9 YA Books That Belong on Your Shelf

I think it’s safe to say I read more than the average person. Especially considering that the average person these days doesn’t read anything unless it scrolls across their Facebook feed. But even among people who like to read, I read a lot. I’m currently actively reading five books, and this is the usual case. I’m not saying this to geekily brag. I’m saying it’s a problem!

Well, the most fantastic kind of first-world problem. The only real issue is that I both want and plan to review all of these books for you guys. In reality what happens is I tear through them, fall in love (or sometimes don’t at all), and then stack them carefully on my desk in a “to-be-reviewed” pile. I often even begin writing the reviews in my mind, trying to organize my thoughts in a way that offers something enlightening and new to the equation without spoiling the story for potential readers.

Sometimes I follow through, but more often I’m left with teetering stacks, the likelihood of their imminent review growing ever more faint.

What I’ve decided to do, in a effort to get more organized and declutter for the new year, is to just plunge in, sort the books into categories, and post digest-style articles including a short(er than usual for my loquacious self) review of each title.

I’m going to begin with YA books. In the last several years, I feel like the young adult category has produced some of the most searingly honest, gorgeously written works I’ve ever read. It makes me happy that publishers have begun offering kids and teens the kind of stories they deserve. With that, let’s get started!

The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how your fate is in your blood, and you can’t escape what runs through you. That’s the same problem Alice faces in this modern day fairytale. She must follow a series of clues back to a past she doesn’t recall and barely believes in, to rescue her mother who has warned her to stay away. As we meet the inhabitants of the Hinterlands as well as others who would give anything to visit this darkly magical realm, it stirs questions about autonomy, myth, identity and whether or not we are all characters trapped in the circle of our own predetermined tales.

This is not a book for those who expect their bedtime stories to end with happily ever after. The princesses in these stories have fangs and claws and will burn themselves into your memory.

All The Feels by Danika Stone

I’ve had my heart crushed by more than one scifi television series. (Farscape, Firefly, I’m looking at you!) If you’ve ever felt the despair of stanning a show cut down in its prime, this book will speak directly to you. If you’ve ever signed a petition to keep a show going, or bemoaned the fate of your favorite characters in a chat room full of invisible strangers who felt more real than the people you see every day, this book is for you.This is also one of the new trend of books that incorporate things like text messaging and Twitter posts; the venues that have become very much how we communicate in the modern world.

More than just a geeky fangirl love letter, this is also a story of following your own path, sticking to your dreams, accepting people for who they are, and finding friends, love and happiness in the most unlikely places.


Little & Lion by Brandy Colbert

Little & Lion is the story of a brother and sister navigating the often complex and confusing prospect off growing up in the world today. The book tackles topics including mental health, multicultural families, LGBTQ relationships and more with an honest, clear voice. I like that the author avoids easy cliches, instead showing the shades and shadows that comprise real lives. They’ve taglined the book basically as “what happens when a brother and sister fall for the same girl..!”, but it’s actually much more interesting than that.

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

This book is aimed a little closer to the middle school range, but it’s so good that I think people of all ages will enjoy it. This is the story of Auggie Pullman, a kid born with a facial deformity, as he enters his first year of public schooling in the fifth grade. Told in a frank, hilarious voice, Wonder  doesn’t cut corners with cliched characters or pandered sympathy. It does raise all sorts of questions about how we treat those with differences and how those differences are really our greatest strengths.

Before We Go Extinct by Karen Rivers

When teenage boy Sharky loses his best friend in an accident that may not have been so accidental, he falls into a silent state of depression and denial which leads to his mom sending him away to a remote island to stay with his hippy dad.

I felt personally connected to and excited by this book because of Sharky’s obsession with the film Sharkwater. If you’ve never seen this movie, it exposes the brutality and pointless waste of the shark-finning industry and also paints sharks in a much kinder light than mainstream media generally does. If you never thought you could cry over the fate of sharks– watch this movie.

But back to the novel. I think kids will appreciate the inclusion of activities like parkour, which sometimes gets scoffed at by adults. The characters are quirky but ring true. And honestly, I find texting you best friend who happens to be dead a perfectly normal reaction to emotional trauma in the modern world.

Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling

This is another book which highlights the incredible resilience and adaptability of children. Aven Green was born without arms- and that’s only the sixth or seventh most interesting thing about her. Her dad takes a job running a dying Western theme park in the desert, where she meets new friends and solves a huge mystery- all with a sparkling sense of humor.

Bash Bash Revolution by Douglas Lain

This by turns funny, original, thought-provoking book is an ode to our rapidly overwhelming need to be submerged in a digital world. Written mostly in Facebook posts and messages, with some interjection from a self-actualizing computer having an identity crisis- this is the story of either an apocalypse of our own making or the next evolution of mankind. Also it’s the story of some kids who just want to play video games, get high and have sex. And the story of a mad genius who breaks the world by giving humans exactly what they want. The author manages to both brilliantly skewer our current political mess and make you care about the characters on a personal level.

Loser’s Bracket by Chris Crutcher

This is another book filled with breathtaking honesty and contemplation on where you come from vs. who you end up being. This is the story of Annie, who after being removed from her abusive family is taken in by much more affluent parents. They give her the life most kids dream of, but part of her never feels quite deserving of this new world- and part of her still longs for and stays tied to the people from her past. This is ultimately a study of the complexity of humans and our ability to love each other despite our flaws and differences.

DIY Rules for a WTF World: How to Speak Up, Get Creative and CHANGE THE WORLD by Krista Suh

Now that you and your kid have read about extraordinary people, here’s a guide for how to BE one. This book was written by the creator of the Pussyhat Project, which caused a tidal wave of pink ears across the political marches and rallies of the last few years. It’s a fun, illustrated manual that actually provides practical advice on both deciding what matters most to you and figuring out achievable ways to change the way the world works. You’ll find tips on everything from self-care to networking and how to navigate intimidating aspects of business. One of my favorite chapters is called How to Talk to Rich People. These are subjects they don’t cover in school- but if you truly want to gather the backing to succeed, this information is crucial.

1 thought on “9 YA Books That Belong on Your Shelf”

  1. I need to check out All the Feels + Before We Go Extinct! I listened to a guest podcast by Krista Suh and I definitely have been wanting to check out her book! <3

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