Hard to believe that it's already Halloween, when it still felt almost summery last week! I have, of course, been enjoying some great reads this month, and I can't wait to share them!
Hungry Heart: Adventures in Life, Love, and Writing, by Jennifer Weiner. This funny and incredibly candid collection of essays from best-selling novelist Weiner (Good In Bed, In Her Shoes, etc.) covers everything. From weight, sex, love, motherhood, marriage(s), and writing to divorce, reality TV, Twitter fights and dog ownership, the essays cover all of it and more. I've been a fan of her writing since her debut and found this collection equally entertaining--I couldn't put it down.
Believe Me: A Memoir of Love, Death, and Jazz Chickens, by Eddie Izzard. Izzard, comedian, actor, writer, here brings his own brand of sharp and clever humor to the page in essays that cover topics like mad ancient kings, politics both historical and sexual, chickens with guns, running marathons, and a number of other, more personal bits. He has long been one of my very favorite comedians, and if you're a fan, I highly recommend this memoir.
How to Find Love in a Bookshop, by Veronica Henry. Nightingale Books has been a fixture in its little village home for decades. After proprietor Julian passes away, his daughter Emilia returns to run it in its stead. She misses her father, as do the shop regulars, and together they form something close to family. Running the shop is not altogether easy, and the urge to sell to a local developer is hard to resist. More than anything, this is a story of stories, of books and how they connect to readers, of how readers connect to one another, and the stories each of us have to tell one another. Thoroughly enjoyed this one.
The Paris Architect, by Charles Belfoure. This is my book club's pick for our November meeting. It is 1942 in German-occupied Paris, and gifted architect Lucien Bernard has accepted a commission that will earn him a great deal of money, and quite possibly get him killed. His benefactor asks him to create hiding places for wealthy Jews being smuggled out of the country, hiding places so ingenious that no German officer could ever find them. And Lucien does these jobs, studiously ignoring the personal aspects...until one of his jobs fails, and Lucien's work becomes very personal, indeed. Belfoure, an architect himself, brings his knowledge to every detail. This was an enthralling read, and one I can't wait to discuss with our group.
Eleanor & Park, by Rainbow Rowell. I adore Rainbow Rowell's work, YA and adult titles alike. Her YA books do not condescend to the reader; she meets them on equal ground. Here, Park is used to being a relative oddity in his 1986 Omaha neighborhood, one of two (his brother being the other) half Korean kids in their entire school. His method of coping with teasing on the bus is to ignore the others, listening to loud music on his headphones and reading comic books. Then the new girl gets on the bus, a pale girl with a ton of red hair, an immediate new target for the bullies in the back seats. There's nowhere for her to sit except next to Park, and this is how the unlikeliest of friendships grows over the course of the school year together. Bittersweet and heartbreakingly honest, this was a book I devoured over the course of two evenings, I couldn't do anything else until I knew how it ended.
The Summer That Made Us, by Robyn Carr. Two sisters had three daughters each, and they all spent summers at their family lake house. Those were the best of times. Until tragedy struck one summer, and everyone scattered, and the family was no longer close and each woman went her separate way. Until tragedy becomes the catalyst to bring them together again, decades later. It's a story of loss and of hope and rebuilding one's life after catastrophe, of learning and loving and moving on. And while it was interesting and certainly readable, it felt a bit unfinished, maybe a little rushed. There were story lines left unfinished, sub-plots left unexplored, as though there was too much in the beginning to tie up in the end. Which makes me wonder whether this might be the first in a new series? Time will tell.
The Little French Bistro, by Nina George. I enjoyed this one so much, I couldn't keep it to myself. You can read my review here.
Showing posts with label teens. Show all posts
Showing posts with label teens. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 31, 2017
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Top 10 on Tuesday: Young Adult Novels for Everyone!
The average adult is somewhat familiar with some of the more popular teen fiction. The Harry Potter series, Hunger Games, Twilight. But what if you want more of what the cool kids are reading, but don't know where to start? Or what if you've read the series listed above, but are looking to branch out? I've got a list of my top 10 to get you through the summer.
1. The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green. I know, I've been talking about this a bit lately, but really. Everyone should read it, already. Despite a medical miracle buying her a few more years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal. But when Augustus Waters turns up in her Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's life changes in ways she'd never dreamed. Bonus? It's also available on CD, perfect for a car ride.
2. Wonder, by R.J. Palacio. I also mentioned this last week, but it's worth mentioning again. Ten-year-old Auggie Pullman was born with extreme facial abnormalities and was initially not expected to survive. Now he is moving beyond home schooling and entering the fifth-grade in a private Manhattan middle school, which entails enduring the reactions and taunting of his classmates, even as Auggie struggles to be just another student. Also available as a playaway.
3. Divergent, by Veronica Roth. Book one in a trilogy, this follows sixteen-year-old Beatrice Prior through a future version of Chicago as she attempts to discover which of five factions she belongs in--this faction will determine the course of the rest of her life. Except she finds out that she's an anomaly and doesn't fit into any single group, which leads her to question the rest of society's rules. A great choice if you're a Hunger Games fan! Available as a playaway as well.
4. The Golden Compass, by Philip Pullman. Young Lyra, accompanied by her daemon, must travel far to the North to keep her best friend and other children from becoming the subjects of gruesome experiments. A great adventure novel for all ages. First in a series.
5. The Giver, by Lois Lowry. Given his lifetime assignment at the Ceremony of Twelve, Jonas becomes the receiver of memories shared by only one other person in his community and discovers the terrible truth about the society in which he lives. It was a Newberry Award winner for a reason!
6. The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky. Strongly influenced by J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye, Perks is the story of Pittsburgh teen Charlie's coming of age, glimpsed through a series of letters.
7. Uglies, by Scott Westerfeld. Tally is just a few weeks away from her sixteenth birthday and the operation which will turn her, like all the other uglies, into a pretty. Then her only job will be to have a really great time in the high-tech paradise that is the pretty world. And Tally can't wait. At least until her friend Shay runs away, preferring to live on the outside as an Ugly instead of going through with the operation. Tally is then given the awful choice of finding Shay and turning her in, or never getting the chance to turn pretty at all.
8. The Book Thief, by Mark Zusak. The story of Leisl, whose book-stealing and story-telling abilities help to sustain her family and neighbors, as well as the Jewish man they are hiding during WWII.
9. Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan. Nick O'Leary, rock band member and high schooler, meets college-bound Norah Silverberg and asks her to be his girlfriend for five minutes so that he can dodge an ex. The result is an exhilirating, sleepless night spent trying to find a legendary band's super-secret show. One of the most unique love stories you're likely to read.
10. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, by Ransom Riggs. After a family tragedy, Jacob finds himself drawn to an abandoned orphanage on an island off the coast of Wales. There he discovers that the children once kept there, including Jacob's own grandfather, may have been dangerous, and may still be alive. A creepy little mystery that beautifully blends photography and prose.
Got any suggestions to add? Leave them in the comments!
1. The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green. I know, I've been talking about this a bit lately, but really. Everyone should read it, already. Despite a medical miracle buying her a few more years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal. But when Augustus Waters turns up in her Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's life changes in ways she'd never dreamed. Bonus? It's also available on CD, perfect for a car ride.
2. Wonder, by R.J. Palacio. I also mentioned this last week, but it's worth mentioning again. Ten-year-old Auggie Pullman was born with extreme facial abnormalities and was initially not expected to survive. Now he is moving beyond home schooling and entering the fifth-grade in a private Manhattan middle school, which entails enduring the reactions and taunting of his classmates, even as Auggie struggles to be just another student. Also available as a playaway.
3. Divergent, by Veronica Roth. Book one in a trilogy, this follows sixteen-year-old Beatrice Prior through a future version of Chicago as she attempts to discover which of five factions she belongs in--this faction will determine the course of the rest of her life. Except she finds out that she's an anomaly and doesn't fit into any single group, which leads her to question the rest of society's rules. A great choice if you're a Hunger Games fan! Available as a playaway as well.
4. The Golden Compass, by Philip Pullman. Young Lyra, accompanied by her daemon, must travel far to the North to keep her best friend and other children from becoming the subjects of gruesome experiments. A great adventure novel for all ages. First in a series.
5. The Giver, by Lois Lowry. Given his lifetime assignment at the Ceremony of Twelve, Jonas becomes the receiver of memories shared by only one other person in his community and discovers the terrible truth about the society in which he lives. It was a Newberry Award winner for a reason!
6. The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky. Strongly influenced by J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye, Perks is the story of Pittsburgh teen Charlie's coming of age, glimpsed through a series of letters.
7. Uglies, by Scott Westerfeld. Tally is just a few weeks away from her sixteenth birthday and the operation which will turn her, like all the other uglies, into a pretty. Then her only job will be to have a really great time in the high-tech paradise that is the pretty world. And Tally can't wait. At least until her friend Shay runs away, preferring to live on the outside as an Ugly instead of going through with the operation. Tally is then given the awful choice of finding Shay and turning her in, or never getting the chance to turn pretty at all.
8. The Book Thief, by Mark Zusak. The story of Leisl, whose book-stealing and story-telling abilities help to sustain her family and neighbors, as well as the Jewish man they are hiding during WWII.
9. Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan. Nick O'Leary, rock band member and high schooler, meets college-bound Norah Silverberg and asks her to be his girlfriend for five minutes so that he can dodge an ex. The result is an exhilirating, sleepless night spent trying to find a legendary band's super-secret show. One of the most unique love stories you're likely to read.
10. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, by Ransom Riggs. After a family tragedy, Jacob finds himself drawn to an abandoned orphanage on an island off the coast of Wales. There he discovers that the children once kept there, including Jacob's own grandfather, may have been dangerous, and may still be alive. A creepy little mystery that beautifully blends photography and prose.
Got any suggestions to add? Leave them in the comments!
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
Keeping up with the Jones's: Summer 2014
Do you ever get curious about what your neighbors are reading, but found yourself reluctant to ask? No worries--we at the library have the inside scoop, and we'll keep quiet about just who is reading what. However, if you want to see the top 10 titles most popular among Trumbull readers right now, I've got those for you. How are you stacking up?
1. The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green. A teen novel with a blockbuster movie and lots of appeal for adults. Despite a medical miracle buying her a few more years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal. But when Augustus Waters turns up in her Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's life changes in ways she'd never dreamed. Sweet and poignant.
2. All Fall Down, by Jennifer Weiner. A little heavier than your typical beach read, this packs an emotional punch--when Allison begins to struggle under the demands of her life (job, distant husband, spoiled child, ailing father), she starts to self medicate, ultimately winding up in rehab. Her battle to get her life back on track, even as she doubts the seriousness of her addiction. A major page-turner.
3. One Plus One, by Jojo Moyes. You have to know that any new book by Jojo Moyes is going to be a popular one. This is the ultimate light, beachy read. A single mom with a chaotic family meets a quirky stranger. Sparks fly in this tale of unlikely romance.
4. The Matchmaker, by Elin Hilderbrand. Hilderbrand is the undisputed queen of summer fiction. This year's story is a heartbreaking one of love lost and found.
5. The Vacationers, by Emma Straub. One of the summer's sleeper hits! Franny and Jim are on vacation in Mallorca, celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary and their daughter's high school graduation. But this is not your average vacation, as they spend their two weeks confronting long-buried hurts, secrets and rivalries that may change the rest of their lives forever.
6. Big Little Lies, by Liane Moriarty. Moriarty made a major impact with readers in The Husband's Secret, so it's no surprise to this librarian that her new novel (being released next Tuesday!) is already in high demand. Three very different women, each with her own secrets, are drawn together--each has a child in the same preschool. Someone winds up dead--but the who and the how? That's the heart of the novel. This will be some great pool-side reading.
7. All the Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr. A stunningly ambitious and beautiful novel about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II.
8. Wonder, by R.J. Palacio. Another teen novel with a huge adult readership as well. Ten-year-old Auggie Pullman was born with extreme facial abnormalities and was initially not expected to survive. Now he is moving beyond home schooling and entering the fifth-grade in a private Manhattan middle school, which entails enduring the reactions and taunting of his classmates, even as Auggie struggles to be just another student. Read it with your kids. Read it if you don't have kids. Just read it.
9. The Goldfinch, by Donna Tartt. Nine months after its release, The Goldfinch has won a Pulitzer and is still on the bestsellers' list. That should be enough to recommend it, but if it's not: At 13, Theo Decker miraculously survives an accident that kills his mother. Abandoned by his father, Theo is taken in by the family of a wealthy friend. Bewildered by his strange new home on Park Avenue, disturbed by schoolmates who don't know how to talk to him, and tormented above all by his longing for his mother, he clings to the one thing that reminds him of her: a small, mysteriously captivating painting that ultimately draws Theo into the underworld of art. I'm reading it now and it is outstanding.
10. Invisible, by James Patterson and David Ellis. Everyone thinks that Emmy Dockery is crazy. She's convinced that there's a link among hundreds of unsolved cases--she's taken leave from her position at the FBI to prove her theory. Patterson's readership continues to be strong!
I'll be back on Thursday with a list of psychological thrillers guaranteed to keep you cool even as summer heats up. In the meantime, happy reading!
1. The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green. A teen novel with a blockbuster movie and lots of appeal for adults. Despite a medical miracle buying her a few more years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal. But when Augustus Waters turns up in her Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's life changes in ways she'd never dreamed. Sweet and poignant.
2. All Fall Down, by Jennifer Weiner. A little heavier than your typical beach read, this packs an emotional punch--when Allison begins to struggle under the demands of her life (job, distant husband, spoiled child, ailing father), she starts to self medicate, ultimately winding up in rehab. Her battle to get her life back on track, even as she doubts the seriousness of her addiction. A major page-turner.
3. One Plus One, by Jojo Moyes. You have to know that any new book by Jojo Moyes is going to be a popular one. This is the ultimate light, beachy read. A single mom with a chaotic family meets a quirky stranger. Sparks fly in this tale of unlikely romance.
4. The Matchmaker, by Elin Hilderbrand. Hilderbrand is the undisputed queen of summer fiction. This year's story is a heartbreaking one of love lost and found.
5. The Vacationers, by Emma Straub. One of the summer's sleeper hits! Franny and Jim are on vacation in Mallorca, celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary and their daughter's high school graduation. But this is not your average vacation, as they spend their two weeks confronting long-buried hurts, secrets and rivalries that may change the rest of their lives forever.
6. Big Little Lies, by Liane Moriarty. Moriarty made a major impact with readers in The Husband's Secret, so it's no surprise to this librarian that her new novel (being released next Tuesday!) is already in high demand. Three very different women, each with her own secrets, are drawn together--each has a child in the same preschool. Someone winds up dead--but the who and the how? That's the heart of the novel. This will be some great pool-side reading.
7. All the Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr. A stunningly ambitious and beautiful novel about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II.
8. Wonder, by R.J. Palacio. Another teen novel with a huge adult readership as well. Ten-year-old Auggie Pullman was born with extreme facial abnormalities and was initially not expected to survive. Now he is moving beyond home schooling and entering the fifth-grade in a private Manhattan middle school, which entails enduring the reactions and taunting of his classmates, even as Auggie struggles to be just another student. Read it with your kids. Read it if you don't have kids. Just read it.
9. The Goldfinch, by Donna Tartt. Nine months after its release, The Goldfinch has won a Pulitzer and is still on the bestsellers' list. That should be enough to recommend it, but if it's not: At 13, Theo Decker miraculously survives an accident that kills his mother. Abandoned by his father, Theo is taken in by the family of a wealthy friend. Bewildered by his strange new home on Park Avenue, disturbed by schoolmates who don't know how to talk to him, and tormented above all by his longing for his mother, he clings to the one thing that reminds him of her: a small, mysteriously captivating painting that ultimately draws Theo into the underworld of art. I'm reading it now and it is outstanding.
10. Invisible, by James Patterson and David Ellis. Everyone thinks that Emmy Dockery is crazy. She's convinced that there's a link among hundreds of unsolved cases--she's taken leave from her position at the FBI to prove her theory. Patterson's readership continues to be strong!
I'll be back on Thursday with a list of psychological thrillers guaranteed to keep you cool even as summer heats up. In the meantime, happy reading!
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Top 5 on Tuesday: But the book was better
There are a number of movies coming out this year which are, of course, based on books. If you'd like to get a jump on things, I have some titles you might like to check out. Word to the wise--if you read the book for free from the library, you can then decide one of three things: 1) You didn't love the book enough to spend $11 at the theaters, 2) You loved the book so much, you'd hate to see it potentially ruined onscreen or 3) You can't wait to see it in theaters. What have you got to lose? Nothing but yourself. In a story.
(FYI, for the complete list of "books to read before they hit theaters, check out the link here. What I've listed are my top 5 picks, based on...well, my opinion.)
Wild: from lost to found on the Pacific Crest Trail, by Cheryl Strayed.
The very honest memoir of a woman who lost everything, and with nothing left to lose, goes on a 1,100 mile solo hike along the Pacific Crest Trail. Her outlook at the end is, to say the very least, much changed. The film version will star Reese Witherspoon playing Strayed.
Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand.
By the author of Seabiscuit, Unbroken has been extremely popular with readers of all stripes. Another true story, this follows Louis Zamperini, 1930's track star and participant in the Berlin Olympics who became an airman during WWII, after his plane went down in the Pacific in May 1943. What follows is his harrowing account of survival after being captured by Japanese forces. What clinches it for me is that not only was it scripted by the Coen brothers and directed by Angelina Jolie, but that Zamperini himself was consulted on the film.
The Giver, by Lois Lowry. In a utopian society, 12-year-old Jonas has been given his life assignment--he will be the "Receiver of Memories", and only "The Giver" knows the truth about their society and its past, which he must now pass down to Jonas. The film's cast includes Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep and Alexander Skarsgard, which all has my interest piqued.
The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green. This young-adult novel has been a huge favorite of teens and adults alike--my guess is that the movie, if done well, could be just as big. The premise is not for the faint of heart: Hazel and Gus are two normal teenagers in love, witty and rebellious. Except that they met in a cancer support group, with Hazel constantly accompanied by an oxygen tank and Gus making jokes about his prosthetic leg. The book is beautiful and tender, and I am really hoping that the movie will retain that delicacy and grace.
Dark Places, by Gillian Flynn. Please note that another of Flynn's novels, the very popular Gone Girl, will also be made into a film released in 2014. Why am I selecting the film for Dark Places instead of Gone Girl? First, as much as I loved the twists and turns in Gone Girl, fact is, I just preferred Dark Places as a novel. Second, I think Dark Places will translate better on film. It's a gut feeling--I'm not sure I can explain it adequately. Third, cast. Ben Affleck is playing the male lead in Gone Girl, and I have to say that I would not have gone in that direction. I'm just going with my gut on this one.
Have you read through the full list? What are you looking forward to seeing or reading this year? I'd love to know!
(FYI, for the complete list of "books to read before they hit theaters, check out the link here. What I've listed are my top 5 picks, based on...well, my opinion.)
Wild: from lost to found on the Pacific Crest Trail, by Cheryl Strayed.
The very honest memoir of a woman who lost everything, and with nothing left to lose, goes on a 1,100 mile solo hike along the Pacific Crest Trail. Her outlook at the end is, to say the very least, much changed. The film version will star Reese Witherspoon playing Strayed.
By the author of Seabiscuit, Unbroken has been extremely popular with readers of all stripes. Another true story, this follows Louis Zamperini, 1930's track star and participant in the Berlin Olympics who became an airman during WWII, after his plane went down in the Pacific in May 1943. What follows is his harrowing account of survival after being captured by Japanese forces. What clinches it for me is that not only was it scripted by the Coen brothers and directed by Angelina Jolie, but that Zamperini himself was consulted on the film.
The Giver, by Lois Lowry. In a utopian society, 12-year-old Jonas has been given his life assignment--he will be the "Receiver of Memories", and only "The Giver" knows the truth about their society and its past, which he must now pass down to Jonas. The film's cast includes Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep and Alexander Skarsgard, which all has my interest piqued.
The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green. This young-adult novel has been a huge favorite of teens and adults alike--my guess is that the movie, if done well, could be just as big. The premise is not for the faint of heart: Hazel and Gus are two normal teenagers in love, witty and rebellious. Except that they met in a cancer support group, with Hazel constantly accompanied by an oxygen tank and Gus making jokes about his prosthetic leg. The book is beautiful and tender, and I am really hoping that the movie will retain that delicacy and grace.
Dark Places, by Gillian Flynn. Please note that another of Flynn's novels, the very popular Gone Girl, will also be made into a film released in 2014. Why am I selecting the film for Dark Places instead of Gone Girl? First, as much as I loved the twists and turns in Gone Girl, fact is, I just preferred Dark Places as a novel. Second, I think Dark Places will translate better on film. It's a gut feeling--I'm not sure I can explain it adequately. Third, cast. Ben Affleck is playing the male lead in Gone Girl, and I have to say that I would not have gone in that direction. I'm just going with my gut on this one.
Have you read through the full list? What are you looking forward to seeing or reading this year? I'd love to know!
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Top 10 on Tuesday: Aussie reads
*Since the last week of May is Australian Library and Information Week, I thought I'd show my Aussie colleagues, authors, and readers some love. Some of my favorite books just so happen to have been written by Australian authors, so I thought I'd share the wealth!
1) Geraldine Brooks. Her 2005 novel, March, won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. I'm also a huge fan of two of her other novels, A Year of Wonders and People of the Book. Read her work--she is amazing.
2) The Light Between Oceans, by M.L. Stedman. Australian native Stedman may be rather reluctant when it comes to the limelight, but her first novel is a staff darling here at the Trumbull Library. On a remote Australian island, a childless couple live a quiet life running a lighthouse, until a boat with a baby washes ashore.
3) Kate Morton. I fell in love with her style and story-telling when I first read The Forgotten Garden. She's a favorite among staff and book clubs here at the library.
4) The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak. This is a title that shows up a lot this time of the year, as it is on many a summer reading list. Accessible to adults and teens, Zusak's novel finds Death trying to make sense of WWII, relating the story of the story-telling book-stealing Liesel, a young German girl helping her family, the Jewish family they are hiding, and her neighbors.
5) Peter Carey. Two time Booker Prize winner. Finalist for the U.S. National Book Award and the Man Booker Prize. The man is a legend in his native country, and deserves more recognition here in the states, too.
6) The Hypnotist's Love Story, by Liane Moriarty. All about the crazy things we do for love, with some really nice plot twists. You can read my full review here. Fun, funny, and surprising.
7) If fantasy is your genre of choice, you need to be reading Sara Douglass. Though she sadly passed in 2011, her series live on and are magnificent.
8) I think I'd be remiss if I was talking about Australian authors and neglected to mention Colleen McCullough. Really, The Thorn Birds is timeless. She writes in other genres, too, including thrillers and historical novels, so try them all!
9) Kate Grenville. I loved The Lieutenant, and her 2005 novel The Secret River was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize. She, like Peter Carey, is hugely popular in Australia and well deserving of a wider readership in the U.S.
10) For teens and adults, John Marsden is definitely one to check out. My personal favorite would be Letters from the Inside, about two girls who connect through writing letters.
I'm back Thursday with an update on what I've been reading. In the meantime, enjoy!
*no koalas were harmed in the writing of this post.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Three on Thursday: Best Young Adult Books for Adults
Harry Potter. Twilight. The Hunger Games. What do all three have in common, other than blockbuster sales and film adaptations? Originally, they were all written for young adults, and wound up appealing to millions of adult fans world-wide as well. And, interestingly enough, all have elements of fantasy in them. They are certainly not alone, though. There are hundreds of titles published for young adults every year, and many of them have major appeal to adult readers as well. Here are my picks for teen titles you shouldn't miss.
The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green. No matter how many chapters there are, the end of Hazel's story has been written from the time of her diagnosis: terminal. But when gorgeous Augustus Waters arrives at the Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's tale gets a major rewrite. Beautiful, poignant, surprising, this is definitely one you need to pick up.
Stardust, by Neil Gaiman. My regular readers know that I have a deep and undying love for Neil Gaiman, author, screenwriter and supporter of libraries. This absolutely extends to Stardust, which was adapted for film in 2007. When young Tristran Thorn, a half-human and half-Faerie boy raised by his father and stepmother, foolishly promises his sweetheart that he will bring her a fallen star, he has no idea that his quest will lead him to answers about his heritage, as well as love outside his village, in the land of Faerie. Full of adventure, mystery and romance, Stardust is a novel I could read again and again.
Eragon, by Christopher Paolini. The first in the Inheritance Cycle series (currently there are four books), Eragon was originally self-published by the author's family, but when discovered by Carl Hiaasen, it was republished by Knopf. Young farm boy Eragon finds a strange stone in the mountains, which turns out to be an egg. A dragon hatches from the egg, whom Eragon names Saphira. The duo is forced to flee Eragon's village when an evil king finds out about the boy and his dragon, and so their adventures begin. Set in a world of magic, destiny, elves and dragons, this story is destined to become a classic.
The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green. No matter how many chapters there are, the end of Hazel's story has been written from the time of her diagnosis: terminal. But when gorgeous Augustus Waters arrives at the Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's tale gets a major rewrite. Beautiful, poignant, surprising, this is definitely one you need to pick up.
Stardust, by Neil Gaiman. My regular readers know that I have a deep and undying love for Neil Gaiman, author, screenwriter and supporter of libraries. This absolutely extends to Stardust, which was adapted for film in 2007. When young Tristran Thorn, a half-human and half-Faerie boy raised by his father and stepmother, foolishly promises his sweetheart that he will bring her a fallen star, he has no idea that his quest will lead him to answers about his heritage, as well as love outside his village, in the land of Faerie. Full of adventure, mystery and romance, Stardust is a novel I could read again and again.
Eragon, by Christopher Paolini. The first in the Inheritance Cycle series (currently there are four books), Eragon was originally self-published by the author's family, but when discovered by Carl Hiaasen, it was republished by Knopf. Young farm boy Eragon finds a strange stone in the mountains, which turns out to be an egg. A dragon hatches from the egg, whom Eragon names Saphira. The duo is forced to flee Eragon's village when an evil king finds out about the boy and his dragon, and so their adventures begin. Set in a world of magic, destiny, elves and dragons, this story is destined to become a classic.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)