by SLJ Reviews

J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye has long been a classroom staple. These more recent titles offer narratives with similar themes, such as mental illness, family strife, and growing up.

William Golding's Lord of the Flies remains a riveting go-to, especially for units on the rise of brute force over democratic rule, and the need of society to protect the less able. These read-alikes, curated by the NCTE and SLJ, are intended to enrich the context, amplify the message, or offer an alternative view. 

S.E. Hinton's seminal work The Outsiders ushered in a golden age of young adult literature. Here are nine books that reflect on the same themes of friendship, class tension, and adolescence. 

These eight titles are great accompaniments to John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, as updated expansions on the novel's themes and its historical setting.

SLJ shares an exclusive excerpt of the first chapter of 'Jessi's Secret Language' (The Baby-sitters Club Graphic Novel, Bk. 12), adapted and illustrated by Chan Chau. 

Powerful women artists, poetry choices, and riveting historical fiction are featured in this month's starred works.

Music recommendations for the classroom, transitional books, and a lovely read for Mother's Day are included in this month's 41 starred reviews, spanning picture books, chapter books, middle grade, YA, and more.

In these two books, teens dealing with grief create A.­I. bots with mixed results.

Excellent audiobooks, stories to support social-emotional learning, and a handy guide to anime and manga are among this month's 26 starred reviews, spanning picture books, chapter books, middle grade, YA, and more.