YA List

[Elizabeth]

The Woman in White is Wilkie Collins, isn't it? I know he's got his own niche, but I could only handle so much of his writing. He is very melodramatic.

[Rachel]

Thank you both for your good advice. I closed the book and took it back to the library.

[Rachel]

We went to the library over the weekend and picked up some (very interesting:) choices in YA/JV books. Just wanting anyones advice before we dive into the pile.

"Briar Rose" by Jane Yolen
"Saffy's Angel" by Hilary McKay
"The Wind in The Willows" by Kenneth Grahame
"Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life" by Wendy Mass
"There's A Girl in My Hammerlock" by Jerry Spinelli
"Million Dollar Throw" by Mike Lupica
"Goose Chase" by Patrice Kindl

As always, thanks a bunch!

[Terri]

Hi Rachel -

I have read "The Wind in the Willows" and "Goose Chase". Both were very clean.

I loved Goose Chase! It was a fun, fairytale retelling.

Personally, I found Willows to be quite dull. The parts about Mr. Toad were fun, but the rest just really dragged, I thought...but maybe it was just my mood at the time! :-)

Beth - I read "Little Britches" years ago in Jr. High and remember it very fondly...a lovely, coming of age story about a boy growing up on a ranch. Great book!

I'll have to look into "The Secret School". Thanks for the tips!

[Rachel]

Thanks for your help Terri. So many people have recommended such great ideas, we just have trouble finding many of them at our tiny library. Beth, is "The Secret School" an Avi book? It sounds familiar.

[Beth A.]

Yes, it is Rachel. It's a very cute story!

[Elizabeth]

A good YA book that I've forgotten to mention is "Someone Called Eva". It's an easy read, and a good story about a part of WWII history that isn't as talked about.

[Lanetta]

Erica wrote: "I reccommend Fablehaven and the Percy Jackson series. Love these, and they're aimed more towards younger teens, so they're clean. And they're amazing stories. Also Wings by Aprillyne..."

The inkheart series had some cursing in the last book. The once upon a time series were good but might not be right for you- they were shut off your brain type of books.
I didn't really like Wings, It was dull and I really had to force myself to read it.

[Lanetta]

I have loved all the books by Gail Crason Levine and Margaret Peterson Haddix and found them to be clean.