It's YA Week on Goodreads!

Try Scythe by Neal Shusterman.

Maedeh wrote: "Okay, I want to share something here and I hope it's appropriate. I'm literally too scared to read any new YA book because I keep thinking that I'll just hate them and put them aside or throw them ..."

Contagion by Erin Bowman

Maedeh wrote: "Okay, I want to share something here and I hope it's appropriate. I'm literally too scared to read any new YA book because I keep thinking that I'll just hate them and put them aside or throw them ..."

without a doubt, my feelings exactly. so scared of reading YA!

It's so weird, I used to LOVE YA books, but lately I feel like I am outgrowing them. They just don't really do it for me anymore, which I'm quite bummed about, because I used to enjoy them soooooo much and lately, the ones I've tried left me feeling a bit 'meeh'

Maedeh wrote: "Okay, I want to share something here and I hope it's appropriate. I'm literally too scared to read any new YA book because I keep thinking that I'll just hate them and put them aside or throw them ..."

I've noticed that too with some books, authors I was obsessed with 5 years ago (and still love), bring out books that I still enjoy to an extent, but I wonder am I not loving it because of my age, and because I've read SO MANY YA books that all I can see are cliches and tropes? One thing I've noticed perosnally, is that I don't look sepcifically for romance anymore. I prefer to see the character develop over the course of the book (or series) rather than epic, all consuming love. Or else focus on familial or sibling or friendship relationships too.

Books that I've loved this year are mostly by Colleen Hoover, who I only started reading this year, and she doesn't focus on romance at all in her books, and her themes are a lot more mature than other YA books and themes. I've also loved everything by Becky Alberelli, A Curse So Dark and Lonely, and Strange The Dreamer. These books have other focuses besides romance, and all their characters are more adult and deal with more mature themes.

You can still love YA but maybe you need to vary your genres? Read some new adult in between YA, because I do agree with the cliches and tropes, which is probably really hard to avoid once you've read a certain number of YA books, and when there are so many books in that genre out, it's really hard for authors to not avoid them.

Maedeh wrote: "Okay, I want to share something here and I hope it's appropriate. I'm literally too scared to read any new YA book because I keep thinking that I'll just hate them and put them aside or throw them ..."

I know this will be self-promoting, however my novel, Like Lana, is a very mature YA read. A lot of older readers (adult) are enjoying it because of its level of writing and the smart twists and turns. It's dark, but real. Just a suggestion. This is not your average contemporary YA novel. I'd love to hear your feedback if you read it, too. It's published by a small press here in Toronto Canada so it's not well known at this point.

Like Lana

Brenna wrote: "Maedeh wrote: "Okay, I want to share something here and I hope it's appropriate. I'm literally too scared to read any new YA book because I keep thinking that I'll just hate them and put them aside..."

Megan Spooner and Naomi Novak also do great fantasy retellings.

If anyone is interested in reading my contemporary YA novel, Like Lana, I'd be happy to mail a print copy if you promise to read and review it on Goodreads. I will give away 5 copies only and it needs to be within Canada or US. So far, those who have read it agree that it's high level writing than the usual YA and very smart in its twists and turns. The main character is 17, however my readers are tending to be older than teen because of the quality (they say). Please feel free to message me if you'd like a print copy. Like Lana

I am a YA Author of the newly released novel Spoken. My book has been enjoyed by all ages and I woud love you to check it out.https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PMFZFLF where I have 90% 5 star reviews or at goodreads...

Maedeh wrote: "Okay, I want to share something here and I hope it's appropriate. I'm literally too scared to read any new YA book because I keep thinking that I'll just hate them and put them aside or throw them ..."
Try my book..check it out on Amazon...I think you would enjoy it as it is different YA and enjoyed by all ages...https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PMFZFLF

Lila Reads wrote: "Maedeh wrote: "Okay, I want to share something here and I hope it's appropriate. I'm literally too scared to read any new YA book because I keep thinking that I'll just hate them and put them aside..."

I'd recommend Thy House, I think you'll find it fits what you're looking for

Maedeh wrote: "Okay, I want to share something here and I hope it's appropriate. I'm literally too scared to read any new YA book because I keep thinking that I'll just hate them and put them aside or throw them ..."

I think the problem comes with reading popular titles. The books I enjoy are rarely on the list of popular books. What genre are you interested in as far as Fantasy or Romance, etc.

Monika wrote: "To be honest, I'm 28 and I still read some YA books. But really, it's so hard to find a good one. For the time being, there is only one series for which I fell totally in love - The Shades of Magic..."

Hi Monika! I would highly recommend the Front Lines series by Michael Grant.

Maedeh wrote: "Okay, I want to share something here and I hope it's appropriate. I'm literally too scared to read any new YA book because I keep thinking that I'll just hate them and put them aside or throw them ..."

Try the Ascendance Trilogy by Jennifer A. Nielsen. I could not put it down, and I loved the main protagonist. He has so much fire and heart, but the books are not unrealistic or dramatic. The way he is has much to do with what he's seen and experienced, but he is a noble character, and his virtues are something we see so little of today but what people, no matter their age, should aspire to. I hope you love the books as much as I do.

AJG wrote: "Here is the thing about me. I don't really care for the cliches and common tropes in YA books, I can easily see passed that. They don't stop me from enjoying a book, since I still feel like I am re..."

So you're saying I shouldn't worry too much about the books that I write.

Monika wrote: "To be honest, I'm 28 and I still read some YA books. But really, it's so hard to find a good one. For the time being, there is only one series for which I fell totally in love - The Shades of Magic..."

The shades of magic series is not YA

Maedeh wrote: "Okay, I want to share something here and I hope it's appropriate. I'm literally too scared to read any new YA book because I keep thinking that I'll just hate them and put them aside or throw them ..."

I am 28 and most of my books I read are YA. I have found that sometimes I need to step away from them every so often and expand to something I usually wouldn't read. So I like to think I have a broad spectrum now a days.

But I can completely understand the sentiment. I have had moments of me just going 'Are you serious right now?' to some of the characters and their choices, but here is a list of some of my favorites:

-Any of the books by Leigh Bardugo ( The Grisha series and her Six of Crow duology......If you read these and enjoy please read King of Scars!!!1 My favorite by far because I love that character )

- Aurora Rising by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman ( This book has it's own moments of eye rolls but that is because some of the language used. However, it is honestly one of my favorite reads of the year )

- This Savage Song Duology by VE Schwab

- Enchantment of Ravens or Sorcery of Thorns by Margeret Rogerson

-Strange the Dreamer duology by Laini Taylor ( Or her Daughter of Smoke and Bone series )

Maedeh wrote: "Okay, I want to share something here and I hope it's appropriate. I'm literally too scared to read any new YA book because I keep thinking that I'll just hate them and put them aside or throw them ..."

Maedah, do you like Sci fi? The Illuminae Files are amazing! The way they're written is so different and the story is fun and funny.

For me every week is YA week so of course I'll be reading!

Currently reading book 4 of the Great Library of Alexandria series, Smoke and Iron. Totally underrated series! Then I have Wicked Fox there...so yes

By Jove! wrote: "Maedeh wrote: "Okay, I want to share something here and I hope it's appropriate. I'm literally too scared to read any new YA book because I keep thinking that I'll just hate them and put them aside..."

I wouldn't consider The Grapes of Wrath as a YA.

Giang: 99.9999999999ad infinitum% of YA is trash, according to numerous flip throughs that I undertook before I had cataract surgeries and needed to wait for the $ I need for the co-pay for my new reading glasses rendered me unable to really read GR excecpt at 2x normal size.

Roberta: Good point, re: Professor Tolkien.

Were you meaning this book, The Star Beast (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... ), when you wrote "The Space Beast" during your sentence about Heinlein? I think you should have also mentioned the OTHER Grand master, Isaac Asimov.

The man wrote more than just science fiction and fantasy stories. Like Carl Sagan decades later, he also wrote science popularizations, like this: Asimov's New Guide To Science ( https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9... ). He also published a book of self written off color limericks...and his own Empire series had a capital planet, Trantor, that may have inspired Lucas to create Coruscant for the STAR WARS PT!

Elise: I'm not sure, but I think that the use of all caps without the use of the HTML tags for italics and/or boldface, is generally considered to be shouting... .

"You don't have to be young to enjoy young adult books."
This is true but I do believe there is a problem when one reads YA almost exclusively. I believe the genre is supposed to ease young readers into literature: YA books are easy reads that, in my opinion, should serve as stepping stones for just "adult" lit, yet it seems that many people never take that next step, clinging onto YA instead.

This is not to say that one can't enjoy a YA book every once in a while or that YA lit is something you must grow out of. But if all one reads is YA, well...

Marshall wrote: ""You don't have to be young to enjoy young adult books."
This is true but I do believe there is a problem when one reads YA almost exclusively. I believe the genre is supposed to ease young readers..."

I took the leap into "adult" literature in 4th grade and I'm 41 now.

Haha you sound exactly like me! Although for YA week I picked up A Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue, and so far I'm actually enjoying it so maybe give that a shot?

It's a little angsty though until the action kicks in.

Maedeh wrote: "Okay, I want to share something here and I hope it's appropriate. I'm literally too scared to read any new YA book because I keep thinking that I'll just hate them and put them aside or throw them ..."

Maedeh : I am a book seller so I have to recommend stories to grandparents, parents and kids, keeping in mind content for readers on the younger teenage years. Here are a few that are my "go to" for all ages:

I Will Always Write Back

Lovely War

Salt to the Sea

The Book Thief (mid to older teens)

The Night Circus (mid to older teens)

I started and/or finished all of these books before I realized they were in the "YA" category. IMO, this category is like anything else : there are cookie cutter books in fiction, mystery, thriller, and sci-fi -- ones worth finding to reading take a bit of time and research along with recommendations from others.

Good luck!

I was under the impression that every week was YA Week, based on the usual social media posts. When will there be a Classics Week or Literary Fiction Week?

Maedeh, there are some excellent YA reads coming from New Zealand at the moment. Okay, I'm a little biased 'cos I'm a Kiwi, but this 54 year old keeps being blown away by them. The finalists in the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults were announced recently, and I have been working my way through the YA finalists since they came to our library. They've all been good reads so far, and some are spectacular. They're listed here - http://www.nzbookawards.nz/new-zealan... - and if you can see my list of books, I've added a YA label so they're easy to find. I hope you enjoy some of them. :-) Wendy

Maedeh wrote: "Okay, I want to share something here and I hope it's appropriate. I'm literally too scared to read any new YA book because I keep thinking that I'll just hate them and put them aside or throw them ..."

I think you will find good and bad in any genre. I have read some YA that is better then any so called "adult" book and some much worse. I also believe YA is too broad a catogory. You asked for YA recomendations but I think there needs to be more of a catagory listing then YA. Do you like Romance,Mystery, Scifi, Horror . RomCom, Fantasy or what? just to say YA is too ope-ended and there is also NA between YA and "Adult"

Does anyone have any suggestions on current YA titles (series or standalone) with male POV that suitable for the high school library without any LGBT content? (Disclaimer: sorry not to offend anyone here)

I completely understand. There are so many books that seem to follow the same general plot line. One thing that makes not read a book is when the synopsis mentions a love triangle. Or when the main character is always saying she is not like other girls.

I recently read Devils Unto Dust by Emma Berquist that I thoroughly enjoyed. Its a zombie western set in the 1800s. The main character has to cross the dessert looking for her father because he stole money from dangerous men. I can tell you there is no love triangle and that the main character does not go around bemoaning the fact that she is not pretty, or just doesn't fit in. She is well flushed out and the only thing she truelly worries about is taking care of her siblings.
Another author I enjoy is Cornelia Funke. She has two great series. Her Mirrorworld, which is currently ongoing. She also has her Inkheart series. If you are looking for a stand alone book, I would recommend Devils Unto Dust. Hope this helps!

Fain wrote: "Does anyone have any suggestions on current YA titles (series or standalone) with male POV that suitable for the high school library without any LGBT content? (Disclaimer: sorry not to offend anyon..."

I think just YA male pov is too general. Are you looking for romance or scifi/horror or fantasy or what within YA?

Well considering most of what I read is YA, so it'll be expected that many of the books I'll read this year will be YA. I've only just now, at the age of 28, started reading "adult" fiction/books (it depends on the age and reading level of the reader on what they can handle, I think)

Scott wrote: "Fain wrote: "Does anyone have any suggestions on current YA titles (series or standalone) with male POV that suitable for the high school library without any LGBT content? (Disclaimer: sorry not to..."

Anything that suitable for a school library because most of the library collection are on the female POV

Jan wrote: "Just finished “Heroine”. A high school softballl player is in a car accident and gets addicted to opiods and then heroine. A must read."

hey, that's really profound - And original!!
https://www.flashalert.net/id/LinnShe...
https://www.flashalert.net/id/OSPOre/...

hmm... There may be a theme here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ac-m5...

Or something. Stufflikethat.

You have to read The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson. Trust me, WILL NOT DISAPPOINT.

Cinder I really enjoy Marissa Meyer. I got started on her when my sister suggested reading The Lunar Chronicles. It's a surprising take on Cinderella, Red Riding Hood...sounds odd, but somehow she makes it work.

I personally thought that "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo was particularly good. Well not good, the characters are all more on the evil side, but that's what made it interesting. On that note, "And I Darken" is very original and fairly historically accurate! A lot of people have been saying "Cinder", and I read it, so I will recommend it also.

Angela wrote: "Maedeh wrote: "Okay, I want to share something here and I hope it's appropriate. I'm literally too scared to read any new YA book because I keep thinking that I'll just hate them and put them aside..."

Salt to the Sea was too info-dumpy. Book club was reading it.

Maven: I think we already did our Classics Week.

Wendy: As far as I'm concerned, the best new thing from New Zealand are the Maori thrash metal trio known as Alien Weaponry. Here's two links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RUtk... (Keeping Māori Culture Alive with Thrash Metal: Alien Weaponry) and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDTdy... (ALIEN WEAPONRY - Holding My Breath (Official Video) | Napalm Records).

I’m very excited to be reading “Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist” this week! I’ve always (secretly) wanted to read it.

Maedeh wrote: "Okay, I want to share something here and I hope it's appropriate. I'm literally too scared to read any new YA book because I keep thinking that I'll just hate them and put them aside or throw them ..."

I feel this so much. Ever since twilight I haven’t been able to look back. There’ve even been books I went back and read and noticed how poorly they were written. But one of the series that has stood the test of time and age for me is Midnighters by Scott Westerfeld and the Gemma Doyle trilogy by Libba Bray

Fain wrote: "Does anyone have any suggestions on current YA titles (series or standalone) with male POV that suitable for the high school library without any LGBT content? (Disclaimer: sorry not to offend anyon..."

Winger by Andrew Smith. Actually, any Andrew Smith.

Our online group is reading Opposite of Always by Justin A. Reynolds - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Maedeh wrote: "Okay, I want to share something here and I hope it's appropriate. I'm literally too scared to read any new YA book because I keep thinking that I'll just hate them and put them aside or throw them ..."

There are no genres without troupes, just read the ones with the troupes you like best. As for more unique stories I would recommend V.E.Schwabs books, or Laini Taylor.

Maedeh wrote: "Okay, I want to share something here and I hope it's appropriate. I'm literally too scared to read any new YA book because I keep thinking that I'll just hate them and put them aside or throw them ..."

I'm 59 years old and the ones that have stood out for me are:

- Scythe by Neal Shusterman
- Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
- His Dark Materials series by Philip Pullman
- The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Hope this helps. However, it's okay for people to not like the same genres of books. Maybe this is just a genre that doesn't work for you.

Maedeh wrote: "Okay, I want to share something here and I hope it's appropriate. I'm literally too scared to read any new YA book because I keep thinking that I'll just hate them and put them aside or throw them ..."

Try this one, I heard it's really good and not what you'd expect.

Maedeh wrote: "Okay, I want to share something here and I hope it's appropriate. I'm literally too scared to read any new YA book because I keep thinking that I'll just hate them and put them aside or throw them ..."

I read the samples of this through a Facebook post (got mine) and it doesn't seem like the standard YA book. It's not out yet, but here's the Barnes and noble link. https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-...

It has a female lead about a girl who has mechanic aspirations to leave a name for herself through her steam inventions. Conflict begins after being robbed by some thug using steam tech. From there she gets into a hairy situation with the steam junkie gangs or something like that. My memory is drawing a blank. Perhaps I should have recapped before posting this lol.

I always read YA so... The last book in the throne of glass series!

Maedeh wrote: "Okay, I want to share something here and I hope it's appropriate. I'm literally too scared to read any new YA book because I keep thinking that I'll just hate them and put them aside or throw them ..."

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas is my newest favorite - I'm in agreement, though: I have a hard time with YA books. I was shocked by how deeply I fell in love with the characters, and how wrapped up in the plot I became. I went from actually laughing out loud to crying ugly tears.

A YA series I discovered recently and have instantly come to love is the Mysterious Benedict Society! I would wholeheartedly recommend those books to anyone out there looking for clever writing, unexpected plots, and fantastic, multi-dimensional characters that win your heart. What a fun read!

Maedeh wrote: "Okay, I want to share something here and I hope it's appropriate. I'm literally too scared to read any new YA book because I keep thinking that I'll just hate them and put them aside or throw them ..."

Read: Monday’s Not Coming or Allegedly.