To teach the love of reading, I must first love reading

I must share the summer course reading list.  (The list was compiled by Dr. Hundley and Dr. Pendergrass at Vanderbilt Univ.) These titles are YA lit and are mostly geared toward middle/high school students.  Some include racey topics, always read before recommending to students.  The best lesson I have learned this past year: To teach the love of reading, we must be readers.  I often used the lack of time as an excuse not to read.  This summer forced me to literally Drop Everything And Read!  Once I made time to read frequently, I found myself in love with reading again.  I found myself immersed in the plot and talking about characters like they were friends of mine.  It is worth it.  Read!  Read for fun and for learning.  Then, teach others to do the same!

Happy Reading! and may the odds be ever in your favor...
(I have marked my personal favorites)

** 13: Stories That Capture the Agony and Ecstasy... - James Howe (short stories)
** Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian- Sherman Alexie
The Arrival- Shaun Tan (graphic novel, immigration)
American Born Chinese- Gene Luen Yang (graphic novel)
** Beastly- Kyle Kingson (modern day Beauty & the Beast)
Dark Eden- Patrick Carman
Drums, Girls, Dangerous Pie- Jordan Sonnenblick
** The Fault in Our Stars- John Green
** Forest of Hands and Teeth- Carrie Ryan (zombies, sci fi)
** Getting Away With Murder- Chris Crowe (non-fiction, civil rights)
Marcelo in the Real World- Francisco X
Mississippi Trial- Chris Crowe (realistic fiction based on title above)
Out of the Dust- Karen Hesse
Hey 13- Gary Soto (short stories)
** Holes- Louis Sachar
** Homeless Bird- Gloria Whelan (historical fiction, Indian culture)
** Hunger Games- Suzanne Collins (dystopian lit)
Inexcusable- Chris Lynch
The Lightning Thief- Rick Riordan
Locomotion- Jacqueline Woodson
** Mockingbird- Kathryn Erskine (autism, school shootings)
My Name is Not Easy- Debby Dahl Edwardson
No More Dead Dogs- Gordon Korman
** Okay for Now- Gary Schmidt
Probably Still Nick Swanson- Virginia Wolff (special needs)
Raised by Wolves- Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Riot- Walter Dean Myers (NY riots, historical fict)
Rot and Ruin- Jonathan Maberry (zombies)
** Skeleton Creek- Patrick Carman (horror for middle school, video diary online to pair with reading)
So B. It- Sarah Weeks
Speak- Laurie Anderson
Watsons Go to Birmingham- 1963- Christopher Paul Curtis
** Who Am I Without Him?- Sharon Flake

Middle/High school teachers out there, which pop culture lit titles would you add to the must read list?  

Are there any of the above that you love and/or love to teach?

This year, I'll be starting the year with a unit using short stories with 13- Howe.

photos from amazon.com