He's a SENIOR and you're soliciting an anonymous message board for book suggestions? Well, that explains the noise I heard - it was your helicopter.

Anonymous wrote:You could also try the Outsiders.

Not for 12th grade - that's a middle school book.

Agree that it doesn't have to be about a mundane life - you can contrast when you compare.

How about something set in a different culture - that way the comparisons can be about cultures, not just the details of his life.

In 12th grade, my DD did "A Separate Peace" and DS did "Jungle Book." Sorry I can't help more but to say they're both in college now!
Also, Amazon books breaks down book categories: book/teen literature, etc. with plot summaries and reviews. May be worth a look.

What about something like 1984 or Brave New World, where he can compare the conditions in the futuristic society to the conditions in his current society?

A Clockwork Orange?

You could also try the Outsiders.

OP here, when I said pretty average existence it came off totally wrong, it's more that I feel that I see a lot of books that deal with landmark moments in a persons life or other issues. He doesn't have any of that. The assignment is for 12 grade English and was to relate a book to your life. I also thought of HP and Catcher in the Rye, but I think HP isn't the type of thing she is looking for and Catcher in the Rye is like the cop out quintessential coming of age book.

Anonymous wrote:He should go talk to his school librarian, if there is one! That's what librarians excell at.

Ditto.

I know I know he should really do this himself but 10 pages is a lot of writing and he needs some direction on what book to choose. The book has something that he can somehow relate and contrast to his life. He has a pretty average existence and it's hard to find a book like that.

PLEASE any ideas!

What???

Catcher in the Rye is the old standard if they haven't already read that multiple times. but agree with PP that it could be any topic - the point is to contrast. What about something like Secret Life of Bees.

Is the assignment that he should relate the book to his life, or is that your idea of how to make the assignment approachable? Either way, it seems as though you don't need a book about a "pretty average existence" just because that's how regular life is. My child isn't a wizard, but he could compare himself to Harry Potter--the dopey friend and his family that is cooler than HP's own family, the loyal pet, etc.

He should go talk to his school librarian, if there is one! That's what librarians excell at.

What grade?

I know I know he should really do this himself but 10 pages is a lot of writing and he needs some direction on what book to choose. The book has something that he can somehow relate and contrast to his life. He has a pretty average existence and it's hard to find a book like that.

PLEASE any ideas!