As a singer myself (not to mention a lover of snarky humor), I was not surprised at the immediate popularity of FOX’s new show, Glee.  Although, the guidance counselor has rapidly gone from cute and quirky to disturbing and sad, and both of the pregnancy storylines are completely absurd… but I digress.

If your patrons gush to you about Glee, why not share some of these reads with them:

How I Changed My Life by Todd Strasser.
Is it possible that this 1995 YA novel held some inspiration for Glee? High school nobody Bo decides it’s time for a life makeover senior year when she finds herself working on the school play alongside a  hunky football player, Kyle.  Fast-paced with funny dialogue.

To Be Someone by Louise Voss.
Part of what has people buzzing about Glee is the show’s use of old favorite songs, which has everyone running to iTunes the next day. (Admit it, YOU LIKE JOURNEY.)   Voss’ book follows the rise of a British rock group and the eventual crash landing of Helena, the lead singer.  Each chapter is punctuated by an 80s-90s Britpop song which will drum up memories.

Rats Saw God by Rob Thomas.
This YA book features snarky high school humor and a realistic look at what life is really like for teens.  In an effort to pass his English class, 18-year-old Steve  has to write a 100-page essay about his life, giving him a chance to reflect on his four years of high school, from drugs to pranks to the most realistic “first time” scene ever.

Election by Tom Perrotta.
A satirical look at high school politics, Perrotta’s novel (famously made into a movie which made me weep for an aged Ferris Bueller) explores the painful truth about teenage life – it’s all a popularity contest and it sucks.  Glee’s Rachel has got to be related to the novel’s Tracy Flick, somehow.

How I Paid for College: a Novel of Sex, Theft, Friendship & Musical Theater by Mark Acito
When Eddie’s dad tells him he won’t pay for Juilliard, Eddie and his overly-dramatic friends decide that petty crime is the way to go, including blackmail and setting up a fake scholarship fund.   Over-the-top funny with a  pitch perfect teenage voice.  Followed by Attack of the Theatre People.

Dedication by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus.
29-year old Kate realizes she hasn’t really left high school behind when her former flame, now a major pop star, comes back to town.  Jake has spent the last decade turning their brief relationship in to a string of pop hits, and Kate wants some closure.  Readers will love the chapters set in their high school days.

The Sopranos by Alan Warner.
Not everyone’s cup of tea (a bit on the rough side and very Scottish), this novel follows the all-girls choir from Our Lady of Perpetual Succor through a weekend of pub crawling, snogging, and shoplifting.