Bitchery reader Jocelynne sent me the following request for assistance from our well-read readership:
I’ve noticed in the past that when someone needs a recommendation you all are pretty good about providing some very fine recomendations. I’ve also noticed that you have a vast knowledge of and fine appreciaton for YA novels. Now here’s the thing, I have a sister, a half sister really, and at 16 she is almost young enough to be my own child. We don’t know a lot about each other, and I certainly have some trouble knowing how to connect. However, I know that she likes Meg Cabot tons and tons—or did in the past—and I would like to try sending her a little packet of books.
My understanding is that my sister has read all the young adult ones but not the adult ones. I guess she especially loved the Princess Diaries. Honestly, I am so unfamiliar with YA and Meg Cabot, I don’t know if that helps.
[O]ur father died a year ago. The anniversary or his death is coming up and I would like the book(s) to be something that will be helpful for her at this time. I know for me that books have always been an invaluable source of strength, learning, and comfort in times of pain and stress. As I mentioned, I’m not the best at connecting here but I figured a couple of good books would at least let her know I care and I’m thinking about her.
It’s like “Help a Bitch Out: Extreme Makeover Home Edition.” We’ll all get teary reading that, eh?
So, help a Bitch out – we need Cabot-esque YA, or at least books that are of the spirit and style of the Princess Diaries.
Shall I start off by suggesting Adiós to my Old Life? I’d recommend that, since there’s certainly an uplifting element to the story, and it’s about a girl who lost a parent. What else would you suggest for the ultimate most awesome YA care package?
What a wonderful sister! If you ask her to email me,I’ll send her a copy of my two Jax Abbott books. The teen protagonist is dealing with the loss of her dad,too. I lost my own dad way too young, and know how much it hurts.
Aw. I’d recommend something in the “Angus, thongs and full-frontal snogging”-series, or “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants”-series, but chances are she’s already read those. YA is hard to come by here (in The Netherlands), so I’m sort of lost otherwise.
However, Meg Cabot recommends two books for summer reading right here:
http://www.megcabot.com/diary/?p=489
(sorry, HTML hates me)
Michelle Jaffe’s Bad Kitty has a fun, klutzy protagonist and a fun mystery plot. It’s a fast, entertaining read (and I believe it is also the beginning of a series).
13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson also has a great protagonist. Ginny (the story’s narrator) receives a blue envelope from her Aunt months after the woman has died and it sends her on a backpacking trip across Europe to follow the instructions laid out in each of her Aunt’s letters. It’s a wonderful book, but it might not be appropriate this close to the anniversary of her dad’s death.
Wuthering High by Cara Lockwood has a slightly more sarcastic tone than Cabot’s books, but its storyline (a school taught by the ghosts of authors how passed away before they could finish the body of their work) and the play on literature’s role in the students life is fun.
Oh, and let’s not forget Major Crush.
I’ll come up with a list of more titles later. Sorry about the lack of links.
If she’s sixteen and like Cabot, what about graduating her up to Janet Evanovich? Similar fun tone and I think at 16, she’s be old enough for it.
Good adult romantic comedies might be good, too. There’s Jenny Crusie’s shorter books, which were written as categories and are out in single title now, Lani Diane Rich’s romantic comedies. My fourteen year old daughter reads and loves both and yes, there are sex scenes and yes, I’m probably going to hell as her mom for reading them. 🙂
The Cabot books starting with “Size 12 is Not Fat” have the same feel as her YA.
I see someone beat me to 13 Little Blue Envelopes. I’d also suggest Maureen Johnson’s The Key to the Golden Firebird, which features three very different sisters dealing with their father’s death. Although that may be on the heavy side. Maureen Johnson is generally awesome, though, so for a lighter read I’d suggest Devilish (about a high-school senior whose best friend sells her soul to the devil in order to become cool).
I adored Cecil Castelluci’s Boy Proof. The narrator is something of a social misfit, obsessed with a movie, who doesn’t realize how many friends she has until she manages to get them all mad at her.
I also really enjoyed I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You, by Ally Carter. The protagonist attends a girls’ boarding school that is actually a school for future super-spies. It was a lot of fun, although not deep.
Most of the YA I’ve been reading lately has been fantasy or science fiction (Scott Westerfeld, Holly Black); not so Meg Cabot-y.
I get a lot of my YA book recs from Bookshelves of Doom (http://bookshelvesofdoom.blogs.com).
I recommend “Blood and Chocolate” by Annette Klause. It is about werewolves but the issues are really the same ones of family and romance that are present in many teen novels. And the protagonist is no goody-goody.
(In case any of y’all saw the movie version and didn’t read the book, I’ll add that there is hardly any similarity except 1) werewolves and 2) names of the characters)
I can’t believe this! Two days ago I started an email to the Bitches to request this very thing—YA recommendations for my 15-year-old daughter—and got distracted and never sent it.
I’ve already ordered C. Ferrer’s book from the library and Major Crush too—but this is an embarrasment of riches! Hooray!
Thanks, bitches.
Prom Nights from Hell which is an anthology with Meg Cabot, Michelle Jaffe, Stephanie Meyer, and that Myracle chick.
PC and Kristin Cast’s Marked.
I second Westerfield. Great stuff.
Meg Cabot’s 1-800-Missing-You series.
Crap, why isn’t there an edit button?
Sarah, I messed up my html tags.
Bam – fixed it, no problem.
And THANK YOU for reminding me of the 1-800 Where R U series. I LOVED those books, especially the relationship of the protagonists. Oh, man, was that some hot attraction right there. I loved it.
I would highly recommend another Maureen Johnson book: The Keys to the Golden Firebird. Basically anything by Maureen Johnson is phenomenal, but this books is especially incredible, and its about three sisters coping with their father’s death.
Also, highly recommend two fabulous Canadian authors: Karen Rivers and Susan Juby.
The Pursuit of Happiness by Tara Altebrando. (protagonist is dealing wtih the death of her mother)
If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where’s My Prince? by Melissa Kantor (very cute and fluffy, just finished it last night)
Also, try anything by E. Lockhart. I especially enjoyed Fly on the Wall and The Boyfriend List.
If you’re really curious, check out my blog. I review mainly YA novels, and I’ve reviewed quite a few cute, fluffy ones. (Just click on my name in the comments)
I think Cabot’s adult diary-esque books—Boy Next Door, Every Boy’s Got One—work at that age (I was reading them then).
I don’t know how she feels about fantasy, but if she’s ever read Cabot’s Mediator series, she might like Garth Nix’s Abhorsen trilogy, starting with Sabriel, which is a coming-of-age story about a girl who has essentially to navigate a strange world on her own without her father for the first time. And hey, there’s romance, too.
I’m also a big Meg Cabot fan:
Here are some others that I’ve read recently and loved:
Vegan, Virgin, Valentine (Anything by Carolyn Mackler is good, but this is my favorite)
The Miss Smithers Series (Susan Juby has four books in the series and they’re all super funny with plenty of snark).
What a great idea!
In the interest of being NOT completely self serving, e-mail me, I’ll send your sister a copy of PROM DATES FROM HELL, which not only has almost exactly the same title as a Cabot-headlined anthology that also came out this spring, it’s gotten favorable comparisons by people other than my mom.
(I just passed the 2nd anniversary of my own father’s death, so I’m feeling like a softie.)
Also, I highly recommend everything mentioned above. Especially Jaffe’s Bad Kitty, which had me in stitches.
Brit Sue Limb writes books that have the same sort of slightly manic, funny, stream of consciousness style that Cabot uses in her YA books (or all of them, come to think of it).
Girl, 15, Flirting for England (Prequel)
Girl, 15, Charming but Insane
Girl (Nearly) 16: Absolute Torture
Girl 16: Pants on Fire
I also like Deb Caletti, but they are stylistically pretty different than Cabot. My favourite is Honey, Baby, Sweetheart.
I believe there is also a new Meg Cabot out, a sequel to Queen of Babble called Queen of Babble in the Big City.
Sarah Dessen’s The Truth About Forever. It’s about a girl who has to deal with her father’s death. It is one of the best books I have read, let alone one of the best YA books I’ve read. It also has a great romance.
A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray is the beginning of an excellent gothic, historical YA series that reminded me of The Princess Diaries but with a majorly upped “creep” factor and set in a Victorian boarding school. Still an excellent series and would pair nicely with Nix’s Abhorsen series. ALSO – she might like King Dork for something completely different. It’s from a YA male perspective and it’s HI-larious!
I’m a huuuuge Cabot fan. I would recommend anything by Louise Rennison, because her books are hilarious,and for teens (Angus, thongs and full frontal snogging and sequels) and anything by Celia Rees (The blood sinister, Truth or dare, Witch child) . Her books are usually supernatural, but easy to read and not too scary or whatever.
Later, bitchesss.
I apparently really need to read some Meg Cabot. I really loved Patricia Wrede’s Dealing with Dragons series. Probably a bit more light-hearted, but definitely a fun read.
I see someone already suggested Tara’s Pursuit of Happiness which is an utterly amazing book and Major Crush/I>, also wonderful. (And thank you for recommending mine. *g*)
I think too, Gaby Triana’s Backstage Pass or Cubanita would be wonderful. And while not a YA, but definitely a coming-of-age novel, I cannot speak highly enough of Anne Rivers Siddons’ Heartbreak Hotel. If she’s into history at all—it’s set in the late fifties at a southern college on the cusp of the Civil Rights movement. I think I discovered this book when I was about fourteen and have worn my way through about four copies of it.
Seriously—it’s THAT good.
Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith. It’s a fantasy with a heroine whose father dies at the start. It’s highly romantic, with a lot of swashbuckle in the first half, and courtly intrigue in the second half.
I cannot thank you all enough. These recommendations are just wonderful. How will I ever choose?
I’m a firm believer that one should read books that entertain you, so even at 24, I still read YA books. They simply make me happy. I didn’t love Cabot’s Princess Diaries, but her other books kicks ass, including the two series that have already been recommended, and my personal favorites, the two All American Girl books.
I also really like Kate Brian, specifically The V Club and Megan Meade’s Guide to the McGowan Boys.
If she likes fantasy, my all time favorite YA writer is Tamora Pierce. I began reading her when I was 13, and continue to buy her books as soon as they come out. She creates incredibly kickass strong female heroes, and while each of her series can be read on their own, there are many overlapping characters, so if you’re interested, you should read:
The Alanna Series (Song of the Lioness Quartet)
The Immortals Quartet
Protector of the Small quartet
The Tricker books (two books Called Trickser’s Choice and Trickster Queen)
and an ongoing series called Provost’s Dog.
Man, I totally didn’t mean to write this much
The Immortals quartet
I very much liked The Re-Gifters out of the new Minx Books line of graphic novels. I have a review linked to my name. I also liked the graphic novel series Hopeless Savages. Joan Bauer is probably too young for her, but they are comforting and empowering reads.
At 15-16, a lot of this depends on what the individual girl is interested and likes. It’s hard to choose books for others. maybe you can give them a book and tell her you’re reading the same, as a topic of conversation? And/or a giftcard and ask them what they bought with it?
And don’t be afraid to chat up a librarian!
MaryJanice Davidson writes a series of YA novels with her husband. They’re about a were-dragon named Jennifer Scales, and they’re mysteries.
http://www.jenniferscales.com/
They’re not contemporaries, but some great YA novels come from the pen of Sharon Shinn: Summers at Castle Auburn, The Dream-maker’s Magic, the Truth-Teller’s Tale, the Safe-keeper’s Secret, a trilogy.
I also enjoyed Keturah and Lord Death by Martine Leavitt and Twilight by Stephenie Meyer, the last a contemporary vampire tale.
Reading all the wonderful recs here made me realize how far I’ve drifted from my YA days (when I worked in the public library, YA was my favorite and I loved being a YA librarian; now I’m in academia and I had forgotten how much I’ve missed it!)
I have to give a plug for my favorite YA novel, even though it’s no longer in print. It’s one of the very few books that when I finish the last page, I’ve been known to immediately flip it open and begin it again. I’m never quite ready for it to end and the whole thing plays as a movie in my head as I read it. The book in question is The Distant Summer by Sarah Patterson. To my knowledge, it’s the only book she wrote. (And twice now, I’ve typed that as The Distante Summer, since it’s my last name and my fingers automatically add the e when I type distant).
The story takes place in England during WWII and if you can get your hands on a copy, I can’t imagine anyone not loving it.
I recently went to Meg Cabot’s website, and, on July 31, she has a new YA coming out. Does this help? It’s about a girl with bad luck who is sent to live with relatives in New York, and finds out she’s actually a witch. It’s called JINX. If she likes Cabot…
I agree with the recommendations for Major Crush. It is one of the Simon Pulse Romantic Comedies that include Royally Jacked, Spin COntrol, and Do-Over all by Niki Burnham. Take a look at their blog: http://simonpulseromanticcomedies.blogspot.com/
If she is into fantasy, I would recommend Eragon. The main character is a boy but he loses his parent figure early on and has to deal with…well I’m not going to spoil it for you. It’s a great book, she’ll love it.
I second “A Great and Terrible Beauty” by Libba Bray. It is the only YA I have read recently. I bought it because the cover is gorgeous and the blurb sounded interesting. I got halfway through it before I realized it is YA. IT is a historical so the 16 or 17 (can’t remember which) year-old heroine didn’t tip me off right away. I have the second book, “Rebel Angels” in my TBR pile and I am looking forward to reading it soon.
Unless I missed it, no one’s mentioned Megan McCafferty’s books – Sloppy Firsts and Second Helpings. They are diary form like Princess Diaries, but not as sweet – still funny as hell, though. I couldn’t recommend those more highly.
There is also Bras and Broomsticks (I think that’s the name) by Sarah Mylnowski. It’s very lighthearted, about a girl who’s mother and sister are witches.
When I was in highschool (I am in college right now, so this is relevant) I read all of Tamora Pierce’s work. She writes incredible young female characters, and because she write series, you get to see these girls become women. The characters all live in the same fictional kingdom, so she will get to see how former protagonists are doing as adults.
I would have to say that if she’s looking for serious books she should read Jean Ferris who I absolutely adore. Some of her books are more lighthearted too!
And I cannot believe no one’s said it, but being 15 has its advantages.
I love Cecily Von Ziegesar and Zoey Dean who write books about upper eastside girls in either a NY boarding school or in LA.
Also, try the Fearless Series by Francine Pascal for a girl who does some serious ass kicking. Definitely entertaining, suspenseful, and a guaranteed tearjerker later into the series.
Hi,
Long-time lurker, first time commentator here.
Couldn’t help but post, as this topic is close to my heart, being a second generation library employee, and all.
Absolutely adore and agree with Meg Cabot, Louise Rennison, Sue Limb, Ann Brashares, Susan Juby, Carolyn Mackler, Megan McCafferty, and Sarah Dessen. (“Just Listen” by Sarah Dessen is an amazing book about overcoming trauma…not death so much, but significant truama.)
I also highly recommend Sonya Sones’ “One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies,” “A Mango-Shaped Space” by Wendy Mass, and “Dairy Queen” by Catherine Murdock.
For some true escapism, I would recommend some of the fantasy genre (other than Harry Potter): Diane Duane, Diane Wynne Jones, Stephen King (Dark Tower series), Neil Gaiman, and Philip Pullman.
If she’s more of a mature reader (it’s hard to gauge with 16 year-olds—I know I bounced around genres a lot) , I would recommend Angela Carter, Tim O’Brien, Michael Chabon, Nick Hornby, Stella Gibbons (“Cold Comfort Farm”), David Sedaris, Audrey Niffenegger (“The Time Traveler’s Wife”), and Charles Dickens. (Yes, really. Dickens.)
Straight-up romance, I would recommend Julia Quinn, Jennifer Crusie, Catherine Coulter, Lisa Kleypas, and Suzanne Enoch.
It seems almost cliche to suggest it, but I would also say anything by Jane Austen.
I love YA novels and I’m in my mid 20’s. Two good fantasy books I would suggest are Sabriel by Garth Nix and The Naming by Alison Croggon. And Twilight by Stephenie Meyer is wonderful, as is any book by Tamora Pierce set in her Tortall universe.
Here’s another plug for 13 Little Blue Envelopes, Sloppy Firsts and Second Helpings, and pretty much anything by Sarah Dessen.
I would also recommend The Book of Luke by Jenny O’Connell and even though it’s not like Cabot at all, Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin. The latter, though about a girl who dies, definitely fits the bill as “an invaluable source of strength, learning, and comfort in times of pain and stress.”
Oh, and Rosemary. You have at least one more fan who’s not your mom. Prom Dates from Hell was a blast to read.
Just thought of another one—Sorcery and Cecelia by Patricia Wrede and Caroline Stevermer. It’s a delightful light-hearted epistolary Regency about two cousins foiling magical plots and falling in love with dashing men. I love it dearly, although it may not be quite what you’re after.
Here’s a contemp. YA novel: The Specialists: Model Spy by Shannon Greenland. It is a first in a series about teen secret agents. Very good stuff.
http://www.shannongreenland.com/