As a English major and a lover of reading, I've had the pleasure of reading many books from all different genres and age groups. I've found that young adult and children's books hold a special place in my heart — they're the books that introduced me to reading and what has made reading enjoyable for me. However, there's a lot of stigma around books written for this age group. People tend to think that they're just "kid books" and that adults cannot enjoy them or learn anything from them. This is just so wrong. There are tons of amazing young adult and children's books that adults can read and enjoy immensely.
1. "Pictures of Hollis Woods" by Patricia Reilly Giff.
"Pictures of Hollis Woods" follows a young girl who is an orphan. She's been passed around from home to home until she finally settles down with an elderly woman and her cat. Here, she's able to be herself and remember the only other time she was happy with another family. This is an incredible novel all about acceptance, family, and agency and it's told in an interesting and unique format.
2. "One Crazy Summer" by Rita Williams Garcia.
"One Crazy Summer" is a historical novel set in the summer of 1968. It follows three sisters who travel to Oakland, CA, to visit their mother. There, they get a chance to learn more about their mother and the group she's involved with: the Black Panthers. This novel is an inspirational and informational story centered around three girls trying to connect with their mother.
3. "Eliza and Her Monsters" by Francesca Zappia.
"Eliza and Her Monsters" follows a teenage girl who is the anonymous creator of an online comic series which is wildly popular. Stuck in her fictional world, Eliza is isolated and often struggles with anxiety and depression, especially when her identity is revealed. This novel is incredible and really focuses on mental health, friendship, and identity.
4. "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak.
If you haven't heard of "The Book Thief," well, where have you been? This fantastic historical novel is told from the point of view of Death during World War II. While Death travels all over the world during that time, he's drawn again and again to Liesel, a young girl living in Germany, and her adoptive family.
5. "Sold" by Patricia McCormick.
"Sold" is an emotional and heavy novel that follows Lakshmi, a 13-year-old girl who lives in a small village in Nepal. In an attempt to help her family after their crops are destroyed, Lakshmi journeys to India with a man her step-father introduced her to, under the impression she would be working in the city as a maid. However, her life turns into a nightmare when she is instead sold into prostitution. This powerful and chillingly real novel isn't one that you will quickly forget.
6. "Eleanor and Park" by Rainbow Rowell
Set in the 1980's, "Eleanor and Park" follows two very different teens who meet and begin to fall in love despite the challenges that they both face. Eleanor is a bit of a misfit and is dealing with a hard and dangerous home life. Park is half Korean and struggles to express himself the way he wants to. This is a super popular novel about first love, overcoming abuse, and learning to accept and love yourself.
7. "Bad Romance" by Heather Demetrios.
"Bad Romance" is a powerful novel about first love and abusive relationships. It follows Grace, a teenage girl who is desperate to get out of the situation she's dealing with at home. She thinks she's found that escape with Gavin. However, as she falls more deeply in love with him, he begins to reveal he's not as good as he seems. This book is a really realistic and important novel that shows the damage and the different forms that come with abuse.
