Gifts for Young Adults
You Don’t Know Very Well
Continuing my series about books you can recommend, and give with confidence, below are some sure-fire titles published this year for young adults.
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, Jenny Han, (Simon & Schuster; Recorded Books); OverDrive Sample
A Blind Spot for Boys, Justina Chen, (Hachette/Little Brown); OverDrive Sample
For the kids who love John Green and want some romance with complications, don’t miss these.
Gabi, A Girl in Pieces, Isabel Gabi Quintero, (Cinco Puntos Press; Listening Library); OverDrive Sample
When I lecture to classes in creative writing, the questions I receive often have to do with what will sell. What are publishers looking for? What are you looking for? The answer is “voice,” which is frustratingly difficult to define.
Debut author Isabel Quintero nails the voice of a late teen wondering, questioning and finding her place in a world unwilling to accommodate who she really is.
See for yourself in the following clip from the audio:
SLJ blog Teen Librarian Tool Box attested to that voice, “It’s funny, sad, honest, raw, bold, and hopeful. It’s about the many things that can go on in one’s life, great and small.”
—
We Were Liars, E. Lockhart
(RH/Delacorte; Listening Library); OverDrive Sample
On nearly all the best books lists for the year, this is a winner for the kid who is sophisticated and can handle psychological drama.
Afterworlds, Scott Westerfield, (Simon and Schuster; S&S Audio); OverDrive Sample
You can’t go wrong with this for the fantasy reader, but it is also a good selection for the aspiring writer. In the video made for the audio edition, Scott gives writing advice.
The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia, Candace Fleming, (RH/Schwartz & Wade; Listening Library); OverDrive Sample
For the teen that wants something REAL. The dramatic story of the Russian royal family.