Great BOOKS for URBAN YOUTH
These books are broken down by most requested topics.
Please do not copy without my permission.
Amy Cheney
Write to Read
Alameda County Library
Juvenile Hall Literacy
2500 Fairmont Drive
San Leandro, CA 94578
510.667.4347
ajcheney@mac.com
http://juviewrite2read.aclibrary.org
_____________________________
Drugs
Baca, Jimmy Santiago. A Place to Stand
Booth, Coe. Tyrell
Brooks, Kevin. Candy
Brown, Cupcake. A Piece of Cake
Burgess, Melvin. Smack
Carey, Percy. Sentences: the Life of M.F. Grimm
Charles, Ray. Brother Ray
Faison, Azie. Game Over
Farmer, Nancy. House of the Scorpion
Frey, James. A Million Little Pieces
Flake, Sharon. Begging for Change
Flake, Sharon. Money Hungry
Fontaine, Claire and Mia. Come Back: A Mother and Daughter's Journey Through Hell
and Back
Frost, Helen. Keesha's House
Gaetz, Dayle. No Problem
Glodoski, Ron. How to Be a Succesful Criminal: the Real Deal on Crime, Drugs and
Easy Money
Hardrick, Jackie. Imani in Never Say Goodbye
Henderson, Jeff. Cooked.
Hopkins, Ellen. Crank
Hopkins, Ellen. Glass
James, Brian. Pure Sunshine
Kern, Peggy. No Way Out (Bluford High)
LeBlanc, Adrian Nicole. Random Family: Love, Drugs, Trouble, and Coming of Age in
the Bronx
McCaffrey, Kate. In Ecstasy.
Mowry, Jess. Way Past Cool
Murray, Jay. Bottled Up
Myers, Walter Dean. The Beast
Myers, Walter Dean. Dope Sick
Nolan, Han. Born Blue
Philbrook, Roderick. Last Book in the Universe
Quinonez, Ernesto. Bodega Dreams
Quinonez, Ernesto. Chango’s Fire
Rodriquez, Luis. Always Running
Scott, Sterling. Weeds of Society
Sheff, David. Beautiful Boy. A Father's Journey Through His Son's Addiction
Sheff, Nic. Tweak: Growing Up on Methamphetamines
Souljah, Sister. Coldest Winter Ever
Tervalon, Jervey. Understand This
Van Diepen, Allison. Street Pharm
Volponi, Paul. Rooftop
Youngs, Bettie. Teens Guide To Living Drug Free
Zailckas, Koren. Smashed: Story of a Drunken Girlhood
Gangs
Atkin, Beth. Voices from the Streets : Young Former Gang Members Tell their Stories
Bertrand, Diane Gonzales. Trino’s Choice
Bertrand, Diane Gonzales. Trino’s Time
Boyle, Gregory. Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion
Cruz, Nicky. Run Baby Run
Donahue, Sean. Gangs: Stories of Life and Death from the Streets
Ewing, Lynne. Party Girl
Ewing, Lynne. Drive-by
Desetta, Al. The Courage to Be Yourself: True Stories by Teens about Cliques, Conflicts,
and Overcoming Peer Pressure
Draper, Sharon. Battle of Jericho
Dry, Richard. Leaving
Elkeles, Simone. Perfect Chemistry.
Glodoski, Ron. How to Be a Succesful Criminal: the Real Deal on Crime, Drugs and
Easy Money
Draper, Sharon. Romiette and Julio
Fremon, Celeste. Father Greg and the Homeboys: The Extraordinary Journey of Father
Boyle and His Work with the Latino Gangs in East L.A.
Hewett, Lori. Soulfire
Hinojosa, Maria. Crews
Jah, Yusuf. Uprising: Crips and Bloods tell the story of America's Youth in the Crossfire
Langan, Paul. Brothers in Arms (Bluford High)
Langan, Paul. The Bully (Bluford High)
Langan, Paul. Fallen (Bluford High)
Langan, Paul. The Gun (Bluford High)
Lee, Bill. Chinese Playground
Lins, Paulo. City of God
Marshall, Joe. Street Soldiers
Meallet, Sandro. Edgewater Angels
Morris, Dashaun. War of the Bloods in My Veins: a Street Soldier’s March Toward
Redemption
Mowry, Jess, Way Past Cool
Myers, Walter Dean. The Scorpions
Neri, Greg. YUMMY: Last Days of a Southside Shorty
Pagliarulo, Antonio. A Different Kind of Heat
Philbrook, Rod. Last Book in the Universe
Rivera, Louis Reyes. The Bandana Republic
Rodriquez, Art. East Side Dreams
Rodriquez, Art. Forgotten Memories
Rodriquez, Art. Oldies But Goodies
Rodriguez, Luis. Always Running
Rodriguez, Luis. Hearts and Hands : Creating Community in Violent Times
Sanchez, Ivan. Next Stop
Sanchez, Reymundo. Lady Q: The Rise and Fall of a Latin Queen
Shiraz, Yasmin. Retaliation
Shusterman, Neal. Red Rider’s Hood
Sitomer, Alan Lawrence. Hoopster
Soto, Gary. Buried Onions
Su, Lac. I Love Yous are for White People
Tervalon, Jervey. Living for the City
Tervalon, Jervey. Understand This
Thomas, Piri. Down These Mean Streets
Van Diepen, Allison. Snitch
Vorhees, Coert. Brothers Torres
Williams,Stanley. Life In Prison
Williams, Stanely. Blue Rage, Black Redemption
Yxta Maya Murray, Locas
Jail/Prison/Lockdown
Abbott, Dwight. I Cried, You Didn’t Listen: A Survivor’s Expose of the California Youth
Authority
Baca, Jimmy Santiago. A Place to Stand
Betts, Dwayne R. Question of Freedom: a Memoir of Coming of Age in Prison
Buckhanon, Kalisha. Upstate
Chaiton, Sam. Lazarus and the Hurricane: The Freeing of Rubin "Hurricane" Carter
Dry, Richard. Leaving
Ferris, Jean. Bad
Frost, Helen. Keesha's House
Glodoski, Ron. How to Be a Succesful Criminal: the Real Deal on Crime, Drugs and
Easy Money
Henderson, Jeff. Cooked
Hubner, John. Last Chance in Texas
Humes, Edward. No Matter How Loud I Shout: A Year in the Life of Juvenile Court
Kulkin, Susan. No Choirboy: Murder, Violence and Teenagers on Death Row
Myers, Walter Dean. Monster
Loya, Joe. The Man Who Outgrew His Prison Cell: Confessions of a Bank Robber
Mikaelsen, Ben. Touching Spirit Bear
Rivera, Jeff. Forever My Love
Rodriguez, Luis. Always Running
Santos, Michael G. Inside: Life Behind Bars in America
Scott, Sterling. Weeds of Society
Smith, Alexander Gordon. Lockdown: Escape from the Furnace
Volponi, Paul. Black and White
Volponi, Paul. Riker’s High
Williams, Stanely. Blue Rage, Black Redemption
Williams, Stanley. Life In Prison
On the Streets/On the Run
Brown, Cupcake. A Piece of Cake
Booth, Coe. Tyrell
Davis, Amanda. Wonder When You’ll Miss Me
De La Pena, Matt. We Were Here
DeKeyser, Stacy. Jump the Cracks
Draper, Sharon. We Beat the Street
DuPrau, Jeanne. City Of Ember
Elliot, Stephen. A Life Without Consequences
Finn, Daniel. She Thief
Flake, Sharon. Money Hungry
Goobie, Beth. Who Owns Kelly Paddik?
Griffin, Paul. Ten Mile River
Higgins, Janice. There Were No Parents Here and following titles.
James, Brian. Tomorrow, Maybe
Thief
Johnson, LouAnne. Muchacho.
Martinez, Manuel Luis. Drift
Morris, Monique. Too Beautiful for Words
Myers, Walter Dean. Dope Sick
Foster Care
Booth, Coe. Kendra
Brown, Cupcake. A Piece of Cake
Coulter, Ashley Rhodes. Three Little Words
Desetta, Al. The Heart Knows Something Different: Teenage Voices From the Foster
Care System
Fisher, Antwoine. Finding Fish
Hartinger, Brett Last Chance Texaco
Hulme, Edward. No Matter How Loud I Shout, A Year in the Life of Juvenile Court
James, Brian. Thief
Jordan, Dream. Hot Girl
Louise, Regina. Somebody’s Someone: a Memoir
Nolan, Han. Born Blue
Sheehan, Susan. Life for Me Ain't Been No Crystal Stair: One Family's Passage Through
the Child Welfare System
Bad Situations (Abuse)
Cuting
Incest
Abusive Relationships
Prostitution
Adams, Lenora. Baby Girl
Alison, Dorothy. Bastard Out of Carolina
Arnoldi, Katherine. Amazing True Story of a Teenage Single Mother
Cole, Brock. Facts Speak For Themselves
Coman, Carolyn. What Jamie Saw
Deem, James. 3 NB’s of Julian Drew
De Vries, Anke. Bruises
Dessen, Sarah. Dreamland
Draper, Sharon. Darkness Before Dawn
Draper, Sharon. Forged by Fire
Draper, Sharon. Tears of a Tiger
Dry, Richard. Leaving
Fisher, Antwoine. Who Will Cry for the Little Boy?
Flinn, Alex. Breathing Underwater
Frank, E.R. America
Haddix, Margaret. Don’t You Dare Read This Mrs. Dunfrey
Higgins, Janice. There Were No Parents Here and following titles.
Klass, David. You Don’t Know Me
Louise, Regina. Somebody’s Someone: a Memoir
Mazer, Norma Fox. When She Was Good
McCormick, Patricia. Cut
McNamee, Graham. Hate You
Monroe, Mary. God Don’t Like Ugly and following books
Peltzer, Dave. A Child Called It and following books
Pollack, Monique. On the Game
Rainfield, Cheryl. Scars
Reynolds, Marilyn. Telling
Rivers, Victor Rivas. A Private Family Matter
Runyon, Brent. The Burn Journals
Saphire, Push
Scheers, Julia. Jesus Land
Schraff Anne. Someone to Love Me
Scott, Elizabeth. Living Dead Girl
Sitomer, Alan Lawrence. Secret Story of Sonia Rodriquez
Stratton, Allan. Leslie’s Journal
Su, Lac. I Love Yous are for White People
Tervalon, Jervey. Dead Above Ground
Williams, Lori Aurelia. When Kambia Elaine Flew In From Neptune
_____
Bean, Barbara and Shari Bennett. The Me Nobody Knows: A guide
for teen survivors.
Gil, Eliana. Outgrowing the Pain: A Book for and about Adults Abused as Children
Hunter. Mic. Abused Boys: The Neglected Victims of Sexual Abuse
Kirberger, Kimberly. Teen Love On Relationships
Levy, Barrie. In Love and Danger: a Teen’s Guide to Breaking Free of Abusive
Relationships
Mather Cynthia L. How Long Does It Hurt?: A Guide to Recovering from Incest and
Sexual Abuse for Teenagers, Their Friends, and Their Families
Pierce-Baker, Charlotte. Surviving the Silence: Black Women's Stories of Rape
Losing a Friend/Parent/Someone You Love
Colgrove, Melba. How to Survive the Loss of a Love
Desetta, Al. The Struggle to Be Strong: True Stories by Teens About Teens Overcoming
Tough Times.
Dower, Laura. I Will Remember You
Gootman, Marilyn E. When a Friend Dies: A Book for Teens about Grieving & Healing
Grollman, Earl A. Straight Talk about Death for Teenagers : How to Cope with Losing
Someone You Love
Other Worlds/Other Times
Beah, Ishmael. A Long Way Gone
Brown, Claude. Manchild in the Promised Land
Deng, Alphonsion. They Poured Fire on Us from the Sky: the True Story of Three Lost
Boys from Sudan
Golden, Arthur. Memoirs of a Geisha
Jal, Emmanuel. War Child: A Child Soldier’s Story.
Mathabane, Mark. Kaffir Boy: The True Story of a Black Youth’s Coming of Age in
Apartheid South Africa
McCormick, Patricia. Sold
Melendez, Miguel. We Took the Streets: Fighting for Latino Rights with the Young Lords
Opdyke, Irene Gut. In My Hands: Memoir of a Holocaust Rescuer
Shakur, Assata. Assata
Ung, Loung. First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers
Villasenor, Victor. Rain of Gold and following
Wright, Richard. Black Boy
Teens Speak Out
Dawsey ,Darrell. Living to Tell About It: Young Black Men in American Speak Their
Piece
Desetta, Al. The Heart Knows Something Different: Teenage Voices From the Foster
Care System
Desetta, Al. Things Get Hectic: Teens Write About the Violence That Surrounds Them
Desetta, Al. The Struggle to Be Strong: True Stories by Teens About Overcoming Tough
Times
Johnston, Andrea. Girls Speak Out: Finding Your True Self
Weill, Sabrina Solin. We’re Not Monsters: Teens Speak Out About Teens in Trouble
Violence/Overcoming Adversity
Alexie, Sherman. Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian
Atkin, Beth S. Gunstories: Life Changing Experiences with Guns
Baca, Jimmy Santiago. A Place to Stand
Bailey- Williams, Nicole. A Little Piece of Sky
Beah, Ishmael. A Long Way Gone
Brown, Cupcake. A Piece of Cake
Buckhanon, Kalisha. Upstate
Butterfield, Fox. All God’s Children: the Bosket Family and the American Tradition of
Violence
Canada, Geoffrey. Fist Stick Knife Gun (memoir and graphic novel).
Davis, Anthony. Yo, Little Brother: Basic Rules of Survival for Young African-American
Males
Davis, Sampson , et al. The Bond: Three Young Men Learn to Forgive and Reconnect
with Their Fathers
Davis, Sampson, et al. The Pact: Three Young Men Make a Promise and Fulfill a Dream
Elmore, John V. Fighting for Your Life: The African-American Criminal Justice Survival
Guide
Fields, Terri. Holdup
Flake, Sharon. Who Am I Without Him?
Gardener, Chris. Pursuit of Happyness
Gruwell, Erin. The Freedom Writer's Diary
Henry, Robin. No Mistakes: The African American Teen Guide to Growing Up Strong
Jal, Emmanuel. War Child: A Child Soldier’s Story.
Johnson, Guy. Standing at the Scratch Line
Khamisa, Azim. From Murder to Forgiveness
McCall, Nathan. Makes Me Wanna Holler
Mikaelsen, Ben. Touching Spirit Bear
Myers, Walter Dean. Autobiography of My Dead Brother
Scott, Elizabeth. Living Dead Girl
Shakur, Tupac. Rose that Grew from Concrete
Shiraz, Yasmin. Retaliation
Simon, David. The Corner: A Year in the Life of an Inner City Neighborhood
Sitomer, Alan Lawrence. Hoopster
Hip- Hop High School
Homeboyz
Soto, Gary. Afterlife
Trueman, Terry. Cruise Control
Ung, Loung. First They Killed My Father
VanZant, Iyanla.
Fun stuff – ask me about more:
Amason, Jessica and Richard Blakeley. This is Why You're Fat: Where Dreams
Become Heart Attacks.
Choron, Harry and Sandra. Look! It's Jesus!: Amazing Holy Visions in Everyday Life.
Eaton, Jim. Ghosts Caught on Film 2: Photographs of the Unexplained.
Fagerstrom, Derek and Smith, Lauren. Show Me How: 500 Things You Should Know
Instructions for Life From the Everyday to the Exotic.
Hart, Carey and Palmer, Chris. Inked.
Minguet, Eva. Tattoo Delirium.
Munro, Nicky and Sharon Spencer. Life in the Wild.
Nardone, Tom. Extreme Pumpkins II:
National Geographic Society. Weird but True! 300 Outrageous Facts.
Oser, Bodhi. Fuck this Book.
Smith, John. Inked: Clever, Odd and Outrageous Tattoos.
Thompson, Alicia. The Secret Language of Birthdays: Teen Edition.
Veasey, Nick. X-treme X-ray: See the World Inside Out!
Von D, Kat. High Voltage Tattoo.
Willin, Melvyn. Paranormal Caught on Film.