Flight by Sherman Alexie

Sherman Alexie really knows how to begin a book for teens. As with The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Alexie begins this book with a bang. The voice of the main character invites the reader to call him Zits. Immediately, every teen can identify with this person, and his struggles to accept himself even while hating that part of himself. Zits then goes on to give a description of his transitory lifestyle, one that takes him from foster home to foster home. By the end of the first chapter he has again gotten himself kicked out of another home and the cops are chasing him.
Alexie is an expert at capturing the impulsiveness of teenagers, that characteristic that makes adults think, "Why in the world would you do something like that?" Zits is the embodiment of this, never seeming to consider the consequences of his actions. These actions lead him to entering a bank with two guns - one a paint gun, one a real pistol - at which point he begins to experience an unreal time distortion. Through his time traveling experiences, Zits must learn to consider consequences, think through whether or not he actually wants to use the guns that are in his pockets.
While Flight enters the realm of science fiction with its time travel aspect, it still belongs squarely in regular fiction. Zits' travels are really just a way for him to become exposed to a world beyond his experience, where being entirely self-centered is not an option. This is a fantastic book for teens, readers and non-readers alike, easy and quick to read, while at the same time dealing with very difficult subjects.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

From the very beginning of this book, it is obvious why it is one of the most popular teen books out there right now. The main character of the book, Junior, wastes no time in explaining to the reader why he is an outcast and a loser, not only in his small town, but also at his school. Every teen can immediately identify with him, no matter what their background. Junior goes on to describe what most teens can't identify with, what most of them know absolutely nothing about: life on an Indian Reservation. He describes it in unflinching detail, with all of the worst, and best, parts included.
Junior's story follows him as he realizes that the only way he'll escape the trap of the reservation is to go to the white high school. By taking this step he is putting himself in the position of outcast at his new school, and traitor to his old one. Junior must learn to deal with the everyday struggles of his new school while also dealing with the prejudice of his tribe, including his former best friend.
This book is incredibly honest and forthright about the struggles that Junior faces. It is also incredibly funny. This is a fantastic book for teens, especially reluctant readers, as the subject matter, and Junior's illustrations, will really get them into the story.