Task #16: The first book in a new-to-you YA or middle grade series

[Niyati]

I've never read 'A Series of Unfortunate Events'. Does it count?

[Jennifer]

I need some more suggestions, I've either heard of most of the ones listed here and have no interest in reading them (I've tried) or I've already read them. 😬

By the way, whoever mentioned Spinelli's "Stargirl", read it. I loved it and the next installment is just as good.

[Candace]

Jennifer wrote: "I need some more suggestions, I've either heard of most of the ones listed here and have no interest in reading them (I've tried) or I've already read them. 😬

By the way, whoever mentioned Spinell..."

I was thinking about reading Stargirl, I'll be sure to get it for this task.

[Suz]

I just finished The City of Embers series - which counts for me Tasks 15-17. I always meant to read it, just never planned the time for it. I'm so glad I stumbled on Read Harder Challenge. I enjoyed the series, but only skimmed book 3 as it wasn't really connected to the others (and it seemed very lecture-like).

[Jenni]

I highly recommend Every Heart a Doorway for this challenge. It could also fit in the "one-sitting book" category.

[Nicole]

Finally going to read “Divergent”!! I think I am the last person alive that hasn’t read the book or seen the movie!

[Henriette]

I'm going to start on a Danish series that I haven't read yet. Leoniderne

[Bonnie G.]

Nicole wrote: "Finally going to read “Divergent”!! I think I am the last person alive that hasn’t read the book or seen the movie!"

I have not done either, and have no plans to, so you are well ahead of me.

[Jen]

For anyone that has not read The Wayward Children series by Seanan McGuire, I would highly recommend. The first one is Every Heart A Doorway. The third book in the series comes out Jan 9. And all of these books are under 200 pages, so they can also be read in one sitting.

[novelteathoughts]

Allie wrote: "Ya'll, I never read Twilight. THIS IS MY CHANCE!"

HAHAHAHAHA. Go for it!

[novelteathoughts]

The City of Brass or maybe This Mortal Coil is what I'm going to read. The other books aren't out yet, but these are firsts in the series.

[Kate]

Think I will take this opportunity to finally crack open my copy of Wildwood. I bought copies of the whole series years ago, just because I love Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis. I've heard mixed reviews of the actual writing.

[Rebecca]

Maybe my library is the odd one out, but they classify The Wayward Children series as Adult, not YA.

[novelteathoughts]

Rebecca wrote: "Maybe my library is the odd one out, but they classify The Wayward Children series as Adult, not YA."

When I've looked it up online I've also seen it not classified as YA, but adult.

[Molly]

I just finished Warcross by Marie Lu. It was great!

[Vanessa]

I had been wanting to check out the Grishaverse books, so I read Shadow and Bone. I love Leigh Bardugo, but this had enough logical inconsistencies I might not continue.

[Vanessa]

Catie wrote: I already have three (rather popular) books on my shelves that would suit this task, so I’ll most likely go with one of these:
Three Dark Crowns
Cinder
Adaptation

FWIW, I really liked Three Dark Crowns.

[Kira]

I read The Raven Boys for this task. I highly recommend it, it was loads of fun!

[Shelley]

One Crazy Summer

[Renee]

I read Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Evans. It was fun, my 13 year old grandson recommended them. He read the entire series in a week!

[Tania]

I read Fairest of All by Serena Valentino for this task, I'm very excited to continue the series.

Another series I recommend if you haven't read it is the Study series, beginning with Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder.

[Laura]

I’m reading Emilie and The Hollie World by Martha Wells for this category. I found it on the shelf at my library and it looked like a fun read. Enjoying it so far.

[Debbie]

I'm going with Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman

[Beth]

Vanessa wrote: "I had been wanting to check out the Grishaverse books, so I read Shadow and Bone. I love Leigh Bardugo, but this had enough logical inconsistencies I might not continue."

That is what I went with. I thnk I wil be continuing - partly because my ecopy had part of the next book

[Caitlin]

Sarah wrote: "This is probably where my goal of finally starting The Lightning Thief will come in handy."

Yes! I've been wanting to do the same! Great idea!

[Leigh]

Carolyn wrote: "Would The Host count as YA? I'm not a big fan of this genre, but I've had this book on my to-read list for a while because the movie looked interesting."

The Host is definitely YA and a good read but it is a stand alone book and not part of a series.

[Leigh]

I read A Court of Thorns and Roses for this task. It was an enjoyable read but I am not sure if I will continue with the series.

[Janet]

I'm reading The Littlest Bigfoot by Jennifer Weiner (who knew she had a middle grades series?)

[Dana]

I've never read any Lord of the Rings. Do you think The Hobbit counts for this one?

[Riah]

Dana wrote: "I've never read any Lord of the Rings. Do you think The Hobbit counts for this one?"

I tend to interpret the tasks strictly, but I personally wouldn't count it because, while the Hobbit is targeted at younger readers, the rest of the Lord of the Rings isn't.

[Maureen]

Kate wrote: "I'm a children's librarian so this is easy for me - I read at least five "first in series" middle-grade books each year! Most people think fantasy/science fiction when they think YA or middle grade..."
thanks for this great list! I'm definitely going to try one of these.

[Mandie]

I just finished The Shadows for this task.

[Christi]

I've read the Percy Jacksons (at least, I think I finished the series), so I'm going to start either the Magnus Chase series, or the Apollo series. Bought them recently, just need to read them.

[Abbie]

Mark wrote: "Well, as I’ve just received the first book in Philip Pullman’s new Book of Dust trilogy, that’ll be my pick for this challenge."

AAAAH yes! I got mine at the end of 2017 but haven't read it yet and wasn't sure I could include it! Thank you for reminding me that it's the first of a new trilogy!

[Abbie]

Candace wrote: "This task made me draw a blank, but so far Stargirl stands out a bit. I'm just not a huge fan of YA."

Hi, Candace! Some YAs that continue to be favorites include The Giver and The Golden Compass. Here are a few others I remember enjoying a lot when I was a teen, though:
The Named
Blue is for Nightmares
Anne of Green Gables
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
A Certain Slant of Light

[Mandie]

Abbie wrote: "Candace wrote: "This task made me draw a blank, but so far Stargirl stands out a bit. I'm just not a huge fan of YA."

Hi, Candace! Some YAs that continue to be favorites include [book..."

The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe is the second book in The Chronicles of Narnia.

[Rayne]

My sister just raved to me about The Selection, so I think I'm gonna try it.

[Caroline]

some faves i haven't seen mentioned yet but would like to suggest: The Dark is Rising series by Susan Cooper, and any of the Tortall books by Tamora Pierce.

[Teresa]

I read The Frontier Magic series by Patricia C. Wrede. I also used this for my western.

[Christi]

Caroline wrote: "some faves i haven't seen mentioned yet but would like to suggest: The Dark is Rising series by Susan Cooper, and any of the Tortall books by Tamora Pierce."

Oh yes. Any Tamora Pierce, actually. I'm not sure if the Magic Circle books are considered strictly Tortall series - they're in the same "world" but not actually in Tortall itself.

Also, Anne McCaffrey's Harper Hall trilogy is YA. Some Mercedes Lackey books (I'm thinking the Arrows trilogy and the Collegium Chronicles would be YA). And if two books constitutes a series, then The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley is amazing.

[Laura]

I chose Emilie and the Hollow World by Martha Wells for this task.

[Sonia]

I'm going to readHarry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone for this task. I've seen the movies but missed out on reading the books and this task is a good prompt for me to finally start this series.

[Lane]

I did Legend for this one. Great series.

[Betsy]

I just finished the first of the Septimus Heap series Magyk, by Angie Sage. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7...

[Amanda]

Would "The War that Saved My Life" count for this? There are two books, so I am not sure it counts as a "series."

[Teresa]

Amanda, I don't know if 2 books count as a series but I hope you read it regardless. This book was one of my favorites last year, out of ~150 books I read.

[Cosette]

I chose Illuminae and it's 600 pages long! I wish I had chose a different, shorter book but this is interesting so far

[Emily]

I've been reading The Trials of Morrigan Crow and it does not disappoint. I am loving this book and can honestly say I will be looking for the next book in the series to be released.

[Pixelina]

Jenni wrote: "I highly recommend Every Heart a Doorway for this challenge. It could also fit in the "one-sitting book" category."

yep, LOVED it!! And here I was thinking that meh now I have to force myself to read some silly teen romance. Every heart was awesome and I am alreading reading next ones...

[Mya]

I just read The Goose Girl, by Shannon Hale. I really enjoyed it & am thrilled that it's the first of four books. I didn't know it was YA when my friend lent it to me - the language is lovely & more subtle than many YA titles. I'm looking forward to reading the other books in the series.