the best of young adult novels
by Giovanni B.of HIgh Tech High International '14
When I think of young adult novels, I think of movies like the Breakfast Club or Pretty in Pink--stories of young love. Not all young adult novels are like this, though. Some, like I Am Messenger, are crazy, adventure stories where instead of the thrill being in the emotion and feeling, the thrill comes from taking a journey. This is why young adult novels are so great: they are so versatile and cover so many different scenarios. They evoke so much emotion and allow readers to reminisce about their youth or relate to what is going on in their lives right now.
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Eleanor and Park
by Rainbow Rowell -- 325 pages Rainbow Rowell’s Eleanor and Park is the perfect young adult novel for someone who wants to reminisce about their high school love. It is narrated from both points of view of the young lovers Eleanor and Park. Each give his or her spin and point of view on the relationship as it is happening. The way Rowell writes the book makes the reader feel as if they are following Eleanor and Park and witnessing their relationship first hand. Through the ups and downs of love, this book has it all. I highly recommend it to someone who is interested in a young adult love story. |
I Am the Messenger
by Marcus Zusak - 360 pages This book is an adventure, to say the least. Australian cab driver Ed Kennedy is going nowhere in his life. He is making close to minimum wage, he has no aspirations of going to school, and he knows he's not living the life he wants. His week consists of driving his cab late at night and playing cards with his four cronies, one of which, Audrey, is the love of his life. She swears that they are just best friends and denies any connections more than that. Life doesn't seem to be going anywhere for Ed until he prevents a bank robbery and becomes the local town hero for a few weeks. He ends up on the newspaper and things start to turn interesting when a playing card shows up in his mail box. The card has addresses on it, all of which Ed must visit. Each destination has a different task in which Ed must do a deed of good. This book will take you through Ed’s adventures as he finds meaning in his life and realizes what life means to him. |
Looking for Alaska by John Green - 221 pages John Green’s Looking for Alaska tells the story of a young man named Miles. The story follows Miles on his journey through his first year of boarding school as he faces the many challenges of being the “new kid” on campus, as well as falling in love with Alaska, the girl of Miles’ dreams. Through school-wide pranks, lost friendships, broken hearts, and nasty cafeteria food, John Green’s Looking for Alaska is a great book for anyone who loves a thrilling novel about college life and all of the spontaneous adventures that come with it. |