I’ve been reading a lot of YA fiction lately, and the ones I’ve read have been the kind of books that completely absorb me and take me out of my world. That used to happen when I read as a kid all the time, but it happens less frequently as an adult. The Harry Potter books did it. The Twilight novels did it.
I’ve been giving in to book blogger peer pressure more often lately, and it seems that frequently the hot books are in the YA category. First, I read Uglies, Pretties, and Specials by Scott Westerfeld. (Click on book title links to go to my reviews.) I’m waiting for the fourth book, Extras, from the library, but the hold list is monstrously long.
Next, I devoured The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. After I finished it and complained that I wasn’t able to get into another book, someone on Twitter suggested Graceling by Kristin Cashore, which I also loved.
Figuring that the book blog world wasn’t steering me wrong, I also requested Carrie Ryan’s The Forest of Hands and Teeth and Wings by Aprilynne Pike from the library, and I’m waiting for them to arrive.
In the meantime, I’m reading High Five by Janet Evanovich, Justice Hall by Laurie R. King, and Red: The Great Rescue, the graphic novel adaptation of Ted Dekker’s fantasy novel. I’m also slowly making my way through Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy.
Other bookish posts this week:
~ Review of The Blue Notebook by James A. Levine
~ My favorite history books
What are you reading today?
Twitter: debworldofbooks
says:
I loved The Hunger Games and I read the Uglies series due to all the great things I heard about it on blogs. Extras was pretty good too although the main characters were new. I thought The Forest of Hands and Teeth was ok. Graceling seems to be popping up everywhere so I think I’ll have to request that one from the library.
I’ve read quite a bit of YA myself! I’m really liking the Shelley Adina series “All About Us.”
I just read 20 Boy Summer and my review is posting next week. I have Miracle Girls yet to read!
Sheri
Twitter: youvegottaread
says:
I’m finding these YA books to be a surprising treat. I never gave this genre the time of day before, and now its like discovering a whole new world. It is a misconception that books for young people are shallow! The kids and I just started an audio called “Pendragon: Book 1″ – I think there are 8ish of them in the series. So far it is really good! We also just started the hard book called Savvy by Ingrid Law. For me, I am about 15 discs into Drums of Autumn on audio, and just started a WWII book called “Every Man Dies Alone”.
Twitter: lakesidemusing
says:
I remember that feeling of being totally lost in my books and it doesn’t happen as much any more. Not sure if I’m just too distracted by ‘life’ happening around me or if I’m reading the wrong books…maybe a YA experiment is in order! (I posted about my graphic novel experiment lastweek.)
I finished The Home-Maker and The Help (reviews this week) and am reading The BIg House by George Howe Colt.
I have enjoyed reading more YA books lately. I think it is because they just were not available when I was a teenager. I am waiting on The Hunger Games from the library. I might have to add a couple of the books you have listed as I have seen them crop up a few times recently too.
YA fiction can be great – especially when you want a quick read.
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Debbie – I debated whether to read Extras or not, but a blogger’s review (I think it was Devourer of Books) convinced me to give it a try. Now if my name would just get to the top of the hold list!
Sheri – I want my daughter to read the Shelley Adina series – I think she’d love it.
Sandy – my best friend’s son loves the Pendragon books! I forgot to mention Drums of Autumn – I think I’m on disc 14. They’re building the homestead on the mountain. I admit, though, that my heart rate speeds up when it switches to a new part and we get to hear what’s going on with Roger and Brianna!
JoAnn – I think it’s a combination of life being much more full of responsibility at this age, and the fact that the YA books deal with an age when emotions are heightened. Just my two cents.
Vivienne – I know – I certainly don’t remember any books like The Hunger Games or Uglies when I was a teen!
Kathy- yes, that’s part of it, too – I love that I can pick up a book and finish it in a day or two.
Twitter: robnmccormack
says:
I’m reading Inside Out by John Ramsey Miller. First time author read. Hunger Games is on my wish list and hope to read it at some point. Have heard many good things about it.
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Robin – I’ve never heard of that one – I’ll have to check it out. Is it good so far?
I’ve been reading a ton of YA lately too. I went from reading maybe one a month to not reading hardly anything else lol.