Better with books : 500 diverse books to ignite empathy and encourage self-acceptance in tweens and teens /

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Featuring 500 diverse book recommendations covering a wide range of subjects, this preteen and teen reading guide is a "go-to resource for parents, students of young adult literature, teachers, and librarians" ( School Library Journal ).

Needed now more than ever- a guide that includes 500 reading recommendations for preteens and teens with the goal of inspiring greater empathy for themselves, their peers, and the world around them.

As young people are diagnosed with anxiety and depression in increasing numbers, or dealing with other issues that can isolate them from family and friends-such as bullying, learning disabilities, racism, or homophobia-characters in books can help them feel less alone. And just as important, reading books that feature a diverse range of real-life topics helps generate openness, empathy, and compassion in all kids. Reading lists are organized around topics, including-

. Adoption and foster care
. Body image
.Immigration
.Learning challenges
. LGBTQIA+ youth
. Mental health
. Nature and environmentalism
. Physical disability
. Poverty and homelessness
. Race and ethnicity
. Religion and spirituality

Each chapter explores a particular issue affecting preteens and teens today and includes a list of recommended related books-all published within the last decade. Recommendations are grouped by age- those appropriate for middle-grade readers and those for teens. Better with Books is a valuable resource for parents, teachers, librarians, therapists, and all caregivers who recognize the power of literature to improve young readers' lives.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Foreword (p. xi)
• Introduction (p. xiii)
• 1 Books About Adoption And Foster Care (p. 1)
• Reading Lists (p. 10)
• 2 Books About Body Image (p. 23)
• Reading Lists (p. 33)
• 3 Books About Immigration (p. 45)
• Reading Lists (p. 54)
• 4 Books About Learning Challenges (p. 67)
• Reading Lists (p. 77)
• 5 Books About LGBTQIA+ Youth (p. 89)
• Reading Lists (p. 99)
• 6 Books About Mental Health (p. 113)
• Reading Lists (p. 124)
• 7 Books About Nature And Environmentalism (p. 141)
• Reading Lists (p. 152)
• 8 Books About Physical Disability (p. 165)
• Reading Lists (p. 174)
• 9 Books About Poverty And Homelessness (p. 187)
• Reading Lists (p. 196)
• 10 Books About Race And Ethnicity (p. 211)
• Reading Lists (p. 220)
• 11 Books About Religion And Spirituality (p. 237)
• Reading Lists (p. 247)
• Acknowledgments (p. 260)
• Appendix: Resources for Parents, Teachers, Librarians, and Young Readers (p. 262)
• Further Reading (p. 265)
• Bibliography (p. 266)
• Index (p. 271)

Reviews provided by Syndetics

School Library Journal Review

This exceptionally useful text offers well-curated annotated bibliographies on subjects such as immigration, race and ethnicity, LGBTQIA+ identities, adoption, religion, and poverty, framed by brief and engaging essays on why each topic matters to readers today. Hart (Avenging the Owl) shares her personal connections to several issues, reflecting on how lacking or having the right story at the right time can make a world of difference to young people. Even with some appropriate overlap among lists and the wise focus on more recent titles, there is a feeling of abundance. Books vary widely in terms of genre and age level (with the occasional adult title featured), and Hart writes with an intersectional lens, considering within-group difference. Interviews with children's authors, including An Na, Chris Crutcher, Donna Gephart, Beth Vrabel, and Eric Gansworth, are seamlessly integrated and add insight, as do anecdotes from teachers and librarians. An introduction by author Sharon M. Draper and appendixes of additional resources and research further situate the book within the larger landscape of engagement with life-changing adolescent fiction. VERDICT Offering valuable reading lists, this beautifully organized work should become a go-to resource for parents, students of young adult literature, teachers, and librarians.--Miriam DesHarnais, Towson University, MD

Booklist Review

The middle- and high-school years are times of critical self-discovery; not an easy process, especially for those who are different from their classmates. Novels can give young readers touchstones, examples of people who are like them and who not only survive but do so while finding a place of acceptance. Books also build insight and empathy. Buttressed by insightful opening essays based on the compiler's own experiences, this guide covers approximately 500 books in 11 categories: adoption and foster care, body image, immigration, learning challenges, LGBTQIA+ youth, mental health, nature and environmentalism, physical disability, poverty and homelessness, race and ethnicity, and religion and spirituality. The reading lists which make up each chapter are divided into books for preteens and books for teens. The annotations give major plot points and are concisely and engagingly written. An appendix of sources for teachers, parents, and youth is included, as are a further reading list, a bibliography, and an index (unseen). An excellent resource for middle-and high-school librarians, this could also also serve as a reference source for counseling programs or for church youth programs.--Ann Welton Copyright 2019 Booklist

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Melissa Hart is contributing editor for The Writer Magazine and creative writing teacher for Southern New Hampshire University's MFA program. She holds a BA in literature from U.C. Santa Barbara's College of Creative Studies and an MFA in creative writing from Goddard College in Vermont. She's the author of the award-winning middle-grade novel Avenging the Owl and two memoirs-- Wild Within- How Rescuing Owls Inspired a Family and Gringa- A Contradictory Girlhood . She's based in Eugene, Oregon, and travels frequently around the U.S. with her husband and 12-year-old daughter. www.melissahart.com.