I feel so lucky to be a YA writer because I’m such a YA fan! I think the books we read as kids stick with us more than anything else we read. With that in mind, I wanted to share my list of Rachel’s Top Ten YA Novels!
10. Forever…, Judy Blume
I read this when I was 13, and my face? It was rocked off. It’s the story of Katherine and Michael, a high school couple, and their relationship over the course of about a year, And, oh yeah, it deals really graphically with their sex life. One of the things I love about Forever… is that yes, Katherine and Michael have sex, but no one gets pregnant or catches an STD. However, there are real emotional consequences for the sex, and I think that’s probably more true to what a lot of high schoolers go through. Oh, and if you have read it, then you will understand why I say that this book completely and totally ruins the name Ralph. Forever.
9. Looking For Alaska, John Green
I reread this book every once and awhile, and it never fails to fill me with burning envy. It’s just so good. Miles, ironically nicknamed “Pudge” because he’s so skinny, leaves his home in Florida to go to Culver Creek, a boarding school in Alabama (based on John Green’s actual high school, Indian Creek, in BIrmingham, AL). There he meets gorgeous, damaged, doomed Alaska Young, and his life is changed forever. I love this book because it’s funny and smart and sad all at once. And really, what more can you ask? There’s a reason this one won the Printz Medal a few years back!
8. The Perilous Gard, Elizabeth Pope
My copy of this book, bought around 1991 or so, is missing it’s cover and the pages are falling out, That should tell you how many times I read it grownig up! The Perilous Gard is a re-telling of the Tam Lin legend set in 16th century England. Kate, a lady-in-waiting to then Princess Elizabeth, is banished (thanks to her flighty airhead sister, Alicia) to the Perilous Gard, a creepy as all get out castle in the middle of nowhere. The master of Perilous Gard is Geoffrey Heron, and his young daughter has just disappeared, leading everyone to think Geoff’s younger brother, Christopher, was somehow responsible. And then Fairies get involved, and the whole thing gets really complex and awesome. Kate and Christopher are one of my favorite literary couples ever. They’re both deliciously snarky, plus they have the whole “plain girl/beautiful boy” trope that I so dearly love.
7. The Gemma Doyle Trilogy, Libba Bray
I love these books so much that I would make out with them, if only I could find a way. Comprised of A Great and Terrible Beauty, Rebel Angels, and The Sweet Far Thing, the Gemma Doyle Trilogy tells the story of -duh- Gemma Doyle, a a British girl living in India in the Victorian era, who is sent to a hella creepy boarding school in England after her mother commits suicide under very suspicious circumstances. There she discovers that she can open “The Realms,” a magical and supremely trippy place. This whole series has pretty much everything I love. Victorian era? Check. Clothes porn? Check. Hot, forbidden love? Check. Scenes that feel like a acid trip? Check and check! Love.
6. The Pigman, Paul Zindel
Okay, hold on, I have to go get a tissue. Just writing that title makes me cry and cry. Whew,. Now, where was I? Oh, right. The Pigman is about John and Lorraine, two teenagers who get their kicks making prank calls. Then they prank call Mr. Pignati, a lonely widower who collects china pigs, and they become friends with him. And then some bad things happen that make me cry a whole bunch. But don’t let my weeping turn you off this book! It’s an excellent story! (Also, it’s not to be confused with A Day No Pigs Would Die, which is an even more sob inducing book about this kid who has to graphically butcher his pet pig so that the family won’t starve. Ugh. I have to go lie down now.)
5. Tiger Eyes, Judy Blume
I know! More Judy! This book meant a lot to me as a teenager. It’s about a girl, Davy. whose father is murdered, and the way his death affects her whole family. I also lost my dad when I was 17 (although to cancer and not to a random crime, like in the book) and I thought this was one of the best books about not only grief, but the healing process, and the way life does go on after all. Plus, there is a hot Indian guy named Wolf, who I’m pretty sure could heal most emotional pain just by the power of his hotness.
4. The Grounding of Group 6, Julian F. Thompson
Okay, I’ll be honest. I’m only adding this book to the list because it is OMG SO INSANE. On the surface, it seems like pretty ordinary fare: Kids with various troubles sent to a boarding school, bonding commences. Only, the kids have been sent by their parents to that particular boarding school so that they can be STRAIGHT UP MURDERED. That’s right. Coldbrook Academy specializes in assassinating kids who’ve pissed off their ‘rents for the last time. What’s hilarious about this is that the kids haven’t done anything that bad, really. I mean, I think one of them plagiarized on a paper or something. This book is like Gossip Girl on crack, and really, I can think of no higher compliment. I wish I’d written this.
3. Summer of Fear, Lois Duncan
I really, really wanted to just list the entire Lois Duncan ouevre. She’s probably the writer that’s had the most influence on my writing, and I think pretty much all of her books are great, which, if you haven’t figured out by now, means they’re completely insane (I love how this list has maybe 3 serious books, and the rest are all, “And then this TOTALLY CRACKED OUT THING happens! And I LOVED IT!
) But Summer of Fear is definitely the most insane of all LD’s books, which is saying something, as her books contain things like astral projection and time travel. Rachel and her family are expecting their cousin, Julia, and her family for the summer. But then Julia and her family are in a horrible car accident, and only Julia survives. So she comes to live with Rachel’s family, and it doesn’t take long for Rachel to suspect that something is seriously up with Julia, what with Julia killing the family dog AND trying to bang Rachel’s dad. YEAH. And then there’s witchcraft, and crazy hillbillies, so, you know, it’s awesome.
2. Twilight, Stephenie Meyer
I couldn’t have a YA list without what’s pretty much THE biggest book in YA, now could I? You know, people get weird when you talk about Twilight, and there’s usually a lot of “But what is the apppeeeeeaaaaallll?” questions. To which I say, “Um…Bella is a totally normal girl who has a totally HOT and sparkly boy WITH SUPERPOWERS fall in love with her. What’s not to love?” That said, I love Twilight because it’s so… moody and atmospheric. It’s like something out of a dream (which I guess is appropriate, since we all know that’s where SM got the idea!) And it perfectly captures the secret fantasies of pretty much every teenage girl ever.
1. Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret, Judy Blume
We started with Judy, threw some Judy in the middle, and now let’s end with Judy. There’s not much I can say about this book because I’m sure all of you have read it. And, if you haven’t, you’re undoubtedly shutting off your computer and running out to go get it RIGHT NOW. I don’t think any other book has ever so accurately reflected what it’s like to be an adolescent girl, what with the worrying about boobs and periods and boys. Nobody does it like Judy! Also, when I read this book at age 11, I was totally traumatized by the descriptions of the maxi pads with freakin’ BELTS. I’ve heard that that’s been changed in newer editions. Thank God.
Thanks Rachel for our first ever author guest post!