Soul searching; The millennial Generation; Strategies for Youth Workers
Author: David Overholt & James Penner
Publisher: Novalis

This book breaks down youth culture after the millennium and fills your head with an idea about the needs of youth today. It also provides some suggestions of principles that your ministry could use as a foundation, given the youth culture.

Contemplative Youth Ministry: Practising the Presence of Jesus
Author: Mark Yaconelli
Publisher: Youth Specialties

This book looks at the role of the church and youth leaders in creating an environment where youth feel safe, want to come to and grow. It contains lots of ideas that have helped to shape my practice of youth ministry.

Way to Live: Christian Practices for Teens
Editor: Dorothy Bass and Don Richter
Publisher: Upper Room Books

This is a must have book, and is a great gift for confirmation! It breaks down issues facing the lives of youth into Christian practices. It is a theologically sound book that helps youth learn to practice a Christian lifestyle.

Practising Passion
Author: Kenda Creasy Dean
Publisher: Eerdmans

This book looks at the gift youth have for being passionate. It uses theology to develop a framework for youth ministry, which is based on youth passion. This is a tough read, but very worthwhile!

Jesus for President
Author: Shane Claiborne & Chris Haw
Publisher: Zondervan

Per the Chapters summary: "Amid all the buzz of politics and elections, Jesus for President is a refreshing reminder that our ultimate hope lies not in partisan political options but in the Jesus who gave his life for us. Politics for ordinary radicals who want to love the world into the kingdom of God.

The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical
Author: Shane Claiborne
Publisher: Zondervan

Per the Powell's book review-a-day: "[A] stunning book, utterly compelling, part autobiography, part theological treatise. It's also unbelievably accessible, and chockfull of the kind of passion and eloquence that can cause one to seriously ruminate over the nature of the life that he or she lives."

The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical