Benefits of Reading

Expands your Vocabulary

Improves Communication Skills

Develops Analytical Skills

Memory Booster

Enhances your Ability to Focus

Reduces Stress

Improves Writing Skills

Helps Prioritize Goals

Secure Better Jobs

Manage Personal Lives

Advocate for Yourself

Enhance your Imagination and Creativity

Books for ages 0-10 will go to boys and girls in our Foster Care program. Books for girls ages 11-18 will go to our Residential Programs and books for girls ages 18-24 will go to young women in our Shepherd Hall Transitions program.

Guidelines for Books

  • All books must be paperback – no hard covered books can be accepted
  • Books for children ages 0-10 can target both boys and girls
  • Books for teens ages 11-24 should target girls/young women

Suggested Paperback Books for teens

*Most are available online, may not be available in-store

Bronxwood- Coe Booth

Brown Girl Dreaming - Jacqueline Woodson

Careers - DK Publishing

Children of Eden - Joey Graceffa

Dear Yvette - Ni-Ni Simone

Every Shut Eye Ain’t Asleep: An Anthology of African American Poetry - Michael Harper

Holding Up The Universe - Jennifer Nivel

Jokelopedia: The Biggest, Best, Silliest, Dumbest Joke Book Ever - Eva Blank

Letters to a Young Sister: DeFINE Your Destiny - Hill Harper

Monster: The Graphic Novel - Walter Dean Myers

Please Read (If At All Possible): The Girl Project - Kate Engelbrecht

Poetry Speaks Who I Am - Elise Paschen

The Boy in the Black Suit - Jason Reynolds

The Girl From Everywhere - Heidi Heilig

The Hollow City - Ransom Riggs

The Selection (a series) - Kiera Cass

The Sun Is Also A Star - Nicola Yoon

The Throne of Glass - Sarah J. Maas

True You: A Journey to Finding and Loving Yourself - Janet Jackson

What Light - Jay Asher

Books That Don’t Work

The classics

Romance novelists like Danielle Steele or Norah Roberts

Mystery writers like John Grisham

Serious adult novels

“Suburban” themed series like Shopaholics or Gossip Girls

Books about organizational leadership, etc.

Guidelines for Backpacks

  • All backpacks should be for children (boys and girls) ages 5-21
  • Largest area of need is for girls ages 11-18
  • Backpacks can be:
  • Empty
  • Full of Books (see guidelines above)
  • Full of School Supplies (see guidelines below)
  • Suggested School Supplies
  • Blue or Black Pens
  • Notebooks (No Wire Binding)
  • Lined Paper (Loose)
  • Colored Pencils
  • Markers
  • Index Cards
  • 2-Pocket Folders
  • Scissors
  • Glue Stick