I read a lot.
Like, a lot, a lot.
And one of my absolute favorite genres is young adult literature.
It might seem silly. Shouldn’t I read classics or something like that? But I adore the many excellent books in the YA sphere, and I follow quite a few wonderful bloggers/authors.
And YA lit that’s norm critical or feature a strong heroine and some darkness? Even better.
Here are some of my favorites:
- Tamora Pierce – I read her first book when I was twelve, and I’m still reading today. Historical fantasy with wonderful heroines, often struggling in a man’s profession (such as knight or police.) She’s an oldie but a goodie and just gets better for every book she writes. She isn’t afraid to put sex, violence and “real world” things in books for children/teenagers. Start with Song of the Lioness and move on to her other Tortall books.
My favorites: Trickster’s Queen, and the Provost’s Dog series.
- Vernoica Roth – Really young (my age, I’d guess) dystopian writer, with only two books published, but they are good. A lot of psychology and questions about nature vs nurture. Divergent is the first one, Insurgent the second.
My favorite: Divergent
- Laini Taylor: Just has new book out this week, Days of Blood and Starlight. The first in that series, Daughter of Smoke and Bone is hugely original, beautiful and scary. Plus the heroine has blue hair. Very lyrical.
My favorite: Daughter of Smoke and Bone.
- Lauren Oliver: Has written a very acclaimed series, starting with Delirium, about a dystopian future where love is a disease that must be cured.
My favorite: Delirium
- Kristen Cashore: Highly knowledgeable about YA and children’s lit. She’s written a fantasy triology about Gracelings, people born with very special skills. Katsa, the heroine in Graceling, has a gift for killing.
My favorite: Bitterblue
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These are just some of my favorites, and they’re all pretty well-known and worth a read. All these authors have blogs, which I’ve linked, just click their names. If you like books, women’s issues and writing, read them!