If you like animal books (I collect them, too), then I can strongly recommend anything by Terhune, Meek, or Hinkle. They're pretty easy reading, not too long, and excellent storytelling--and out of print (they're OLD), so you have to either find them used or at the library. And Hank the Cowdog? There are 44 books in that series, and I own them all. You can start anywhere in the series; it's not necessary to read the first ones in order to figure out what's going on. In fact, a lot of the books on this list are probably in the YA section of your local library.

Lawhead has a YA series as well, which I can recommend unconditionally (I own all his books as well). He writes a lot of Celtic historical fantasy novels, and weighty Christian historical tomes as well. I love all his books, and got the idea of Spike's faith being challenged for "Mustard Seed" from them.

You might know Edgar Rice Burroughs better as the author of the Tarzan series (yes, they were books before they were a Disney movie). The Mars books are a guilty pleasure for me, since they're full of Sues and Stus, but hey...good storytelling again, high adventure, lots of fun. Same thing with the Jacques books--you know exactly who's good and who's evil, and they're a fun read as well.

I couldn't get through Tolkien's trilogy when I was in high school either; it was boring to me back then. Maybe when you're older you can revisit them and they'll have more meaning for you.

Heh. You got me talking about books...