Contemporary Young Adult Literature 101 (Part Two)

Yesterday I talked about what a great genre contemporary YA is and how many amazing books it holds, if only you now where to look. I also posted part one of my Required Reading list, promising more to come. Today I'm sharing with you the second part of  my Contemporary Young Adult Lit 101 list, and next week I'll post the Recommended Reading list, made up of the books that didn't quite make it into the first fifteen.

Contemporary Young Adult Literature 101: Required Reading (pt.2):

Paper Towns, by John Green - LOL  <3  ^_^

John Green's third novel tells the story of Quentin Jacobsen and the amazing, erethreal girl he's loved since childhood. When the magnificent Margo Roth Spiegelman disappears before their high school graduation, Q chases after her, finding clues he believes that have been left for him along the way. This is an incredible mystery with plenty of exploration of friendship, love, and our perceptions of others.

This is What I Want to Tell You, by Heather Duffy-Stone - FAM  ^_^  <3

This story of two twins and their best friend, is told in alternating point-of-view from the siblings, as the two slip further and further away from each other, one starting a new chapter in his life while the other seems to be spinning out of control. This is one of the most deeply emotional novels I've read; the slim book has extremely strong characters and packs quite a punch.

The Chosen One, by Carol Lynch Williams - ??  ^_^

This is a gut-wrenching story of a young girl attempting to escape from the strict, polygamist community she's grown up in after becoming betrothed against her will to her uncle. It's a harrowing, insanely intense novel that's gratifying while seeming very authentic and realistic.

Suite Scarlett, by Maureen Johnson - FAM  LOL

Without a doubt Maureen Johnson is one of contemporary YA's best and funniest writers and her newest series, focusing on a New York family who owns, runs, and lives in an old hotel, is arguably her best work yet. Though this book is the first in a series it works incredibly well on its own as the family's teenage daughter deals with the eccentric new guest, her older brother's hilarious and crazy antics, and the new love interest in her life. Above all, this is a LOL-for-real book full of memorable characters and relationships.

Wintergirls, by Laurie Halse Anderson - ??  &

This is a beautifully-written, haunting novel about a teenage girl battling anorexia -- the same disease that killed her best friend. The plot, voice, and characterization are all handled amazingly, not to mention that the subject matter itself is intensely compelling. Though it's a difficult topic to tackle or to read about, this book is definitely a must-read.

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, by E. Lockhart - <3  ^_^  LOL

Frankie is a funny, feisty, whip-smart protagonist and her story is one of love, feminism, wordplay, and incredible boarding school hijinks. The book is hilarious, touching, relatable, and one of the best-written books I've come across. I can't say enough good things about it.

The Mockingbirds, by Daisy Whitney - ??  ^_^ 

This book tackles issues the issues of date rape, justice, and right vs. wrong in an incredible way. When Alex, a student at the prestigious Themis Academy, is date-raped, she can't go to the administration and instead she turns to The Mockingbirds - the student body's own justice system. Through her wonderfully-written story, this book tackles some very important and difficult subjects in a great way.

Contemporary Young Adult Literature 101 (Part One)

I feel protective of YA. I feel protective of it in much the same way that I am with country music, thinking that if you don't like it it's just because you haven't yet read or heard the right stuff. Both genres are, aside from being favorites of mine, intensely personal to me and of course I am biased because of this.

Still, whenever I hear someone say they don't read YA, don't like YA, or maybe just give me that blank stare when I tell them that's what I read (the look seems to say, "but you're smart! you're educated! you... you... I expected more of you!") - whenever this happens I feel like giving them a list of all the truly great YA books, the ones that YOU MUST READ. Contemporary Young Adult Lit 101*, as it were. YAL 101 might not include the "benchmark" YA books that everyone has heard of, but instead would be focused on the best of the best. The YA that really represents not only the best of what the genre has to offer, but also the best of what books themselves have to offer.

This list (so exhaustively made by, um, me) includes fifteen required reading YA books and five recommended reading books. There will be three posts: the first two for the Required Reading and the last for the Recommended Reading.

Contemporary Young Adult Lit 101 Reading List: Required Reading (pt. 1):

If I Stay, by Gayle Forman - &  FAM  ^_^  <3 
Gayle Forman's incredible novel tells the story of a teenage cellist who has everything one could want - a close-knit, loving family, an amazing boyfriend, and a chance at the musical education she's always wanted. Then, with one tragic car accident all of this is taken away. Her family is destroyed, she's in a coma, and suddenly she only has one choice: will she fight to stay, or will she let go?

Deadline, by Chris Crutcher - &  <3   ^_^
When he goes to the doctor for a routine physical, Ben finds out he has a rare disease and one year to live. Not wanting to undergo the risky treatment, he instead decides to hide his "deadline" from the world and live his last year to the fullest, doing all the things he always wanted to do someday. This is an amazing novel with a relatable protagonist and carpe diem feeling.

The Rules of Survival, by Nancy Werlin - FAM  ??
Written as a letter to the protagonist's younger sister, this novel chronicles the life of Matt and his younger siblings under the care of their abusive and cruel mother. The characters are put in harrowing situations, often forced to walk a figurative tightrope in order to survive in their day-to-day. A heartbreaking portrayal of twisted family dynamics and the struggle for self-preservation.

Sweethearts, by Sara Zarr - <3  ^_^
As children, pudgy Jennifer Harris and misfit Cameron Quick were best friends and after Cameron died and Jennifer found herself facing life alone, she reinvented herself. She became skinny, friendly, and popular. Then she finds out that Cameron isn't dead and comes face-to-face with not only her past, but also the one person who means more to her than anything and anyone else. This is an incredibly bittersweet, unique sort of love and friendship story.

The First Part Last, by Angela Johnson - FAM  ??

When Bobby's girlfriend gets pregnant, his life is irrevocably changed. Things like school and hanging out with friends suddenly fall to the wayside as Bobby finds himself trying to figure out what to do, how to handle things. Suddenly this sixteen year old troublemaker has someone else depending on him, and his journey to figure out his new life and make the right decisions is sharp and wonderful.

The Truth About Forever, by Sarah Dessen - FAM  &  ^_^  <3
Sarah Dessen's best book to date is about Macy, a teenage girl attempting to be perfect after the sudden death of her dad. Ever since that morning, Macy's life has been a game of pretend. Pretending she's not grieving, pretending to be perfect, pretending to be okay with the tiny box that is her life. It's a wonderfully-written story of grief, family, and love.

The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things, by Carolyn Mackler - LOL  <3  FAM  ^_^
As if dealing with her weight, insecurities, and relationships wasn't confusing enough, now Virginia's older brother is on probation from college. For allegedly date-raping a girl. The information comes as a shock to Virginia, who has always admired her brother, and suddenly she's looking at everything in her life - especially her family - a bit differently. This book manages to be both funny and profound at the same time.

Scrambled Eggs at Midnight, by Brad Barkley and Heather Hepler - <3  FAM
One of the best love stories I've read, this book follows Calliope and Eliot as their lives come together. One lives at a Christian-themed fat camp run by his money-hungry father while the other travels across the country to Renaissance Faires with her mother. The characters are well-developed, the two dynamics of the two families are both heart-aching and realistic, while the love story is sweet and near-perfect without coming across as a Disney fairytale.


* I read contemporary and know the genre better than I know any other. If any blogger out there wants to make a Fantasy, Paranormal, or Dystopian list, or explore a smaller subset of the Contemporary genre, feel free. But let me know, please! I'd love to see what you think are the must-reads of your favorite genre!

In My Mailbox: Introducing... Music!

So I saw someone else doing this and it seemed like a good idea to me, so from now on my IMM posts will include books and music that I've gotten in the past week.

THE BOOKS

From Publishers: Razorbill sent me this one and SERIOUSLY SERIOUSLY SO EXCITED ABOUT IT OMG OMG OMG. I completely geeked out when I opened the package. I'm very excited for a straight-up sci-fi in YA. This one comes out in January, so the review won't be posted for a while (and hopefully I can resist reading it until closer to the pub date, too).

Gift: Korianne sent me this one when she mailed back the Get Smart disc she'd borrowed. AND WOOOO YAY SO HAPPY. The former glory of my BSC collection is once again being realized... slowly. (Also, this totally has a shiny cover, even though you can't tell from the photo.)

THE MUSIC

Bought: I was really really really hoping Taylor Swift's next album would actually sound like country music, the way her first album did, but it's not looking like it. That said, I'm a little obsessed with the song Speak Now and have listened to it SO MANY TIMES. And the Kesha song is the first song on the playlist for my current WIP. It just fits in so perfectly.

Friday Five: Books, Music, and Starbucks

1. The theme of this week has been, "Where is my ipod cord? I used it just yesterday; where did it goooo? It is GONE GONE GONE WHEREVER COULD IT BEEEEE???" Right now my ipod is on red and I don't know where the cord is. Plus, I had another cord, one that actually wasn't all frayed and broken, but my dad stole it and now it's GONE FOREVER because he lost it. So yeah. Current crisis.
2. Also if you haven't seen this video yet, there is something wrong with your internet habits. IT IS SO CUTE AND SO FUNNY AND SO GREAT.
3. Dude, Urkel (or whoever played Urkel - does he actually have a real name? I mean, he must) is guest starring on the episode of Psych I'm watching right now. Also one of the guys from Keenan & Kel. Just thought you should know that. Also: what's up with this Abigail chick? She's okay and all but NO NO DO NOT WANT. 
4. Know what I like? I like those Salted Caramel Hot Chocolates from Starbucks that they have during the fall. WHY DO THEY ONLY HAVE IT DURING THE FALL? To torture me, personally?
5. Speak Now, by Taylor Swift. I have possibly listened to this song like A MILLION BAZILLION times in the last couple of days. Obsessed.

Top 10: Books You Have to Read at Least Once

I tried to limit this to strictly-fiction books, but there was one memoir I couldn't help but include. If you haven't read these books, definitely add them to your list. Most of them are pretty short and a lot of them are children's books, so it's not as if reading them is a huge time commitment. In my opinion, these really are the books that everyone should read.

1. The Little Prince

Antoine de Saint-Exupery

One of the best books I have ever ever ever ever read. It's survived so long and been translated into so many languages and is at the top of this list for a reason. The story here, the childlike wonder and possibility contained in this small book is truly amazing, and to say I love it would be an understatement.

2. To Kill A Mockingbird

Harper Lee

Honestly if I had to choose a book as the definitive Great American Novel, this would be it. Anyone (like, ahem, me) who wasn't forced to read this in ninth grade english is really missing out if they don't pick up a copy on their own. Boo Radley is one of the most iconic literary characters and Atticus Finch is one of lit's greatest heroes, not to mention the writing, story, and significance of the title is absolutely stunning.

3. Tuesdays With Morrie

Mitch Albom

The one memoir I couldn't leave off of the list, this book is truly one of the greats. No matter how inevitable the events, it will make you cry, and it will make you look at things in a different light. Mitch Albom is a great writer in any of his books, but this one is a special sort of masterpiece just because of what it is: life's greatest lessons, from a dying man.

4. Once There Were Giants

Martin Waddell and Penny Dale

Okay, so apparently this book is out-of-print. Never mind, you can maybe (hopefully?) find it at a library at least. In any case, it's one of those great-but-sad children's picture books, in the vein of LOVE YOU FOREVER, only much more happy and I'm pretty sure this book came first. Anyway, it's seriously great.

5. Fahrenheit 451

Ray Bradbury

This is another book that, if you weren't assigned it in school, you missed out. It's about censorship, thought, society, family, war... all that good stuff, all wrapped up in a tidy little compelling story. It's not the most uplifting, it's not the most depressing, but it is very thought-provoking and really just a great and long-lasting book that everyone should read. (Or, if you're really not going to read it, at least see the movie, which isn't half bad.)

6. Oh, the Places You'll Go!

Dr. Suess

Dr. Suess really needs no explanation.

7. The Phantom Tollbooth

Norton Juster

There are a few books on here -- and this is one of them -- that I fear won't affect you quite the same way if you read them as an adult. This is one of the greatest works of and about imagination that I've read. It's a sort-of fairytale beginning with a cardboard tollbooth, and really is just a flat-out wonderful children's book and I hope you all read it when you were ten years old.

8. Bridge to Terabithia

Katherine Paterson

OHMYGOODNESS I LOVE THIS BOOK. There are two chapters here titled "The Fastest Kid in the Fifth Grade," and the second one had me crying my eyes out. If by chance you don't know what this incredible book is centered around, I won't ruin it for you, but if you do know you've probably read the book and know just how great and amazing it is. Though the movie is incredibly good, it still doesn't do justice to the actual book. Which, no matter how old you are, you should read if you haven't yet. Katherine Paterson is a master and this book is her best masterpiece.

9. The Rules of Survival

Nancy Werlin

As you might be able to tell from my blog, there is a LOT of really incredible and amazing YA out there. But as for a book that everyone should read, it's this one that takes the cake. This book -- a story of child abuse and survival -- is heartbreaking, shattering, and insanely intense. It's also, because of the narrator's perspective and the way the story is framed as letters to his younger sister, absolutely beautiful and amazing. 

10. [Insert Your Choice Here]

[Splendid and Talented Author]

Everyone, I think, should have at least one book that they love. And not just that they love, but that they can't help rereading time and time again, that seems to change with every reading. A book that almost feels alive for how much it grows with you, changes you, and seems just as incredible (if not more) on the fifth reading as it did on the first. I have a few of these books, but right at the top of the list is the incredible epic that is GONE WITH THE WIND.