"Just for Guys"

Recommended reading for high school guys.

Check them out at your library.

THE DEATH OF JAYSON PORTER   by  Jaime Adolf

 In the Florida projects, sixteen-year-old Jayson struggles with the harsh realities of his life which include an abusive mother, a drug-addicted father, and not fitting in at his predominately white school, and bring him to the brink of suicide. CIP

TWISTED by Laurie Halse Anderson

Making foolish decisions seemed to be a habit for Tyler.  When he has a chance to be with the girl of his dreams, he begins to feel his life can change, until a situation beyond his control begins to control him.

RAT LIFE  by Ted Arnold

Shortly after a body is found in a nearby river, Todd has a chance encounter with Rat, a slightly older boy who is cautious in what he reveals about himself.  After Rat offers Todd a job with him at a drive-in theater, Todd uncovers items and information that he thinks links Rat to the body.

HEAD CASE by Sarah Aronson

Frank's drunk driving took two lives and left him paralyzed from the neck down. Finally returning home after rehab in the hospital, Frank must contend with being totally dependent upon his parents, therapists who are pushing him to do more than he wants, and an on-line forum questioning his legal punishment. Frank tries to discover a way to live with his limitations while reliving the accident.

SHIFT by Jennifer Bradbury

Winston and Chris begin their cross country bike trip to Seattle the day after they graduate from high school.  Only Chris makes it home.

THE ROAD OF THE DEAD by Kevin Brooks

When Ruben's sister is murdered, he and his older brother travel to the town where it happened to bring their sister's body home.  Since the body will not be released until the murder is solved, the boys start asking questions to the closed-mouth inhabitants and discover a cover up that leads to a violent resolution.

IN A DARK WOOD by Michael Cadnum

Geoffrey, the Sheriff of Nottingham's duty is to enforce the laws of the King.  But an outlaw appears who makes Geoffrey's job a challenge.  The outlaw's name--Robin Hood.

ROUGHNECKS by Thomas Cochran

Travis Cody has a chance to prove himself against the Pineview Pelicans, the only team the Roughnecks lost to in the regular season.  Travis feels the pressure of his family, friends and the town on the day of the game.

FADE  by Robert Cormier

In the summer of 1938, Paul Moreaux, the thirteen-year-old son of French Canadian immigrants, inherits the ability to become invisible, but this power soon leads to death and destruction. CIP

THE RAG AND BONE SHOP by Robert Cormier

When a young girl is murdered, an expert interrogator is called in

to get a confession from 12-year-old Jason.  But is Jason really the murderer?

CRACKBACK by John Coy

With his father constantly criticizing him and the head coach of his football team having to resign, Miles Manning's excitement about the new football season quickly wanes.

DEADLINE  by Chris Crutcher

Given the medical diagnosis of one year to live, high school senior Ben Wolf decides to fulfill his greatest fantasies, ponders his life's purpose and legacy, and converses through dreams with a spiritual guide known a "Hey-Soos."

IRONMAN by Chris Crutcher

Forced to attend an anger management class after losing his spot on the football team, Bo decides to become a triathlete and tries to better understand his father.

STOTAN!  by Chris Crutcher

A swimming coach challenges four top swimmers to "Stotan Week" - a week of work-outs far beyond what they had ever endured.  In that week they learn about more than just their physical limitations and capabilities.

IF ROCK AND ROLL WERE A MACHINE by Terry Davis

Bert, a high school junior, learns new things about himself and others in his life when he discovers motorcycles, writing, racquetball and two adults who care about him.

RIGHT BEHIND YOU by Gail Giles

After spending over four years in a mental institution for murdering a friend in Alaska, fourteen-year-old Kip begins a completely new life in Indiana with his father and stepmother under a different name, but has trouble fitting in and finds there are still problems to deal with from his childhood. CIP

FAT KID RULES THE WORLD  by K.L. Going

Depressed about being overweight and believing the whole world sees him only as the "fat kid," Troy's life changes when he meets Curt, a homeless, drug-addicted, guitar-playing high school legend who recruits Troy to play drums in his band.

KING OF THE SCREWUPS by K.L. Going

Seventeen-year-old Liam is always trying to please his father, but is always messing up.  When his father kicks him out of the house, Liam goes to live with his cross dressing, glam band DJ and performer Uncle Pete, and discovers that besides being good at messing up, he also has some talents.

SAINT IGGY  by K.L. Going

Iggy, waiting for a suspension hearing at his school, dreams of ways he can prove he really wants to contribute to the world.  With his parents both addicted to drugs, he finds the odds against him and even the concern of a friend's mother isn't enough.

AN ABUNDANCE OF KATHERINES  by John Green

Colin Singleton, a child prodigy, fears that he will never do anything that matters now that he has graduated from high school.  To deal with his grief of being dumped by the nineteenth girl named Katherine, Colin goes on a road trip with his best friend Hassan and discovers that mattering may not be all that matters.

REPOSSESSED by A.M. Jenkins

A fallen angel decides to leave H*** and occupy the body of a teenage boy.  Knowing he will be called back to H*** he wants to make an impact on someone he meets and to be noticed by the Creator.

BLACK NOVEMBER  by Rex Harley

Simon could never imagine that his purchasing a used saxophone could involve him in blackmail, mystery and murder.

NOT AS CRAZY AS I SEEM  by George Harrar

Devon's "tendencies" (as his mother calls them) make life miserable for Devon.  He is obsessed with being neat and clean, has to eat things in groups of four and tries to avoid germs at all costs.  Can the help of a therapist and a girl he meets at his new school help him overcome his compulsions?

SPEED   by Mark Harris

Speed is a first-person novel about two brothers growing up half a century ago-the story of the narrator and his brother Speed, a magnificent boy in every respect, except one.  And Speed's one defect leads him to a mad act of nihilism that is remembered by his brother for a lifetime.

STONE COLD by Pete Hautman

Feeling lucky, Denn joins a poker game and not only wins, but discovers he loves the game.  As Denn becomes more successful and more obsessed with playing, he finds himself in high stake games that can change his life.

SURE FIRE  by Jack Higgins

Resentful of having to go and live with their estranged father after the death of their mother, fifteen-year-old twins Rich and Jade soon find they have more complicated problems when their father is kidnapped and their attempts to rescue him involve them in a dangerous international plot to control the world's oil.   CIP

SLAM   by Nick Hornby

At the age of fifteen, Sam Jones's girlfriend gets pregnant and Sam's life of skateboarding and daydreaming about Tony Hawk changes drastically   CIP

ONE OF THE BOYS   by Scott Johnson

Eric lacks the courage to end his association with troublemaker Marty, even when Marty abuses a homeless jazz musician and instigates other serious pranks.   CIP

WHY I FIGHT by J. Adams Oaks

Wyatt Reaves is twelve, big for his age and homeless when his uncle, Spade, takes him from his parents to accompany him on his sales travels.  When Spade discovers Wyatt has a devastating punch, he realizes he can make easy money by setting up fights for Wyatt.

CHEATED  by Patrick  Jones

Fifteen-year-old Mick recalls a series of betrayals and other life-changing events at home, school, and during the break-up with his girlfriend, and considers how those troubles led to his arrest for murder. CIP

DARK ANGEL  by David Klass

When his 21-year -old brother is released from prison on a technicality five years after murdering a fellow student, 17-year-old Jeff refuses to believe that Todd has changed and dreads the impact of Todd's return on his and his parents' life.

RAIDERS NIGHT  by Robert Lipsyte

This novel presents a troubling look at team mentality and the pressure to succeed at all costs.  When neither his teammates nor the adults in his life seem to make the right decisions, Matt must decide whether to stand up for what he thinks is right.

INEXCUSABLE  by Chris Lynch

High school senior, Keir, tries to justify his behavior on graduation night after his attempt to console himself and his lifelong friend, Gigi, takes an unexpected turn.

ACCELERATION   by Graham McNamee

Stuck working in the lost and found department of the Toronto Transit Authority for the summer, seventeen-year-old Duncan finds the diary of a serial killer and sets out to stop him. CIP

BOTTLED UP  by Jaye Murray

When Pip's behavior at school forces him into counseling and making an attempt to curtail his marijuana use, he also begins to understand his father's alcoholism and his fear that his younger brother will become just like him.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MY DEAD BROTHER    by Walter Dean Myers 

 Jesse pours his heart and soul into his sketchbook to make sense of life in his troubled Harlem neighborhood and the loss of a close friend. CIP

NOTES FROM THE MIDNIGHT DRIVER  by Jordan Sonnenblick

To fulfill his community service requirements after a drunken driving accident, Alex Gregory is required to visit the irascible Sol, a nursing home patient.  What starts out as a chore eventually becomes a pleasure for Alex.

FIRST SHOT by Walter Sorrells

During his sophomore year, high school senior David Crandall's mother was murdered; and now, after learning about a family embezzlement secret and witnessing his father burying a shot gun, he starts to suspect his dad was the murderer.

KNIGHTS OF THE HILL COUNTRY  by Tim Tharp

Star football player, sure to get a college scholarship to play, senior Hampton Green finally steps out from behind the shadow of his best friend, Blaine, and discovers there is more to life than football.

CRUISE CONTROL  by Terry Trueman

Intelligent and athletic, Paul's life should be perfect.  But how can he feel good when his brother, severely disabled, doesn't even know he exists.  Paul's conflicting feelings keep him on the edge of anger and afraid of where his life will lead him.

BLACK AND WHITE  by Paul Volponi

Star basketball players and best friends Eddie and Marcus discover their differences when they are arrested for a series of robberies.