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Top Ten Books I’d Recommend To People New To YA

I’ve been wanting to do something like this for a while, so this is the perfect time to actually do it.  One day, I might even get around to putting together an expanded list, but for now, this is definitely a good start.  It’s no secret I love YA, and so it seemed like a good chance to talk about some of the great YA books out there.  I’ve decided to leave off some of the more obvious choices in favor of some books that are equally as awesome as the Harry Potter and The Fault In Our Stars of the world.

Contemporary:

1. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson.  I love Laurie Halse Anderson so much, and if I have to recommend just one book by her, Speak is it.  She has a way of making you relate to the characters, even when what they were experiencing is so completely different than anything you’ve been through.
2. Hate List by Jennifer Brown.  I can’t recommend this book enough, and it’s a haunting look at a school shooting and its aftermath.

Paranormal:

1. The Iron Fey by Julie Kagawa: I love her take on fairies, and how some fairies have come out of technology.
2. Wings by Aprilynne Pike.  This is another book that has a great take on fairies.  These fairies are more plant-like, and are grouped according to seasons.  And they even bloom once a year!
3. Paranormalcy by Kiersten White.  I love that Paranormalcy has a lot of different elements of a lot of paranormal books out there.  And Evie is just hilarious.

Dystopic & Science Fiction:

1. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld.  I LOVE this trilogy and I really wish it got the attention some of the other dystopic trilogies got. I liked how Tally managed to overcome every surgery performed on her.
2. The Adoration Of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson.  I liked that it’s about the ethics of science and medicine and when things go a bit too far.  There are two very different sides, and I like that Pearson doesn’t take a side.

Fantasy:

1. Graceling by Kristin Cashore.  I really liked this world, and how people with really special abilities were shunned and exploited and feared.
2. Crewel by Gennifer Albin.  I love that there is a group of women who can weave time, and I love that it’s a fantasy novel with some elements that seem science-fictiony.

Historical Fiction:

1. Witch Child by Celia Rees.  Witch Child is pretty awesome, and I like how it’s told in diary format.  I also liked her escape to America to escape accusations of being a witch.  Plus, it’s hard (for me) to find historical fiction at the upper end of YA, so this is a great choice.
2. Gilt by Katherine Longshore.  I love that this book focuses on Katherine Howard (better known as Henry VIII’s 5th wife) and her circle of friends.  This is a great addition to YA historical fiction.