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CarlyTown>The Library>Young Adult Young Adult FictionYoung adult fiction has certainly come a long way since my youth--not one of these will make you want to slit your wrists! An excellent quality in a book, I think.Realistic YA | Funny YA | Mystery/SupernaturalRealistic YA~ New ~ The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian - Sherman AlexieJunior, a cartoon-drawing, basketball-player Indian kid leaves the reservation to go to a nearby white school and incurs the anger of whites and Indians alike, while living his life. Cartoons by the great Ellen Forney add to the realistic charm of this sweet, poignant and funny novel. Prom - Laurie Halse Anderson Ashley gets into trouble a lot, hangs out with her boyfriend TJ, who left school ages ago, and is waiting to graduate. Not that she's planning on college. She could care less about the prom, until she finds herself pulled into prom planning, and her whole life changes. Excellent, endearing characters and realistic situations with a welcome touch of humor. Speak - Laurie Halse Anderson Melinda Sordino starts the school year as an outcast. Her friends won't talk to her, because at the end of the summer she called the police at a party and got everyone busted. What her friends don't know, however, is why she called the police. Nor do her parents, or anyone else for that matter. Because Melinda is saying as little as possible this year. An emotional and redemptive (but also dryly funny) novel and spot on in its depiction of high school life. Twisted - Laurie Halse Anderson This is an interesting slant on the problem novel, as it's told by a young man who pulls a stupid prank and gets accused of an even worse crime. Very well done, and a good accompaniment to the myriad of novels which tell the girls' side of the story. ~ New ~ Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You - Peter Cameron Coming of age novel about a young man living in New York, working in his mother's gallery, and trying to find his way in the world. Compelling characters, particularly that of James, the main character and narrator who has a fascinatingly eccentric voice and outlook. Bucking the Sarge - Christopher Paul Curtis If there's anyone who crafts more hilarious, endearing characters and situations than Curtis, I can't imagine who it could be. Luther T. Farrell aims to be one of the great philosophers someday but in the meantime, he's pretty busy, working at the Happy Neighbor Group Home for Men, going to school, and trying to avoid the wrath of his mother, the Sarge. A fascinating novel with some pretty complex themes and a most interesting anti-hero. A wonderful young adult author, Sarah Dessen creates incredibly vivid characters with complex, realistic relationships. There's no easy shortcuts, no unrealistically dramatic scenes--every bit just feels so much like real (young adult) life. Dreamland - Sarah Dessen Caitlin's sister runs away instead of going to Yale and Caitlin falls apart as a result. She becomes a cheerleader, starts smoking a lot of pot, and dates a guy who hits her. In the wrong hands this would be moralistic tripe, but Dessen's even-handed writing gives interesting insight into how you could possibly stay with someone who hit you. The tension as Caitlin's abuse builds is almost unbearable. Just Listen – Sarah Dessen The young heroine is a model, and has two sisters, one very quiet and anorexic, the other very bubbly and chatty. Our heroine is also very quiet and does not talk to anyone about her problems, until she meets Max, an attractive outsider who helps bring her out of her shell. As always, Dessen writes beautifully about young women and their complicated friendships and family relationships and romantic relationships. Keeping the Moon - Sarah Dessen Formerly fat Colie is packed off to visit her eccentric artist aunt while her workout queen mother goes on tour. She works at the local diner, and makes friends with the waitresses there, and learns that all she needs is a little push to start standing up for herself and appreciating her life. You'll cheer when Colie begins to stand up for herself. That Summer - Sarah Dessen Haven is fifteen and tall and her summer is spent working at a children's shoe store at the mall. Her family is consumed with preparations from her increasingly distant older sister's upcoming wedding. When she runs into her sister's ex-boyfriend, she's reminded of better times for the family. Like all good YA novels, Haven learns about life, and gets a backbone, and becomes a more self-actualized person. This Lullaby - Sarah Dessen Remy's mother has been married four times and is working on her fifth. Remy's getting ready to go off to college and isn't interested in any lengthy romantic entanglements herself, but Dexter is working on breaking down those defenses. As much about her friendships and her family relationships as about her romantic relationship, this is just a lovely book about opening yourself to love. The Truth About Forever - Sarah Dessen Macy's boyfriend is going away to Brain Camp for the summer. Jason has been her one comfort since her father passed away, and she's not looking forward to spending the summer with only her busy mother for company. With compelling characters and relationships, this book is reflective and insightful, but never depressing. Life is Funny - E.R. Frank Great collection of vignettes about a group of high school kids whose lives are intertwined in intricate ways. Rich characterization, heart-rendingly complicated situations. Very moving and absorbing. Wrecked - E.R. Frank In this novel, the young heroine and her friend are driving home from a party when they get in a car accident that kills the other driver and leaves the heroine and her friend with deep physical and emotional scars. What I love about this book is that, unlike many YA "problem novels", it's not a book leading up to one dramatic act and then a quick resolution and "I think everything's going to be juuuuust fine." This book begins with the dramatic act and shows how hard it is to work through things. Very, very good. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time - Mark Haddon Christopher is fifteen and autistic. This story is told through his unique viewpoint as he tries to solve the mystery of who killed his neighbor's dog, pass his A-levels and deal with everyday life. Compulsively readable and completely original, Haddon sucks the reader right into Christopher's world. Invisible - Pete Hautman Told through the viewpoint of Dougie, who may not be the most reliable narrator, it's a gripping and suspenseful read. To say any more than this would spoil the mystery of this book. Well-written and impossible to put down. Cupid - Julius Lester This tale of Cupid and Psyche is told with the voice of a Southern black storyteller, and brings in elements of Roman and Greek mythology. Has lots of interesting insights about love, and is a fascinating, fun discourse on the telling of a story. ~ New ~ Life as We Knew It - Susan Beth Pfeffer Gripping post-apocalyptic tale of what happens when an asteroid hits the moon (long story short: nothing good). Narrated in a diary format by the teenage girl who survives with her family after the world falls after. ~ New ~ Bullyville - Francine Prose Story of a boy whose father dies in 9/11 (after leaving him and his mother) who then gets sent to the nearby boys school and gets bullied. Prose really gets into the bullied kid's head without exploiting or glamorizing the bullying. Cures for Heartbreak - Margo Rabb A very sweet and bittersweetly funny story about a girl whose mother dies and the effect on her, her sister and their father. Based on the author's own experiences, it has a deeper thread which explores her mother's experiences with her Holocaust-surviving parents. Make Me Over: 11 Original Stories about Transforming Ourselves - Marilyn Singer (ed.) Excellent collection of short stories of young people making themselves over in one way or another. Very intriguing work by authors to watch like Joyce Sweeney, Peni R. Griffin, Jess Mowry, Marina Budhos and Evelyn Coleman. So Yesterday - Scott Westerfield Hunter is a cool hunter who meets Jen while admiring her innovatively tied shoelaces and soon they become involved in a kidnapping and a complicated consumerist scheme. It's an excellent look at coolness and trends and consumerism and features likeable, endearing characters. Great for pop culture addicts of all ages. Emako Blue - Brenda Woods Told with alternating chapters from the viewpoints of several characters, this short novel begins at the funeral of a young girl from South Central L.A. School Library Journal called it succinct and poignant and I think they're right on the money. Funny YAIntroducing Vivien Leigh Reid - Yvonne Collins & Sandy RideoutTeen chick lit about a teen girl who goes to Ireland to spend time with her estranged mother who is filming a movie. Silly and fun read. Now Starring Vivian Leigh Reid Diva in Training - Yvonne Collins & Sandy Rideout The second in the series about the title character who this time around stays with her actress mother in L.A., takes an acting class, and gets a part in an evening soap. Dishy and fun. The New and Improved Vivien Leigh Reid Diva in Control - Yvonne Collins & Sandy Rideout Third in the series, this one follows her adventures on an evening action/adventure drama. Adorable, with great characters and some good villains (in her soon-to-be stepsisters). Great fun. How my Personal, Private Journal Became a Bestseller - Julia DeVillers Pretty cute book about the title situation. Kind of a fantasy for kids who want to be writers—I wish it was that easy! Born Confused - Tanuja Desai Hidier This novel about a first generation American daughter of Indian parents finding herself is narrated with the charming voice of Dimple, who plays with language in an endearing and interesting way. If you liked Bend It Like Beckham and Monsoon Wedding, you'll love this. Alice, I Think - Susan Juby This series of novels stars Alice MacLeod, a Canadian girl who is one of the most eccentric, endearing, and hilarious characters I've ever read. Fabulous books! In the first, Alice, formerly homeschooled, decides to attend school. Hilarious. Read-out-loud-to-anyone-nearby-hilarious. Miss Smithers- Susan Juby Alice decides to compete in the Miss Smithers beauty (scholarship) pageant. Still hilarious. Alice MacLeod, Realist at Last- Susan Juby Alice decides to try her hand and screenwriting. The results? Hilarious. ~ New ~ Kimchi and Calamari - Rose Kent Novel about an engaging eighth-grade boy protagonist who was adopted by his Italian parents from Korea, and who is coming to terms with his heritage. Great characters all around, and funny, likable hero. Absolutely, Positively Not - David LaRochelle Funny and charming novel about a teenage boy coming to terms with his homosexuality. Yay for light and funny gay teen lit! Better than those scarring books where the poor gay kid is victimized, terrorized and humiliated (for example, Annie on My Mind - an acclaimed gay teen novel). See also Boy Meets Boy for adorable teen gay lit. Boy Meets Boy - David Levithan Set in an alternate universe where gay is okay, Paul becomes the first openly gay third-grade school president and helps form his school's first gay-straight alliance (mostly to help the straight kids learn to dress and dance). Paul is now in high school, where the quarterback and the head cheerleader is the same person--a drag queen named Infinite Darlene--and where he meets cute new boy Noah. Hilarious and very sweet. Sleeping Freshman Never Lie - David Lubar Utterly fantastic. Regular guy freshman Scott Hudson is going through his first year of high school, and things are tough. Scott is a good writer and gets pretty inspired by his English teacher, leading to some pretty funny writing like this (from Scott's journal to his yet-to-be-born sibling): "Today Mr. Franka introduced the topic of stream-of-consciousness writing. That's where the writer sort of vomits the contents of his mind onto the page, just letting whatever comes flow out. Go out. Show out the prose and cons and all the twisty little pretzel bends of each thought untaught in the belief that anyone else on the planet would want to read the spewings despite the fact that the writer didn't plan it but just kept going and going like a battery bunny banging a drum like the drum I wanted when I was five but got a toy clarinet instead which broke when I tried to use it to pry up a rock in the backyard next to the apple tree so I could buy my hurt feelings. Don't feel bad if you skimmed that last sentence. I sure wouldn't read it. I already spend too much time with my streaming, streaming consciousness. Mr. Franka didn't talk too much about the topic. 'You'll get a fair dose of it in college if you forget to duck,' he said." Loved it. Everyone should read it. Bras and Broomsticks - Sarah Mylnowski Rachel is a normal Jewish girl growing up in New York City, who wants nothing more than to be popular, have a boyfriend, grow breasts and stop her father from marrying her evil Soon-To-Be-Stepmonster (STB for short). When she comes home one day to discover that her younger sister Miri is a witch, as is her mother, she begins to make all sorts of plans to make her dreams come true. Very cute YA chick lit. Art Geeks and Prom Queens – Alyson Noel Completely trashy fiction about a girl who moves to the O.C. who becomes a teen queen. Pretty clichéd but completely, pathologically readable and enjoyable. The Unlikely Romance of Kate Bjorkman - Louise Plummer Well-told first person ya romance (set in St. Paul!) with funny, memorable characters. The Romantic Obsessions and Humiliations of Annie Sehlmeier- Louise Plummer Another charming ya romance, this one set in Salt Lake City. Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen - Dyan Sheldon Drama queen Mary Elizabeth moves from Manhattan to New Jersey with her mother and two bratty sisters, renames herself Lola, and sets about shaking up her suburban high school. Lola is a hilarious character and the story, as told through her melodramatic perspective, is equally hilarious. Enthusiasm - Polly Shulman As the novel opens, Julie's friend Ashleigh, who is prone to obsessive enthusiams has just discovered Jane Austen, whom Julie has loved for years. In Ashleigh's attempts to recreate the Austen era, they crash a private school dance and meet a couple of boys. Much romantic confusion ensues, and a little Pride and Prejudice take-off—with full awareness by the young girls, who disagree over which of their potential beaus is Darcy. And which one Darcy likes. In addition to being charming and witty, with strong supporting characters, this is actually a sweet romance. Mystery/SupernaturalThe Dark Secrets Series: No Time to Die, Legacy of Lies, Don't Tell, The Deep End of Fear - Elizabeth ChandlerSet in the town of Wisteria, Maryland, these four novels are delightful gothic lite--each stars a plucky, self-confident heroine facing a slightly supernatural situation. Like popcorn: fluffy, tasty, ultimately not very filling, but awfully fun. Gallows Hill - Lois Duncan Lois Duncan is the mistress of horror for young adults. This novel is about a girl who moves from California to a small Indiana town and gets embroiled in doings that resemble the Salem witch trials. To say any more would spoil the suspense that Duncan so wonderfully creates. One of Duncan's great gifts is her skill in evoking the horror inherent in the helplessness of being a child/teen and being dependent on others for your safety. Boy Heaven - Laura Kasischke A story of three girls at a cheerleading camp and the events that take place involving two townie boys who followed them one day as they played hooky from camp and went into town. Unfolds wonderfully and keeps an amazing level of suspense throughout. Owl in Love - Patrice Kindl Owl is half owl/half human high school student. The first lines: " I am in love with Mr. Lindstrom, my science teacher. I have found out where he lives and every night I perch on a tree branch outside his bedroom window and watch him sleep in his underwear: Fruit of the Loom size 34." Funny and lovely. The Woman in the Wall – Patrice Kindl A young girl is very shy and upon hearing that she may be sent to school, hides herself in the walls of her family's large Victorian house. Only the correspondence between a visitor to the house helps to bring her out of her self-created home. Very dreamy and has an interesting slant on adolescence. ~ New ~ Blood and Chocolate - Annette Curtis Klause Well done modern werewolf story. Complex relationships and characters, and unusual look at werewolf mythology. Very good film version, as well. Interesting to see the changes they made between the book and film. Kiki Strike: Inside the Shadow City - Kristin Miller Tale of a girl living in New York City who meets the elusive, mysterious Kiki Strike and gets recruited to join her band of followers to discover treasure in the Shadow City, the unknown city below the streets and buildings of New York. Adventurous, suspenseful and exciting, this is a great read for young adults looking for something out of the ordinary. Rhymes with Witches - Lauren Myracle Our heroine gets tapped to join the group of the most popular girls in school, known as the Bitches. However, she finds out that popularity is not all it's cracked up to be, and that popularity has a price. All pretty clichéd, but interesting characterizations and a supernatural element keeps this fresh nad fun. Missing Persons series - M.E. Rabb Comprised of The Rose Queen, The Chocolate Lover, The Venetian Policeman and The Unsuspecting Gourmet, the Missing Persons series is about two sisters who go on the lam after their father dies to avoid being sent away to boarding school by their evil stepmother. They end up with new identities in a quirky small town, and mystery and adventures ensue. Filled with eccentric, endearing characters and featuring a realistic relationship between the sisters, plus decent little mysteries, these books are great fun. All Hallow's Eve - Vivian Vande Velde Wonderfully weird Halloween short stories by the mistress of horror and humor for young adults. Some of the stories are genuinely chilling, some are lighter and funny, but all are delightful. Being Dead - Vivian Vande Velde These seven stories are all wonderful and range from gently creepy to out-and-out horror. One story made me gasp aloud. The stories are definitely dark, but very good. Heir Apparent - Vivian Vande Velde A girl gets trapped in a virtual reality game and has to replay the game until she can win and escape. Now You See It - Vivian Vande Velde Wendy finds a pair of sunglasses on her front lawn and finds that she can see things beyond the normal world, including a doorway to another world, where she meets a variety of interesting characters including one of her own ancestors. The Rumpelstiltskin Problem - Vivian Vande Velde The author starts by deconstructing the Rumpelstiltskin fairy tale and points out what a weird and sort of stupid tale it is. Then she proceeds to write six new versions of the tale that twist the story in some new and interesting way. Very well told. Tales from the Brothers Grimm and the Sisters Weird - Vivian Vande Velde There's nothing I love better than a little fairy tale retelling and Vande Velde is a master of writing humorous fantasy. For more fairy tale retellings, see the Classics/Fairy Tales page. There's a Dead Person Following My Sister Around - Vivian Vande Velde Vande Velde takes pretty standard elements (a haunted house, sibling relationships) and makes a great story from them. Surprisingly serious and quite suspenseful, this is a great mystery for kids. A Certain Slant of Light - Laura Whitcomb Our heroine has been a ghost for 130 years and haunts people until one day she meets another ghost who persuades her to take someone's body and live life with him. They choose teenagers and have a passionate affair. Lovely writing, delicate and descriptive, but simple and clear. Updated 6/18/08 Comments, questions, or suggestions? Email carly[at]carlytown.com. |
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