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Home ** Books Of Our Generation! **

A survey was sent out to schools in central Iowa asking teens (ages 13-14) what their favorite book series and titles were. The most common result of the series survey was the __Twilight Saga__ by Stephenie Meyer.

The __Twilight__ phenomenon is taking the world by storm, and this is probably not news to any teenage girls, or, well, anyone interested in an addicting love story. The heart-throb vampire and outside-the-box human couple make normal relationship issues seem like nothing. The books are all based on the theme of the forbidden fruit, Bella being the nondescript human girl who is truly off limits to Edward, the hundred year old gorgeous vampire turned good. The saga consists of four books: __Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn.__ Critics everywhere are raving about the series, and the movies hit the top of the box office every time a new installment is released. Recently, __New Moon__, the second book in the engrossing series was released, and shot right to the top of the box office the first day it was open to the public. The fan base of the highly successful series has grown a LOT since the movies have been released, and it will only get bigger as the rest of the movies are released.

The Alex Rider series by Anthony Harowitz, __The Gossip Girl__ Series by Cecily Von Ziegesar,and __House of Night__ series by P.C. and Kristen Cast are also very popular among the group of surveyed teens.

Anthony Harowitz writes about a 14 year old spy, Alex Rider, who usually is sent deep undercover for an agency, M-I6, that tries to expose evil plots conducted by fiends intent on destroying the world. As he travels around for the different operations M-I6 sends him on, Alex is forced to deal with regular teenage issues as well as the problems that arise concerning his job. Evil plots are everywhere as far as Rider is concerned, and that very factor makes the books so very captivating. Filled with constant action, readers will quickly be drawn into the fast paced life of Alex Rider and the relationships he makes, whether positive or negative.

__The House of Night__ series is about a special boarding school with an exclusive student population: NO HUMANS ALLOWED. This addicting series is about a group of friends fighting to keep their lives as normal as possible while living in a vampyre community. Main character Zoey Redbird has to deal with WAY more than the average sixteen year old should. Mean girls, the drama of boys, oh- and being dubbed the new High Priestess in Training are only a few of the things she gets to worry about. As Zoey struggles to merge the person she really wants to be, and the vampyre she is forced to be, she will be forced to make decisions that could change the way vampyres and humans live, and not necessarily for the better. The series consists of six books: __Marked, Betrayed, Chosen, Untamed, Hunted__, and the newest installation, __Tempted__. This exciting series is one you cannot stop reading, and the surveyed teens agree.

The __Gossip Girl__ books are about a group of upper east side New Yorkers who love living the charmed life. Gossip Girl is a popular blogger whose identity is forever hidden as she reports what goes on in the large group of friends, enemies, allies, and traitors. You never know what the characters will do next, and suspense is common upon waiting for their next move. High school at Constance Billard is never boring to read about, and these exciting books are a must read for teens in this age group. The series is composed of many books featuring the main characters throughout their mischievous years of high school, but there is also a series that branches out from a character, Jenny, after she moves from Constance Billard to a new boarding school. __The It Girl__ series is also very popular with kids in the surveyed age group.

The most common book title is __Where the Red Fern Grows__ by Wilson Rawls. This book is a heartfelt story about a boy living in the Ozarks bonding with his two hunting dogs who, like many loved pets, become his best friends. When one of the two dogs is killed by a mountain lion, and the other dies of a broken heart, the main character has to deal with the loss of his two closest friends. This book is a tear jerker for sure which could be why this is one of the most loved books of our generation.

Another popular book that came up in the series was __A Child Called It__ by Dave Pelzer. __A Child Called It__ is a true story about a young boys struggle throughout his childhood as he deals with his abusive mother and recessive father. As he struggles to hide his abuse from teachers he is tormented everyday by his peers for the clothes he wears and his meek attitude. As Dave tries to remain himself and be strong through all the years of torture, he finally realizes that he doesn't have to put up with the mistreatment inflicted by his mother. Tears will surely come as you read about David's struggle to not let his parents control his life in such a horrible way. A very mature read for everyone, not just for 13-14 year-olds, but for everyone who is in the mood for an inspiring story

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