I have a confession to make. I’m a bit of a snob. “No!” you may gasp in disbelief, but it is true. I think it is this trait above all else that would make The Sorting Hat put me into Ravenclaw. I am especially snobby when it comes to the books I read. With so many books in the world and so little time left to read them (60-70 years, the way I figure it) I just can’t justify spending my precious reading time on a light, fluffy, badly written “summer beach read”. However, it hardly seems the time of year to be reading heavy tomes (unless it’s a gripping biography), so I usually head to the Young Adult section of the library or bookstore for my summer reading. I think some of the most compelling, thought-provoking, well-written novels are coming out of the YA section nowadays (Harry Potter is just the tip of the iceberg), and most can be read in a day or two, which can make one feel very accomplished.
While there are many, many YA books and authors to recommend, the following are five books that I personally own and am always pushing onto anyone who asks me for a good book to read.
The Arthur Trilogy by Kevin Crossley-Holland
Okay, this is technically the second book in the Arthur trilogy, but I guess I never bought the first book, “Arthur and the Seeing Stone“. A beautifully written story of a boy, Arthur, during the crusades with stories of Arthur of Camelot cleverly woven into the narrative.
The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
I hesitate to say anything about this book as it is so cleverly written and I don’t want to give anything away, so I’ll just say it reads like historical fiction. There are three books thus far in the series…and I love them all.
The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
A re-telling of the Grimm fairy tale. Shannon Hale’s lyrical writing is best read outside, under the shade with a summer breeze. The story is at times heart wrenching, funny, touching, romantic and exciting, which Hale deftly juggles which makes this a beautiful book. If you like this, please read the follow up, “Enna Burning“.
The Story Girl & The Golden Road by L.M. Montgomery
My favorite book by L.M. Montgomery. “The Golden Road” is more like a second volume than a sequel. There really isn’t any plot—two young boys go to live with their cousins on PE Island for a year and they have grand times and a girl tells them stories. I have read this book so many times I hardly feel the need to open it anymore, as I have passages and pages memorized. Love. Love. Love.
This is not really a YA adult book, but the first time I read it I was 10 (and about 2/3rds of the book went over my head) and it has stuck with me ever since. It’s one of my comfort books—something familiar I turn to during rough times—a book that has grown with me and every time I read it I seem to learn something new about myself. I have a bright & shiny hardback edition, but this tattered copy with it’s torn spine and marked up pages is so very dear to my heart.
What books are you reading this summer? If you decide to read any of these books based on my recommendation, let me know what you thought!
Your nerdy bookworm,
These all look really good, I do enjoy some teen fiction, although I also quite like a frothy summer read too, to whizz through in a day and be transported to a fluffier (if less well written) world!
Oh, and I’m totally a Ravenclaw too. =D
Christine, I will definitely be checking these out of the library this summer. I am a huge fan of historical fiction. Have you had a chance to the read the 9 book series about Arthur and Camelot by Jack Whyte? It takes place in Britain with the fall of the Roman Empire, and there is no magic or wizards–he writes as if if were entirely plausible. The first book is The Skystone. I will admit, if one is not very interested in historical fiction, the first two books will read a little boring. But the story is amazing! I have read the first 7 books about 4 times. Every time I read it, I discover new things.
Thank you for your blog. I very much enjoy reading it!
I just finished reading both Story Girl and Golden Road, and loved them. I discovered L.M. Montgomery when I was in college. That was over 30 years ago, so it’s hard to believe that I never got to reading these two before before now..
You’re right — there’s no plot. But I love them because of all the vivid little story bits.
[...] way back on June 13th when I said (and I quote): …it hardly seems the time of year to be reading heavy [...]
I really enjoyed Shannon Hale’s work. Have you read Book of a Thousand Days? It’s my favorite of her works. I find my book snobbery’s getting worst now a days, so much so that I get into reading slumps where nothing seems appealing. I’ve got some of Meagan Whalen Turner myself, sitting in my TBR pile, I’ve heard a lot of good stuff about her recently!