We may not be teenagers anymore, but we still remember those years well, with a mix of some happy memories, and some extremely drama-filled ones! Whether you’re shopping for a teen reader, or adults like us who love to read YA novels, here are some of our recent faves for those on your list who have already devoured both the Harry Potter and The Hunger Games series.
Eleanor & Park, by Rainbow Rowell: This story of two misfit teenagers who fall in love against the odds is sure to tug on your heartstrings, even if you’re not much of a romantic. Set over the course of one school year in 1986, Eleanor and Park’s unlikely relationship will bring you back to your own first love, and how desperately you believed it would also be your last.
The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green: In its essence, this is a book about two teenagers with cancer. But it’s not a story about dying from cancer, it’s a story about living (and loving) with cancer. This book will probably make you cry, but it’ll also make you laugh hysterically — author John Green does an amazing job of blending the heartbreaking moments with the heartwarming ones.
When You Reach Me, by Rebecca Stead: If you loved Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time as a kid (we know we sure did!), you have to read this delightful middle-grade novel that will charm readers of all ages. A Wrinkle in Time‘s plot is integral to Rebecca Stead’s book, but even if you’re not familiar with the earlier novel, you’ll still enjoy unravelling this story’s incredibly clever mystery.
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, by Ransom Riggs: Probably the least teen-oriented book in the bunch, this quirky and creepy read follows 16-year-old Jacob Portman and the horrific family tragedy that leads him to a series of mysterious photographic clues and an abandoned orphanage in Wales. What makes this teen read so unique (and so eerie) are the black-and-white photographs sprinkled throughout the novel — real photos that the author collected from various sources.
Will Grayson, Will Grayson, by John Green and David Levithan: This two-author special tells the story of two teens, both named Will Grayson, whose lives begin to collide and intertwine in unexpected ways. But even though this entertaining and endearing novel gives you a double dose of Will Grayson, its the character of Tiny Cooper (one Will’s best friend and the other Will’s boyfriend) that will truly steal your heart with his insanely epic and absolutely fabulous high school musical production.
The Rule of Thirds, by Chantel Guertin: Trust us, you’ll want to be BFFs with Pippa, the honest, funny and artsy protagonist in Canadian author Chantel Guertin’s debut YA novel. With an excellent blend of a light, fun romance with the serious story of a teen girl dealing with her father’s death from cancer, this funny yet sad read will make you antsy for its sequel that comes out next year.
The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, by Jennifer E. Smith: For the romantics at heart, this incredibly charming love story of chance and connections is worth picking up. The entire story is set over a period of only 24 hours as the main character Hadley travels to London for her father’s second wedding to her soon-to-be stepmother who Hadley has never even met. Of course, she runs into a boy along the way, but their meet-cute is so endearing that even the less romantically-inclined readers will fall for this sweet, fluffy tale.
Do you have a favourite YA novel that you’ll be giving as a gift this year? Or this there one you’re really hoping to receive? Share your picks in the comments below!