Category:Blog, Editor's Corner

I Love YA Books! What Should I Read Next?

By: May Chen
August 19, 2010

As you may know, we recently came back from the Romance Writers of America conference held this year at Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Resort.  (How cool is my job??) I always look forward to going to RWA because I get to see all my lovely authors and catch up on industry gossip, but this year’s conference had the added bonus of proximity to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Orlando Resort!! My husband and I love the books (it’s actually one of the few fiction books he will read) so we decided to arrive a day early to check out the theme park—and we were not disappointed.  If you’re a fan of the Harry Potter series you will be enchanted by the Hogwarts’ ride. 

Since returning from Orlando, I also started reading the postapocalyptic futuristic Hunger Games books from Suzanne Collins.  Wow. Yet another example of a Young Adult series that is sophisticated in theme and emotionally gripping with layered and realistic characters.   I can’t wait to read the third installment, Mockingjay, when it releases at the end of the month and find out Katniss’ fate. 

Also coming out in September is the YA debut of our very own New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan.  Firelight is about Jacinda, a girl descended from dragons whose greatest defense is her ability to shift into human form, and her budding romance with the human boy who hunts her kind.  Intense, no?  And you thought high school was hard…

 And every once in a while I re-read my beloved Lois Duncan paperbacks (I Know What You Did Last Summer, Killing Mr. Griffin, Summer of Fear, Daughters of Eve, etc).  I think it’s the immediacy of well-written young adult books that I love.  The stakes are just as high for these characters as they would be in adult fiction, but there’s something about the voice and writing that can make the story feel a bit more accessible and the emotions more real and raw to the reader, maybe because they feel more real and raw to these young protagonists.

 Anyone else out there who loves YA books?  Do you have any suggestions for what I should read next?  (And, yes, I’ve already read Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series.  And I’m on Team Jacob. : ))

OTHER DISCUSSIONS HAPPENING IN BLOG Romance

  • AE Rought says: August 27, 2010 at 8:55 am

    I’m copying this over from Diana’s blog:
    My all time favorite paranormal series is Lili St. Crow’s STRANGE ANGELS, great action, kickass heroine and a fresh spin on the werewolves and vampires–liked this one better than HON. I also enjoyed SIREN, by Tricia Rayburn. I’m dying for PARANORMALCY. Don’t forget SHIVER and LINGER by Maggie Steifvater. INTERTWINED, by Gena Showalter was fun, though the ending had me asking, “Really?”

  • May Chen says: August 26, 2010 at 2:33 pm

    Thank you everyone for your wonderful suggestions. Now I just have to plan an extended vacation so I can read all these books!

  • Liz says: August 26, 2010 at 9:57 am

    How about the Caroline Cooney books? (The girl on the milk carton and its sequels?) I have a Christmas book for you, too, that comes out in October, that’s aimed at YA (plus adults, but the author wrote it, based on a story he told his daughter and her friends one Christmas). It’s “Mary’s Son,” by Darryl Nyznyk. It includes the actual Christmas story as part of the plot, which involves a rich girl and a teen thug boy. It sounds wonderful.

  • Tiffany M. says: August 25, 2010 at 2:22 am

    Kelley Armstrong’s Darkest Powers Trilogy is pretty good for paranormal.
    Robin McKinley is good for crossover with fantasy and YA.
    Sarah Dessen has good contemporary drama/stories.
    Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock is amazing (also contemporary with the best tomboy protagonist ever).
    The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak is very amazing, too.
    For american historical ya, Ann Rinaldi had an extensive backlist.

  • RoseMari says: August 24, 2010 at 9:46 am

    The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare is a fantastic YA series! It’s action packed, has a great sense of humor, and always has the reader interested. The fourth book is scheduled to come out around March of 2011, but a prequel to the series is coming out in a few days called Clockwork Angel; it also sounds like a winner.

    I’ve heard great things about Hunger Games but haven’t found the time to read it.

    - Rosemari

  • Keira Soleore says: August 22, 2010 at 12:47 am

    I really loved THE CANDIDATES by Inara Scott. It’s the first of her Delcroix Academy series. http://is.gd/evECy

  • Becky says: August 20, 2010 at 8:54 pm

    Well the YA book that I would like to suggest doesn’t actually come out until October 15th- had the opportunity of pre-reading it before its release date. The book, “Mary’s Son: A Tale of Christmas” written by Darryl Nyznyk is a YA book mixed with a really great modern day Christmas story. Just for future reference- beyond your next read.

  • Merrie Destefano says: August 20, 2010 at 12:57 pm

    YA books I loved: Kimberly Derting’s The Body Finder, Carrie Ryan’s The Forest of Hands and Teeth, Malinda Lo’s Ash.

  • Kellye says: August 20, 2010 at 12:18 pm

    I love YA! Can’t speak highly enough about Jandy Nelson’s debut, The Sky is Everywhere. Great romance, plus heartbreak, joy, quirky characters, found poetry…just <3 it! Also really loved Lips Touch Three Times by Laini Taylor, a National Book Award finalist. Also loved Francisco X. Stork's The Last Summer of the Death Warriors and Marcello in the Real World.

    Loved Life as We Knew It (wasn't as fond of the two sequels), Hunger Games and White Cat as well!

    Happy reading!

  • Diana says: August 20, 2010 at 11:44 am

    Holly Black’s WHITE CAT. Ellen Hopkins’ CRANK.

    Older: Tamora Pierce’s ALANNA books.

  • Vivi Anna says: August 20, 2010 at 11:42 am

    How about the Gone series by Michael Grant, it’s brilliant. Very Stephen Kingish.

    The Devouring and Soulstice by Simon Holt – creepy, thrillers

    Forest of Hands and Teeth and Dead Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan, both brilliant heart wrenching apolcolyptic fiction

    Vivi

  • MaryC says: August 19, 2010 at 8:18 pm

    Hi May,

    I LOVED Hunger Games and can’t wait til next week for Mockingjay.

    I agree with you about YA. For some reason I’m more able to get caught up in these stories lately. The writer in me wonders wjy.

    I’m just starting Life as We Knew it By Susan Beth Pfeffer. I’ve heard wonderful reviews.

    Mary


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