When was the last time you perused the Teen section of our library?
In the last year it’s gone through multiple changes and taking a look at the changes alone, is worth the quick wander. However, you should definitely take a closer look at the books shelved in this section. There are a number of reasons not to turn your nose up at YA novels!
- They’re typically coming of age stories. While some of us have long passed our teenage years and don’t wish to return, we’re constantly evolving, changing. Essentially, we’re all always coming of age. Reading YA helps us cope.
- They help us understand our feelings and give us insight into the issues teens are grappling with. Teens feel intensely. YA books deal with deep, dark, and serious topics, and reading them helps us understand and work through our feelings and where we stand on topics. Additionally, the books act as a springboard to topics that may feel hard to broach.
- It will help you connect and understand your teenager! You’ve long left behind the uncertainty, fear, insecurities, excitement, drama, and anticipation of being a teenager. If your child suddenly seems like a stranger, maybe it’s because you’ve forgotten what it was like to be a teenager. What better way to understand and remember than to read what they’re reading? Your teenager won’t appreciate it at first and think you’re lame, but in the long run, it could help you better empathize and understand them.
- They’re good stories! You can’t deny a good story is good. It doesn’t matter what genre it comes from or what age group it’s intended for. Stephen Colbert once described YA novels as “books people actually read” Good is good!
If you want to start but you’re not sure where or you’re tired of your old go-to genres after reading them for the ENTIRE quarantine period, keep reading! Or follow Emily on Goodreads to see what she’s reading right now! The book suggestions are in alphabetical order by authors last name, not by my own arbitrary rank system.
Internment by Samira Ahmed
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Marked by P.C. + Kristin Cast
Caraval by Stephanie Garber
The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
Death and the Girl Next Door by Darynda Jones
Warcross by Marie Lu
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sanchez
The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater