I just read an interesting article about Young Adult literature and why adults should read it. It's interesting to me that the legitimacy of YA lit is still in question, considering the number of incredible, award-winning titles that have been published in the last several decades as the category becomes more popular. If you haven't explored YA lit yet, promise me you will. I read it for years before I became a teen librarian, and I know I'll be reading it for the rest of my life. While I enjoy a good adult book, there is nothing more refreshing than the sense of hope and discovery that can be found between the pages of a good YA book. Even the darkest genres convey a feeling of wonder and lack the cynicism of adult books, perhaps because these characters have their whole lives ahead of them. I've listed some recommendations below, and I welcome comments about your favorites.
Modern classics:
Teens are all about currency. In fact, their demographic sets many trends for the rest of us. Music, fashion, film, literature: It's all about what teens love and their tastes are constantly shifting. However, every once in a while there's a book that has a certain aura about it, and you can just tell that it will not only define a generation, it will be relatable to readers hundreds of years from now. Among these books is the Harry Potter series, and Sherman Alexie's incredible Absolutely True Diaries of a Part-Time Indian. OK, every reader is different, but to me, this book is perfect. This authentic, funny, deep, heart-felt, elegantly written book will go down in history as one of the greatest YA books ever written. And the audiobook (read by the author) is an incredible experience in its own right.
Emerging Genres:
The predominant trend in YA lit right is Dystopias. These books feature worlds that are often quite similar to our own, or portray a very clear vision of our future, and the protagonists endeavor to free themselves from the binds of a tyrannical government. What can be more typically teen than the struggle to find ones own individually and fight for independence in a world controlled by adults with their own agendas? I think we can all relate to that one. You've all heard of The Hunger Games, and if you loved it or are still waiting for your hold to come in, try one of these great reads: The Knife of Never Letting Go or Lauren Oliver's Delirium.
Maybe you're a steampunk fan? If you love Jules Verne or contemporary writers like Paolo Bacigalupi or Cheri Priest, you may adore Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan or Eoin Colfer's Airman.
Realistic Fiction:
Do you love reading stories about people like you, people that you could meet on the street or in the library? Me too. I love character-based books filled with revelations about what it means to be a friend, a child, a student, a human today. Books like Please Ignore Vera Dietz, Last Summer of the Death Warriors, The Canning Season, The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks and Love is the Higher Law.
Historical Fiction:
Lovers of history will not want to miss the fascinating, densely written and elaborately titled The Astonishing Live of Octavian Nothing, or the richly emotional Folly.
Thrillers:
Loved The Lovely Bones? Then try Stolen or The Missing Girl. Or, if you like your thrillers with a bit of a psycho-supernatural flavor a la Steven King (with a dash of Dexter), try I Am Not A Serial Killer.
Fantasy:
As you may know, there is a lot of fantasy in YA lit. A lot. You may think you're reading a mystery or a romance or some other genre, then find you are also reading a fantasy. There's a lot to chose from! Fans of Tolkien may love the books of Jonathan Stroud. If you like Miriam Zimmer Bradley, than don't miss Graceling. Terry Pratchett fans: if you haven't read Sir Terry's smart and hilarious Wee Free Men, you must. Hurry. Finally, if you like your fantasy modern, with a bit of steamy romance, try the fabulous Hold Me Closer, Necromancer.
There are so many more great YA books. Stop by the Young Adult Reference desk sometime and we'll overwhelm you with even more recommendations!
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