Five Young Adult books you'll love

I started reading Young Adult fiction a few years ago, when I worked in the children's department of a bookshop. I was absolutely staggered by the quality and have not only continued to read teen books, but now also write them.

I'm not sure whether it's a simple case of arrested development or whether I'm still trying to work through the "issues" of those difficult teenage years, but I find young adult fiction much more satisfying than adult fiction. And yet some adults are apparently too embarrassed to read books meant for teenagers.

I wholeheartedly believe everyone should read young adult fiction (and not just my books - out next year!), so carry on over the cut for a list to get you started.

The Princess Diaries series by Meg Cabot

Meg Cabot is the undisputed Queen of teen fiction. She is, I believe, the current generation's Judy Blume (in fact, I read recently that the only teen books to feature scenes of female masturbation are a number of Blume's and Cabot's All American Girl: Ready or Not).

The Princess Diaries series (the tenth and final book is out early next year) features Mia Thermopolis, a New Yorker who discovered in her early teens that she is, in fact, a princess. The joy of these books is in the detail: Mia's quest for "self-actualisation", the representation of New York, Mia's wide circle of friends from all cultures, plus the microscope of celebrity and how it can be used for good... or otherwise.

If you haven't read any of the Princess Diaries series, I suggest you start at the beginning... I can almost guarantee you'll fly through the rest.

Dear Zoe by Philip Beard

Dear Zoe is a gorgeous book. Narrated by Tess, in the form of one long letter (divided into chapters) to her three-year old sister Zoe who died in a car crash almost a year earlier, on September 11, 2001, it's been compared to The Lovely Bones. But it's better: warmer and less sentimental.

Just don't read it in public, because you will cry.

Forever in Blue by Ann Brashares

You've probably seen the first Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants movie if not the recently-released follow-up. Forever in Blue is the fourth book in the series and, in my opinion, the best.

What I love about this book is that the four girls have all found something they're passionate about and Brashares writes beautifully and enthusiastically about all four subjects. I wish when I was a teen I'd had a book that made art, acting, archeology and film seem both so wonderful and achievable.

House of Dance by Beth Kephart

Despite the fact they contain no magic, Beth Kephart's book have been compared to magical realism and reading House of Dance, I did feel like I was entering a dream world.

It's about Rosie, whose parents are absent, whose grandfather is dying and who begins taking ballroom dance lessons. It's so beautiful, I almost felt bereft when I finished it.

A Bad Boy Can Be Good For A Girl by Tanya Lee Stone

Described as a "Forever for the modern generation" (the spectre of Ms Blume hovers over much teen fiction), A Bad Boy Can Be Good For A Girl is written in verse with each poem able to stand alone, but together forming an entertaining, funny and painfully true narrative.

It's an incredible achievement and I think it should be compulsory reading for all teenage girls and probably boys too.

Check out more - much more - teen fiction at our sister site, Chicklish.

Comments

[Diane]

Hello!

I have 3 to catch up with :)

There's some (brief) AAGRoN-style masturbation in Pop! also - just read that and loved it (the book as a whole, I mean). x

[Keris]

You scared me then! I didn't know who could be commenting on my secret blog! :)

Have heard good things about Pop so will check it out - thanks!

[Diane]

Can't be secret when you share it in Google Reader, I've been subscribed for weeks! Okay, days.

x

[Keris]

LOL, I know. But there's only you and Stella that read my shared posts. :)

[Diane]

No, they're on the side of your blog, too. Unless no-one's paying attention? (Surely not!) x

[Diane]

No, they're on the side of your blog, too. Unless no-one's paying attention? (Surely not!) x