Teen Books

A Dreamer’s Life Can Be Hell

ByMichael Thal October 30, 2021October 30, 2021

Zara Hossain wants to finish high school and go to college, but racists like Tyler Benson would prefer she and her ilk return to Pakistan.

The Koolura Series: How a YA Series is Born and Evolve

ByMichael Thal October 26, 2021October 26, 2021

When my oldest daughter was in sixth grade, I began writing the Koolura series. I was a reading specialist in Glendale, California working in a year-round school. During my off-time, I wrote. Channie hated to read. As a reading specialist, this was tantamount to revolution. Instead of arguing, I asked, “If I wrote a book with…

Who’s Worse? Beauty or the Beast

ByMichael Thal September 23, 2021September 23, 2021

Beauty, of Beauty and the Beast fame, is no angel. She plans to make herself queen of the realm using the Beast as her body guard.

A Rare Skin Disease Comes Out of the Closet

ByMichael Thal August 1, 2021August 1, 2021

Michael Bull Jr. suffers from typical teenage angst, but added to his plate is vitiligo, a rare skin disorder that changes everything for the adolescent.

Patches: A YA Coming of Age Novel

ByMichael Thal July 21, 2021July 21, 2021

Patches is a coming of age novel about a young man with vitiligo, a disease that causes the loss of skin color in blotches.

Space Opera Gets a Make-Over

ByMichael Thal July 21, 2021July 21, 2021

The Abduction of Joshua Bloom undergoes a complete make-over. Check out the new cover and reviews of this sci-fi groundbreaker.

A Writer’s Life: A Glimpse into a Writer’s Career During the Pandemic- Summer 2021

ByMichael Thal July 12, 2021July 13, 2021

During the pandemic I learned how to self-publish a book, and believe me, it’s not easy. Since August, 2020 I self-published The Abduction of Joshua Bloom, The Legend of Koolura, Koolura and the Mystery at Camp Saddleback, and finally, Koolura and the Mayans. All five books have new covers. I’m not an artist and when it comes to drawing,…

Evolution of a YA Series: Koolura and the Mayans (Part 3)

ByMichael Thal July 3, 2021July 3, 2021

The idea for Koolura and the Mayans came from a trip to Mexico.

Evolution of a YA Series: Koolura and the Mystery at Camp Saddleback (Part 2)

ByMichael Thal June 10, 2021June 10, 2021

The idea for the second book in the Koolura Series came during a trip visiting my daughter when she was in college.

2021 Summer Reading List for Tweens, Teens, and Adults

ByMichael Thal June 3, 2021June 3, 2021

Over the hot summer months, when you want to relax, there’s nothing better than a good book. Check out the seven books shown here that you are guaranteed to enjoy.