YA Fiction

I'm sure I've written about this before, but I am a big fan of young adult fiction. I think it is a vastly underrated area and some of the finer books I've read over the years were not directed at "adults."

From what I've read, authors often find their books in the YA section just because the book happens to deal with a young person. As an example, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night, which became a big hit, was originally published under the YA label.

So, I guess I would encourage readers to stroll to the back of the bookstore once in awhile and take a look at the kids' section.

Just finished The Boyfriend List by E Lockhart. An excellent novel. Ruby Oliver is 15 and has been suffering from panic attacks. The story is structured as a series of chapters where each chapter deals with a boy with whom she has had some (real or imagined) relationship in her life, while at the same time the story moves forward dealing with the traumas of sophmore year. the writing is clever, current and feels very true to life.

I also really enjoyed another book by Lockhart, The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, which is another YA gem about a private prep school's secret society.

Comments

[Beth Fehlbaum]

The Boyfriend List sounds like a great book!
Beth Fehlbaum, author
Courage in Patience, a story of hope for those who have endured abuse
http://courageinpatience.blogspot.com
Ch. 1 is online!

[Bill Pace]

One of my all-time favorite books is Robert Cormier's THE CHOCOLATE WAR, which is another YA book about a (not-so) secret society. A stark and dark story that depicts the heavy price can come with individualism and bucking the system, this novel set the tone for my high school years.

[Xan]

Chocolate War is great book! I think I read it the same summer I read The Pigman by Paul Zindel - another YA classic.