In the past decade or so, there have been three main YA (young adult) series that have dominated publishing markets: Harry Potter, of course, then Twilight, and the Hunger Games. Many other books aimed at young adult readers, whether a stand alone novel like Marcus Zusak's The Book Thief or a series such as Veronica Roth's Divergent, have certainly had their time in the sun in the wake of these publishing booms as well.

Frankly, while some popular YA fiction is undoubtedly great (diss Harry Potter and I'll fight you), some novels and series are so painfully devoid of any literary merit whatsoever you wonder how they ever got published. This list is dedicated to the relatively hidden gems of the YA genre; the books that will probably never be turned into high-budget Hollywood films, the ones with something more important to say than "always love the sparkly vampire who stalks you".

These books series are in no particular order, and I am very aware that many people who significantly peruse YA may have read many of these, so this list is more for the public in general.

1. The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente

The re-imagining of fairy tales is a concept that has been fairly popular recently, but I think this book, the first in a series, does it best. Valente's heroine is September, a 12 year old carrot-top who is whisked away from 1940s Nebraska into Fairyland, a magical realm filled with about as many different creatures and beasts you could think of. While this seems like pretty standard fare, Valente's incredibly rich and detailed prose, along with super entertaining and believable characters, this is one of the most satisfying stories I have read in a while.

2. Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King

While there are many young adult novels that deal with grief and loss, some better than others, this one stands out. The book opens with Vera at her best friend Charlie's (who she also loved) funeral, and for the rest of the novel, Vera has to reconcile her very complicated emotions regarding Charlie (and her parents), as well as reluctantly work out the details of his death. It's a very poignant story, and different from other YA fiction of the kind in that Vera doesn't find some tied up happy ending in another relationship, nor do the cracks in her past magically end. It's a hopeful novel, but a refreshingly realistic one, and Vera is one of my favorite narrators in YA fiction. Please don't ignore Vera Dietz.

3. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

I first read this as a freshman in high school for my English class, and then again as a freshman in college for my Young Adult Literature class, so perhaps this book is not as unknown as some others, but it is absolutely a necessary read. Alternately hilarious and tragically sad, often within the same sentence, this is such an important book and such a well-written one.

4. The Gone Series by Michael Grant

In the fictional small town of Perdido Beach, California, an apparent explosion at a nearby nuclear plant causes all adults to disappear, leaving only those 15 or younger. As these teenagers, try to figure out what happened to them and organize a sustainable way of surviving, some begin to develop strange powers, and tensions rise among different groups, helped along by a mysterious force called the gaiaphage. While this seems like Lord of the Flies meets Percy Jackson, it really is a remarkable series that powerfully shows the affects that isolation and power can have on people, and Grant does a masterful job with rounding out the varied cast of characters.

5. The Year of Secret Assignments by Jaclyn Moriarty

Okay, this one is probably one the most biased on this list, but I can't help myself. The story is ultimately of three friends, Emily, Lydia, and Cassie, who are forced to partake in a penpal project with a rival high school. This novel is entirely epistolary, consisting only of the girls' and their pen pals' letters, diaries/notebooks and emails, as well as a few school notices and something spoilerific I won't mention. It is also incredibly funny, one of the few novels period that I can reread and laugh at, as well as pretty touching. Plus, it takes place in Australia, and we need some country-diversity in this list.