Kids and Families

Friends Like These...Books for Young Teens about Friendship

Absolutely Normal Chaos by Sharon Creech
"Dear Mr. Birkway, Here it is: my summer journal. As you can see, I got a little carried away. The problem is this, though, I don't want you to read it. I really mean it. PLEEEASSSE DON'T READ IT! Sincerely, Mary Lou Finney."

The Catalogue of the Universe by Margaret Mahy
Angela is determined to track down the father she never knew, and her best friend Tycho is just the guy to help her, but the search for Angela's father stretches and alters Angela and Tycho's friendship in surprising ways.

Darnell Rock Reporting by Walter Dean Myers
13-year-old Darnell Rock always seems to get into trouble. When the principal offers Darnell a chance to write for the school newspaper, he wants to say no. Then Darnell writes his first article for the paper and suddenly other kids seem to care what he has to say.

The Giver by Lois Lowry
Jonas lives in a perfect world. A future world without war, poverty, unemployment, divorce or inequality. As Jonas begins his twelfth year, he is selected to be the next Receiver of Memory. This is supposed to be a great honor, yet Jonas wonders as his friends drift away one by one.

I Hadn't Meant To Tell You This by Jacqueline Woodson
In Chauncey, Ohio the black kids and the white kids just didn't mix. Until Lena came to town.

Make Lemonade by Virginia Euwer Wolff
Seventeen-year-old Jolly is a single mom working a minimum-wage job to support her two kids. LaVaughn is a high school freshman determined to get into college and get a good job once she's through. To start earning money for college LaVaughn answers Jolly's ad: BABYSITTER NEEDED BAD. LaVaughn finds that what Jolly needs most is a friend.

Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep by Lurlene McDaniel
Carrie and Keith have a great freindship. They also have cancer, but Keith wants to live out the rest of his life at home, not in a hospital.

Othello by Julius Lester
Othello is the tale of a forbidden love between a black African General and the white daughter of an English Lord. In this story lies lead to betrayal, and betrayal leads to murder.

Owl In Love by Patrice Kindl
Owl is a girl. She is also an owl, a wereowl, that is. She can change from a girl to an owl and back again at will. Owl is also in Love with her high school science teacher, Mr. Lindstrum. Every night Owl tums into an owl and perches outside his window to watch him sleep-in his underwear!

Romeo & Juliet Together (and Alive!) At Last by Avi
If you're a shy guy like Pete and you've just fallen in love with a great girl like Annabelle Stackpoole, you'd be lucky to have a friend like Ed. Ed and his friends arrange to put on the play Romeo & Juliet and elect Pete and Annabelle to play the lead parts. Not only will Pete and Annabelle have to talk to each other, they'll have to kiss.

Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
When Marty finds the beagle pup, he's desperate to keep him. Then he learns the dog belongs to a neighbor who doesn't mind kicking his dogs when he's mad enough, and Marty is determined to find a way to buy that dog.

Tears of a Tiger by Sharon Draper
Andy was there. He had been driving the car. He had seen his best friend Robert's legs trapped in the burning vehicle and he had tried to pull Robert out of the wreckage. He had heard Robert's final screams. The other kids at school feel bad about Robert, but they weren't there and Andy doesn't believe they will ever understand.

Thwonk! by Joan Bauer
A. J. McCreary meets her own personal cupid and he helps her to get the boy of her dreams.

What You Don't Know Can Kill You by Fran Arrick
When high school senior Ellen learns that she has AIDS, she finds out who her real friends are.

Who Do You Think You Are?: Stories of Friends and Enemies
A collection of short stories of best friends and worst enemies.

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