Don't Discount YA Literature, Part III: Books to Try

I've spent some time lately talking about books written for teens and the ways that adult readers might come to these books with some inherent prejudices.  In fact I've written two different posts on the subject (see links at the bottom of this post).

Having these sorts of inherent prejudices against books written for this age group is problematic.  There is no reason at all why Young Adult books would not be as well-written as those written for adults.  In fact, I would imagine that, when looked at by percentages, there are just as many amazing books for teens as there are for adults!

I like to think that those adults who have such low expectations of Young Adult books just have not yet stumbled upon that one amazing YA read that makes them want to explore more of the genre.  I strongly believe that just about any YA book can be enjoyed by just about any open-minded adult reader.  If you're an adult looking for the best of the best in the genre here are a few books that might get you hooked on YA:


The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Charlie is a high school freshman and he's not particularly popular.  As he writes letters to a "friend" describing his difficult life, he finds himself taken in by a few gregarious seniors and, with their help, navigates his way through a host of new experiences including sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. A powerful novel that is deeper than the sum of its parts.

A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly
Mattie is a girl with big dreams of going to college, but given her farming family's needs and low expectations that typified 1906, she has little hope of seeing them come true.  Mattie is able to take a job at the Glenmore Hotel and hopes to set aside her earnings, but an unusual request from one of the hotel's patrons leads to a mystery that Mattie never expected.  A historic setting, a true crime murder mystery, lyrical writing, and solid characters come together to create an absorbing read.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
See what all the fuss is about by checking out this book about two teens with terminal illnesses who fall in love while trying to uncover the ending of one of their favorite books.  The book will make you laugh at cry at the same time.  Is the hold list too long for your liking?  I'd actually strongly recommend any book by this widely popular author, so try Looking for Alaska, An Abundance of Katherines, or Will Grayson, Will Grayson.

The First Part Last by Angela Johnson
Bobby is your typical teenage boy in Harlem.  When his girlfriend announces that she is pregnant, the two of them suddenly find themselves faced with decisions that they never thought they'd need to make. Angela Johnson's writing is poetic and lovely to read and transforms this premise from obvious to amazing.

Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride
Sam is an unassuming young adult working a dead-end fast food job.  Then one evening Douglas, a creepy and violent necromancer, wanders into the restaurant and sees plenty of potential in Sam.  That's when things start to get interesting.  This supernatural story is full of both humor and gore, and while this genre is stereotypically enjoyed by teens, adult fans of the genre will find plenty to like here.

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
The two title characters meet when they find themselves sitting together on the bus, and they soon bond - and eventually fall in love - over Park's comics.  But everyone knows that first love doesn't usually last, and soon Eleanor's troubled home life threatens to tear the two apart.  Author Rainbow Rowell's voice is like a breath of fresh air as you read.  I also highly recommend another of Rowell's books, Fangirl.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
Karou, an art student in Prague with fantastic blue hair, fills her sketchbooks with incredible monsters.  Little does anyone know that these monsters are real.  Karou has grown up with these chimera and is a part of their lives, traveling the world on mysterious errands to retrieve teeth for Brimstone, the monster who fills the role of her father.  Yet Karou has always felt that something was missing from her life  When the magical doors that allow for her travel are suddenly destroyed and her chimera family is killed, Karou just might find the answers she is looking for from the beautiful angel Akiva.  This fantastic novel is one part globe-trotting modern fantasy and one part heart-pounding romance, written with a grace and maturity that will make this book plenty palatable to adult readers.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
Verity is a spy who finds herself captured by the Gestapo and Nazi-occupied France.  Her captors present her with two options:  Tell them what her mission was, or suffer the consequences.  She composes her story on scraps of paper, telling an intricate tale of courage, hope and friendship.  Meanwhile her best friend Maddie, who was also the pilot of the plane whose crash lead to Verity's capture, hopes to rescue her friend before it is too late.  This is a powerful story that sneaks up on a reader slowly.

The Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin
Matt and his sisters are deeply unhappy as they try to survive under the tyranny of their abusive mother.  Matt sees a glimmer of hope when their mother begins dating Murdoch, an upstanding man that Matt hopes can save them.  But will it be enough?  Or will Matt need to take a stand on his own?  Readers will find themselves rooting for Matt and his sisters as they try their best to pick up the pieces of their lives.

The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak
Narrated by Death himself, this book set in Nazi Germany tells the story of a girl, her foster family, a Jew, and a love of books.  The unique narration (Death as the comic relief in an otherwise heavy story) makes an otherwise awesome book truly stand out in the crowd.


See Also:  Don't Discount YA Literature
See also:  DDYL, Part II:  The Dos and Don'ts of Criticism

Prom Book Display

It's hard to believe, but for many high schoolers prom is only a few short weeks away.  This means that teenage girls are busy finalizing their hair and makeup plans and trying on dresses, while boys are renting their tuxes and planning elaborate "promposals."  For many teens prom is a watershed rite of passages and as such, it has often been the subject of books targeted at teens. 

In honor of the upcoming festivities, I put together a display of prom-themed books in the teen area.

 
Here are a few of the titles featured:

Prom by Laurie Halse Anderson
When a faculty advisor is arrested for stealing the funds for the prom and the event is cancelled, Ashley Hannigan feels terrible for her best friend and prom-enthusiast Natalia and so comes up with a plan to get the prom back on track.

Perfectly Dateless by Kristin Billerbeck
Entering her senior year at St. James Christian Academy, Daisy has less than 200 days to look stylish, develop social skills, find the right boy for the prom, and convince her parents to let her date.

Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg
This book is modern adaptation of the classic Jane Austin novel.  For Lizzie Bennett, a music scholarship student at Connecticut's exclusive, girls-only Longbourn Academy, the furor over prom is senseless.  Even more puzzling is her attraction to the pompous Will Darcy, best friend of her roommate's boyfriend.

Tessa Masterson Will Go to Prom by Emily Franklin and Brendan Halpin
Feeling humiliated and confused when his best friend Tessa rejects his prom invitation and comes out of the closet, high school senior Luke must decide if he should stand by Tessa when she invites a female date to the prom, sparking controversy in their small Indiana town.

21 Proms edited by David Levithan and Daniel Ehrenhaft
A full spectrum of good dates, bad dates, unexpected dates, and more is covered in 21 stories from a range of YA authors, including Jacqueline Woodson, Holly Black, Melissa de la Cruz, E. Lockhart, and Leslie Margolis.

Holds That Need Placing

My library is in the process of switching over to a new computer system.  This system hosts the library's catalog, allows us to check items in and out, keeps records of all of our patrons, allows us to add new items to the catalog, and of course, lets us place holds on items that are not currently available and/or that we need to get from other libraries.  Unfortunately, as we transition to the new system we have to temporarily give up certain tasks that we would normally do with the catalog to make the data transfer easier.  Three weeks ago we were forced to stop placing holds.

I didn't quite realize how much I relied on the ability to place holds until it was taken away.  In the meantime I have compiled a list of books that I desperately want to place on hold once we go live again:

My Truck Is Stuck by Kevin Lewis
I Love Trucks! by Philemon Sturges
I'm planning a truck-themed storytime that will happen only six days after go live, and I need these two books to read to my preschoolers.  Here's hoping that they arrive in time or I'll have to resort to my less-fun backups.

The Baby Beebee Bird by Diane Redfield Massie
Another picture book that I'd like to use in an upcoming storytime.  It's one of my favorite storytime read-alouds.

Who Could That Be at This Hour? by Lemony Snicket
I'm super excited whenever Lemony Snicket (pen name for the glorious Daniel Handler) has a new book out because I love his brand of smart humor.  I'm especially excited because this book is the first in a new series that will document the life of a young Lemony Snicket (the character, not the "author") before his involvement with the awesome "A Series of Unfortunate Events."

In a Glass Grimmly by Adam Gidwitz
This books is the sequel to A Tale Dark and Grimm. Probably won't win any awards, though it did find a place on the Publisher's Weekly Best Books of 2012 list. Mostly I'm excited to read because of the fairy tale genre and because I liked the first book so much.

Starry River of the Sky by Grace Lin
Twelve Kinds of Ice by Ellen Obed
Wonder by R.J. Palacio
These three books are what currently remains on my list of highly acclaimed and/or potentially award-worthy books that I need to read before the end of the year.  And the sooner the better - my library system does a Mock Newbery event and I'll want to have these read before we meet.

The Diviners by Libba Bray
Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor
I mentioned both of these books in an earlier post detailing some YA titles I was dying to get my hands on. Should have placed my holds on these books then.

Reached by Ally Condie
I go back and forth on how excited I am about this final installment to the "Matched" trilogy.  But I should really get my name on the super-long hold list soon or I'll never get my hands on it.

House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer
This is next month's pick for my teen book club.  I need to place holds on about eight copies of the book so that I can give them to my teens. 

Looking for the Best of 2012?

I'm not the only one who's trying to decide what the best books published in 2012 were - lots of other names in the business are starting to produce their own lists.  If you're looking for the best in children's list be sure to peruse these websites:

Publisher's Weekly has a great list of book in lot of categories, both for adults and children.  Lots of great books to be found here, including a number of picture books that had slipped under my radar.

My children's lit blogging hero, Elizabeth Bird, recently posted her fall list of likely Newbery and Caldecott Medal contenders.  Betsy posts her picks three times each year - once in spring, once in summer, and again in fall - and it's interesting to see how her choices change as the year progresses.

On Goodreads, readers are invited to vote for their favorite books as part of the annual Goodreads Choice Awards.  Readers can vote in any of a number of categories for adults, teens, and children.  The nominated books for these awards are fascinating because they really take reader approval into account, not just the opinions of professional book critics.

Seen any other "Best of 2012" lists?  Please share your finds in the comments.  My own list of personal favorites will appear on this blog at the end of December.

Fractured Fairy Tales

I love a good fractured fairy tale. This month my book display in the teen area is full of such stories!


Here are just a few books that have made an appearance on this display:

Cloaked by Alex Flinn
This story is made up of bits of several different tales, including "The Elves and the Shoemaker," "The Six Swans," and "The Frog Prince." The crazy combinations keep this book interesting. Flinn has also written a number of other fairy tale renditions, including the popular Beastly.

Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George
This novel is a retelling of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses". The setting is especially intriguing in this version - it makes me think of 18th Century Europe. Also, the hero is a young man who knits. If you liked this one, also try the companion novel, Princess of Glass.

Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce
This book takes many of "Little Red Riding Hood's" themes and builds a story fit for a modern setting. There are also supernatural elements as sisters Scarlett and Rosie hunt werewolves.

A Long Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan
"Sleeping Beatury" meets the popular sci-fi genre in this book. Doesn't that sound like an intriguing combination?

Toads and Diamonds by Heather Tomlinson
A retelling of the fairy tale of the same name, in which a mistreated younger sister is blessed to have diamonds and flowers fall from her lips when she speaks. Her older step-sister attempts to earn the same blessing, but is cursed for her arrogance as snakes and toads fall from her mouth instead. This version is set in India.

If You Liked The Hunger Games

Not too long ago when The Hunger Games movie was released, I started a book display in the teen area full of Hunger Games read-alikes. The book has been so popular and was made even more so with the movie's release, so it seemed like a good idea to give teens something to read until their holds came in. Needless to say, the display has been popular.


Here are just a few of the books included in the display:

The Maze Runner by James Dashner
Thomas wakes up in an elevator with no memory of his past. He finds himself in an area known as The Glade with other boys who have been trying to survive and find a way out of the maze that surrounds them. Action and a sinister setting make for a compelling read.

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher
Finn is a prisoner who is convinced that he once had a life outside of Incarceron and is determined to escape. Claudia is the warden's daughter who is desperate to find a way out of her arranged marriage and the political games that go with it. When the two find a way to communicate Claudia realizes that they may be able to help each other. This book is more fantasy than sci-fi, but it does have the adventure elements and political intrigue that will appeal to fans of The Hunger Games.

Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix
In a future where it is illegal for parents to have more than two children, Luke is a third-born hidden away in his attic where no one will find him. Then he meets another third-born girl who makes his dream of freedom seem real. I like to give this book to middle-schoolers and other younger readers who are interested in The Hunger Games but might be too young for some of the other books on this list.

Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines
Lyn watches her seventh step-father die as a gladiator in the arena. She then realizes that she will have to marry the man who killed him. Much like The Hunger Games, fights to the death are televised on live TV as a part of the culture.

Divergent by Veronica Roth
In this book's universe, the people of what was once Chicago are divided into factions, each of which values a specific virtue above all else. Like the rest of her peers Beatrice takes a test when she turns 16 to determine which faction she is best suited for. Unfortunately Beatrice's results are inconclusive - a feat which is rare and places her in danger. Beatrice must decide which faction she wishes to join and hope that she can survive the rigorous initiation process.

Blood Red Road by Moira Young
Saba lives in a wasteland, and her family finds what they need by scavenging old landfills. But when her brother Lugh is captured, Saba teams up with a group of freedom fighters to get him back.

Science Fiction

Science fiction is one of my favorite genres. It's more than just space ships, robots, and aliens. The very best books in this genre really get its readers thinking as they ask some tough questions. What does it mean to be human? How does technology impact our lives, for better or for worse? What kind of society do we want to live in: One that is peaceful but restricting, or one that's a bit messier but with freedom?

Ever since the publication of the widely-popular Hunger Games, quite a bit in this genre has been published specifically for teens. And I think that this is absolutely wonderful for the genre. So often in teen lit we see characters who come of age as they question the world around them, and the science fiction genre by its very nature provides the perfect platform for such storylines. Here are just a few more titles - some brand new, some just a bit older - that will make you wonder what the future really holds:

Matched by Ally Condie
Cassia has never questioned the choices that The Society makes for her, and she is thrilled when her best friend Xander is selected as her Match, the person she will marry. But another face also appears on her match disk, and Cassia starts to wonder if she should really be satisfied with The Society's choices.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner
Thomas wakes up in an elevator with no memory of his past. He finds himself in an area known as The Glade with other boys who have been trying to survive and find a way out of the maze that surrounds them. Can Thomas find his way out of this experiment before it turns deadly?

The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer
Matt seems to live a life of privilege as El Patron's young clone. But his real purpose for being created is actually quite sinister.

Unidentified by Rae Mariz
In this alternative future kids are constantly wired in and observed by corporate sponsors. Katy must decide which she values more: the perks that come with corporate sponsorship, or her privacy.

Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
An asteroid hits the moon and knocks it closer to the Earth, causing a series of natural catastrophes. As the world is left in shambles, 16-year-old Miranda describes her family's struggle to survive.

Across the Universe by Beth Revis
Amy has been cryogenically frozen and sent aboard the spaceship Godspeed on a 300 year journey to another planet where the passengers will build a new colony. Elder is in training to be the future leader of the people who operate the ship on its generations-long voyage. But when Amy is woken up 50 years early, she and Elder uncover the lies that surround the ship's society.

And there's plenty more were that came from! Whether you're looking for a dystopia that looks at society's flaws, a space opera, or something dealing with technology, chances are that there's a teen novel out there somewhere for you thanks to the blossoming market for this age group.

Valentine's Day!

Hooray for Valentine's Day! This is a holiday all about telling the people you care about that you love them - what could be better than that? To show my appreciation to my storytime kids, I made valentines for each of them to take home.



What to show the children in your life that you love them? Read them a story! If you're looking for some holiday inspiration, try one of these Valentine's Day stories:

Love, Ruby Valentine by Laurie Friedman
Ruby Valentine's favorite holiday is - you guessed it - Valentine's Day, and she can't wait for the day to arrive so that she can tell everyone just how much they mean to her. But when her planning leaves Ruby exhausted she accidentally sleeps through the big day. Uh oh! Fortunately, Ruby learns that you don't need a special holiday to tell someone that you love them.

The Day It Rained Hearts by Felicia Bond
Hearts start falling from the sky just before Valentine's Day, and Cornelia Augusta decides that these hearts will make the perfect valentines to send. She decorates each heart differently and knows exactly who each special valentine will go to. This is the perfect story to include with a valentine-making activity as kids make their own special valentines to share.

Arthur's Valentine by Marc Brown
Everyone's favorite aardvark has a secret admirer! Who could it be?

Slugs in Love by Susan Pearson
Marylou and Herbie, two slugs, leave each other sweet love poems every day, but the two have never met. How will these star-crossed lovers find each other? OK, this book isn't exactly a Valentine's Day story, but every day is a good day for love, right?

The Princess Thing

A very interesting article came my way recently via my Facebook news feed thanks to the ever-glorious Teenreads.com The article is actually a blog post from author Meg Cabot's website, and it kind of rocked my world. Cabot (author of "The Princess Diaries" and "Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls" series) tackles an issue that I'm sure she's encountered before: The Princess Thing. Are princesses antiquated role models for girls, waiting to be rescued by the Handsome Prince? Or can they be empowered characters who write their own destinies? Using the lovely Rapunzel of the new Disney movie "Tangled" and our mutual hero Princess Leia as prime examples, Cabot shows us that "the princess thing" isn't something to be feared, but rather something to be embraced.

Click here to read her blog post. It's pretty awesome.

This article got me thinking about the princesses that we see in books. Which ones are strong, and which ones aren't? Here are a few strong, smart princesses that a girl can look up to:

Picture Books:
The Princess Knight by Cornelia Funke
Princess Violetta is taught to be a mighty knight just like her brothers. But when she turns 16 her father holds a tournament with her hand in marriage as a prize. Will this independent princess stand for it? Not a chance!

A Brave Little Princess by Beatrice Masini
Teased for being so small, a princess goes on to save the day not once but three times.

The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch
In this fractured fairy tale the princess forgoes proper decorum and goes off to rescue the handsome prince from the fire-breathing dragon. She's feisty and smart and demands equal treatment.

Don't Kiss the Frog: Princess Stories with Attitude by Fiona Waters
The title says it all. These princesses are somewhat sassier, spunkier, and more independant than their classic fairy tale counterparts.

Chapter Books:
Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins
OK, so the title character in this book (and subsequent series) isn't a princess. He's not even a girl. But you can't deny that the fiery Luxa, an important secondary character, is kind of awesome. As she is being groomed for the throne she continually makes sacrifices and takes risks to help her people. She's flawed and she isn't always right, but she's got spunk and passion and she knows how to use a sword. I would also argue that she grows and changes more than any other character in the series.

Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix
After the events of the classic "Cinderella," the title princess becomes embroiled in the political games of the royal house. Soon she begins to realize that maybe she doesn't really want to marry the prince after all.

The Princess Academy by Shannon Hale
When it it prophesied that the girl who will marry the prince will come from an impoverished mountain village, a Princess Academy is set up to teach the village girls everything they need to know about royal living. In the end the girls realize that they can use these skills to make their village safer and more prosperous.

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
"Cinderella" is a favorite fairy tale to parody, and this Newbery Honor book proves why. Levine's version of the title character is cursed with obedience and is determine to protect herself and the people she loves from being manipulated. She's smart and has to use her wit to get out of a few sticky situations.

Teen Reads:
The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot
The series that made Meg Cabot famous! Mia thinks that she's pretty average, until she learns that her father is actually the prince of a small country. It's modern teen drama given the royal treatment.

Nobody's Princess by Esther Friesner
This novel tells the story of Helen of Sparta, better known in mythology as Helen of Troy, the woman who started the Trojan War. Friesner's Helen isn't just a beauty though. She knows that if she's going to get by in the world she needs to have more than just a pretty face - she needs to know how to make people listen to her. She needs to be smart and strong, and she needs to learn to use a sword.

Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede
Cimorene is sick of having to behave like a proper princess, so she decides to run off and become the housekeeper for a dragon. Here she has the chance to learn some magic and fights back against trouble-making wizards. But can she keep the princes who keep trying to rescue her away?