Fabulous YA treats
Those who say that YA books are just for kids haven’t been reading the good stuff. I have two friends who have fabulous YA books out now, and I’m so excited about both of them. So let me tell you…
Eileen Cook‘s What Would Emma Do? is a fabulous story about a girl in a very conservative and religious community having to deal with the fallout when real life collides with dogma. It’s a retelling of The Crucible and if anyone had ever told me that a retelling of The Crucible would result in a funny, engaging, touching YA novel, I would have thought, “Best of luck.” But Eileen – who happens to be one of the world’s best writers, and I’m not just saying that because she also happens to be one of the world’s most adorable people – really pulled it off. Can’t recommend it highly enough.
Next is a Daphne Grab‘s Alive and Well in Prague, NY. It’s the story of Matisse Osgood, a city girl relocated to the country of upstate New York when her father’s debilitating disease takes a turn for the worse. Daphne’s writing is just lovely, and the story is so sweet and thoughtful, a real coming of age story with everyone in the book growing and changing by the end. I finished it about an hour ago and I’m still weepy. The wonderful thing is that I found out about the book when my local library recommended it as their YA of the month, and I couldn’t believe it. Daphne was my best friend in junior high, but when she went to a boarding school for high school, we lost touch. I haven’t had contact with her in a long time, but when I saw she was a writer, I hunted her down and we’ve been frantically e-mailing and making up for lost time for the past week. Getting to read her book was a treat on two levels – one that it was so well-written, and two that it was written by someone who was such a precious part of my youth.
For adults and teenagers alike – and especially for adults who would like to read the same thing as their kids without wanting to pull their hair out – these books are must-buys.
Okay, I’ll give them a try, as long as you guarantee that there are no vampires or werewolves in them. Because I’m kinda sick of that. And I haven’t even read that series, but with a 15 year old girl in the house the story has been summarized to death at me.
No vampires or werewolves, pinky swear. These are wonderful, realistic, contemporary stories. These are books you can read with your kids, and enjoy them as much as any books you’d choose on your own. Let me know what you think!
Hi Lani! Thank you for the book suggestions – I’m always looking for new book ideas and these sound great. I’m sure it really was a treat to read your friend’s book and reconnect! Congratulations to her!
I’ve been avidly scouring your section of my local library and have been devouring your books. I’ve adored each one of them so far – so touching and humorous! Thanks for sharing your talent with the world.
Pamela – I’ll pass along your congratulations! And aren’t you sweet? Thank you. I’m glad you’re enjoying the books. I love when I find an author I can just devour. Who else do you love? I’m always on the lookout for more winners!
I’ve enjoyed Lauren Weisberger. “The Devil Wears Prada” would have been a much better, but probably not as popular, movie if they had followed her novel. “Everyone Worth Knowing” was good, but lacked the punch of TDWP. Anna Wintour was the subject of a Doc we showed tonight (“The September Issue”), but she did not attend the fest. Something about being the new ambassador to France?
I’ll have to wait until Sundance is over to read your recommendations. Currently reading “The Nature of Horses” by Stephen Budiansky, which is insightful to me but probably boring as dirt to a non-horsie fanatic. Jon Katz is always a treat, especially if you like dogs. And of course, Anne McCaffrey.
Now how cool is that?! Your best friend from jr high is also a writer–what are the chances, eh? How great that not only have you found each other again after all these years, but you still have so much in common!
I just read “The Hunger Games,” by Suzanne Collins. It’s YA, but sorta brutal. No vampires or stuff either, but it is sci fi in the fact that it’s set in the future and quite dystopian. But fabulous. And there will be a sequel, which gives me hope for the future. (I do have to admit, though, that it was the vampire-laden Twilight that got me into reading YA books ,which I’ve been doing quite a bit lately).