If you're not into this kind of stuff, you might want to quit reading my blog post now. I won't take offense to it, I know how nerdy it is to have such an interest. I have listed below my top favorite young adult books (in order of most favorite) and series and why I enjoy reading them so much. Warning: this is kind of a long post, so you might want to skim.
Priscilla's Top Young-Adult Series
1. "Harry Potter Series" by J.K. Rowling
I know, it's so cliche. I can't help it, I love the story of Harry and his friends. Though the final, and seventh book has a happy ending, this series does not fail to acknowledge the suffering individuals go through, especially during a war... even if they are wizard-folk. I feel like I have grown up with this series, if you count being in high school when the first one was published. I really feel like Ms. Rowling did an excellent job of adapting each book to Harry's current age (each book spans a consecutive year and begins on Harry's birthday). These books are each an excellent read for varying reasons. However, you can expect humor, adventure, and a little bit of sadness in every one. It's nerdy, I know. In fact, my husband calls it Nerdy Potter. You don't have to tell anyone that you read them :)
2. "Hunger Games Series" by Suzanne Collins
Most of you are probably saying "Duh" right now. This series consists of three books. I really can't say more than that. These books are awesome. They speak for themselves. These books are about a post-Apocalyptic United States that is divided into 12 districts. Each year, two kids (one boy and one girl) from each district's names are drawn to compete in a death match on live television. These books not only question morality, but take a closer look into the laws of a society and more importantly, humanity itself. These books are not for the weak-hearted. However, if you have the courage to read them, I promise you won't be sorry. I read all three books in one weekend.
3. "The Mortal Instruments Series" by Cassandra Clare
This series was originally composed of three books: City of Ashes, City of Bones, and City of Glass. However, the author decided to extend this series by adding three more books. This series encompasses a nerd like me biggest dreams. Vampires, werewolves, and demon slayers. The stories follow Clary, a young girl born into a race of half angel/half human citizens. However, Clary is brought up as a "mortal" unaware of her heritage and in hiding from her lunatic, ultimate villain father. Clary meets a group of demon hunters, or "Shadowhunters", and each book follows their adventures. There is also a love triangle, which a hopeless romantic like myself can't resist. Ms. Clare has also come out with a companion series, "The Infernal Devices", which serves as a prequel to "The Mortal Instruments". This series is equally entertaining and the second book is being released on Dec. 6. Like I said before, this is a nerd's biggest dream to read these books.
4. "The Matched Series" by Ally Condie
This series which will be a trilogy, questions whether a society is truly Utopian. It takes place in the future in a setting that you assume is the United States. The stories follow a young woman, Cassia, and what it is like for her to live in a society that controls everything that she does. Every citizen is monitored by a government that determines everything in one's life. Cassia doesn't even get to choose what she eats, how she exercises, and even who she will marry (or be "matched" with). These stories follow her as she questions whether life is really all that good when you don't have a choice, especially who you love. The second book, Crossed, just came out and I couldn't put it down. I can't wait for the final and third book.
5. "The Peaches Series" by Jodi Lynn Anderson
This is kind of like the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, only I think that this series is much better. Set on a Georgia peach farm, this is the coming of age story of three girls and how their lives shift dramatically after going to work on the farm and meeting each other. There are three books in this series, Peaches, The Secrets of Peaches, and Love and Peaches. All the books involve love, heartache, and most importantly, personal empowerment. Sorry guys, this is probably not the type of literature that you would prefer to read. Then again, guys are probably not really reading my blog anyway...
6. "The Maze Runner Series" by James Dashner
Now for the two guys that are reading this blog post, my step dad and father-in-law, you might enjoy this series as much as I did. The three books that make up this series take place in the future, in what once was the United States. The first book opens with the character Thomas, who awakens in an elevator shaft with no memory, no idea of where he is or who he once was. The elevator takes him to a village of young men like himself whose memories have also been erased. The village is surrounded by walls that lead into a maze. At night the walls close to protect the guys from robotic killing mechanisms that patrol the maze at night. So, during the day, a group of the guys must run through the maze to find a way out. Throughout the stories, Thomas comes to find out that he and the other guys are part of an experiment and they are being observed through all of their trials (like lab rats). You also learn as the reader that the United States has been nearly been annihilated by a virus strain that attacks the mind and turns you into a sort of zombie. Thomas and the other "subjects" are in the experiment to find a cure for the virus. These books are thrilling and exciting the whole way through. I highly recommend them for guys and girls.
Back to Reality...
So I included a few more books for you that are not in a series and you may find that they actually have a legitimate message that they send to the reader. Not that the other books don't send a message, it's just that these books fall into a more serious category, but are equally as entertaining to me.
1. Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Okay, yeah this book is a fantasy, but it is really good. It follows the character, Katsa, who is a Graceling or one born with an incredible, beyond human ability. Some Gracelings can read minds or knit really well. For Katsa, it is the ability to kill anything and anyone in anyway possible. At 8 years old, Katsa discovered her ability when she accidentally killed a man with her own bare hands. Pretty intense character trait if you tell me. Her whole life, Katsa has lot of herself as a monster, as someone who can't be trusted. She can't even trust herself because of her abilities. This book follows the story of her self discovery and acceptance. She through her trials and the rescuing of a young child she realizes how her abilities are really a positive thing. That's right, killing people can be positive. This author has also written a companion novel, Fire, which is equally as good.
2. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
This book follows the freshman year of Melinda, a girl who is publicly ostracized by all of her friends and peers after calling the cops at a party before school starts. Melinda has lost her ability to speak out and advocate for herself and you really get a good glimpse into what it is like to be a depressed teenager. As you read the book, you learn that there is more to Melinda's story and what really happened the night of the party. She didn't call the cops to narc on her friends. In fact, Melinda experiences a traumatic event that night and you discover how she learns to cope with it through art. I highly recommend this book, especially if you are an educator who works with young adults.
3. It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini
You probably heard about this story because the movie was released a few years ago. Again, this story gives you a glimpse inside of teenage depression and the pressure that our society builds on young adults today. It's like Girl Interrupted meets One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, but a couple of years younger. The movie and the book are both very good. If you don't have time to read the book, watch the movie... it helps that it has a really good soundtrack.
4. Dear Bully by Various Authors
Again, if you are an educator, you should read this book. It is written by several young-adult authors as they tell their experiences with bullying when they were younger. I like that this book takes on different perspectives of bullying. Some authors are the bullies themselves, while others share their experiences as victims and some as bystanders. A good, educational read in my opinion.
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