stamped ‘Return to Sender.’

Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden, 1995
When they return from a wilderness camping trip, Ellie and her friends are shocked to discover Australia has been invaded and soon find fighting and surviving have become a way of life.

Swallowing Stones by Joyce McDonald, 1997
Depression, guilt, and fear plague Michael's dreams after a stray bullet from his rifle kills a man.

Monster by Walter Dean Myers, 1999
In this riveting courtroom drama, Steve Harmon recounts his trial in the form of a movie script.

In My Hands: Memories of a Holocaust Survivor by Irene Gut Opdyke, 1999
A Catholic girl forced to work as a housekeeper to a German officer in occupied Poland risks her life to hide and rescue Jewish workers during World War II.

Winterdance: The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod by Gary Paulsen, 1994
Vividly bringing to life the Alaskan Iditarod, a dogsled race requiring intensive training, skill, and endurance, and the ability to survive subzero temperatures, Paulsen highlights the dogs who made it possible for him to make it to the finish line.

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman, 1996
With the aid of friends, witches, and armored polar bears, 12-year-old Lyra fights the evil that is stealing children and conducting horrible experiments on them.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling, 1998
With only a lightning-bolt scar on his forehead as a clue to his true identity, Harry Potter, by a twist of fate, leaves his unloving foster family for a life of wizardry and celebrity.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling, 1999
Harry’s third year at Hogwarts is packed with adventure, mystery, and a dangerous new enemy.

Holes by Louis Sachar, 1999
Stanley Yelnats is sentenced to Camp Green Lake , where he finds a treasure and puts an end to a long-running curse on his family.

Rats Saw God by Rob Thomas, 1995
‘Troubled Teen’ Steve York reflects on his life and his relationship with his famous father.

When She Hollers by Cynthia Voight, 1995
Tish takes a knife and her destiny in hand on the day she decides to stop her father from sexually abusing her.

The Killer’s Cousin by Nancy Werlin, 1999
After David is acquitted of murder and moves in with his aunt and uncle, he finds his new home to be less safe and secure than he’d hoped.

Hard Love by Ellen Wittlinger, 1999 0
Sixteen-year-old John meets fellow zine writer Marisol and falls in love with her, even though he knows she can’t love him back.

I Hadn’t Meant to Tell You This by Jacqueline Woodson, 1994
Marie and Lena become friends despite race and class differences, but can their friendship protect Lena from the terrifying secret she is forced to keep?

If You Come Softly by Jacqueline Woodson, 1999 0698118626
Jeremiah, who is white, and Ellie, who is African American, feel an immediate connection and then must cope with the reactions to their relationship by the people around them.