Thread: *New YA fiction that kids like

These are copy&pasted from my friend's Facebook profile. She's a serious reader, she's doing her senior thesis on something to do with YA lit, actually....


Looking for Alibrandi, The Wayfarer Redemption, Sabriel, Lirael, Abhorsen, Artemis Fowl, Pride and Prejudice, Peaches, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Alex Rider series, Harry Potter, A Great and Terrible Beauty, Rebel Angels, Twilight, New Moon, Midnight Sun, The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, the Amber Spyglass, Ella Enchanted, The Two Princesses of Bamarre, The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, The Secret Life of Bees, Vampire Huntress series, Hawksong, Demon in My View, Snakecharm, Redwall series, Sammy Keyes, The Red Tent, An Abundance of Katherines, Ender's Game, The Naming, The Riddle, etc. etc etc
I'll add more as I think of them....
A History of the Modern World, October Sky

'course, those aren't all hot and new, but...

I started the Redwall series last school year. I'd not heard of it and it's rather old. I was surprised this summer when I was working a baseball game to see one of the kids completely engrossed in one of those books.

Noticed it was on Apple's friend's list

My son, who has grown to detest reading, found the Redwall series in 8th adn 9th grade to do his AR reading. Hmmm, wonder if that is why he now has some lizards as pets?

Anything by Laurie Halse Anderson (esp. Speak), or Jerry Spinelli (esp. Stargirl)

I'm surprised no mention of The Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches yet. Wonderful series for teens with a good moral compass and life lessons in the subtext about bravery, compassion, misconceptions, truth, and justice.

Highly reccomend John Marsden (Australian). Just finished "Letters from the Inside" (about two girls who write letters to each other, but one is in jail) and my reluctant readers came up and told me "Miss, that was the bestest book I've ever read"
Love John Marsden. He used to teach English, so his books are at the right level for the age group. "Tomorrow when the war began" is also good. But read it aloud to my year 12's this year for the first time and it does drag a little. If you want to teach either of these books I have units which are "turn the page and teach" if you would like me to send them to you.
Also love Fleur Beale (Kiwi). Her book "I am not Esther" is really good, as are her other ones.
And David Hill of course.
Kids have also got back into "Bridge to Terabithia" because of the movie. (Again, if you want the unit i"m happy to send it)
I'm wondering if Maurice Gee's (Kiwi) "Under the Mountain" will become more popular since they've just re-released the TV series and are in the middle of making the movie.
Again. All the Narnia books are popular again too, because of the movie.
I really think a gifted class would appreciate Tolkeins "The Hobbit" which is also in production atm too.
Hmm. It looks like I base my reading on movies! heheh.

Thanks for the recommendations everyone. My kids are rediscovering Narnia with a passion and the Hobbit too.
I second the recommendation for Robert Stanek's Kingdoms and the Elves books. He's an underappreciated literary genius.
I'd add Bud, Not Buddy and A Year Down Yonder too.

Ugh... the Twilight series... and it will be worse when the Twilight movie comes out this year. :P

My kids like the Twilight series and The Uglies series. In fact, recently at our book fair, the kids told me that Twilight and The Uglies were the two books that I HAD to read, so I got them to read during silent reading time.

I recently finished a YA book that I absolutely loved: The Book Thief. It's set in Nazi Germany, it focuses on a young girl, and it is narrated by the Grim Reaper. It really is a wonderful story, wonderfully written, and filled with wonderful characters. I know summer has passed, but if you're looking for a YA novel that adults can enjoy, I would definitely recommend it.