Reading Rants! Out of the Ordinary Teen Booklists!

Fourteen year old Zimmerman is sort of different from other guys his age in that, well, he’s pretty on fire for God. But not in a sanitized- organized-religion-kind-of-way, more like a historical-philosophical-why-are-we-all-here-kind-of-way. Which strangely enough, gets him in trouble with his rich yuppie parents who keep wondering why he doesn’t cut loose and go completely crazy like a “normal” teenager. Then, Zim’s parents get “born again” into this kooky island religion that Zimmerman sees through instantly. Suddenly, they are proclaiming that he was right all along and want to cast him in the role of “teen Messiah.” Well, Zim’s having no part of that, and what he does to throw them off his track is totally surprising. This book will leave you pondering whether the difference between right and wrong is absolute, or really just depends on the circumstance.

Todd has totally fallen for Laurel, his little sister Marnie’s babysitter. She is preppy, distant and completely mysterious. But when Marnie starts having bad dreams about evil and hellfire, Todd realizes that it’s because Laurel is filling Marnie’s head with her own special brand of Christian fundamentalism. Todd finds himself torn between his desire for Laurel and his distaste with her personal convictions. Things heat up even more when a local church group, of which Laurel’s mom is a member, pressure the school to remove certain books from the library. Todd starts thinking long and hard about his views on religion, censorship and individual responsibility. The implications and consequences of this novel will hurt your head (but in a good way).

It’s pretty hard being a preacher’s daughter. Between dealing with her hardcore, Bible-verse-spouting dad and making excuses for her mid-life-crisis mom, Charity Pittman is just plain tired. Then artist Adrianne Dabney swirls into town from New York City and ends up turning Charity’s whole world upside down and back to front. Adrianne locks herself up in her house for a month in complete darkness as part of a “sensory deprivation” project that she hopes will enhance her artistic vision. But the only vision she ends up having is one of Jesus Christ sitting in her living room chair. Well, when that little news item gets out, all hell breaks loose-literally. The little town becomes sharply divided between those who want to worship the “Jesus chair” and those, including Charity’s dad, who believe the chair is an instrument of the devil. Charity finds herself in the awkward position of being somewhere in the middle, since she wants to support her dad, but has also fallen under Adrianne’s intoxicating spell. A little book with a big message that suggests we’re responsible for making our own miracles.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all of a sudden the meaning of life became completely clear to you? Like, for once you finally understood the purpose in your body and soul being placed on this planet? That’s how 18 year old Mitch feels when he travels to Israel for the first time on a class trip. Suddenly, his Jewish heritage is more than just window dressing. Mitch decides that he wants to stay in Israel and study Judaism, maybe even switch over his citizenship. But Mitch’s friends and family in the United States are terrified that he has been brainwashed by some extreme Jewish group, especially his cousin Carlie. So Carlie and Mitch’s mom go to Israel in hopes of luring Mitch into coming back home, and what happens to them there changes everybody’s lives forever. A good solid story about how much identity can be shaped by religion.

Dorry didn’t just wake up one day and find herself somehow changed into a religious fanatic. She got that way through the insidious and careful coaxing of a group called Fishers of Men. The Fishers are a radical Christian cult that lure new-kid Dorry into their midst with bright smiles, accepting arms, and best of all–a sense of belonging in a new and bewildering high school. Dorry loves being a part of the Fishers–at first. Then she starts to notice how much the Fishers are really asking of her. She is constantly hounded to convert new members, to follow a rigid caste system within the group, even blow off homework to attend numerous Fisher meetings. Suddenly, Dorry’s not sure if she’s a devoted believer or a crazed fanatic. When Dorry is fired from her babysitting job for scaring the kids with stories of hell, she re-thinks the whole Fisher thing and decides she’ll take spirituality on her own terms–not someone else’s. An excellent read with a timely warning–that you can’t always judge a cult by its cover.

Marina and Jed are at the top of a mountain waiting for the end of the world. Sounds kinda romantic, doesn’t it? It would be if it wasn’t for the fact that their families are part of a religious group that believes the end is near and has sequestered all “true believers” on top of Mount Weeupcut to wait…and wait…and wait. Along with stirrings of interest in each other, Jed and Marina are also staring to feel stirrings of doubt that the world is actually going to end like their fearless leader, Rev. Beelson, has predicted. And Marina REALLY starts to feel uneasy when she notices that the camp supplies include guns–lots of them. Even though Jed has never totally been sure that the world is going to crash and burn, he is starting to feel like he’d rather be somewhere else if it does. But before either of them realize it, the eve of Armageddon is upon them and they have fallen in love. Who will live? Who will die? And will the world REALLY end? Find out in this two-cool thriller co-authored by teen lit. laureates Jane Yolen (Marina’s voice) and Bruce Coville (Jed’s voice).

A gentle and fun intro. to Buddhist principles, Mango claims to be the “recently discovered” journal of “J.”, an aimless young botanist who has been sent by The Man to scout out an island paradise for the purpose of building a fruit packing plant on it. But instead, J. falls in the love with the beautiful island of Sakahara and its inhabitants, especially the village wiseman, Katchumo. Katchumo’s teachings turn J.’s capitalist sensibilities into introspective musings, and J. decides to damn The Man and seek life’s answers for himself. Call it kinda a Jonathan Livingston Seagull for the 90′s.