The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

S. E. Hinton’s classic novel of the destructiveness and tenderness of youth.  Ponyboy (his real name) is a fourteen year old living with his two older brothers after his parents died in a car wreck.  In his town you are in one of two groups: either your a Soc, short for socialite meaning you have money, a fast car and live on the good side of town, otherwise your a greaser.  Life is tough (not tuff) when your a greaser and Ponyboy is no exception.  Though with his gang of brothers Ponyboy will always have a family.

Everything changes after one fateful night when Ponyboy runs away from his brother and finds himself an accesory to murder and skipping town.  While away Ponyboy learns who he really is and his place in his family.  Can he make everything right?  Can things ever go back the way the were?

S. E. Hinton, recipient of the Margaret A. Edwards award for excellence in Young Adult Literatature, and author of several books for Young Adults wrote The Outsiders when she (that’s right, she) was sixteen years old.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Meet Liesel Meminger, a foster child living outside Munich during World War II, is haunted by the ghost of her brother. She is taken in by two ordinary German citizens, Hans and Rosa and is given the means to survive. Liesel and her best friend, Rudy, scratch out a meager existence by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist – books. Books will from then on mark the momentous occasions in her life and when Hans teaches her to read a bond is forged between them that will not be broken. The Book Thief is a story about the ability of books to feed the soul.

Markus Zusak is an Australian author and recipient of the Printz Award for excellence in young adult literature for I am the Messenger. He has written several books, The Underdog, Fighting Ruben Wolfe, Getting the Girl, and lives in
Australia.