Young Adult Fiction Favourites

[AlexEatsBooks]

Huzzah! ^.^

[Cheerwell]

I'd have to endorse The Hunger Games again, but I can't say the rest of the series even compares to it. The second feels like a rewrite of the first, and the third almost got thrown across the room.

If you ignore the sometimes massive plotholes, Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan series is also pretty good, although I'd say it's aimed more at the teen end of things. But as far as diesel/steampunk goes, they're pretty good and accessible. The illustrations are also really good.

Jim C. Hines' Princess series also rocks my boat, with the second and fourth books being on my 'All Time Favourites' list. They've got a bit of an LGB-theme going at times, and the characters are just absolutely brilliant. In my opinion, They're YA at its best. His Jig the Goblin series is also YA, and might appeal more to those of a fantasy gaming disposition, although they're readable by all. I need to finish that series, actually...

Gaiman's Coraline is one I'm pretty damned sure is YA. Whilst it reads as a child's book, I think the themes and messages (Along with tiny bits of prose here and there) are aimed clearly at older readers, and I'd be very reluctant to give it to a child because of that. I love it, though. Neverwhere also seemed quite YA-esque, from what I remember, and that might be a more satisfying read.

[missoularedhead]

I'd like to throw Incarceron into the pot.  It's not often that a YA novel can have a plot twist that good.  (No, I'm not giving it away....but it's a doozy).  I highly recommend it!

[AlexEatsBooks]

I'd love to get a hold of Incarceron - I've heard a lot of amazing things about it! (Aren't they also making it into a movie soon??? *headesk*)
I also just bought a copy of Leviathan, as well! Once I finish my Maria V. Snyder binge (she's coming to Australia next month !!!) I'll get on to that *grins*

[the_hound]

I can remember loads of good YA from when I was a lad. Usually involved talking animals! The talking animals phenomenon seems to be over now though, shame that. :-( Robin Jarvis, Brian Jacques, William Horwood etc. . .

[Fellshot]

My recommendations:

Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan series: Steampunk World War one with genetically engineered beasties and steam powered mecha. So far I think that the first two books are really good.

Terry Pratchett's The Wee Free Men: I have yet to bring myself to start reading his Discworld books, but I loved this in how it treated more philosophical subjects.

Terry Pratchett's Nation: This was one of the best books I read last year. By far the best book that deals with colonialism I've read to date. Interestingly enough I did not think it particularly humorous, just very human.

I second all of Diana Wynn Jones's books and I'll add Baum's Oz books to the mix as well.

[the_hound]

Nation is superb

Now Fellshot, listen carefully.  Click onto Amazon, or pick up your wallet, hop into the car and drive to your local town and bookshop right now.  You then purchase a copy of Small Gods by Terry Pratchett.  If you don't love it I will post a youtube video on this site of me eating my own hat.  (Though I will have to buy a hat first.)

[Kit]

Have you heard of Michael Scott's Nicholas Flamel series? They're great on the mythology-in-the-modern-day topic as well.

I don't know how I missed this the first time I came through this thread, but...

I've read up through The Sorceress in this series (which, I think leaves me with two more to read? It's been a while since I've looked those up.), and they're so, so good. I may have to go back and read them again, though, eventually; it's been so long since I read them!

Other YA books I've read / will be reading:

Kady of Quid by K. Hutson-Warrington, which is a story about growing up and having the courage to do what's right. My friend Kathy is the author, and she did a fantastic job of creating the world Kady gets whisked away to. I'm going to have a review up on my site for this one, soon.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore was really good; I have a review of that on my site (and here on FF!). I really enjoyed it, and I'm really looking forward to reading the sequel.

Also, while not fantasy, I really enjoyed The Forest of Hands and Teeth, which is a zombie story. I haven't read the rest of that series yet, but I'm hoping to soon.

Also, someone mentioned Cassondra Claire? I always find it funny when I hear how big she's become; I remember when I was reading her Harry Potter fan-fiction!

[AlexEatsBooks]

KIT!! Yay, someone else who loves the Michael Scott books!!! *dances* I was given a copy of Warlock recently, but I've not finished Necromancer yet (horrors!!) so need to get a move on

[Kit]

KIT!! Yay, someone else who loves the Michael Scott books!!! *dances* I was given a copy of Warlock recently, but I've not finished Necromancer yet (horrors!!) so need to get a move on

Ah, yes. Those were what the last two were called. I haven't read either of them, but I definitely need to. I have to add those to my Paperback Swap wishlist, so I can find them sooner, hopefully.

[betsdavies]

Funky Scarecrow!  Fellshot!  I love you guys!  I was so afraid I would get through this list without seeing Diane Wynne Jones, who I think rocked the world and influenced so many current writers, esp. Brits. (she hung with Gaiman, for instance).  And thank you for the props up to Baum, Adams (silfe Hrakka--if you don't know what that means you should).  Witch of Blackbird Pond, nice, but quite un-fantasy-y.  Loved Sabriel.  Had total highs and lows on Lireal.  Really couldn't deal with much else Nix (Ever tried to read the Rag Witch?  Shudder.)  Lloyd Alexander is a must--specifically the Prydain Chronicles (very loosely based on Welsh tales).  Oh, as long as we are talking Welsh fairy pigs, "The Pig, the Prince and the Unicorn" by Karen Brusch is not in YA but has nothing objectionable--some bleak moments and violence--and a kid would love it.  Rahl Dahl, um duh.  Let us not forget Beagle.  He isn't all for YA.  Tamsin definitely and shiningly is.  The Last Unicorn for a slightly older audience.

I seriously have to read the Hunger Games.  But I seriously have not.

Bitch moment, seriously stop reading if you are prone to annoyance:  I got through one Harry Potter when they were still English and thought it was all right.  Two lagged.  Three was better, and.  I tried.  I tried really hard.  I didn't like any of the characters.  They all seemed to have the brains of gnats (this time go to Dumbledore BEFORE everything goes bad.  Not that hard.)  Quidditch drove me to tears of boredom, and she isn't original.  She's just new.

Twilight?  Scary mo fo indoctrination towards an emotionally abusive boyfriend/husband/stalker.  This is why your daughter will end up dating creeps.

Even Gaiman--Coreline--Okay.  He's a God when he writes for adults.  I like his picture books.  YA just ain't his thing.  That book did not have enough substance to be a book.  It was a strung out short story.  His usually piercing direction meandered as he just appeared to want to watch this other world he has created.  I will bow my head now, a heretic.

[betsdavies]

This is off topic, but does anyone notice I seem to end discussions a lot?  Or have people just not been tuning in lately?  I feel like the cooler.

[the_hound]

Hey Bets. I will reboot the discussion. Read Gaiman's Graveyard Book superb YA

[Shamrock]

Hey Bets. I will reboot the discussion. Read Gaiman's Graveyard Book superb YA

Listen to the audiobook read by Neil, it's great!

[betsdavies]

Thanks scarecrow.