Finding good books to read is no easy task, and it's even harder to find the time to sit down with a novel that isn't an assigned reading for a class. As a self-proclaimed bookworm, I can say that I've read it all: the great, the okay, the bad, and the can't-even-make-it-to-page-two. Some stories have stuck with me for longer than others, and I have decided to compile a list of some of the best young-adult fiction novels and series that I have encountered.
1. The Mortal Instruments Series (Cassandra Clare)
“'You could have had anything else in the world, and you asked for me.'
She smiled up at him. Filthy as he was, covered in blood and dirt, he was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen. 'But I don't want anything else in the world.'” -Cassandra Clare, City of Glass
This book series centers around Clary Fray, a girl living a relatively normal life until her sixteenth birthday changes everything. She discovers that she is actually a Shadowhunter, meant to protect the mortal world from demons. This series follows her journey, learning about who she truly is, and all of the interesting people she meets.
The Mortal Instruments is arguably one of the most well-written young adult series out there; the world that Cassandra Clare has created is both similar and different from our own, but her characters are universally relatable. One of my favorite things about this series is that, unlike so many other YA novels out there, the romances that occur are not the focal point of the books. There are still plenty of sweet moments to satisfy fans, but it's a story with real substance. Honorable mentions also go to Clare's two other series, The Infernal Devices and The Dark Artifices, which build off the same Shadowhunter world; the characters and plot lines are different, but the excellent writing is the same.
2. The Vampire Academy Series (Richelle Mead)
“Only a true best friend can protect you from your immortal enemies.” -Richelle Mead, Vampire Academy
The Vampire Academy series follows Rose Hathaway, whose sense of duty for protecting her best friend Lissa, is unparalleled; Lissa also happens to be the last remaining member of a royal bloodline. As the title suggests, Lissa is a vampire and Rose is her half-vampire, half-human guardian whose sole purpose is supposed to be protecting her. However, things don't always go according to plan...Overall, the series is as hilarious as it is interesting; there always seems to be a new problem to solve, but the conflicts that arise are true to the plot.
3. The Darkest Minds Trilogy (Alexandra Bracken)
"We'll just have to try to make better mistakes tomorrow." -Alexandra Bracken, The Darkest Minds
This trilogy takes place after a disease sweeps through America's youth, either killing them or giving them supernatural abilities. The government, fearful of what these kids are capable of, force them to live in "rehabilitation" camps where they are severely abused and living in miserable conditions. It follows a girl named Ruby's escape from a camp, her fight for survival, and her life on the run from the adults so desperate to catch her. Along the way, she meets a group of kids just like her, and begins traveling with them. Bracken stayed very true to her characters throughout these books, and I found them all to be very realistic.
4. The Naturals Series (Jennifer Lynn Barnes)
"Too young to party, just odd enough to participate in federal investigations of serial murder. Story of my life." -Jennifer Lynn Barnes, All In.
The best way to describe this series is Criminal Minds (which I am also a huge fan of) for young adults. The Naturals follows a group of teenagers with special talents that are extremely useful in the FBI's criminal investigations. It is told in the point-of-view of Cassie Hobbs, a newly-recruited member of the secret team with a past almost as dark as her fellow team members. Barnes did an excellent job at focusing on different characters in each novel so that readers could gain a better understanding of their motivations and personalities. Each novel also included a piece of a puzzle in a bigger crime that is revealed in the final book, which keeps readers guessing to the very end.
5. Percy Jackson & The Olympians (Rick Riordan)
"With great power...comes the great need to take a nap. Wake me up later." -Rick Riordan, The Last Olympian.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians (along with the Heroes of Olympus series) follows the adventures of a boy named Percy who finds out he's a demigod, and that his father is Poseidon, God of the sea. Riordan's hilarious take on the lives of heroes is both heartwarming and entertaining, and the storylines never seemed to get old. The characters are as lovable as they are sarcastic and, of course, there are great relationships involved. On top of it all, I learned more about Greek mythology from this series than I ever have in school, and I loved it. For those interested in Egyptian mythology, I would recommend The Kane Chronicles books, also written by Riordan.
