I have many favorite YA books, it was really tough to choose the ones I wanted to discuss this week. But I thought about some of my favorites that I haven't mentioned in the class yet. I also thought of some that I don't think are given enough credit for being awesome books for teens! Here are a few I thought of.
Title: MosquitolandAuthor: David Arnold
Summary: Mary Iris Malone (Mim), is a sixteen-year-old girl who runs away from her father and step-mom in Mississippi to find her mother who is sick in Ohio.
Where the book was found: Manchester-by-the-Sea Public Library
Why you chose it to be highlighted: I first read this book in the summer of 2015 and I absolutely loved it. This book is realistic fiction and while Mim's voice has a lot of humor there is a lot going on throughout this novel. Mim is struggling with her mental health and the fact that her parents are no longer together. This leads to her road trip to see her mother who is sick. There are a lot of things in this book that teens could relate like divorce and issues that surround their mental health. This is one of my favorite realistic fiction books because of the themes, the humor, and the twist at the end!
Title: Second Chance SummerAuthor: Morgan Matson
Summary: Taylor Edwards moves to to her old lake house for the summer to spend time with her family after learning that her father has been diagnosed with cancer. There Taylor revisits her past and some friendships she left behind years ago.
Where the book was found: My bookshelf
Why you chose it to be highlighted: This book is very emotional and very powerful. I could relate to a lot of the story and I think a lot of teens could as well. Often this book is categorized as a YA romance but there's more to it than that. The relationship between Taylor and her family is interesting to read about. They are not a close family and they are not a family that says "I love you." They care for each other but it is shown in different ways. Taylor doesn't see until she begins to get to her know her family again throughout the novel. A lot of teens can relate to having a disconnect with their families, especially with their parents. This book could inspire teens how to reconnect with their loved ones. Just be prepared to have some tissues nearby!
Title: Allegedly Author: Tiffany D. Jackson
Summary: Fifteen-year-old Mary B. Addison was convicted of a crime six years ago when sh was accused of killing a baby. Now as a teenager Mary is dealing with being pregnant herself and trying to clear her name of the crime she tries to convince us she didn't commit.
Where the book was found: My bookshelf
Why you chose it to be highlighted: I recently read this book and really enjoyed it. There's definitely a twist at the end and I always appreciate it when a book catches me off guard. Mary seems like an innocent girl but there is so much to her character. Her situation is intense but perhaps a teen could relate to having a sibling or young relative be taken away to jail or asylum. Teens may also be able to relate to Mary's pregnancy and her feelings towards her child. This book deals with some tough stuff but it is written very well. I think teens would appreciate this story and learning more about Mary and her experiences.
Title: The Wrath and the Dawn
Author: Renee Ahdieh
Summary: This is a retelling of One Thousand and One Nights and tells the story of Shahrzad and her mission to avenge the death of her friend by killing the young Caliph of Khorasan, Khalid.
Where the book was found: My bookshelf
Why you chose it to be highlighted: I think this is another great fantasy book that a lot of teens would enjoy. It takes a lot of inspiration from One Thousand and One Nights but the author was also able to create a truly original story. The language and style of writing is really interesting and the author just makes you want to read more and more. This is partly a love story but it also touches on feminism and what it means to be a woman in this male dominated society. Overall, I think a lot of teens would enjoy reading this.
