19: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie (2007 paperback, borrowed)

This book came out a few years back, but it recently made the news because high schools are banning it.  In a nutshell: these book-burning, oppressive zealots are fucking idiots.

I read a lot of TeenLit, but this is something special: a compelling, realistic story of adolescence told by a Native American male dealing with the challenges of living in two cultures--the Spokane Indian Reservation and a white high school in a neighboring farm town.  For the young narrator, both places are fraught with danger and filled with joy.  The book is honest, funny, and heartbreaking.  And it has the real possibility of opening teens to new cultures and ideas because they will be able to relate to a character outside themselves.  

If they are allowed to read it.