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?
Definitely Megan McCafferty and Sarah Desssen. Laurie Halse Andersen’s Speak is pretty good too—if a little dark. Also, there’s a new book I read an excerpt for that I want to try out called Bloom by Elizabeth Scott…she’s got an excerpt on her webpage…reminds me a little of Cabot’s Ready or Not.
Rob Thomas (not the Matchbox 20 guy but the creator of Veronica Mars) also wrote some good YA fiction, Slave Day and Rats Saw God are both great. And from a classics standpoint…the whole Anne of Green Gables and Emily of New Moon series are just fantastic. If she hasn’t discovered those, I’d highly recommend.
I totally agree with votes for Tamora Pierce! Also I really liked all L J Smith’s work (Paranormal Romance for teens) If you can find them, The Secret of the Unicorn Queen Series (I know they rereleased the first two books)
I just saw the review of Meg Cabot’s JINX in Romantic Times, and I’ll be picking that up for myself. I loved her Avalon High.
I was going to chime in with Sorcery & Cecelia which is one of my all time favorite books. Someone mentioned Major Crush which I couldn’t keep on my keeper shelf because I keep giving it away with a “You gotta read this.”
And thank, Trisha. Librarians have been just awesomely supportive!
My son ADORES Tamora Pierce. He also really liked Robin McKinley—Try Sunshine.
Garth Nix is my idol.
Almost anything by Phillip Pullman is brilliant, but start with the series His Magical Things.
For an old but my all time favorite, up there with Georgette Heyer. The Sherwood Ring by Elizabeth Marie Pope. Written in the 40s or 50s. Reissued in 2001. Family has ghosts who’ve been around since the American Revolution and only talk to the relatives they want to—in this case the heroine.
Smart, romantic, and funny.
My niece who rarely reads (and is 14) loves Sophie Kinsella’s Shopaholic Series. Go figure…
It was L.J. Smith for me ALL THE WAY when I was 16 on. I devoured every one of her books. My parents were pleased/dismayed when I would lock myself in my room with an armload of LJS books. Truly some of my favorite books ever!
Jody – I second Robin McKinley. The Blue Sword and The Hero and the Crown are still in my must-read list at least once a year.
I heartily echo the praise for Sarah Dessen. Keeping the Moon is one of the best coming of age stories I’ve read in a long while.
Also, I agree with the recommendation of Sonya Sones. It’s in verse form, making it a quick read while still keeping the depth needed for the topics she covers.
For fun, I also loved the Louise Rennison books. Gerogia is a hoot to read about!
For something more lighthearted, Katie MacAlister, writing as Katie Maxwell, has a great group of YA novels, both contemp and paranormal, e.g., They Wear What under Their Kilts?, What’s French for “Ew”?, Eyeliner of the Gods, Circus of the Darned. Her voice is very chatty and and her humor really makes me laugh, but the hard realities are there, too.
Also, Gena Showalter’s Oh My Goth, Blacklisted, Redhanded, parnormal/alternate reality but with all the growing up things you expect in YA.
I’ve also really been enjoying Eva Ibbotson’s books. She writes both children’s books and YA; one of the latter is The Secret Countess a.k.a. A Countess Below Stairs, about a young countess who flees the Russian Revolution and ends up working as a housemaid at a stately home in England and falls in love with the Earl who is engaged to a horrible but very beautiful and rich woman. It is utterly wonderful and everyone should read it.
I’m probably just going to keep on thinking of more…
This might be too late (catching up on tons of bloglines posts), but I remember “TIGER EYES” by Judy Blume as being about a girl whose father is killed in a convenience store robbery, and how she and her mom deal with the loss and the grief.