11 Dec Crossover Hits: Books for Teens and Adul
Some books are written with a specific audience in mind, while others span generations of fans.
Here are a handful of books that are popular with both teens and adults.
The Glass Girl
by Kathleen Glasglow
For 15-year-old Bella, everyone expects something from her—her mother, her father, even her boyfriend expect her to be what they want. The only exception is her beloved grandmother. There is only one thing that helps her deal with the pressure of it all, and that is alcohol. It numbs her from the trauma of watching her grandmother die, helps her cope with her parents’ constant fighting, and relieves the stress of being her little sister’s primary caregiver. She’s sure she can handle it; after all, she can quit anytime. That is, until she blacks out at a Thanksgiving party and wakes up in the hospital with alcohol poisoning and a broken face. It’s time for Bella to face the reality of her situation and where that road is heading. And that first step starts with treatment, whether she’s ready or not.
All the Bright Places
by Jennifer Niven
It isn’t clear who saved whom the day Theodore Finch and Violet Markey met on the ledge of the school bell tower. Violet is a writer and part of the in-crowd, but following her sister’s death in a car crash, she has slowly withdrawn from the world. Theodore Finch is fascinated by death and is famously known for his impulsive and eccentric behavior. When Finch and Violet are paired for a project to discover the natural wonders of their state, they are sent to out-of-the-way Indiana landmarks, and they both begin to make new discoveries about themselves and each other.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
by Stephen Chbosky
Written as letters to a friend, we are brought into the life of a high school freshman named Charlie. We don’t know where Charlie is from or who the letters are to, but through them, we see the days of someone trying to both live his life and escape it. It’s a world with heartwarming moments, family drama, and new friends. It’s a world of stupid jokes, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Of dark, devastating things no one should ever face. Where all you need is the perfect song to feel connected, to feel infinite.
The Fault in Our Stars
by John Green
Time is limited for both Hazel Grace Lancaster and Augustus Waters. Hazel’s never been more than sickly to most people due to the fluid in her lungs. Augustus has been in remission after osteosarcoma took one of his legs. But when she catches him checking her out from across the room in their group therapy session for teens living with cancer, her interest is piqued. The two find a connection through movies, metaphor, shared awkwardness, and swapping books by their favorite authors. What follows is their journey of finding love and celebrating life, even as the clock ticks on.
The Poet X
by Elizabeth Acevedo
Written in verse, The Poet X leads us through the life of Xiomara Batista, a girl who is rarely heard but hardly ignored. Unhideable, as she puts it—taller than her father, with, as her mother said, “a little too much body for such a young girl.” She learns it’s easier to let her knuckles do the talking. With her mother intent on forcing her daughter to obey the laws of the church as she sees them, and with no way to share her thoughts, Xiomara pours her frustrations and passions into her leather-bound notebook—a gift from her twin brother. She got him brass knuckles. So when she’s invited to her school’s slam poetry club, she doesn’t think she could ever attend. But in a world that ignores her, she knows her voice must be heard.
Long Way Down
by Jason Reynolds
Will doesn’t know where the rules came from, but he knows what they are: Don’t cry, don’t snitch, and get revenge. He knows the rules are not meant to be broken, and after his older brother Shawn is killed, he has to follow them. He’s sure his brother’s former friend Riggs is responsible, and with Shawn’s gun in his waistband, that’s where he’s headed. But on the elevator ride down from the seventh floor, the elevator stops on the sixth floor, and Buck gets on. But wait, Buck is dead, and he asks Will if he’s even checked if the gun is loaded. As Will goes down, he meets more ghosts from the past, victims all, and he begins to question if he really knows the full story.
Everything Sad Is Untrue: (A True Story)
by Daniel Nayeri
Young Kroshu, known to others as Daniel, presents a story to his Oklahoma middle school class that’s all his own. None of his peers believe his words. To his classmates, he’s an outsider with a name that’s hard to say and a lunchbox full of food foreign to them. But through his story, he tells a tale not just of his few short years, but of centuries. He tells of the night he and his family fled Iran, of family tales set in the ancient city of Isfahan during an age of kings. His tale weaves between everyday life in the modern day and mythic stories of past heroes, as one boy tries to find his place in the world.
The Outsiders
by S. E. Hinton
According to Ponyboy Curtis, there are two kinds of people in the world: Greasers and Socs. Socs, short for Socials, are the jet-set, the West-side rich kids. They have money, attitude, and can get away with anything. Then there are the Greasers—poorer than Socs or middle class, but wilder too. They’re basically hoods, driving souped-up rides and getting into fights. And Ponyboy is definitely a Greaser. But Greasers stick together, and he knows he can count on his brothers Darry and Sodapop, and his friends Johnny and Two-Bit would do anything for him. Life isn’t too bad until one terrible night when Johnny kills a Soc, and Ponyboy’s world is turned on its head.
Salt to the Sea: A Novel
by Ruta Sepetys
In January 1945, on the coast of the Baltic Sea, the paths of four teens—four refugees seeking freedom and safety—converge. Joana, a Lithuanian nurse trying to escape her guilt. Florian, a Prussian soldier fleeing the Nazis, treasure in hand. Emilia, a Polish woman near the end of her pregnancy. And Alfred, a Nazi soldier who believes himself a hero. All fleeing their own shame, fear, guilt, even fate. All vying for passage on the Wilhelm Gustloff, a ship that promises an escape from the impending Russian advance. All seeking hope, none expecting tragedy.
The Princess Diaries
by Meg Cabot
Life feels pretty rough for New York City native Mia Thermopolis. Her crush, Josh Richter, doesn’t give her the time of day. Her mother is dating her Algebra teacher, whose class she happens to be failing. Still, her best friend is amazing—even if her taste in guys could be better. Plus, her dad’s visiting soon, which is nice since she usually just spends summers with him in Genovia. Oh, and he also happens to be a prince… What? Now she finds out she’s a princess and needs to learn the ins and outs of royal life. But her royal father has another thing coming if he expects her to leave Manhattan behind.
– written by Alex B, Teen Central Library Assistant
