Titles for teens

Young people gravitate to books that take them out of this world. Science fiction and fantasy novels were top picks when Anita Silvey surveyed 2,000 11- to 18-year-olds for her new book, "500 Great Books for Teens."

The fantasy novel "Airborn," by Kenneth Oppel , was one of the titles that kept coming up, says Silvey, a longtime editor, publisher, and professor of children's literature. "He is not as well known as J. K. Rowling but he should be," she adds.

Other novels Silvey recommends for 10- to 14-year-olds are the futuristic "Mortal Engines," by Philip Reeve ; the funny "Fat Kid Rules the World," by K. L. Going; and the Victorian mystery "Montmorency," by Eleanor Updale.

More authors from other countries (Oppel is from Canada and Reeve from England) are gaining traction here. Two favorites from Australia are fantasy writer Garth Nix and Jaclyn Moriarty , whose novels hew closer to real life in a funny way. And Cornelia Funke , Germany's most popular fantasy novelist for young adults, is now one of America's as well.

Recent bestsellers with young protagonists have also captivated teenage readers . Think of "Life of Pi," "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time," and "The Secret Life of Bees." The last -- with 14-year-old Lily at the heart of a Southern Gothic tale -- may even be the "To Kill a Mockingbird" of our time.

Six local literary magazines are finding synergy en masse. In March, Ploughshares, Agni, Post Road, Salamander, Quick Fiction, and Redivider jointly hosted an evening that attracted an overflow crowd of 120 literary types. Now the journals are throwing a free holiday party at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Paradise Lounge.

Instead of reading from their work, Pagan Kennedy, Scott Heim, Daphne Kalotay, and Elizabeth Searle will put their own twist on song lyrics. It's a proven formula for hilarity. A dramatic reading of "I Touch Myself" brought down the house at a recent Post Road party, according to publisher Mary Cotton.

Elizabeth Berg's new novel is quite unlike the contemporary domestic dramas of her earlier books. "The Handmaid and the Carpenter" tells the story of Mary, Joseph, and miracles. Berg will appear at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Brookline Booksmith.

"The Brotherhoods: The True Story of Two Cops Who Murdered for the Mafia," by Guy Lawson and William Oldham (Scribner)

"The Baffle Book: Fifteen Fiendishly Challenging Detective Puzzles," by Lassiter Wren and Randle McKay (Godine)

"Christmas in New England," by Amy Whorf McGuiggan (Commonwealth )

"Hannibal Rising," by Thomas Harris (Delacorte)

The Concord Bookshop in Concord recommends "Adèle and Simon" (Farrar, Straus & Giroux), by Barbara McClintock: "This book follows two children, Adèle and Simon, in their wanderings home from school through Paris. Simon's lost belongings appear on every page for the reader to find, making the book a more sophisticated and Parisian 'Where's Waldo?' 'Adèle and Simon' is enjoyable for anyone who appreciates France, art, and history."

Jan Gardner can be reached at JanLGardner@yahoo.com.