Survey Time: What YA Novel Should I Read?
Each year I stave off the hoards of wonderful teen and YA novels published in a given year so as to read instead the works of the good children’s novelists and non-fiction writers. However, it is always an excellent idea to read one YA work, particularly when it is talked about to excess. From what I can gather, these six titles were most definitely for the over 12 set and were discussed ad nauseum all year long:
Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan
Graceling Kristin Cashore
Impossible by Nancy Werlin
Paper Towns by John Green
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell
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So which one do I choose? Last year the vote went to Sherman Alexie’s Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. This year the choice is up to you. Now I had set up this cool voting thingy whereby you could vote on your favorite. That seems to be at odds with my blogging software, however. Best that you just write me or comment here on what you prefer, I guess. Don’t worry. You can be anonymous. I’ll never tell.
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About Betsy Bird
Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Kirkus, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on BlueSky at: @fuse8.bsky.social
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IMPOSSIBLE is delicious fun.
So far, the only one here that I’ve read is “Little Brother.” While I loved it, I have a feeling there’s another one on your list that you should read first.
Green’s on my s#@t list right now b/c at his event of hundreds of people sponsored by an independent bookstore, his people suggested they buy the book at Amazon so they’d be a #1 bestseller. Lame.
“Graceling” sounds fantastic. Cashore is a graduate of the program I’m in. I’ve heard mixed reactions to this one. Supposed to be really good, but people have been worried about it sustaining to the sequels.
I’m going to have to go with “Tender Morsels.” Monica’s got me really wanting to read this one and every review makes it sound like something special. It does sound insanely intense though. I guess if you’re going to go YA, might as well read something that gives little doubt to its audience.
Those are my thoughts. Have fun!
For me, it’s between Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and Graceling. I was sorry to see that Hunger Games was not on your list. -wendieOld
I’m gonna hafta go with Graceling, although I have an undying love for John Green, so Paper Towns would be my second choice (haven’t read it yet myself).
Honestly? I think Little Brother is EXTREMELY overrated. I’m in the minority on this one. Yes, I agree with the thoughts behind it (there’s a fine line between Homeland Security and a police state) and he does a good job of dumbing down the complex ideas behind surveillance for the lay reader. But I thought the overall execution was sloppy and it felt more like propaganda than a novel (although many novels serve as propaganda, I know). I wanted a story, not an agenda. I’m OK with political books but I don’t want political thought to be at the expense of craft, as I feel it was here.
That said: go with Paper Towns. You won’t regret it.
Go Graceling. I think it’s the one most talked about and thus the one you’ll most be a pariah for if you haven’t read it.
I am going to be the odd one out and vote for WHAT I SAW AND HOW I LIED. Fantastic, and the National Book Award Winner!
I would have said The Hunger Games, if it was on your list. As it is, I’m going to go with Graceling, even though I’m only a little way into it.
I’m voting for Graceling too, only because it’s on the top of my list of books that I need/want to read and once I do I’ll want to know what others thought of it too.
Hunger Games isn’t on the list because I already read and reviewed it. I consider it upper middle grade to YA anyway. I see the Graceling love, but where are the fans of Tender Morsels?
Wait a minute! What about The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks?? So absolutely brilliant and worthy of list inclusion! Graceling is good but Disreputable History is better!
I’ve read all the books on your short list and my recommendation is absolutely Tender Morsels. (Carter, can’t wait to get your take on it!) It is an amazing reading experience; for me it was sort of like watching Pan’s Labyrinth (when I had to cover my eyes a few times against the violence), extraordinarily harsh and moving and beautiful all together. As for fans of the book, they are very much out there. Check out the adbooks (a YA discussion group) where it is on the Jhunt shortlist or the reviews for it on goodreads or Neil Gaiman’s blog, for that matter. I actually stopped reading it the first time because the beginning is very disturbing and went back to it only after reading some of those reviews. I’m so glad I did. Fantastic book.
TENDER MORSELS
Ooh, I was going to say GRACELING, but now I am torn by another commenter’s suggestion of FRANKIE LANDAU-BANKS. Hmm.
Well, I loved Paper Towns and enjoyed Little Brother–haven’t read the rest. I notice Octavian Nothing isn’t on your list, and that one’s well worth the investment of time (though it is considerable). And Frankie Landau-Banks is also fabulous. So, hmm…can you read more than one? If not, I guess I vote for Paper Towns, but only b/c I haven’t read the others and don’t know yet about them…
You can’t go wrong with Graceling and Little Brother — they were both terrific.
Tender Morsels! Fascinating premise and exquisite writing.
Tender Morsels, Tender Morsels, Tender Morsels!!!
GRACELING, particularly if you’re going to read it while traveling. It’s just a novel you crawl into and wrap around yourself, with a wonderful love story especially.
After that, DISREPUTABLE HISTORY and PAPER TOWNS. Haven’t read the rest.
Paper Towns. (Or Graceling…)
I don’t think I would call Tender Morsels YA, personally, even if it is being marketed that way.
Paper Towns!
Graceling! Graceling! Graceling!
I absolutely loved “Abundance of Katherines,” and to a lesser extent, the “Alaska” book- but I was disappointed by Paper Towns. am I the only one?
I’d second the “Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks” suggestion. Or you could just wait until mid-January and read whatever wins the Printz Award (but then again, they’re not always on the ball with that one…some of their choices, especially for honor books, have been less than stellar).
Depends on what you’re reading it for pure YA pleasure then I go for Graceling or Impossible-I loved both of them, serious crossover into adult literary Tender Morsels (good but weird)
The only two on the list I’ve read yet were Impossible and Little Brother, which were both interesting in their own way but Impossible was definitely the better written of the two. Frankie Landau-Banks I just finished yesterday and it was very fun too. Hmm, if you have to read just one, I’m afraid to make a choice in case you miss something else you’d like better!
Paper Towns
How is LIVING DEAD GIRL by Elizabeth Scott not on your short list? Definitely YA, and unforgettable. You won’t be able to stop thinking about it, and you’ll NEED to talk to someone about it when you’re done.
But P.S. FRANKIE and WHAT I SAW are both amazing too. HUNGER GAMES is really more high middle-grade than YA.
I’ll second, third, fourth, fifth DISREPUTABLE HISTORY OF FRANKIE LANDAU-BANKS. But if you’re going to force me to choose one from your list, I must choose GRACELING. As far as Anna’s rec for LIVING DEAD GIRL, I couldn’t disagree more. If you’re going to read only one, this one is not it…given that it’s *such* an adult book. A 15-year-old protagonist does not always a YA book make. (P.S. Get my play on Lori’s display name?)
I vote for Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, which is not on your list but one of my favorites of the year. Obviously, I’m no help. I haven’t read the other books. It is helpful to hear input from readers who have.
I would say Paper Towns if you want comedy/suspense/romance, and Graceling if you want fantasy/suspense/romance. Either way you get romance, and what could be better than teen romance?
I’ve had the pleasure of seeing/listening to all but one of the above authors in person this year…my preference, I can’t help it(!!!) is to Paper Towns or Little Brother…
My vote is for What I Saw and How I Lied. I just finished reading this National Book Award Winner and it is fabulous!! My second choice would be Graceling. I would read one of John Green’s other books before Paper Towns. I liked Looking for Alaska and Abundance of Katherines better. Good luck with the decision!
Yet another write-in vote for Frankie.
My vote goes to Impossible by Nancy Werlin – a beautiful story which is extremely well crafted. My second choice is Little Brother – a very different kind of story but one that I am urging all my colleagues to read
Paper Towns! Loved it.
Absolutely definitely Frankie Landau-Banks.
Well, I would say that you should read WHAT I SAW AND HOW I LIED, even though I haven’t read it yet. Why? Because any book that could beat out CHAINS and FRANKIE LANDAU BANKS is a book that I’m fiercely intrigued to get my hands on, myself. CHAINS was a really solid title, but FRANKIE LANDAU BANKS blew my mind as far as being completely level oriented (I.E., not some adult/YA chasm bridger like The Book Thief or Octavian Nothing) as well as the most articulate look at whichever wave of feminism our high school girls are getting splashed with. I was so impressed. You know how the Bechdel Rule makes a really easy yardstick to hold up to modern cinema, in a way even a normal guy can understand and “get”? Frankie Landau Banks is kind of like that. She’s not an activist, and she likes to be pretty and have people like her, but there are just these nagging suspicions she has that somehow, she’s not on a level playing field.
All are good. My Favorites?
Graceling, for a good escape, City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare for a good adventure, The Summoning bye Kelly Armstrong for a good nail biting, but by far, Impossible by Nancy Werlin, for that exciting, adventurous, nail biting, ending with the warm fuzzy, leave you with a good feeling read. I LOVED Impossible.
I’ll have to write in Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks. Paper Towns and Little Brother were eh. I still hunting down the others, but your list is a bit random. Glad to see you ARE reading YA stuff, but don’t get turned off by one bad choice (and last year’s would have done it for me!)
Graceling
I would without a doubt say Little Brother. I absolutely love the book and the author’s views on copyright and other things. Definitely my choice out of this list
Not sure if you are still deciding or not, but you should read Paper Towns. In fact if anything by John Green is ever an option, that is what you should read! =)