Wild Things: YA Grown-Up discussion

Hello all!

For the challenge next season, I have a section where those doing the challenge are supposed to read a book recommended by a teacher or librarian. So please post suggested YA titles if you can. The more the better! :)

Huge thanks!

I decided that I'd post a favorite from a bunch of different genres to give a variety :)

Realistic Fiction Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech

Sci Fi Unwind by Neal Shusterman

Romance Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins (cover does not do it justice)

Fantasy Luka and the Fire of Life by Salman Rushdie

Dystopian Divergent by Veronica Roth

Post Apocalyptic Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Fairy Tale Retelling A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz

Graphic Novel Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life by Bryan Lee O'Malley

Historical Fiction The Dreamer by Pam Munoz Ryan

Horror The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey

Humor Warp Speed by Lisa Yee

LBGT Another Kind Of Cowboy by Susan Juby

Mystery The Kneebone Boy by Ellen Potter

Adventure (survival) Lost in the River of Grass by Ginny Rorby

Nonfiction Smile by Raina Telegemeir

Paranormal/Supernatural Everlost by Neal Shusterman

Short stories Athletic Shorts: Six Short Stories by Chris Crutcher

Hope this helps :)

Here are a few younger titles that I recommend to my students quite often:

Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

My One Hundred Adventures by Polly Horvath

Independence Hall by Roland Smith

Ivy and Bean by Annie Barrows

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

I'm totally with Kristen on recommending Fablehaven. I read the first few books in the series a couple of years ago, and just re-read the first to my son, and I love them. Just be conscious of the advanced vocabulary Brandon Mull uses in his writing (my husband commented on it when he took over the reading-to-the-kids task one night say, "WHAT level is that book? Even I didn't know what half the words meant!"). I would recommend it to very advanced MG readers. My oldest, who reads at a college level in 6th grade, read them in 3rd grade and got most of it, my twins who are in 2nd grade, probably won't be ready to read them independently until 5th or 6th grade.

Also, another Brandon Mull book that I LOVED is The Candy Shop War. Check it out! You won't be sorry!

I review books for young people on my blog. Here are the top visited ones, in order of hits, which aren't paranormal romance:
* Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor
* Breaking Through by Francisco Jimenez
* Unwind by Neal Shusterman
* Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
* Bad Boy: A Memoir by Walter Dean Myers
* The Ring by Bobbie Pyron
* Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan
* Code Talker by Joseph Bruchac
Zest Books also has a growing line of true books written by teens. If you're still looking for titles, any of these would make good reads.