Young Adult Book Reading Challenges discussion

I loved Harry Potter. I can't stand to read about zombies, werewolves, and vampires (sparkly or any other variety). I don't want a long, heavy duty, overly descriptive series. I'm anti-gore and anti-violence (dull and boring, I know. But I am :D).

Percy Jackson was nice and fast, BUT (there's always one, isn't there? :D), I'd like a little more depth. I've read The Novice (in German, it was better than the English) but that kinda started dragging, so I haven't chased down the rest of the series.

Nothing to do with kids killing other kids, please (I live in a part of the world where there is enough not nice stuff happening that I don't want to read about it), and I'm not into romance, either (a bit is ok, but a little bit).

Can you help me out, please? Got a book you think I'd like? I'm very grateful for your suggestions.

Thanks in advance.

You could try The Stone Crown

Thanks Malcolm. Is your book available as an e-version, please? (Bookstores are not plentiful around here.)

We have the same problem G M..haha

I really liked Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin. It's a stand-alone, but pretty entertaining.

I, Coriander by Sally Gardner was a light fantasy read.

And Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones was good. It's part of a series, I've only read the first one.

Thanks for that AngelaSunshine - I'll go chase those up.

How about The Thief?

Will have a shot, thank you Tatiana.

There is a series of books about girl witches called Daughters of the Moon that I would recommend. I would also recommend reading some books by Laurie Stolarz: http://www.lauriestolarz.com/

Thank you, Brenda. Thanks for your suggestions :D.

One more I think you might like:

When You Reach Me

Thanks, Tatiana. Just had a quick squizz at your review and the book sounds great. (Maybe I should have asked for middle-grade recommendations?) :D

Maybe:) They are definitely lighter on gore and violence The best source of great chidren's/mid-grade books is the list of Newbery winners and honorees:

http://www.goodreads.com/award/show/2...

http://www.goodreads.com/award/show/1...

And the next best is right here!!! Thanks again.

Not sure if this is what you are looking for but
have you tried Prophecy of the Sisters? There is a bit of death, but not too bad in the grand scheme of things.
I liked the The Graveyard Book, but I am trying to think if it would be too slow.

How about City of Bones?

Try The Witches of Eileanan series by Kate Forsyth. The first book is called (depending where you are at) The Witches of Eileanan or Dragonclaw.

G N wrote: "Thanks Malcolm. Is your book available as an e-version, please? (Bookstores are not plentiful around here.)"

Whereabouts are you located - roughly?

Tara, Rollie, Deborah, thank you. I'm going to have a whole bookshelf of 'to-read'! Malcolm, thanks, your book is available in Australia and I'll be there early January, so that's probably the best place to buy the hard copy.

While these are not specific suggestions on books to read, I would like to mention a few websites that might help if books are not available.

http://books.google.com/bkshp?hl=en&a...
GoogleBooks has full copies of books that are out of copyright, which means that you can read many classics there.

http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page
Same idea. Free ebooks because they are out of copyright.

A classic my daughter is reading now are the fantasy books by David and Leigh Eddings or have you tried Piers Anthony, Terry Brooks, or Anne McCaffery. For some more recent reads, I would suggest Maria V. Snyder's series that started with Posion Study. I think you would enjoy several of our LUNA books and some of our Teen line. Good luck!

Just started the Mary Russell series by Laurie R. King. I am really enjoying it so far. Book one is The Beekeeper's Apprentice and is available in e-book format.

I really appreciate that people keep popping in and leaving their personal recommendations. Thank you!

Julie, you've reminded me also how forgetful I am...I've been meaning to have a look at those links! Thanks for jogging the old grey matter. (Now what does this other knot in my handkerchief mean?)

I really liked the ranger's apprentice series, it was fun and a pretty fast read, also the abhorsen trilogy by garth nix is my favorite series of all time :)
The Ruins of Gorlan
SabrielLirael

I love Skullduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy. They are extremely clever and fast-paced. I think it's up to book 4 or book 5 now and the quality hasn't diminished.

The Chronicles of Prydain:

I just finished Paranormalcy and I liked it. There are a few vampires and werewolves, but it is not the main storyline. It focuses on a girl who can see through glamors and her place in the paranormal world.

My favorite book of all time is The Light of Asteria: Kailmeyra's Last Hope. Seriously great read, check it out!

Tara wrote: "I just finished Paranormalcy and I liked it. There are a few vampires and werewolves, but it is not the main storyline. It focuses on a girl who can see through glamors and her pla..."

I just finished this book too and realy liked it. It was funny, a little quirky with some actual character development.

I really liked the The Demon King series by Cinda Chima. No vampires or werewolves but there is magic. It has more of an epic scifi/fantasy feel to it.

You people are really fantastic, thank you so much. I'd never have found all these books if you hadn't shared with me.

(stumbles off, wobbling sideways, struggling under growing tower of books)

I'd add Graceling and Fire by Kristin Cashore in there. There is some violence, but they are amazing fantasy novels. I loved them both.

I don't like excessive romance either so I'd suggest Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi, Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld, or the Ingo series by Helen Dunmore.

How about The Mysterious Benedict Society Box Set?

The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins
Delirium by Lauren Oliver
Trylle Trillogy by Amanda Hocking

Those are some of my favorites

My favorite book is Daughter of the Forest. There is a trilogy if you like this one. It's based on the fairy tale The Seven Swans where seven brothers were turned into swans by an evil spell cast by their stepmother. It could only be broken if their sister would weave them each a shirt, with not a sound passing her lips. Check it out!

I loved ! by Peg Kerr is based on the same story and is told in two time periods and is wonderful.

Yes, Daughter of the Forest is such an amazing story! Thanks for the other recommendation I will have to check it out!

Tatiana wrote: "How about The Thief?"

Love this book series!

You might want to check out the new first in a series, Van Stone Novel called The Card.



Its a little different than what else is out there. No vampires or werewolves. It's more an action/adventure novel but it has depth.

Don't let the baseball cover fool you, it is not a baseball book, but a thrilling adventure with a baseball background.

G N wrote: "I loved Harry Potter. I can't stand to read about zombies, werewolves, and vampires (sparkly or any other variety). I don't want a long, heavy duty, overly descriptive series. I'm anti-gore and ..."

If you haven't read the hunger games trilogy, it's also great.. I understand what you feel, I for one am still looking for a novel that's as great as the hp series, i found vampires, werewolves,etc. unappealing, overrated,and shallow ,they wasted my time .. But hunger games is the close second to hp, it's as action-packed and exciting, has and enough revelation and surprises and not as violent and gory as the plot seems to be.. HP and HG are my favorites...

G N wrote: "I loved Harry Potter. I can't stand to read about zombies, werewolves, and vampires (sparkly or any other variety). I don't want a long, heavy duty, overly descriptive series. I'm anti-gore and ..."

If you haven't read the hunger games trilogy, it's also great.. I understand what you feel, I for one am still looking for a novel that's as great as the hp series, i found vampires, werewolves,etc. unappealing, overrated,and shallow ,they wasted my time .. But hunger games is the close second to hp, it's as action-packed and exciting, has and enough revelation and surprises and not as violent and gory as the plot seems to be.. HP and HG are my favorites...