Best Teen Books discussion

The other day, someone asked me: Why is so much "good" literature so depressing and have so many dark themes in it? After a LONG talk about the nature of the human being and what we're drawn to and the need for human connection about universal things, I found myself exhausted. As a teacher, I know how important it is to read and discuss all this darkness. But since my daughter was born three and a half years ago, I find myself wanting lighter, happier reads as well. And I think they are JUST as important as the dark stuff. So, as a writer, I'm at work on my second novel and determined to write a FUN book - something that's just fun to read, a little literary, but mostly just something to ENJOY. And as a reader, I am trying to read books right now that make me happy, but that are really well-written and funny and hopeful. So much of the "happy" stuff gets tossed aside as being "fluff" or being "cheesy" and I'm having trouble wading through all that. I'm wondering if people have suggestions for really well-written, good books that are just FUN and make you HAPPY while reading them. Suggestions?

Well, when I was younger I read almost all of the Trixie Belden books. They are mystery books, but not murder or bloody. They just make me feel like I'm sitting in a park in the summer reading them, a cool breeze is blowing and there are birds chirping and children laughing. No kiding!
Um... OH! Howl's Moving Castle is amazing! I really love that book! The movie is awesome also!

Well, not all books are depressing that are good. But it is hard to think of one that is just plain happy. A lot of my favorite books have bittersweet endings. I think that the ending of the book is one of the most important things that determines if a book is happy or not. And there really aren't many books that are like that simply becaus without a problem, there is no plot. Even fairy tales are like this. So all books cause a bit of anxiety. Perhaps you are looking for a book that has an underlying happy plot, like somebody in love despite the crazy things around them. But I would say Absolutly Normal Chaos is a \ good and happy book, for the most part. The good and the bad are all jumbled together, just like the life of so many 7th graders.

Oh, and Big Trouble is good too. The language is a bit mature, but I was laughing out loud on almost every page!

If you really want to escape the darker side of teen books, I totally recommend the Georgia Nichols series by Louise Rennison. They are written in diary form from the point of view of a 14 year old girl in an all girls school as she makes her way through the awkward years. Each and every book in this series is unbelievably funny and clever. I laugh out loud while reading them and again later when just thinking of them. They are quick reads and oh so much fun.

These are great suggestions. And, you know, I really agree that there have to be problems in books for them to be interesting - there has to be conflict or there is no story, but I'm really interested in reading books that make me feel good but are compelling because of beautiful writing and interesting characters - like I felt with Stargirl and that had its share of complexity and dark and light. But funny and clever sound great right now - I will be checking out that Nichols series you mentioned, Melissa - that sounds great.

This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen always makes me happy. I love Dexter. :)

I've been really enjoying Sarah Dessen's work too. Someone recommended her to me because they thought my novel, SONGS FOR A TEENAGE NOMAD, reminded them a bit of Sarah's books. I think we're pretty different as writers but I really like what she's doing with her books :-) And she writes SO MUCH. I'm in awe of her.

Thanks for this topic Kim! I'm going to keep checking back, because I'm on the look for happy books, too. I'm glad to have everyone's suggestions.

I love all of Sarah Dessen's books. They can sometimes be downers because they deal with such real issues but they almost always have an overcoming character. I think this is the example teenagers (her books do tend to focus on teenage girls) need to see. They need to know the rough times that they go through will end and that the way they handle those situations helps them grow.

I agree- This Lullaby is my favorite Dessen and Dexter is so real, dreamy and true!

I am going to put both of these on my "to read" list as I haven't read these two - thanks!!

I don't even think I could pick a favorite Dessen book...HMMMM...maybe The Truth About Forever. I really enjoyed being along for the ride as Macy discovered herself. And I absolutely came to adore Wes. What a dream-boat.

I'm going to have to agree with Meghan on this one- This Lullaby is amazing, and Dexter is just the most adorable thing ever. Whenever he's there while you're reading, you can't help but laugh.

Meg Cabot's books make me happy. I laugh quite a bit when I'm reading them. I consider her novels comfort reads.

The New Policeman by Kate Thompson made me feel full of happiness and light and music.

It's not to everyone's taste, but I looooved Criss-Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins, so much I hugged the book when I got to the end.

It's about several teenagers whose paths criss-cross throughout the summer, and the little things that happen to them. It's got funny illustrations sprinkled throughout, and some wordplay, too.

In one section, Debbie and her friend are looking through their school annual, making up haiku for their classmates:
Jeff White is handsome, / but his hair is so greasy. / If he would wash it

Tamora Pierce's Alanna series. I first read them in middle school and I go back to them time and again. They move with me where ever I go.
To steal a quote from the best movie ever:
"Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles... "

There's a third book in the Howl's Moving Castle series just out, called House of Many Ways!

Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys by Kate Brian

Books that make me happy are normally little kids books. Those books that you read when your 2nd grade teacher asked everyone to read "chapter books".
Junie B. Jones [everytime I "clean my room" [stuff everything into my closet] I always reading a Junie B. Book as I clean my book shelf.]
ANY Beverly Cleary books ex. Ramona Quimby
The Giving Tree
Love that dog
thats pretty much it for me...

Meg Cabot's books make me happy, too. They aren't the BEST teen books, but I know what I'm going to get when i pick one up. Sometimes that's what you want in a book.

Those aren't the only books that make me happy, but they are the first to come to mind.

Wow you guys, thanks for the recommendation of the Sarah Dressen books. I have to admit, I had not heard of her or her stories, but am heading over to B&N.con to get one!

My favorite happy book, is Alice in Wonderland! I just love the story and the characters...

dairy queen
sisterhood of the traveling pants
anything meg cabot
most maureen johnson books
clarice bean
the steps

Gordon Korman and Carl Hiaasen books. Really tween more so than teen.

Not really happy happy stuff but I love re-reading the Adventure series by Enid Blyton.. bit different from the lists here.. but I love the kids and wish I could have had adventures like them when I was younger :)

books that make me happy: they are so many. the anita blake vampire hunter one especially the killing dance i loved that one but love all of them. sookie stackhouse books. the dark ones by katie macalister.love at stake novels by kerrelyn sparks. dead end dating series by kimberly raye. the maker's song series by adrian phoenix. mercy thompson books by patricia briggs. dead witch walking series by kim harrison. kitty books by carrie vaghn. i think that is all i can think of now. but there is more.

Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys
Can You Keep a Secret?

I must say I like the dark and twisty books.

Pride and Prejudice! I love that book and it really makes me happy every time I read it.

Great, light, happy reads:

Dealing with Dragons
Chronicles of Narnia
Howl's Moving Castle
Dear Daddy-Long-Legs
Heroics for Beginners

I hear you about light, happy reads. I've been working on my noveling blog, Uninvoked for so long that it is sometimes hard to step away from it and read something with a different mood. It's not dark or depressing (at least I don't think so) but there is no black and white right or wrong either. It can make writing the book really hard.

I turn to the books above when Uninvoked gets too serious. ^^

Nina wrote: "Pride and Prejudice! I love that book and it really makes me happy every time I read it.
"
I agree!

I really love the Calypso Chronicles. They are really funny and light and always make me laugh. The entire series is just drama and comedy - perfect if you're in a mood to escape darkness and serious stuff. 8D

Anne of Green Gables a classic that always makes me smile.

I know it's probably a cliché because they were so popular, but the Twilight books just make me happy. I've read them more than once, and that dialog banter just makes me SMILE! I can't help it.