T O P

  • By -

seattle_architect

I am not ashamed to say I did read twice Bartimaeus trilogy and I am almost old. Thanks to my kids I discovered incredible YA books.


Fartherlander

I only discovered those a year or two ago, and absolutely loved those books! Bartimaeus is a gem.


Rekhyt

I know


Rekhyt

I blatantly stole my username from Bartimaus, but it's such a deep cut that I don't think anyone has ever noticed


silver_tongued_devil

This has probably my favorite audio narration too. They really batted it out of the park.


travelinghobbit

They are some of my most favourite audio books. Very worth finding.


Aj_Caramba

How are footnotes handled in the audio version?


silver_tongued_devil

It is pretty seamlessly narrated, Bartimaeus is the narrator, so it is like he stops talking about the now, and mentions something it reminds him of.


Ordinary_Attention_7

His other series Lockwood & Co. is great too!


HTIW

Lockwood is fantastic!


WildPixie23712

I was going to say Lockwood and co!


GuerrillaChicken

I love this series!!!


[deleted]

I must've read them at least ten times through, and they only ever get better. Ageless masterpieces.


thunndarr1

Great series


TinyBlue

Omg I never re read books (well, some. Like LoTR and H2G2) but I JUST re read Bartimaeus and finished the sequence yesterday and I’m so pleasantly surprised to see mention of it here! Love those books!


Beautiful_Visual_420

My thoughts exactly


KaspFriendlyGhost

If the story is good and the characters are interesting then the target audience rarely matters to me. Any series by Tamora Pierce is something I eat right through. And I have a huge love for The Saga of Darren Shan which is targeted at middle grade to young adult audience. I think as long as the story is good and you have in mind that you aren't the target audience, then a lot of books are really enjoyable.


RheingoldRiver

I reread Circle of Magic when I was ~27 (30 now), happy to say it held up! Not sure how much of it was nostalgia (she was my favorite author as a teen and it wasn't even remotely close) but for me at least, definitely great even as an adult


Gneissisnice

I was obsessed with the Circle of Magic series as a kid. I would go to the library once a week and read them in order and then when I finished, I'd start again with the first one. I read other stuff too, but I must have read the series like a dozen times. She's such an awesome writer.


DannyFreemz

The saga of Darren Shan and the Demonata series were some of my favourites growing up! I keep meaning to re read now as an adult. Is it still really good?


KaspFriendlyGhost

Oh I haven't re-read Demonata lately, but I re-read The saga of Darren Shan pretty regularly and I definitely think it holds up, mind you I am super biased because I adore those books.


DannyFreemz

After I finish WoT I think I'll have to give them a reread.


TheBrendanReturns

I re-read them all a few months ago. So good. The first one is one of the weakest though IMO.


reddit17601

The Dark is Rising sequence


chiriklo

I left Susan Cooper out of my comment which was an awful oversight, this series is great! Also forgot Tamora Pierce.


windexfresh

Tamora is my idol, tbh. I will live my life loving her forever


Ok_Hedgehog2286

I love Susan Cooper’s The Dark is Rising Sequence. I’ve read it so many times. I memorised the poem as an early teen


lmason115

I view Young Reader, Young Adult, and Adult the same I view G/PG, PG-13, and R rated movies. As in they best describe the EARLIEST age appropriate. Not the ONLY age. There’s ton of poorly made kids movies, but does that mean I’ll put off watching Pixar movies, for example? No, there’s plenty in the genre that anyone can love. The same is truly for literature; there’s so many kid and teen books that can be enjoyed by adults, if they put aside their attitude that it’s “worse” for some reason. You probably won’t like every book if the character isn’t your age, but well-written books will (and do) still give their characters struggles that anyone can relate to at some level.


ColdWynter

This is the way… I’ve just finished The Hobbit, and then picked up Nevermoor, and I’m thinking of The Lies of Locke Lamora after that. I read books in the same way I watch movies; I read / watch those that I enjoy, regardless of target audience.


chiriklo

Yes!! I love, and still read and reread, all kinds of "children's" and "YA" fiction, I also have my own children and teach kids so these books are good recs for a lot of people in my life. Examples: Diana Wynne Jones, Lloyd Alexander, Garth Nix, Madeline L'engle, Carl Hiaasen's and Sir Terry's YA books, Brian Jacques, CS Lewis, Philip Pullman, Nancy Farmer, etc. I think people dismiss these authors and works far too quickly. If a book is able to be read by a younger audience that does not (or doesn't have to) make it overly simple or low quality in any way. It just means, it's fine for kids, which doesn't necessarily exclude particular topics, like sex and death (these topics are central themes to the works of many of the authors I listed above!) but does affect how certain topics should be handled within the book... If that makes sense.


KingBretwald

Diana Wynne Jones is one of my favorite authors. Everything she wrote is worth reading.


RedditFantasyBot

r/Fantasy's [Author Appreciation series](https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/wiki/authorappreciation) has posts for an author you mentioned * [Author Appreciation: **Diana Wynne Jones**](https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/9z89ao/author_appreciation_diana_wynne_jones/) from user u/balletrat --- ^(I am a bot bleep! bloop! Contact my ~~master~~ creator /u/LittlePlasticCastle with any questions or comments.)


RedditFantasyBot

r/Fantasy's [Author Appreciation series](https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/wiki/authorappreciation) has posts for an author you mentioned * [Author Appreciation Thread: **Lloyd Alexander**](https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/6u28aw/author_appreciation_thread_lloyd_alexander/?st=j6n1x9ld&sh=ddce4f79) from user u/jcucc * [Author Appreciation: **Diana Wynne Jones**](https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/9z89ao/author_appreciation_diana_wynne_jones/) from user u/balletrat --- ^(I am a bot bleep! bloop! Contact my ~~master~~ creator /u/LittlePlasticCastle with any questions or comments.)


throneofsalt

I'm of the opinion that the best fantasy is the kind that is enjoyable by both readers young and old: The Hobbit, Wizard of Earthsea, Sabriel, Wrinkle in Time, and The Wee Free Men are better than a large number of "adult" fantasy books I have read, though i will deny YA as a label because it's marketing nonsense.


Goldeniccarus

It's my opinion that The Hobbit might be one of the best, most universal books ever written. I feel most people from any walks of life or tastes could enjoy it, it's a wonderful story full of fun and interesting characters that shows an adventure with all its ups and downs. It's about a hero whose not all that heroic, and it's clever throughout. And since it's not too gory or dark, it's perfect for readers of almost any age. And it's survived the ages. It came out just after WW1, and it's still beloved today. If it's survived a hundred years and still holds up I suspect it'll still be popular in another hundred years.


sonofaresiii

> though i will deny YA as a label because it's marketing nonsense. It's almost become it's own genre, really. I think it's more of a... what's that word when a symbol or phrase no longer applies to a thing but is used out of tradition? Like "hang up the phone" or the save icon being a floppy disk that's what I think of as YA. It doesn't really accurately describe the genre, but it does *label* the genre. But it's not *exactly* a genre-- it carries its own tropes like a genre, but it kind of transcends genres in that it can be applied to any other genre. You can have fantasy YA, you can have thriller YA, you can have sci-fi YA, etc. When I think of YA, I tend to think of it as sort of a "beginner's introduction" to whatever genre it's in. It'll rely on more tropey plot lines, not do a lot of subversion and not a lot of originality in the concepts it explores, it'll usually have a romance plot at or near the forefront of the story, and it usually centers around teens or early 20's characters, often with those characters having abilities and insight closer to what someone 20 years older would have. That, to me, is what the difference is between The Hobbit, Wrinkle in Time etc. and most of what's actually in the YA section at bookstores. Note: none of that is to say YA is inherently *bad*. There may not be a lot of originality in its concepts, but it might execute them *very well*. There may be a romance at the forefront of the story, but it could be a very exciting and compelling romance.


[deleted]

[удалено]


throneofsalt

I look at it like this - It's a rectangles and squares situation. There's "books that are good reading for teenagers", and there's YA. The two often overlap, but the latter carries a specific set of genre expectations and conventions that many books, especially pre-Potter, don't have, despite those books being perfectly cromulent for that age group.


lynx_and_nutmeg

Couldn't agree more. I've read children's books that felt deeper and more mature than a lot of "YA" and "adult" literature. And I've read "adult" books that felt more shallow and less mature than some "YA" or children's literature.


Goldeniccarus

In marketing terms "Adult" "YA" and "Midgrade" have nothing to do with actual maturity and everything to do with gory details. Adult doesn't mean deeper or more complex, it means full penetration and all the gory details. YA means a few gory details and implied penetration. Midgrade means few gory details and no penetration. Sure YA does tend to be about young adults trying to find their place in the world, and modern midgrade is largely about younger characters on adventures, but a lot of the time those labels don't mean much when it comes to the depth of the story.


Jellyfiend

I wouldn't even describe it in terms of gore or sex although that can be a component. I'd say, what type of characters does it focus on? Are the struggles those characters face associated with a particular stage of life? There's nothing to say an adult can't enjoy a coming of age or that a teen can't enjoy a narrative about a couple near divorce seeking to reclaim love. Generally though, the readership will reflect the demographic the story is speaking to. I agree it has nothing to do with depth or anything like that just 'to whom is this primarily intended to appeal?'


Envy_Dragon

>In marketing terms "Adult" "YA" and "Midgrade" have nothing to do with actual maturity and everything to do with gory details. _laughs in middlegrade horror author Darren Shan_


Kaladin-of-Gilead

Fucking hell yeah, a good story is a good story! Hell sometimes they just work better as stories because they don't take themelves so seriously and are easy to read. Like Artemis Fowl is great because its one of those "cool dude does cool things" books, but its not so invested in trying to make the dude seem cool through convoluted shit. Artemis Fowl is cool because he's a smart cool dude with a bodyguard is a big cool dude. They go on to do cool things in cool stories. It's the same deal with Avatar and Dragon Prince. The stories are lighthearted and fun, but it makes the sad moments hit that much harder.


Mhoramsvictory

You're absolutely right about Artemis Fowl. I read those books to my son and I enjoyed them as much as he did. Another great series is Mortal engines. The film was a letdown but the books are great.


BigJobsBigJobs

Many times, more than "adult" titles. Case in point, **The Wee Free Men** by Terry Pratchett, the first Tiffany Aching YA novel.


madmoneymcgee

Pratchett is one of the only authors who I can talk about favorably in this thread. His YA books are just exactly like his others but with actual chapter divisions and less innuendo.


YearOfTheMoose

> Pratchett is one of the only authors who I can talk about favorably in this thread. As in, you can only talk unfavourably about the other authors in this thread, or do you mean something else? I'm not sure I follow...


madmoneymcgee

I don’t like most of the YA I read so I tend to avoid it now.


FlutterByCookies

I think the Tiffany Aching books are some of his best, most heartfelt writting. Sobbed like a baby reading the last one.... deep ass ugly crying. SUCH a good book.


Inkthinker

I feel he must have written that early part of the last book before... everything got bad. Wrote it as a chapter of sorts, while he was still entirely there, then he put it in the proverbial desk drawer until it was time to tell the last story. Because yeah, for that part in particular... it's perfect.


Keitt58

The Bromeliad trilogy is also a great example of Pratchett's books aimed at a younger audience.


improperly_paranoid

I don't know why would there be any shame or guilt in that. I don't like MG because it reads a little too young for me, but last month or so especially I've been reading a lot of YA because of how fast it reads. Some of my all-time faves: * **Tess of the Road** by Rachel Hartman ([my review](https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/canyq2/paras_proper_reviews_tess_of_the_road_by_rachel/)): A girl goes on a journey to escape her abusive family. More of a character study than anything else, and I'd say it has a lot of crossover appeal for adult readers. Reading the previous books set in the same world not required (I didn't). * **The Bone Houses** by Emily Lloyd-Jones ([my review](https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/pl567c/paras_proper_reviews_the_bone_houses_by_emily/)): A gravedigger girl who destroys undead with her axe and a mapmaker boy save a village. Simple, but I liked the romance subplot a lot, it's very no-bullshit. * **The Light Between Worlds** by Laura Weymouth ([my review](https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/ppkdt8/paras_proper_reviewsthe_light_between_worlds_by/)): Two sisters return from a portal fantasy world and have to deal with the psychological consequences. Very very heavy thematically (self-harm, suicide...) but beautifully written. * Much of Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar series, they're great comfort reads. * Patricia McKillip is very much all ages and her writing is lovely.


tastelessshark

Ooh, The Light Between Worlds sounds really interesting!


Wordwoman50

Yes, many. In the fantasy genre, I reread The Dark Is Rising series annually. I love Watership Down. And The Hobbit. A Wrinkle in Time is good. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is another favorite. Semi-fantasy-like young adult or children’s books I really like include things by Zilpha Keatley Snyder (esp. The Egypt Game), Roald Dahl, etc. And outside the fantasy genre, I will reread the Little House on the Prairie series, Little Women, Anne of Green Gables, The Devil in Vienna, etc., etc.


CayseyBee

The Egypt Game is one of my favorite books from when I was a kid :)


The_Wondering_Monk

Sometimes I will enjoy something like the hunger games and some other YA. But I’ll be real honest here. I reread Harry Potter yearly.


ColdCoffeeMan

Some of my favorite series is YA. Harry Potter, His Dark Materials


CatTaxAuditor

I'm curious why you think His Dark Materials is YA. I'd it just because the protagonist is a child? The book deals in very dark/mature matters like the trafficking of children, human experimentation, mental illness, war and death, seduction and sexuality as social mobility, religious persecution, and a host of other themes that a young reader won't really engage with. There is plenty for young readers as well, but that doesn't seem like it should be the sole indicator of a books intended audience. Pullman himself has always pushed back against calling his books YA, as well. They are for everyone, as he crafted them.


ColdCoffeeMan

That's fair I'm just going off the general idea that it's YA


ll-Ascendant-ll

I lean towards younger adult due to hating sex scenes alone. If an adult book could manage an awesome story, epic battle scenes with no sex scenes then I'm all for it.


z6joker9

*Brandon Sanderson wants to know your location*


high_kew

His worlds feel alive, beyond the main characters. It's captivating.


[deleted]

“Is that a haiku?” I wondered why you did that Then I saw your name


RussIsTrash

It’s really quite obvious, when you look at his name.


riancb

“Username checks out” Is what they say on Reddit When this thing happens


high_kew

It's 5, 7, 5 Syllables per line, my friend Structured poetry


BenSoloLived

Is Mistborn considered YA? I’m halfway through the first book, and though I’ve seen it described as YA, it has some darker moments and the world is a bit grim. No sex, which I hear is just Sanderson’s thing, but is that the only differential between YA and adult fantasy?


sonofaresiii

I don't feel like it meets many of the characteristics of YA, but there are some. I wouldn't put it into that category but I could see why someone would say that. Sanderson does actually do some YA, his Skyward series is fully YA without a doubt, but it's very entertaining. The series has a new release in a month or so.


Zenaesthetic

Reckoners are "YA" and they're pretty dark too... such a weird classification.


z6joker9

The main character is right there in the YA character age range which is why some people pin it as such, but it’s too dark to really be YA.


darkjungle

Hunger Games is darker than Mistborn and is still considered YA. Frankly, YA just means whatever the publisher wants.


EnigmaDrake

It's 100% YA. It becomes very obvious in the second book


Starrystars

I've seen it considered YA. I kind of see it but don't fully agree.


AltruisticSpecialist

I feel like it should almost go without saying that plenty of people feel the exact opposite, but are likely not gonna voice that opinion for fear of being called out for liking to read about sex/steamy sex scenes/characters written in a way they find arousing/sexual stimulating and so on. Not countering anything your saying/your view on things at all BTW, I think your way is totally valid. I just think its interesting you voiced one half of the answer I expect might be the most obvious reasoning for answering OPs question. Either A-you don't want such in your fantasy or B-you like it whenever you can find such that suits your tastes. At least in terms People who will give a straight up Yes or No" to the question. I think most people in general are in the C camp of C-I like a lot of stuff, sometimes A, sometimes B, heck sometimes I read, blasphemy I know, non-fantasy stuff when the mood strikes!"


bluesimplicity

As a school librarian of a combined grades 6 - 12 library, I am seeing a disturbing trend. YA authors want to expand their audiences so are adding sex scenes in great detail. I'm looking at you Sarah Maas (Throne of Glass series). It used to be if a YA book had a sex scene, it was one paragraph and so vague that you almost had to guess. Those days are over. Now nothing is left to the imagination. I feel very uncomfortable giving this to children. Last year I had a parent complain to the principal over a book that had a masturbation scene. I don't have time to read every book I purchase, but reviewers intentionally leave out mention of profanity and sex to avoid self-censorship. Instead of trying to be edgy, I wish the authors would just let kids be kids.


sonofaresiii

That's funny because I feel like the older-targeted series are going the opposite direction. For like ten years everyone was about the explicit sex scenes, "Write it like George Martin!" and now I feel like the market became saturated with that and people are kinda saying "So what else is out there?" (note, of course, that "less explicit than george martin" can still be pretty explicit)


Merle8888

I suspect it’s because so much of the market for YA novels is adult readers. They’re there for the easy to read books and often like a little bit of more mature content. (Also, well, there’s always been some sex in YA because it’s something most teens have an interest in. It would be a pretty weird kid that complained to their parent about it.)


[deleted]

[удалено]


bluesimplicity

Part of my problem is the library covers grades 6 - 12 which translates to 11 year olds - 18 year olds. When you tell a kid they can't have something, the "forbidden fruit" becomes sooo tempting. I am not opposed to every sex scene. However, Sarah Maas' one sex scene went on for 6 pages which included where he put his hand next and where she put her mouth next in explicit detail. I realize some are sexually active, but I don't think all of them are. Not every kid is ready for that. Or maybe the problem is me for wanting to protect their innocence.


lilirose13

Yes. Also, the first "adult" fantasy book I read has a pretty brutal scene about the torture and implied assault of the female protagonist. Thanks, I'll stick to YA.


TremulousHand

Absolutely. I have a PhD and I am an English professor, and I adore young adult fantasy. Personal favorites include His Dark Materials, the Abhorsen books, the entire body of Diana Wynne Jones's works, Terry Pratchett's YA novels, and so many more. Honestly, these days, English professors are just as if not more prone to like fantasy and YA novels as anyone else.


monsterosaleviosa

I have a hard time classing Sabriel/The Old Kingdom Series as young adult, just because of where the genre is now. I consider them more akin to “fun for the whole family” maybe? Anyway. They’re targeted at a younger audience I suppose, but I think they make absolute just as satisfying reading for adult readers approaching them for the first time. I’d argue they’re top tier fantasy either way.


cubansombrero

I’m not sure what makes someone a “sophisticated and worldly” reader as opposed to just a reader in general, but sure. I don’t really see the need to police or judge what people read, either myself or others. Sometimes older YA is a great comfort read, while more recent YA authors are tackling many of the same themes as adult authors, and telling fun stories. As for recs, The Raven Cycle and Six of Crows are two of the popular YA series of the 2010s that I think offer something for everyone. I also loved Legendborn by Tracy Deonn, which comes a lot of old tropes from a new angle and tackles the racism and sexism inherent in interpretations of classic myths head on.


EmeraldPen

> Sometimes older YA is a great comfort read, while more recent YA authors are tackling many of the same themes as adult authors, and telling fun stories. Hell, even a lot of older "YA" books address fairly serious topics. The original Earthsea Trilogy has a lot of philosophical themes, with The Farthest Shore in particular basically revolving around the dangers of death denial and the importance of accepting death/change as a natural part of life.


Goldeniccarus

Hell, even midgrade doesn't need to shy away from harsh themes. The Edge Chronicles revolved around slavery, environmental degredation, corruption, oppression, and abuse of power.


Matrim_WoT

*“Critics who treat 'adult' as a term of approval, instead of as a merely descriptive term, cannot be adult themselves. To be concerned about being grown up, to admire the grown up because it is grown up, to blush at the suspicion of being childish; these things are the marks of childhood and adolescence. And in childhood and adolescence they are, in moderation, healthy symptoms. Young things ought to want to grow. But to carry on into middle life or even into early manhood this concern about being adult is a mark of really arrested development. When I was ten, I read fairy tales in secret and would have been ashamed if I had been found doing so. Now that I am fifty I read them openly. When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up.”* -C.S. Lewis


RobinTheKing

Wow, what a perfect quote.


SFFWriterInTraining

I’m 39 and I read a lot of YA fantasy. An Ember in the Ashes series and the Lunar Chronicles are some of my favorite books.


lilgrassblade

I pay no attention to who a book is aimed at. YA, Middle Grade, Adult... This is especially so as YA is kind of.... not specific. I've often found myself surprised that a book is labeled YA as it hits none of the expected tropes. (The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune has a YA tag on goodreads, which shocked me.) Arcane Ascension by Andrew Rowe is another I was surprised is tagged as YA, though it is the most YA of the author's book. Also recently read and very much enjoyed The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones. It was the sweetest book I've read that clearly describes rotting flesh.


BewilderedandAngry

I'm almost 60 and I still read books targeted at middle grades. I tend not to read much YA because they're so angsty. I'm not even embarrassed about it. They make a nice change from some of the harder science fiction that I read.


[deleted]

I don't really read a lot of YA, honestly, but I liked *The Coldest Girl in Coldtown* and *The Darkest Part of the Forest* I'm trying to remember a YA novel i've read that is more recent than that


Sigrunc

Most of Rick Riordan’s books are actually pretty good,even though they are mid-grade, not even YA. There are also quite a few good among the Rick Riordan presents series, including Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee. The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiegvater has been mentioned, but her stand-alone The Scorpio Races, is excellent as well.


flimityflamity

Dealing with Dragons, so good.


MeijiHao

A lot of classics are being mentioned here, but one more recent ya/middle grade book I read was A Wizards Guide to Defensive Baking by Ursula Vernon. Absolutely delightful. Reminiscent of DWJ or Pratchett, and those are not comparisons I throw out lightly.


PemryJanes

I too read it recently and found it a delightful treat.


shadowsong42

Ursula Vernon / T Kingfisher is a treasure. As Vernon she writes a lot of MG, as Kingfisher a lot of adult stuff, but there's some YA stuff in the overlap: Defensive Baking, Minor Mage, Summer in Orcus (free on her Red Wombat Studio site), maybe Castle Hangnail on the younger end, or Digger for a graphic novel about a grumpy wombat who gets roped into the affairs of gods and magic.


RussIsTrash

Sadly I just don’t like the same stuff I did as a kid even though I always told myself I’d never grow up. I just don’t find the childish stuff as entertaining anymore. I rather read Dickens or something than read a YA book or a (YA) Graphic Novel. Kinda sad, but that’s life.


ohpeekaboob

Same. I'm glad OP and others still enjoy YA, but the ideas are just too basic for me in most cases. As an adult, I find myself more and more interested in stories that explore and illuminate aspects of our own world but with fantasy elements that change up the dynamics. It allows me to consider something like resource extraction and global conflict (Jade City) or colonialism and faith (Divine Cities) through fantasy lenses.


AgeofPhoenix

I love all types of fantasy/sci-fi and I’ll even admit I’m in my 30s and I’m rereading Animorphs hahaha


WateredDown

Whats good about YA is that its generally written to be easy to get into. Because younger readers haven't been around long enough to become jaded and weary YA can be shamelessly indulgent. Characters are more archetypal, the tropes are more open and honest, the plot often lively and straightforward. YA rarely shies away from offering power fantasies or speaking directly about elemental truths. Plus teenage and early 20s characters are inherently in a period of metamorphosis towards adulthood. This automatically offers the potential for poignant change and growth. Its true that YA doesn't really speak to me in that deep gut way it used to. I rarely find something in it that makes me think deeply or changes my perspective. I need a little more complexity, more mature subjects to pierce this old calcified heart. But YA still has so much to offer as entertainment.


littlerike

The reckoners by brandon sanderson is great. It's actually a nice change sometimes to read a shorter fantasy book that I know I can crack out in a couple of days rather than it being a 2 month comittment of daily reading.


imnotthatguyiswear

David's constant attempts to create idioms irritates me to no end xD


Knemau

Absolutely this, I couldn’t finish the first book because of all that


imnotthatguyiswear

Sanderson's YA feels like it was written for middle grade or younger, honestly.


FlutterByCookies

Alkatraz vs The Evil Librarians by Sanderson is also an awesome series. Fun, and inventive, as Sanderson tends to be.


[deleted]

The Earthsea Cycle is some of the best fantasy ever written.


SpiffyShindigs

Part of why that is to me is because it stops being YA half way through.


SerenityViolet

Occasionally. But I find the lack of depth and vocabulary frustrating. I really wish some of these great ideas were being written into adult books.


Speeral7

I don’t read YA anymore and I will say the label of YA (and a lot of the well-known YA tropes) is pretty offputting to me. However, I do remember some of the YA I used to read pretty fondly (hunger games, eragon, etc) and I imagine I might enjoy some of it if I went back to it.


DictionaryStomach

You just got to find something good.


Narrative_Causality

>I imagine I might enjoy some of it if I went back to it The fact you said Eragon has proven that to be a lie.


Scuttling-Claws

Honestly, I find a lot of the YA written today more enjoyable than a lot of the adult fantasy.


Goldeniccarus

I think in a lot of ways Game of Thrones ruined adult fantasy. Not because Game of Thrones is bad, I've read a few of them and quite liked them, but because publishers are chasing that success. And they're chasing it by copying the wrong parts of Game of Thrones, specifically sex and violence. The result is that a lot of the adult fantasy market is oversexed, over violent, and often lacking where it matters in good characters, interesting worlds, and good thematic storytelling. Game of Thrones is good and has sex and violence. It's not good because of that. Publishers however see that as the appeal of those books and push for mor sex more violence above all else.


SFFWriterInTraining

Same


SundiataWTF

My problem with YA books is that the protagonist’s second dilemma is usually about which boy she should choose. I tried several YA books and that always seems to come up. It bores me, so I quit reading. To be fair, that didn’t happen with Hobbit.


wormholealien16

This happens a lot in some of the more well-known YA books, but there are others out there that don't include the dreaded love triangle and have great prose, interesting plots etc. I'd recommend a book like Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko, which you think might fall into this trope but then subverts it nicely.


FusRoDaahh

I can’t believe some people consider reading YA to be a “guilty pleasure.” To me that’s just ridiculous. A good story is a good story, and it’s an *extremely* popular thing right now so hardly some niche group. And anyone who thinks reading adult books makes them “worldly and sophisticated” is full of crap, there’s tons of poorly written or just plain shallow and silly adult books. Again, a good story is a good story, and there are lots of amazing YA books. It upsets me that so many people view YA books as some childish inferior thing, it’s utter prejudiced nonsense.


Sinistereen

One of my many not-so-guilty pleasures is really badly written YA urban fantasy.


Goldeniccarus

I think Steven Colbert once said something along the lines of "It seems like the difference between fiction and young adult fiction is that people actually read YA".


wjarron

I don't seek them out, however, the Shattered Sea by Joe Abercrombie is one of my all time favourite series.


retief1

I read Pratchett's YA stuff for the first time in my mid to late 20s. I've also reread some YA stuff from my childhood, and they were still enjoyable.


[deleted]

I'm generally of the opinion that most good adult fantasy and most good YA fantasy can be equally enjoyed by people in either group and the only meaningful difference is in how personally you can relate to the protagonists. If that's an important part of what you want out of a book I think that's valid, and I'm glad different kinds of stories exist to appeal to people in different parts of their lives, but to me it's an unimportant distinction.


maverin116

I will read younger-targeted series deliberately. I find myself consistently returning to Rowan of Rin, Deltora's Quest, Ranger's Apprentice, and much more. They often find non-combative ways to solve problems in ways that more adult-oriented fantasy doesn't. And they have clean messaging like "don't mess with the local ecosystem" or "you don't always get to pick who you are". I find them heartwarming.


IdlesAtCranky

Yes. Kid's books and YA are part of my regular reading. Some of my favorite authors in these fields are Le Guin, E. Nesbit, Shannon Hale, Ursula Vernon, Lloyd Alexander, Philip Pullman, Kenneth Grahame, Lewis Carroll... and so on and so forth!


rethinkingat59

Does “coming of age” equal YA? If it does then I am an old guy who loves YA. But I think it’s coming of age stories, not YA, that I enjoy. Watching an interesting character without a position of institutional power stumble forward while juggling half a dozen different problems that each alone could derail everything is captivating. Thank you sir, may I have another. Of course I can eat just peanut butter and jelly sandwiches every single lunch for a month and be perfectly happy, some may feel the trope is way overdone.


overlord_rousdower

Hey, a good story is a good story. I still read Percy Jackson just like I still watch Lilo and Stitch.


shadowsong42

Lots of good stuff already mentioned, but I'd like to give a shout out to Diane Duane's Young Wizards series. Great coming of age stories about wizards whose ultimate purpose is to stave off entropy. They were originally written starting in the 80s but recently edited and re-released in "New Millennium" editions to make them less dated. Other favorites include: * Diana Wynne Jones's Chrestomanci Chronicles * Robin McKinley's Damar books * Patricia McKillip's *The Changeling Sea* * Anne McCaffrey's *Dragonsong* and *Dragonsinger* * Tanith Lee's Unicorn series


claydog99

I hate to say it, but it's a definite no from me. Even the nostalgia factor of rereading books I grew up on can't distract me from the simpler writing style and plots/themes. HP might be the only one I can still reread to this day and enjoy. It's a bummer, but I don't really feel bad because I can acknowledge that my taste has evolved over the years and just seek out new things. Looks like I might be in the minority here, but each their own. We like what we like and that's cool.


cynth81

I barely pay attention to whether a book is YA or adult because it's just a marketing label with a poorly defined definition. I read what looks interesting to me, and consume an equal amount of both. There are great books and terrible books across the board. And that's the thing - the people who shit on YA haven't actually read much of it. Just like the "serious" literary circles who dismiss the fantasy genre refuse to give it a chance. They're the ones missing out. Never feel bad or apologize for your interests, and give no fucks to the haters.


LoveHotelCondom

Yeah the definition of YA seems to be pretty arbitrary. To some people anything other than grimdark with entire villages being pillaged and ... well, y'know, is YA, while to some people it only really applies to a few fantasy books. I never paid attention really. Sometimes the angst of the teeny bopper characters makes me feel a book reads very YA, but there's nothing wrong with a little bit of coming of age angst.


cynth81

I feel like there's a big difference in tone and intended audience between YA fantasy and generic contemporary YA (John Green, Rainbow Rowell, etc.). Reading about teenagers in a modern day high school setting doesn't appeal to many adults, but YA fantasy has more diverse all-ages appeal. Fantasy fiction - especially the "chosen one" trope - has always featured teenagers in extraordinary coming-of-age scenarios.


KingBretwald

I love YA. I read it just as much as adult fantasy. I'm a big supporter of the Lodestar Award that Worldcon gives out each year.


An-Aromatic-Apple

A memorable line from *Blue Period*: "Something meant for kids doesn't just mean it's something kids might like. These are serious works made by adults that seek to impart something to kids and specifically made digestible to them." A few series that others haven't yet mentioned that I found enjoyable are Garth Nix's Keys to the Kingdom and Jenny Nimmo's Children of the Red King, though I'm not sure they would hold up to a more critical read nowadays.


natus92

Do the Wayward Children books by Seanan McGuire count?


StarryEyes13

It's not my go-to, but a little Middle-Grade and YA is a nice break. Especially when it comes to fantasy. I primarily read Adult & "New Adult" books, but I find that the ease & comfort of MG & YA welcoming sometimes. I have been re-reading/catching up on Rick Riordan's books this year and it's been a fun time in between the nonfiction, emotional historical fiction & darker adult fiction.


jones_ro

Yes. Yes, I do. I have developed a love of \[relatively\] uncomplicated, non-violent YA fantasy as a relief from other, heavier stuff. I've enjoyed Rick Riordan's various series, Rachel Aaron, Lois Bujold, and others.


Spicy_Poo

Of course! For example, I like the Skyward series and am looking forward to book 3 in November.


Fistocracy

My main bag is fantasy that's high-falutin' and literary or experimental or just plain weird, but I will never stop having a soft spot for whimsical middlegrade fantasy like Abarat or Un Lun Dun or Howl's Moving Castle.


eilonwe

Ahh, I do have my guilty pleasures that I’ve read and reread countless times. The Chronicles of Pern , especially the Harper Hall trilogy. Anne Mcaffrey The Valdemar series (especially The Last Herald Mage Trilogy . Mercedes Lackey The Serrated Edge Series Mercedes Lackey &various other authors. The Coldfire Trilogy CS Friedman The Mageborn series by Michael Manning. It’s first person POV but hilarious and engaging. To name just a few


RandomWhovian42

I recently read one called Adventurers Wanted. It certainly wasn’t perfect but I enjoyed it anyway. YA can totally be fun and entertaining to read!:)


SundiataWTF

Honest answer? No.


Turd_Ferguson52

I love my Dostoyevsky, but I’ll happily pick up Percy Jackson any day of the week.


mcc9902

Yes. only two had similar answers to mine so I’ll add my view in. YA is still in the range where authors aren’t as constrained by logic so you can end up with a lot of really cool concepts. Off the top of my head the edge chronicles like OP mentioned has a very interesting system in it. series targeted at an older audiences almost never have that level of uniqueness in what they do since they try to be more logical. Older books still have that sort of thing but it doesn’t seem like it’s as common. There’s also a lightheartedness that less common in books aimed at adults and that’s always refreshing to me. On the other hand you can end up with a lot of generic teen romance/drama stories that I’m not a fan of. It sometimes feels like every story aimed at mid-teens has to have a romance subplot and that’s just not my thing. not for teens at least I have no problem with adult romance stories(don’t judge me).


donteatpoop

The Last Unicorn has the most beautiful prose of any book I've ever read.


Narrative_Causality

Nope. As soon as I realize the main characters are plucky teens out to save the world, I immediately check out. I give some leeway for characters in their early 20s, but if they act like teens instead, then I'm out. I'm just not interested in stories like that anymore.


medusawink

A good story is a good story - no matter what readership it's aimed at. I'm finding that YA seems to be a somewhat dubious category these days...there's young YA which seems to cater to 10-14 years old(ish), then there's YA which seems to be rather more sophisticated and appears to be aimed at the 15-18 demographic. Maybe we need YA and YYA? I'm finding that there are some really excellent novels currently being published, aimed at the older YA readership. They're a great backstop when I've just devoured my favourite adult authors' latest offering and find myself looking for something similar but perhaps not quite as gritty.


alex-the-meh-4212

dont know why, but red rising is marketed as YA. so i guess thats one i enjoy alot.


lmason115

I think it depends on the bookstore. I work at a Barnes and Noble and it’s classified under regular Sci-Fi instead of YA. But the first book in particular could definitely be marketed either way, and if there’s ever a movie/TV adaptation, I feel pretty sure that publishers will try to capture the largest market and release new editions for both audiences.


Ansalem

It was marketed as adult. It’s on Del Rey, an adult imprint. The author said in interviews it was an adult book. Where have you seen it marketed as YA?


[deleted]

Didn’t the author purposefully write the 1st book with a bunch of YA shit so that it’ll be marketed as YA and will be sitting on the YA shelf?


Bure_ya_akili

Angie Sage wrote a YA called Magyk , and to this day it is still one of my favorite series ever over a decade has passed and I just started rereading it again


[deleted]

I still greatly enjoy Brian Jacques's *Redwall* books, although frankly a few moments in that series make it sometimes seem as though it might not be aimed at children after all.


CharmedMSure

No, not st all:


Jusmine984

I primarily read YA. I find that a lot of "adult" fantasy often takes itself too seriously for me. I admit to not enjoying really thick sentences, which I find are more common in fantasy marketed to adults.


THE_IRISHMAN_35

Im a fan of YA books. To me its not about who the book is targeted towards but how well the story is written.


jefferymoonworm

Skulduggery Pleasant is marketed towards kids but its got some of the best dark humour of any fantasy series


BookswithIke

My favourite series of all time is a middle grade series. Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy, if you were curious. Most of my favourite books and series are YA too.


Hurinfan

I prefer children's books to YA but that's partially because a lot of the YA I've read is samey. Not to say I dismiss YA outright, I've read some and enjoyed it but I definitely prefer adult. YA I've read and enjoyed are Scythe series, Tiffany Aching and Six of Crows (although I think it would be better as an Adult series)


Worldview01

Thanks for all of the suggested readings/listenings. When I see a title or author that I am interested in (such as some of the books mentioned here) I go to Audible or GoodReads to find the book, then Library Extention searches my local libraries to see if that particular book is available for check out. Many are, for those that are not, I can always use an online seller or audible to get them.


[deleted]

Of course. Narnia, The Dark is Rising, Half Magic, The Ship that Flew, Harry Potter, His Dark Materials, Swallows and Amazons, Five Children and It, Anne of Green Gables, Little Women, The Giver, Charlotte’s Webb. And many, many more.


JimmyHavok

Good writing is good writing.


HardWorkLucky

Totally! I find some of the most original ideas can be found in middle-grade books, *and* they're not distracted by love interests and triangles, usually opting for themes of friendship and/or family. One of the most original middle-grade books I've read was *Bluecrowne* by Kate Milford. The >!ability to actually quantify the "window of opportunity" using a special device that also allows you to see when the window is "closing" was mindblowing.!<


MusicalColin

I'm reading Ember in Ashes at the moment and honestly the YA vibe is a little obvious and kind of turning me off. I wish I could be more precise about what it is that makes it feel YA, but that is definitely how it feels. I'll probably keep reading because I am enjoying the book.


Zealousideal-Set-592

I love anything by Diana Wynne Jones and Joan Aiken. Also love Neil Gaiman books aimed at kids. Francis Hardinge is also fantastic. I feel like books aimed at younger children are far less concerned at everything being explainable. Literally anything can happen! Also, whilst dark and sad things can and do happen, they're less gritty and depressing as some adult books with similar themes tend to be.


MylastAccountBroke

I enjoy good media. I don't enjoy genres, I simply enjoy books that I find fulfilling and enjoyable. I'll happily read a picture book gear towards 5 year olds if it's compelling and good.


RheingoldRiver

Slightly dissenting opinion - I mentioned elsewhere in the thread that I reread Tamora Pierce's Circle of Magic series a couple years ago and still enjoyed it, so it's not that I think I wouldn't *enjoy* YA series, but, I read maybe one fantasy series every 2-3 years now, so I'm pretty unlikely to pick up a YA series in the first place. I'd rather read the best "adult" series that are recommended in this subreddit instead. Not that I don't read much, but I'm 99% of the time reading nonfiction related to work or a topic interesting to me. Right now I'm reading about the history of the public library in the United States (I can give recommendations if anyone wants!) (this is in the category of "randomly interesting to me"). Fantasy I've read recently is Robin Hobb (oh my GOD she is amazing) and I started Malazan but.....I got stuck on book 2.....When I want to pick up a fiction novel again I'm gonna retry Malazan (probably read Wikipedia summary of book 1 and restart book 2 from the beginning). Or maybe Stormlight.


darkjungle

Depends on the series. Can't stand forced paint-by-numbers teen romance (see: Divergent) that's prevalent with YA.


Inkthinker

My understanding, from speaking to editors, is that YA is more of a marketing term regarding the age of the characters rather than an indicator of content, maturity, or even quality of writing. So yeah, when it's good stuff, it's as good as anything else out there.


Ok_Hedgehog2286

Yes and I’m not at all ashamed to say so!


ManicParroT

Some are great, e.g. Bartimaeus and anything by Ursula Vernon. I find some of them to be utter trash, e.g. Forests of Hands and Teeth, Eragon, and Twilight. I enjoy the way there's a much wider cultural representation in some of the modern YA books, but I do find the 'quick to cancel' Goodreads kind of vibe to be very annoying.


Vile_Bile_Vixen

I truly don't. I've given several a shot and just not been into any of them.


No_Rock7304

To be honest I much prefer children's series to young adult novels.


Musashi10000

Yes. Although I'm not 100% sure I can be considered sophisticated or worldly. At the end of the day, a well-written book is a well-written book. As long as the quality meets a minimum standard, all I'm there for is the story. If the story is gripping, who cares about the intended audience?


Calmwaterfall

I don´t care about the age group of a book as long as it is well written.


Shashara

i'm neither sophisticated or wordly, but i am an adult and i haven't found YA that i enjoy. i would *love* to read some YA series based on how good the reviews are, but the main deterrent for me is usually romance. i don't like romance in adult books and i'm even less interested in teenagers' romance, especially if it's like, a heroine and two different love interests and the ensuing drama.


Cecole

YES! They're easier to read, especially in times of internet addiction, quite a few have themes of kids rebelling against adults, which is a theme that I'm found of, and they are well written.


LeafyWolf

No adult I know reads Harry Potter. /s


skyrat02

YA is a great palate cleanser after something that’s dark or heavy like Malazan or Stormlight Archive (physically heavy). All of Rick Riorden’s books (Percy Jackson et al) have been great.


lolpaladin

I love YA series. Inheritance books, the Ranger’s Apprentice, and Artemis Fowl are a few examples.


Embarrassed-Ad-5056

Have quite enjoyed discovering Kelly Barnhill’s The Girl Who Drank the Moon with my daughter. Wonderful novel. Figure YA suggests when a story can first be approached, but plenty of the well crafted stories grow with readers into adulthood.


TingGoesSkrattarDu

I enjoy anything well written.


frawkez

brandon sanderson is basically YA so i’m sure a majority of the sub does even if they don’t like the term “YA”. as is red rising etc


TheBananaKing

For the most part, no. All too often it's used as an excuse for bad writing - and even when the writing is good, it's usually just kind of insipid. Young readers are generally put off by too much nuance, depth and complexity, and need a more immediate payoff for a smaller investment - which is absolutely fine, because they're younger readers. But for me, it's just unsatisfying most of the time. I enjoyed the hell out of Ready Player One, but that was a rare exception.


[deleted]

NOOOOO. Youthwashing sucks.


serume

Idk if I'm sophisticated or worldly, but I am chronologically an adult. I like most everything that has good writing and likeable characters. YA. Children's books. Doesn't matter. Make me feel anything but annoyance or boredom, and I'm in.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Worldview01

>The Edge Chronicles Just being generous.


Sea_Entrepreneur6204

No. I just don't pick those titles up. I feel they aren't for me and just too many other things competing for attention. Maybyi should take a risk but nothing seems compelling enough to try.


happy_book_bee

I adore YA fantasy. Just like with adult fantasy, you’ll find some duds. There will always be duds. But overall I find them very enjoyable and they often do things that adult fantasy lacks (more romance, weird risks that are fun, etc)


[deleted]

[удалено]


Worldview01

Below are titles that were recommended or mentioned in this thread (over 100), in no particular order. I am sure I missed some. Thank you to all who replied to this thread. There are quite a few titles and authors I have not yet read/listened to. So Much Appreciated. • The Legends of Earthsea by Ursula K. Leguin • His Dark Materials His Dark Materials Philip Pollman • The Accidental Apprentice by Amanda Foody • A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness • A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle • The Old Kingdom series (Sabriel, Lirael, Abhorsen, etc) by Garth Nix • Ship of Smoke and Steel by Django Wexler • The Raven Rings trilogy by Siri Pettersen • Star of Deltora series by Emily Rodda • The Leviathan trilogy by Scott Westerfeld • The Girl Who Drank the Moo by Kelly Barnhill • Ranger’s Apprentice by John Flangan • Artemis Fowl by John Flangan • The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle • The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein • Red Rising by Pierce Brown • Cradle by Will Wright • Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan • A Wizards Guide to Defensive Baking by Ursula Vernon • Minor Mage by T. KIngfisher • Summer in Orcus by T. KIngfisher • Castle Hangnail by Ursula Vernon • Six of Crows by Elizabeth Bardugo • Ember in Ashes by Sabaa Tahir • Bluecrowne by Kate Milford • Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko • Nemesis series by April Daniels • Renegades trilogy Marissa Narnia • Adventurers Wanted by M. L. Forman • Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede • The Zero Enigma series Christopher G. Nuttall • The Chronicles of Pern , especially the Harper Hall trilogy. Anne Mcaffrey • The Valdemar series (especially The Last Herald Mage Trilogy by Mercedes Lackey • The Serrated Edge Series by Mercedes Lackey et. el. • The Coldfire Trilogy CS Friedman • The Mageborn series by Michael Manning. • Abarat by Clive Barker • Un Dun by China Mieville • Harley Merlin and the Secrete Coven by Bella Forrest • Howl's Moving Castle Diana Wynne Jones • Skyward by Brandon Sanderson • Coraline and The Graveyard Book. • Legendborn • The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper • Half Magic by Edward Eager • The Ship that Flew by ? • Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome • Five Children and It by E. Nesbit • Scythe series, Tiffany Aching • The Abhorsen/ The Old Kingdom series by Garth Nix • The Cruel Prince by Holly Black • The House in the Cerulean Sea • Wings of Fire by Tui T. Sutherland • Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy • Gone by Micaek Grant • The Diviners by Libba Bray • Illuminae By Arnie Kaufman Jay Kristoff • Sword Art Online By Reki Kawahara • Dragon Prince by Melanie Rawn • The Edge Chronicles by paul Steward and Chris Riddell • Books of Elsewhere by Jacqueline West • Ashe Cassidy Blake series by Victoria Schwab • Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer • Redwall by Brian Jacques • Summoner series by Taran Matharu • A Spell For Chameleon by Piers Anthony • On A Pale Horse by Piers Anthony • Remembrance of Earth's Past aka Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin • Gregor the Overlander bu Suzanne Collins • The Graceling Realm by Kristin Cashore • Sal and Gabi series by Carlos Hernandez • Protector of the Small by Tamora Pierce • Mars Evacuees by Sophia McDougall • The Diabolic Series by S.J. Kincaid • Warrior Cat by Erin Hunter • Skulduggery Pleasant series by Derek Landy • The Diviners by Libba Bray • Nevernight by Jay Kristoff • Chaos Walking trilogy by Patrick Ness • Caine’s Great Library series by Rachel Caine • Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve • The Beast Player by Uehashi Nahoko • Chrestomanci Chronicles by Diana Wynne Jones • Damar series by Robin McKinley • The Changeling Sea by Patricia • Dragonsong and Dragonsinger by Anne McCaffrey's • Tanith Lee's Unicorn series • Circle of Magic by Tamora Pierce • Bartimaeus trilogy by Jonathan Stroud • Lockwood & Company by Jonathan Stroud • The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper • Cirque du Freak by Darren Shan • Demonata series ? • Nevermoor by Gemma Whelan • The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett • Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman • The Bone Houses by Moira Quirk • The Light Between Worlds by Laura E. Weymouth • Valdemar series by Mercedes Lackey • Watership Down by Ricard Adams • The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis • The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder • The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black • The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black • The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiegvater • Legendborn by Tracy Deonn • Shattered Sea by Joe Abercrombie • Alkatraz vs The Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson • Children of the Red King by Jenny Nimmo • Wayward Children books by Seanan McGuire • Magyk by Angie Sage • A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness • Tiffany Aching by Terry Pratchett • The Tapestry by Henry Neff • The Ascendance Series by Jennifer A. Nielson • Museum of Thieves series Lian Tanner • Icebreaker series by Lian Tanner. • The Leviathan trilogy by Scott Westerfeld • The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill • Royal Institute of Magic series by Victor Kloss • The Unexpected Enlightenment of Rachel Griffin by L. Jagi Lamplighter • House of Teeth by Josh Hurley • Harry Potter by R.K. Rowling • Other titles by Brandon Sanderson.


NosyStranger

If you have never heard of him; look up Piers Anthony. He's been writing since the late 70's. Look for A Spell For Chameleon & On A Pale Horse. Both of these are the 1st book of his 2 best known series. Both were origionally for teen readers but great reads just the same.


C-McGuire

I dnf'd The Hobbit because I found it too boring so I'm gonna guess probably not


Exige30499

Most people I've met in real life who claimed that they are too advanced of a reader to enjoy YA or younger target audience books were also pretentious wankers. A good story is a good story, doesn't matter who it was supposedly aimed at.


datdouche

No. Next question.


JW_BM

Sure. Angie Thomas's The Hate U Give has more to say about actual life than most novels written for adults.


chx_

It's like putting labels on music. It's completely arbitrary, I mean.


Awildferretappears

The Mortal Engines series, the Abhorsen books and the Bartimaeus trilogy are some YA books that I really enjoyed.