5 BOOK PICKS FOR YOUNG ADULT FICTION
Reccomendations from Amy Jones___________________________________
Although former Hoover’s Magazine editor Amy Jones rarely gets a quiet moment during her days as a stay-at-home mom of two kids, she makes sure to find time daily to escape into a book. Life just doesn’t feel right without a stack of library books waiting to be read, and her friends know they can always count on her for a literary recommendation.
Flame in the Mist
by Renée Ahdieh
Ahdieh, who wrote the spellbinding The Wrath and the Dawn books, is back with a new series. Flame in the Mist focuses on Mariko, a samurai’s daughter who is betrothed to a member of the royal family. As she travels to meet him, Mariko survives a brutal assassination attempt. The story of how she plots revenge on her would-be assassins — and infiltrates the group she suspects of the crime — will keep you on the edge of your seat.
History Is All You Left Me
by Adam Silvera
When Griffin’s ex-boyfriend Theo dies in a drowning accident, his entire life is thrown off balance. He always believed that he and Theo were meant to be together, and all of his future plans have fallen apart. The only person who understands Griffin is Jackson, the boy who was dating Theo when he died. As Jackson and Griffin work to come to grips with their grief, Griffin’s forced to face some hard truths before he can start to move forward again.
Saints and Misfits
by S.K. Ali
Janna Yusuf is an Indian-American Muslim who wears a hijab, is obsessed with Flannery O’Connor and is an amateur photographer and graphic novelist. Her classmates, family members and community members aren’t always sure what to think about her. As Janna grapples with finding her place, she’s also carrying a terrible secret about a boy at her mosque. Everybody thinks he’s a saint, but Janna knows the truth — he’s a monster.
The Hate U Give
by Angie Thomas
The Hate U Give is one of the most anticipated young adult books of recent years, and since its release, it has spent months on the New York Times best sellers list and casting has already begun for the movie adaptation. The book itself easily lives up to all the hype. Starr Carter, who lives in a poor neighborhood but attends a well-to-do prep school, witnesses the fatal shooting of an unarmed friend. Timely, intelligent and heart-pounding, “The Hate U Give” is a must-read.
A Monster Calls
by Patrick Ness
Some would say A Monster Calls is a book for middle graders, but I read it at age 30 and it was a searing, heartbreaking, life-affirming experience. Ness pulls no emotional punches as he takes us on a journey with 12-year-old Conor, who’s dealing with familial and social pressures while also watching his mother battle cancer. One night, Conor’s visited by a monster, who shares truths he’s not yet ready to face.
