Here’s the thing about loving books: it will destroy you.
Most things that you love will have the power to destroy you, but there is something miraculous and magical about literature that gives it a special opening to every weak spot you've ever had. It comes at you without warning, like a whisper, and suddenly will hit you full force when you least expect it. It will make you weep at the power of it, then marvel for hours afterwards at the eloquence with which it tore you down.
Don't let the genre “young adult fiction” fool you. It brands itself for teens, but if that makes you underestimate it, you've made a deadly mistake. Often, that is one of its greatest weapons as it sneaks up on you in the shadows, ready to strike, the element of surprise tucked neatly into its arsenal. It makes you believe it is for children, the faint of heart, but when it comes for you, it tears you down in harrowing destruction with the best of them.
YA fiction is not for those who do not wish to have their hearts ripped out, their darkest fears brought to light or their greatest shames exposed, all in beautifully twisted phrases and carefully crafted prose.
If you are one of the brave-hearted who dares to venture into this realm of pain, fantasy, love, and occasional happily ever afters, but you don't know where to start, look no further. Some of these may not be the most widely acclaimed or well known, but they're sure to touch you, make you remember them, and perhaps even bring a tear to your eye.
Spoilers ahead!
5. "Afterworlds" by Scott Westerfeld
The chapters in "Afterworlds" alternate between the story of Darcy, a young girl who, instead of going off to college, decides to take her chances and move to the city on her own after having her first novel published, and the story of Lizzie, the main character in the novel Darcy sold. Scott Westerfeld does a brilliant job at telling these two very different stories. In no time at all, you'll be rooting for Darcy as she struggles to budget her money on her own for the first time, while also scooting to the edge of your seat as Lizzie blindly stumbles her way into the "Afterworld" after a near brush with death.
Memorable quote: "Real life doesn't have many happy endings. Why shouldn't books make up the difference?"
4. "Saint Anything" by Sarah Dessen
Sydney is no stranger to being cast aside, crawling her way into second place after her brother Peyton, whom her parents always seemed to favor. When Peyton finds himself in jail after driving drunk and paralyzing a boy, it comes as no shock that their parents are still concerned only for him. Sydney, however, worries for the victim of her brother's careless actions. She finds her comfort in her new-found friends Layla and Mac, fitting herself into their world and discovering a place where she finally feels important and seen. If your heart aches at the thought of an unjust and broken home life, "Saint Anything" is for you.
Memorable quote: "There's no shame in trying to make stuff work, is how I see it. It's better than just accepting the broken."
3. "Let It Snow" by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle
Perhaps a cop-out choice as it's written by three authors, "Let It Snow" is still a remarkable book that deserves to be on any great YA list. A massive snowstorm hits on Christmas Eve, derailing the lives of three separate teens, each story told separately by one of these bestselling authors. First there is Jubilee, whose train is halted by the snow. She finds shelter in a nearby Waffle House, but soon realizes that despite the hazardous conditions, she cannot stay there for long. Elsewhere, Tobin and his friends' movie marathon gets cut short as they embark on a mission to get to the Waffle House, hearing about the very same cheerleaders who drove Jubilee out. Finally, a girl named Addie regrets her breakup with her boyfriend and desires to rectify her mistakes, but ends up caring for a teacup pig in the meantime instead. When these tales of heartbreak and adventure merge at the end and tie into one, you'll be warmed by the stories of a cold winter night.
Memorable quote: "I always had this idea that you should never give up a happy middle in the hopes of a happy ending, because there is no such thing as a happy ending. Do you know what I mean? There is so much to lose."
2. "I’ll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson
"I'll Give You the Sun" explores the idea that the ones we hold closest are the ones who hold all the power in the world to hurt us most deeply. Twins Jude and Noah are close as children, but then they grow older and have to start competing for their parents' affections, boys and a spot at a prestigious art school nearby. While Noah, at 13 years old, struggles with his sexuality, strives to better his drawings and gets close with their mother because of their bond over the arts, Jude rages jealously. Skip forward three years, and it is Jude's story we hear, beginning in time after a tragedy has rocked their lives and played a hand in tearing the two apart. Noah and Jude were born fraternal twins, but as their distance widens, it seems as though they are not meant to be in the same story at all.
Memorable quote: "Quick, make a wish. Take a (second or third or fourth) chance. Remake the world."
1. "Shuffle, Repeat" by Jen Klein
One of the many YA novels to be released recently on May 3, "Shuffle, Repeat" is unique, diverse, enthralling and tear-jerking. Within the first 20 pages, there is more character diversity established than is in most books or media still today. Shaun, a senior boy in high school, struggles with a relationship with a boy who lives in Chicago and is not yet out to his parents. Darbs, dubbed a bisexual Christian whom the "gays don't want," and neither does the "school's God squad," finds herself with a massive crush on a new girl in school who she readily claims is giving her vibes. Eventually, though, she develops a friendship with the girl, who turns out to be a Christian lesbian. They bond over their mutual outsider status in both worlds in which they belong. Most notably, however, the protagonist June is dealing with her own massive problems outside of their friend group this year. Oliver, son of her mother's best friend, has been enlisted to drive her to school every morning so she can avoid the hour and a half long bus ride. This isn't a problem, save for his horrid music taste; that is, until she realizes she's accidentally managed to develop a huge crush on him. While they're both in relationships. But at least she has a mother who loves her, and a father who sent her flowers for her birthday...until that less-than-perfect fantasy crashes down on her as well. "Shuffle, Repeat" will have you queuing up every song from Jude and Oliver's Sunrise Songs Playlist on Spotify the moment you finish, because you won't want to leave them behind as they stumble their way through their final year of high school, talking of memories and traditions and things that matter.
Memorable quote: "I forgive him, but that doesn't mean I need to keep pretending he's going to show up. I've pretended for way too long."
