Community-Wide Reads: Young Adult Adaptations of Bestselling Books

By Tim Cheng | December 22 2016 | All-School ReadsCommunity Reads

Many times, when communities consider books for a common reading experience, they are taking into account the entire makeup of their group or groups of people. This undoubtedly includes families with young children and/or teenagers, and what better way to bring this collective group together than to appeal to all age groups?

When a book becomes bestselling, it pervades a variety of subsets of community members – and it becomes a great choice for a community-wide reading selection as a result. Books like Boys in a Boat, The Omnivore’s Dilemma, and Mountains Beyond Mountains are all perfect examples of these selections. In recent years, book publishers have begun to release editions of best-selling books for different age groups. Here, for example, a community-wide program might spotlight an adult title and concurrently offer younger readers and young adults an adapted version of the same book. The public library would provide copies of all editions, as well as multiple circulating copies for those who do not wish to own them.

Programming could be both overlapping and differentiated, with the concept of community broadening to residents at large, and narrowing to discussions around the family dinner table.

This extent of programming would require a lot of planning and publicity, but isn’t necessary – simply choosing a book with multiple editions appealing to different reading levels is a wonderful way to truly make it a common reading experience. Here are some suggested book titles to try: good luck and most importantly, have fun!

 

 

The True Story of an American Team's Epic Journey to Win Gold at the 1936 Olympics
9780147516855
Soon to be a major motion picture directed by George ClooneyThe New York Times bestselling young readers adaptation of The Boys in the Boat, now in paperback with bonus content!
Paperback
Age 10 and up
Grade 5 & Up

Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics
9780143125471
Brown's "breathtaking" (The Seattle Times) book tells the story of the University of Washington's 1936 eight-oar crew and their epic quest for an Olympic gold medal, a team that transformed the sport and grabbed the attention of millions of Americans. The sons of loggers, shipyard workers, and farmers, the boys defeated elite rivals first from eastern and British universities and finally the German crew rowing for Adolf Hitler in the Olympic games in Berlin, 1936.
Paperback

An Olympian's Journey from Airman to Castaway to Captive
9780385742511
The #1 New York Times bestseller--soon to be a major motion picture--has now been adapted by the author for young adults. Beautifully illustrated throughout, this riveting biography includes more than 100 black-and-white photos.
Hardcover
Age 12 and up
Grade 7 & Up

A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption
9780812974492
In boyhood, Louis Zamperini was an incorrigible delinquent. As a teenager, he channeled his defiance into running, discovering a prodigious talent that had carried him to the Berlin Olympics. But when World War II began, the athlete became an airman, embarking on a journey that led to a doomed flight on a May afternoon in 1943. When his Army Air Forces bomber crashed into the Pacific Ocean, against all odds, Zamperini survived, adrift on a foundering life raft. Ahead of Zamperini lay thousands of miles of open ocean, leaping sharks, thirst and starvation, enemy aircraft, and, beyond, a trial even greater. Driven to the limits of endurance, Zamperini would answer desperation with ingenuity; suffering with hope, resolve, and humor; brutality with rebellion. His fate, whether triumph or tragedy, would be suspended on the fraying wire of his will.
Paperback

The Secret Strengths of Introverted Kids
9780147509925
Ideal for parents and teachers of quiet kids, the monumental bestseller Quiet has been recast in a new edition that focuses on introverted kids and teens.
Paperback
Age 10 and up
Grade 5 & Up

The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking
9780307352156
A paradigm-shifting book that shows how dramatically our culture has come to misunderstand and undervalue introverts and gives introverts the tools to take full advantage of their strengths
Paperback

Picture Book Edition
9780803735118
The picture book retelling of the New York Times bestseller • Now a Netflix film starring and directed by Chiwetel Ejiofor! A lyrical and gloriously illustrated true story of one boy’s determination to help his community that shows how—even in the worst of times—a great idea and hard work can rock the world.When a terrible drought struck William Kamkwamba's tiny village in Malawi, his family lost all of the season's crops, leaving them with nothing to eat and nothing to sell. William began to explore science books in his village library, looking for a solution. There, he came up with the idea that would change his family's life forever: he could build a windmill. Made out of scrap metal and old bicycle parts, William's windmill brought electricity to his home and helped his family pump the water they needed to farm the land.Retold for a younger audience, this exciting memoir shows how, even in a desperate situation, one boy's brilliant idea can light up the world. Complete with photographs, illustrations, and an epilogue that will bring readers up to date on William's story, this is the perfect edition to read and share with the whole family.
Hardcover
Age 6-8 years
Grades 1-3

Young Readers Edition
9780147510426
The New York Times bestselling memoir of the heroic young inventor who brought electricity to his Malawian village adapted for young readers.
Paperback
Age 10 and up
Grade 5 & Up

The True Story of a Boy Determined to Reunite with His Mother
9780385743280
Based on and rewritten from the Random House adult work Enrique's Journey by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Sonia Nazario.
Paperback
Age 12 and up
Grade 7 & Up

The Story of a Boy's Dangerous Odyssey to Reunite with His Mother
9780812971781
In this astonishing true story, award-winning journalist Sonia Nazario recounts the unforgettable odyssey of a Honduran boy who braves unimaginable hardship and peril to reach his mother in the United States.
Paperback

Young Readers Edition
9781101993835
The New York Times bestseller that’s changing America’s diet is now perfect for younger readers 
Paperback
Age 10 and up
Grade 5 & Up

A Natural History of Four Meals
9780143038580
Repackaged for its tenth anniversary, The Omnivore's Dilemma continues to revolutionize the way Americans think about the politics, perils, and pleasures of eating
Paperback

The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, A Man Who Would Cure the World
9780385743198
The inspirational true story of Dr. Paul Farmer, whose humanity and dedication to a global cause led him to make a difference in the world of healthcare and disease, especially in Haiti.
Paperback
Age 12 and up
Grade 7 & Up

The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World
9780812980554
A beautiful new Deluxe Edition of this brilliant New York Times bestseller by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Tracy Kidder, includes new material
Paperback

9780385741682
For fans of The Wire and Unbroken comes a story of two fatherless boys from Baltimore, both named Wes Moore. One is in prison, serving a life sentence for murder. The other is a Rhodes Scholar, an army veteran, and the author of this book.
Paperback
Age 12 and up
Grade 7 & Up

One Name, Two Fates
9780385528207
Two boys with the same name lived in the same decaying city. One went on to be a Rhodes Scholar, decorated combat veteran, White House Fellow, and business leader. The other is serving a life sentence in prison. Here is the story of two young men and the journey of a generation.
Paperback

The Story of a Refugee Soccer Team That Changed a Town
9780385741958
The true story of a refugee youth soccer team that changed a town.
Paperback
Age 12 and up
Grade 7 & Up

An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman's Quest to Make a Difference
9780385522045
Outcasts United is the story of a refugee soccer team, a remarkable woman coach and a small southern town turned upside down by the process of refugee resettlement.
Paperback