Teen Picks

I am a bookseller with a specialty in juvenile fiction. This means that my regular customers are typically kids and teens, with or without their families. I always give recommendations to my customers - but recently, I switched that around and asked sets of siblings and friends what they are currently reading. Some visit the adult literature section regularly while others stick to young adult fiction. Some prefer long novels, especially classics or fantasy tales, while others are more apt to pick up comedies and mysteries. Check out this variety of titles:

Alexia, 15, is working on I, Mona Lisa and The Historian. She recently finished Bad Kitty, by Michele Jaffe, and I'd Tell You I'd Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You, by Ally Carter. She loves spy stories and international politics.

Her brother Nicholas, 11, loved The Thief Lord. "Once I started, I couldn't stop!" He is also working his way through the Childhood of Young Americans biographies.

Gillian, 15, has a brother, but it sounds like she's the biggest reader in the family. She dominantly reads non-fiction historical biographies. She enjoys Alison Weir's works regarding the lives of Henry VIII's family. She just picked up The Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin and Alice in the Know by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor at my recommendation, the latter because she read some of the Alice books when she was younger.

Jessica, also 15, recommends The Kite Runner.

Claire, who recently turned 17, liked Slaughter-house Five. Happy birthday, Miss Claire!

Siena, 16, and Kevin, 17, are long-time friends. They spoke highly of Garth Nix's Abhorsen trilogy, which of course led to a conversation about The Keys to the Kingdom series. Siena is really enjoying Beloved, but warns that it "is for adults, not for kids." They both like Mercedes Lackey, and Kevin talked about The Last Herald-Mage.

Alex, 9, is a fan of The Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne. He likes the big adventures that Jack and Annie go on. He recently started a book in The Time Warp Trio series. His younger brother, Angel, doesn't read on his own yet, but he likes being read to and shares his big brother's admiration for superheroes like Spider-Man and Batman.

Tasia, 16, is reading The Raven Warrior: The Tales of Guinevere by Alice Borchardt. Her 11-year-old sister, Maya, is reading The Clique series. I recommended that older sis pick up The Girls by Amy Goldman Koss for younger sis.