Get Yer YA Recommendations Here!

Cassidy · Apr 28, 2012

Rina Evans said:
Any lighthearted gay/lesbian ya contemporary romance and coming of age? Something fun and funny, like a romantic comedy. (Angst is not forbidden, though)

"Way To Go" by Tom Ryan. Brand new Canadian contemporary novel. The MC is a gay teen. Funny and sweet and moving. Tom is a friend of mine and a great guy-- this is his debut novel.

From Publishers Weekly: "Those who, like Danny, feel like 'an island of gayness in an ocean of straightness,' should identify with his search for a path of his own."

Windcutter · May 2, 2012

Looking for some YA thrillers (in a loose sense.) Something contemporary, very mysterious, with a creepy flavor. Like Lying Game, The Vanishing Game, Circle Nine. A bit of something supernatural mixed in is totally fine.

Yeasayer · May 9, 2012

Cassidy said:
"Way To Go" by Tom Ryan. Brand new Canadian contemporary novel. The MC is a gay teen. Funny and sweet and moving. Tom is a friend of mine and a great guy-- this is his debut novel.

From Publishers Weekly: "Those who, like Danny, feel like 'an island of gayness in an ocean of straightness,' should identify with his search for a path of his own."

Ah, I've been meaning to read this. It sounds like exactly the type of book I love. Plus, the author seems really great based on his website/blog.

Miss Plum · May 26, 2012

Reading suggestions on teens + grown-ups?

Hey, all

Ever see the movie (or read the book by Tom Perrotta) Election? It gets into the heads of high school students and the adults in their lives about equally, and I'm curious how folks here would classify it -- YA, or mainstream? We grownups (haha) can certainly appreciate the teen story because we've been there, but do teen readers who shop in the YA section of a bookstore care to read about adults' failing marriages and career frustrations?

Do you know of any other books that depict teen life and adult life equally like this? I'm contemplating such a project and I'd love some reading suggestions. I also worry about creating some genre-muddled thing that would be hard to place.

tnx

missesdash · May 26, 2012

I've seen it, but in YA, the adult's problems are still filtered through the young adult's POV. The only exception I can think of is in fantasy where the conflict is large enough to encompass everyone and there will occasionally be scenes that only concern the adults.

But again, this isn't divorce, paying bills etc. Young brains are inherently narcissistic. It's one of the reasons YA writers are continually told that a character needs to be someone a teen can relate to.

I think this could work with a "family saga" where the conflicts are more about the relationships between everyone than how hard it is to pay the mortgage. Even then I think it could be a hard sell in YA depending on how you tackle the point of view.

lorna_w · May 26, 2012

I recently read Blindsight, which is a coming of age story from a teen's POV but has a lot about the kid's parents, too. Part of his coming of age is understanding that his parents have their own issues. It was a good novel, too. Not sure if that's exactly what you want, but it's a good enough novel to spend a day reading in any case.

Miss Plum · May 27, 2012

lorna and missesdash, thanks. This is helpful advice because I realize that what I have in mind might not be YA, so I'll have to either adjust the story or surrender to another genre.

E. B. Pike · Jun 1, 2012

bobcat22 said:
I can't wait to read this! Her books are the bomb diggity!

I know it's been out for a few months, but I just finished Sara Zarr's HOW TO SAVE A LIFE and looooooved it. Oh my goodness...if you're looking for a good contemp, you must read it!

Oooh --must add to TBR. I read Sara Zarr's Story of a Girl and loved it.

E. B. Pike · Jun 1, 2012

KateSmash said:
Peeps and The Last Days by Scott Westerfeld. A little more science fiction-y, but still has vampire MCs, a dash of romance, and some pretty hilarious moment.

I recommend Peeps more, though.

Might have to read Peeps just because of the awesome name.

Aslera · Jun 13, 2012

The Difference Between You and Me by Madeleine George is excellent excellent excellent. Cannot recommend it enough. Coming of age, a splash of LGBTQI issues in there, activism, spunky girls finding their paths...guh.

Jessica_312 · Jun 13, 2012

Always on the lookout for good Horror or YA (SF/Fantasy/Horror) novels. I'm open to suggestions

Aslera · Jun 13, 2012

Jessica_312 said:
Always on the lookout for good Horror or YA (SF/Fantasy/Horror) novels. I'm open to suggestions

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi (I'm actually not sure if I'd classify it as secondary world fantasy or post-apocalyptic fantasy? It's good. I enjoyed it.

)

Huntress by Malinda Lo (fantasy, absolutely stunning)

Fire & Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Aslera · Jun 13, 2012

I should also recommend The Girls of No Return by Erin Saldin as one of the best debuts I've ever read. It's contemp YA and absolutely gut-wrenching.

Jessica_312 · Jun 13, 2012

Thank you for the rec's!

I just started reading The Book Thief. Once I'm finished I'll start Under the Never Sky, looked it up on google and it definitely sounds like something that would appeal to me

Aslera · Jun 13, 2012

Rossi can't write the sequel to Never Sky fast enough for me. It started out SLOW, so really have to push past the first two or three chapters, but it was worth slogging through.

totopink · Jun 17, 2012

What is this book? I remember reading it in a bookstore ages ago but never picked it up.

A girl plays a ouija board with her friends and then later her 2 friends and her friends brother die when the roof of a building collapses on them.
Then she gets made to move to another school or something?
Anyone know?

eparadysz · Jun 17, 2012

totopink said:
What is this book? I remember reading it in a bookstore ages ago but never picked it up.

A girl plays a ouija board with her friends and then later her 2 friends and her friends brother die when the roof of a building collapses on them.
Then she gets made to move to another school or something?
Anyone know?

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

totopink · Jun 17, 2012

eparadysz said:
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

yes yes yes! thank you!

CoryG · Jun 30, 2012

I love the "Chaos Walking" series by Patrick Ness... highly recommend!

Cai · Jul 5, 2012

I'm looking for recs for contemporary YA novels in which the MC works off some kind of to-do list. Since I'm working on a manuscript with this concept, I would love to see how it can be done without becoming boring or predictable or just the same over and over again.
I already know I'll look into Before I die. I don't think I could handle more than one heart-wrenching book, so I'd especially love funny or bittersweet suggestions.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Periwinkle · Jul 6, 2012

I don't know if this will help, Cai, but the only "list" book I could think of was The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart which I admit I haven't read yet.

bobcat22 · Jul 6, 2012

I just finished WONDER by R.J. Palacio, and I LOVED it. It's so great and sweet and just makes you feel good. I have a feeling it might be a contender for the Newbury this year.

It's categorized as MG, but I could argue that some of it reads as YA, because we get into the heads of many different characters, include two high school students.

Yeasayer · Jul 6, 2012

I loved Wonder. I cried like a baby multiple times (mostly happy tears). I think it actually has three high school narrators, right? The sister. Sister's boyfriend. Sister's best friend. And three middle school narrators.

Lunatique · Jul 7, 2012

Any examples of literary YA?

It seems to me that most YA novels aren't really literary--they tend to be genre novels or mainstream teen dramas. Are there any examples of literary YA novels? Or because they have literary quality, they are no longer considered YA and are simply literary fiction involving young characters (for example, J.D. Salinger's work).

Old Hack · Jul 7, 2012

Skellig must be literary YA. Also, Nicola Morgan's brilliant Wasted, and all sorts of other books. There are lots.

Get Yer YA Recommendations Here!

Cassidy

writing for kids and teens

Windcutter

Yeasayer

see you on a dark night

Miss Plum

missesdash

You can't sit with us!

lorna_w

Confused Alien

Miss Plum

E. B. Pike

E. B. Pike

Aslera

Not an exact science

Jessica_312

Aslera

Not an exact science

Aslera

Not an exact science

Jessica_312

Aslera

Not an exact science

totopink

eparadysz

totopink

CoryG

Cai

fish biscuit

Periwinkle

bobcat22

Yeasayer

see you on a dark night

Lunatique

Fluffy Wolf

Old Hack

Such a nasty woman