What YA novel inspires you the most?

FMAnderson · Jul 18, 2012

I would be interested in hearing what YA novel inspires you the most?

Mine would definitely be Holes, by Louis Sachar. I like it because it has so many layers. It has a bit of whimsy, but also feels rooted in the real world. It borders on preachy, but never goes so far that it made me groan.

I think being a teacher and having used this book with my classes has made me appreciate this novel that much more. The kids enjoy reading it and it doesn't bog down the class like some books do.

My next choice would be The Giver. I probably personally like it more than Holes, but it has been more divisive. It amazes me how almost every student I have enjoys Holes. They have also loved Watsons go to Birmingham, but that book is very flawed in my view.

Holes having an appeal to so many disparate personalities inspires me because I would love for my own writing to be that accessible also. It might not be the success of a Twilight or Hunger Games, but if my choice was between my writing being a pop hit, or a hit with students, I would choose the latter every time. Even if it kept me from making the big bucks.

So, What book inspires you the most?

Violeta · Jul 18, 2012

What do you mean by "inspire"? Inspire to read even more books? Inspire to live life to the fullest?
Inspire to be a better person? A better writer? Inspire to find love and friendship? To follow your dreams?

I don't know. I guess I feel inspired by lots of YA books, but I can't just pick only one. They all inspire one way or another.

But since it comes to mind, I'm gonna say "Don't breath a word", by Holly Cupala. This one inspires me to enjoy what I have and fight for what I want.

suki · Jul 18, 2012

I admire and enjoy many YA novels for different reasons - and my "favorites" change with my moods... some of my enduring favorites are:

Feed, by M.T. Anderson
Jellicoe Road, by Melina Marchetta
How I live Now, by Meg Rosoff
Hard Love, by Ellen Wittlinger
Anything by Marcus Zusak or Kevin Brooks
The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier
Liar, by Justine Larbalestier

And I could probably go on and on...

A point though about your post - Holes is a Middle Grade novel and many (most?) consider The Giver to be Middle Grade, as well (it won the Newbery medal and it's listed at 12 and up, and it's usually considered Middle Grade IME).

They're both excellent books, and have crossover appeal, but ...if you are writing along the lines of The Giver or Holes, you might need to consider if your work would be better marketable as Middle Grade, rather than YA.

~suki

Yeasayer · Jul 18, 2012

The one that sticks out most to me is Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You by Peter Cameron. It's probably because I related a little too much with James, the MC. But aside from that, the writing is beautiful. It's a literary, character-driven novel. Every word counts and every word rings true.

sarahdalton · Jul 18, 2012

Probably Uglies by Scott Westerfeld. Almost anything by Scott Westerfeld.

Also A Great and Terrible Beauty because I loved the character development.

FMAnderson · Jul 18, 2012

suki said:
A point though about your post - Holes is a Middle Grade novel and many (most?) consider The Giver to be Middle Grade, as well (it won the Newbery medal and it's listed at 12 and up, and it's usually considered Middle Grade IME).

They're both excellent books, and have crossover appeal, but ...if you are writing along the lines of The Giver or Holes, you might need to consider if your work would be better marketable as Middle Grade, rather than YA.

~suki

You know, you might be on to something there! I have always clumped YA and Middle Grades in my mind as the same thing, probably because they were kept in the same place in the bookstore I worked at. My book probably is a Middle Grades book. Hmmm.

suki · Jul 18, 2012

FMAnderson said:
You know, you might be on to something there! I have always clumped YA and Middle Grades in my mind as the same thing, probably because they were kept in the same place in the bookstore I worked at. My book probably is a Middle Grades book. Hmmm.

Yup - and they are very, very different in terms of which agents to query, which imprints and editors to sub to, how they are marketed, etc.

And while there are books on the cusp, with cross-over appeal, they do need to be slotted into YA or MG for publishing and shelving (and therefore, querying) purposes.

So, it's good to look critically at whats out there and see where your work best fits, so you can make sure you are meeting the market expectations for your market, and make sure you query the right agents. And if you are unsure if it is YA or MG, you can get critique, and if you are still unsure, query agents who rep both and see what they think.

~suki

savagelilies · Jul 18, 2012

I remember reading Holes in grade six and loving it. Everyone in my class loved it, come to think of it. :tongue

I barely remember it now, but I wonder what about it seems to have (almost) universal appeal?

As for the YA novel that inspires me most, I can't pick just one, so I'm going to say any novel written by Kristin Cashore. I love that her MCs are strong female characters, the journeys (both internal and external) that they go on, the fantasy worlds that come to life and feel like they could exist, not to mention the realistic LIs. Every time I read one of her novels (and since she's only published three so far, I have done a lot of rereading) I'm inspired to become a better writer.

SBibb · Jul 18, 2012

Inspiring for writing? Hunger Games, Akata Witch, Matched... any book I happen to really like.

Book I really enjoyed? I'm reminded that I liked To Kill A Mockingbird (probably helped that I happened to be reading a very yellowed, old book, so it had this sort of artifact feel to it), but I don't necessarily remember feeling inspired by it (at least, not in the writely sense. I did quite admire the character of Atticus, the sort of role-model character).

LadyA · Jul 19, 2012

I was really inspired (in the "I want to write characters/settings/a book like this!) by SHATTERING GLASS by Gail Giles. Dark, twisted, gripping and fascinating. I was particularly inspired by the character of Rob, the flawed, almost psychopathic (like Ted Bundy with his easy smile and charming ways hiding his evil) leader of the boys. If I could write a character like that, I would be pretty chuffed.

Also, CROSSING THE LINE by Scottish author Gillian Philip. She can write a heck of a good boy POV, and it was haunting and brilliant.

mellymel · Jul 19, 2012

Between Shades of Gray by Rupta Sepetys. Best book I've ever read on so many levels and for so many reasons.

Becca C. · Jul 19, 2012

mellymel said:
Between Shades of Gray by Rupta Sepetys. Best book I've ever read on so many levels and for so many reasons.

I just finished this the other day... I don't know if I've ever cried that hard while reading before. So, so, so good.

Katallina · Jul 19, 2012

The House of Night series by P.C. and Kristen Cast are what got me into YA and helped me find where I want to be as a writer.

One of the most personally moving books I've ever read is The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson.

And I think the most beautifully written YA I've ever read is Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley.

KAM_writer · Jul 20, 2012

Hard to pick because there are so many great ones. The first that popped into my head though was Megan McCafferty's Jessica Darling series. There is just so much about that series that makes me think about life and it also inspires me to write, too.

casualrungal · Jul 20, 2012

Hmm... well different YA novels inspire me for different reasons. The Hunger Games inspired me because of the strength of the heroine, and the wonderful way the author described action. I also thought the ending was very brave.

John's Green's Looking for Alaska really inspired me because, quite simply, I thought it was a beautiful novel.

I would highly HIGHLY recommend Like the Red Panda, by Andrea Siegel. The protagonist's voice was strong, sad, and funny. I know my writing isn't like that, at all, so I guess it hasn't really inspired me. But maybe I could say I aspire to write that way?

And, in a similar vein, Twenty Fragments of a Ravenous Youth, by Xiaolu Guo. God I love that book. I think of it as YA but I'm not sure it was marketed that way - can't remember. Anyway, it's just so beautiful.

Smiley0501 · Jul 20, 2012

I second the Jessica Darling books! Off the topic of my head anyway. But lots of YA books inspire me

KAM_writer · Jul 20, 2012

Smiley0501 said:
I second the Jessica Darling books! Off the topic of my head anyway. But lots of YA books inspire me

Woohoo! Another Jessica Darling fan!

vivalalauren · Jul 21, 2012

In terms of writing, I love The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen. I haven't connected with any of her novels on such a personal level since, although i have yet to read her latest. I love the slow burn of the romance, and the MC's overall acceptance of herself.

Reading wise, I love the first four Traveling Pants books. They're a comfort read for me, and I refuse to acknowledge the fifth one exists.

Kirkland · Jul 21, 2012

'Nothing' by Janne Teller changes everything. Not only is it incredibly well-written, but it's also insightful, and slightly terrifying at times. But I would suggest it to everyone. Please read it and feel the power within the pages. I've only just finished it and I want to read it again.

What YA novel inspires you the most?

FMAnderson

Knocking his head against the wall.

Violeta

All I Ever Wanted Was The World

suki

Opinionated

Yeasayer

see you on a dark night

sarahdalton

FMAnderson

Knocking his head against the wall.

suki

Opinionated

savagelilies

'til the end of time

SBibb

LadyA

Always lurking, never posting...

mellymel

Becca C.

Katallina

KAM_writer

casualrungal

Smiley0501

Lurker, now activated. :-)

KAM_writer

vivalalauren

Kirkland

O' The Moany Pony!