I read a lot every year, usually averaging to get through 25 to 30 books, and of those books most of them are YA aka young adult books. It's not that I don't like novels geared towards adults, but I find YA books more fun to read, especially since I like fantasy and sci-fi, and there are more YA books in that genre than there are adult ones. I'm of the belief that you're never too old to read middle grade and young adult books, and I plan on enjoying them until the day I die.
I thought I would put together a small list of my favorite YA novels. Most of these are well-known books and all are part of a series, but hopefully there's one or two that are new to you!
I thought I would put together a small list of my favorite YA novels. Most of these are well-known books and all are part of a series, but hopefully there's one or two that are new to you!
The Giver by Lois Lowry -- A short middle grade book that I read in 6th grade and just re-read and it was still amazing. It's about a utopian society in which people don't see color or know history or feel tough emotions; only the boy who becomes the Receiver gets to experience all of it.
Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress by Marissa Meyer -- This series is absolutely fantastic! It's a futuristic fairy tale-reimagining with the first one featuring Cinderella as a cyborg and people who live on the moon who have the power to control people. The characters and plot are so well done.
Divergent by Veronica Roth -- In this case, I only love the first of the series. It kind of went downhill after, but the first book in this dystopian series is so marvelous and it really made me think about my own fears while reading it.
The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trails by James Dashner -- This series is a sci-fi fast-paced thriller about a group of kids who start off in the middle of a maze and have to find a way out. The first one especially is really fantastic and the twist at the end made my jaw drop.
The Hunger Games and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins -- Everyone knows about these books, but they're still worth mentioning. A strong heroine, an interesting story, and fast-paced. I have yet to read the last one, so I better get on that.
The Pledge by Kimberly Derting -- Charliana lives in a country divided into classes and each class has their own language, which further separates people. Small transgressions mean execution, so she never knows who she can trust. Charliana is special because she understands all the languages. This book is really intriguing and I'm excited to read the rest of the series.
Matched by Allie Condie -- Cassia lives in a utopian society that has planned everything for her and she trusts them to know what's right until the day of her Matching ceremony, when there's a glitch and a boy's face flashes on the screen before it fades to black. Although there's romance, it's mostly about this girl's transition to becoming a free-thinker.
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs -- A dark tale about a young man haunted by monsters after his grandfather's death, so he goes to a little island to find some answers about his grandfather's past. I love the mix of narration with actual vintage photographs.
The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani -- A sort of fairy tale-reimagining in which two girls are taken to a school where kids learn to become heroes and villains, but they're taken to the wrong side -- one goes to good and one goes to evil. If you're looking for something fun to read, this is it.
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling -- How can I not mention this, right? A story about a young boy who discovers he's a wizard and is taken to a school to learn witchcraft, meanwhile forces at play begin to work for and against him.
Which of these have you read?
Do you have any book recommendations for me?
(Doesn't have to be YA.)
