When She Hollers by Cynthia Voigt, because it gives great hope and strength to anyone who's been sexually abused (that's at least 1 in 3 girls), and helps all readers see that we can fight back and protect ourselves, no matter what's happened to us. Peeling the Onion by Wendy Orr, because it can help teens grapple with overwhelming physical pain and the emotional effects, and show them that healing is possible. Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt, because it inspires strength and protectiveness of others, and shows readers that there is hope in finding safety, love, and a home if they don't have that.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, because, through metaphor, it helps the reader understand how horrible violence and oppression is.īreathing Underwater by Alex Flinn, because it comes from the perspective of an abusive boy, and it may help some readers who have those tendencies or who bully to come away with greater awareness of what their actions do. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, because it helps sexual abuse survivors know they're not alone, and it helps other readers understand, and maybe respond with a bit more compassion.Ĭrank by Ellen Hopkins, because it helps teens see on a deep level how doing drugs hurts and destroys you. I want to list so many more, because there are so many books that make such a positive difference! But here are a few: If you were to create a list of 5 to 10 books a High School teacher should have in their classroom library, what would they be and why?

Scars cheryl