Mad Eden by Morgan Thomas, and I started the his dark materials books to read with my nephews.
Mad Eden is a difficult read. I don't really like the main characters. The book is good still. I wouldn't tell others not to read it.
His dark materials is great. Pullman does an awesome job of showing how confusing it is for young people to understand the complexities of navigating and growing into the adult world. Very anti religion too, which was part of why I got it for them.