1.) The Luxe series by Anna Godbersen.

2.) The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling.

3.) Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson.

4.) Stardust by Neil Gaiman.

5.) Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

Excluding Harry Potter and YA classics, here is my top five. My selection is (extremely) limited, as I haven't read a wide range of YA. (List will most likely change in the future).

o1. Kelley Armstrong's Darkest Powers trilogy. This includes The Summoning and The Awakening. The trilogy isn't complete yet, but I love the first two. Kelley Armstrong is one of my favorite authors, so this might be biased, but she can really write well. The quality in her writing wasn't hampered from switching to YA from adult fantasy.

o2. Garth Nix's Abhorsen series. This includes Sabriel, Lirael, and Abhorsen. I actually haven't read them in a while, but I remember that it was a great coming-of-age series. Everyone should read Garth Nix.

o3.
o4.
o5.

So you're here because you're an adult who likes YA fiction. But what I want to know is, what do you consider to be the best YA you've read? Thus, the top five topic. List your top five YA fiction books, with reasons if you like. I'll start:

The top five:

1.) Heart Of Valor by L.J. Smith

Honestly, anything by L. J. Smith is a sure bet. I haven't read anything by her that I didn't like, although obviously I liked some stories better than others. But I chose Heart of Valor for a simple yet complicated reason: It was my first L. J. Smith book. I found the book, get this, at a Goodwill when I was much younger...I bought it for change, literally. Like 50 cents. I read the book and absolutely fell in love with it - the story, the characters, even her writing style. I've read it many times since and I still have that same copy, lovingly used but carefully preserved, that I bought all those years ago. That is love.

2.) Harry Potter Boxset Books 1-7 by J.K. Rowling

I don't care if you like it or don't or what anyone wants to say about it...but J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series is pure genius. I pity those who refuse to even give it a chance because they truly are missing out on some great reading. Rowling's imagination - and, moreso, her ability to bring that imagination to paper - is incredible. The stories are fantastical and epic and the characters are not only developed well, but have been endowed with characteristics that make them stick with you long after the story is over. I also love how Rowling manages to blur the line between black and white, creating characters, main characters, that are neither all good or all bad.

3.) The Horrendous Heap by Lemony Snicket

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events is capable of fooling you with its cartoon covers and seemingly simple summaries...but open these books and you're in for a true reading experience. The story of the Baudelaire children is surprisingly tragic, despite the comedic relief several of the characters provide. It's intense, and each book leaves you wanting more just as a series is supposed to. The story never drags or gets boring and Snicket's writing style is very enjoyable.

4.) Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr

To this day, I'm not sure why...but this book blew me away. It's Melissa Marr's 2nd endeavor, after Wicked Lovely (which is also worth a read...I love the relationship between Aislinn and Seth) and I honestly wasn't expecting to like it as much as I do. It's incredibly raw...moving on so many levels, and frustrating (in a good way) because it doesn't tie up all the loose ends. I sincerely hope that Marr will continue the story in the future. Whiiiiiiich, it kind of looks like she will since a continuation of Wicked Lovely is due out April of 2009. :]

5.) The Dark Angel Trilogy by Meredith Ann Pierce

This set of books is another from my childhood. I believe I read these books in junior high school. Recently, I saw them sitting on the shelves at a local bookstore and they struck me as so familiar. So I bought all three and re-read them - and I was not disappointed. The story is just as fantastical, but a lot less fluffy than most YA fantasy being released in this day and age. I thoroughly enjoyed reading these books and the anticipation that built as I approached the ending. Interestingly enough, Pierce does not give the ending that seems deserved but, unlike Stephenie Meyer *ahem* - she manages to make it fit all the same.

Honorable mentions:

The Twilight Collection by Stephenie Meyer

I must be honest. I think Stephenie Meyer has great potential...but I don't think she fully reached that potential in this series. Her writing style was faulty and even painfully annoying at times. All the same, the series is a good one, and worth reading. Her take on vampires and "werewolves" is quite different from the norm and the story presents a refreshing view of the relationship between humans and the supernatural.

Disclaimer: This list is liable to change at any time. :]