Young Adult Fiction for Adults discussion

Hi! I'm new to the group. I've been teaching 8th grade English, and I will teach 6th grade Language Arts next year. I'll stick up a list of books for the honors 9th grade class that kids got to choose from for summer reading tomorrow. I think a lot of them look really good!
My favorite YA author is definitely Shannon Hale - The Goose Girl, Enna Burning, River Secrets, Princess Academy. I think she's wonderful.

The Looking Glass Wars are SOOOO Good!

I just finished The Lion, Witch and the Wardorbe and I am reading A Horse and his boy. Also, I finished a novel by Mary Downing Hahn called As Ever, Gordy. It's really sad.

I just finished Lament by Maggie Stiefvater (loved it) and am starting on Rebel Angels (the second in the Gemma Doyle trilogy) by Libba Bray. I see a lot of people on this thread have been reading the Gemma Doyle trilogy :)

Currently reading Sorcery and Cecelia or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot Being the Correspondence of Two Young Ladies of Quality Regarding Various Magical Scandals in London and the Country and Inkspell and The Sea of Monsters. I'm hoping it won't take me too long to get through all that. I keep trying to read only one or two books at a time but I have a hard time keeping to that goal;>

"Sorcery and Cecilia" is wonderful. The other two books in the series aren't bad, either. And Caroline Stevermere's and Patricia Wrede's independent series are good, too. Have fun with it!

Jennie, I hadn't even realized "Sorcery and Cecilia" was a series! I mean, I'm sure I must have known this at some point but had completely forgotten! Thanks for reminding me! I'm about 2/3 of the way through and it's getting *very* interesting! I'm pleased there's more to look forward to;)

I loved Sorcery and Cecilia! I didn't like the second as much though, and that's put me off reading the third.
I just finished reading Mortal Engines, and thought it moste excellente! Now I have to find the second book, quickly!

The third is better. Not as good as the first, although maybe that's just because I enjoyed the romance aspects and the Season...

Nah. It's not as good as the first, but better than the second. Give it a try.

I just joined this group. I finished up Demon in My View by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes yesterday and am supposed to pick up Specials the third book in the Uglies series from the library.

Thanks for the info, Josie and Jennie :).
I have "Mortal Engines" on my to-read shelf, and I actually *have* the real book on my real to-read shelf (not just my electronic one;>) so I'm glad to hear it get a nod:)

I finished up Specials (3rd book in the Uglies series). It wasn't my favorite but overall I really enjoyed this series. I'm going to start Peeps by Scott Westerfeld next.

Jennie - I'll take your advice and read the third one - in installments, at Borders, as I'm too poor to buy the hardcover!
Ann, the second book, Infernal Devices just came in for me at my library, so I'll be reading that soon! I think it was you I've seen recommending Larklight? If it was, I think you'll definitely enjoy Mortal Engines, it's just as imaginative and COOL :)
Currently I'm reading Pretties, and finding it a little bit too teeny-bopper for me; not sure I'll continue on with the third one...

Josie, the one thing about Pretties that bugged me was I thought I would pull my hair out if I hear "bubbly" one more time.

Ha ha, YES! And 'bogus'! And the way the word 'making' is tacked onto words: 'pretty-making', 'nervous-making'.

I just finished Fade by Lisa McMann and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I'm not sure what's up next. It's a tough decision. Either book 2 of Artemis Fowl or book 2 of Septimus Heap?

Kristen-What did you think of The Hunger Games? I loved it and can't wait for the next one.

Debbie - I was absolutely enthralled beginning to end! I found both the story and its characters addictive. I finished the book in two days and I am not a fast reader! It was like Wizard of Oz meets The Running Man. I can't believe we have to wait until September for the second book ... I've already pre-ordered it!

Kristen-wow you pre-ordered already? I should probably do that too so I don't miss it when it comes out.

I finished up Peeps by Scott Westerfeld today and was disappointed. Didn't like it as much as Uglies. I'm starting Wake by Lisa McMann.

Debbie-I enjoyed both Wake and Fade. While I found it to be a simple series with simplistic plots and characters, the premise was very interesting. It took me a few pages to get used to her writing style. It's very staccato ... that's the only way I can explain it.

I have yet to read the Uglies. I've heard great things about the series.

I really enjoyed Uglies.

Kristen-I finished up Wake last night. I totally agree the writing was very staccato but I really enjoyed the book.

I finished up Vampire Kisses by Lisa McMann. You could really tell this was just for a YA crowd and I cringed at the writing in some spots but still enjoyed it.

Correction: Infernal Devices is actually the third book, Predator's Gold is the second, which I'm reading now and really enjoying!

I'm currently reading Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson. I finished up Speak by the same author as well as Looking for Alaska by John Green last week.

I finished Sticky Fingers by Niki Burnham last night. It was pretty intense for a YA. Some pretty serious subject matter, as well.

I'm going to start on Ever by Gail Carson Levine later today. I've heard it's not as good as her others, but I'm reading it for a book challenge, so I don't have a lot of choice in the matter. I haven't read a TON of fairy-taley stuff, so I don't have much to compare it to except Ella Enchanted, also written by Ms. Levine.

Jenny--did you like Looking for Alaska? An Abundance of Katherines was pretty interesting.

Sara--
I did like Looking for Alaska, I thought it was well written and brings to the forefront issues that teenagers today, sadly, have to deal with in high school. I can see why it won the Printz Award in 2006. Overall a good book.
I didn't read An Abundance of Katherines, but I've heard that it's pretty interesting from some people who've read it. I'm getting ready to read Paper Towns next.

Josie wrote: "Jennie - I'll take your advice and read the third one - in installments, at Borders, as I'm too poor to buy the hardcover!
Ann, the second book, [b:Infernal Devices|585261|Infernal Devices (Hungry..."

Sorry it's taken me so long to reply, Josie! But yes! That's me that's been recommending LARKLIGHT. So I'm really glad to hear you say that Mortal Engines is just as imaginative, because I didn't know how similar/different it would be, being a completely different series. I was a little wary, but that makes me feel much better! Thank you!

Kristen wrote: "I just finished Fade by Lisa McMann and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I'm not sure what's up next. It's a tough decision. Either book 2 of Artemis Fowl or book 2 of Septimus Heap?"

Kristen, I finished

Flyte last month and thought it kept up with the first Heap's quality. I'm not sure I enjoyed it *quite* as much, but I think it's just because some of the new-ness wasn't there. But overall I liked it:)

Sorry for the third-in-a-row post! ;p

I've started to read Twilight - more out of curiosity so that I can form my own opinion because I've heard so much good and bad about it. So far I can't say that it's brilliant writing, but for whatever reason I'm very intrigued! Huh. I'm only a few chapters into it, so will have to wait for total comments until the end ;)

Right now I'm reading Inkheart by Cornellia Funke it's really good. Next month I'm reading The Book Thief for another bookclubs challenge. Can't wait to start that one!

I am reading The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray. Having some trouble getting started though - my mind keeps wondering . I know it will get a lot better, but I'm just having a hard time getting going.

I'm also reading the Morganville Vampires as they come out by Rachel Caine. I really enjoy them.

Susan wrote: "Right now I'm reading Inkheart by Cornellia Funke it's really good. Next month I'm reading The Book Thief for another bookclubs challenge. Can't wait to start that one!
"

I loved Inkheart and The Book Thief. If you're like me, you'll "just have to" read Inkspell and Inkdeath. I couldn't stop! They're addicting.

I'm currently reading Brisingr by Christopher Paolini. It's been a while since I read Eragon and then Eldest, so I was quizzing my 15 year old son, who read both, what happened in the first 2 books. I guess it was too long between books. Anyway, I'm a little slow getting started, but so far, it's okay.

I'm reading Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli. I'm not sure how I haven't read this yet. I've checked it out from the library multiple times, and just haven't gotten around to it, I guess. I'm about halfway done, and I'm loving it!

I'm on a Christopher Pike kick after a successful run at the used bookstore. Woot!

I just finished "Haley Cork and the Blue Door" by M. Andrew Sprong to my granddaughter. We both loved it and I plan on reading more from this author. The book is rather deceptive, leading the reader to believe it is just another pretty fairy tale. After the fourth chapter you quickly realize you aren't in Kansas anymore!

Ann, I'm now on the fourth and final book in Philip Reeve's Hungry City Chronicles, and I have to say that I think that Larklight is aimed at a younger audience than this series. I've found there's quite a bit of violence in them, and not as much humour. The main character's only 14 in the first book, then in the second he's 18, the third he's in his thirties, with a daughter, and he's pushed more into the background. But anyway, imaginative and original they definitely are!

Thanks for the info, Josie! I really don't know anything about them, so I appreciate the insights :) Perhaps I'll give the first one a try and see if it fits my taste. Would you say that the four books are similar in style to each other (i.e. are the Hungry City Chronicles similar to each other, even if they are different from other Reeve writings)?

Seth wrote: "I just finished "Haley Cork and the Blue Door" by M. Andrew Sprong to my granddaughter. We both loved it and I plan on reading more from this author. The book is rather deceptive, leading the rea..."

I read it as well. I think it was the best book I've read in the last year or so. Haley Cork is awesome and not the sort of girl you want to make mad. At one point she disintegrates a bunch of flying robots. As the story goes on her power increase exponentially, yet she tries to remain the nice little girl. You gotta know that isn't gonna work!

Seth wrote: "I just finished "Haley Cork and the Blue Door" by M. Andrew Sprong to my granddaughter. We both loved it and I plan on reading more from this author. The book is rather deceptive, leading the rea..."

"Haley Cork and the Blue Door" was very nice. I love books with heroines in them and Haley does not disappoint. Her approach to justice was completely different than what I expected as well, but to say anything about it here would be telling. ;)

Ann - yes, the Hungry City Chronicles all have a similar style to each other, just different from Larklight.

Okay. Thanks Josie! :)

I'm reading I Heart You, You Haunt Me by Lisa Schroeder. It's written in verse and is really cute so far.

Hi, Im new to the boards!
Along with some of you, I have just finished the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and LOVED it. I pre-ordered the sequel as well. I absolutely loved Twilight Saga (and although some of the writing is simplistic) I absolutely love getting lost in those books. I read the Host and enjoyed that more than Twilight. I just finished Graceling and thought it was an ok read. Now, I'm looking for a page turner that I cant put down. I like fantasy, sci-fi and action and Im not so into vampires...I read all the Sookie Sackhouse novels and am vampired out! My big catch, there has to be a good romance involved! Any suggestions?

I have just read The Legend of Drenea: The refuge of Alta by Brandon Payan, my flat mate found it at the market under a clearance isle. It was good you can find it on Amazon.

Your requirements sound a lot like mine, Desiree! So I'd recommend Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith, Poison Study by Maria Snyder, The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale, Summers at Castle Auburn (my favourite!) by Sharon Shinn, anything by Juliet Marillier, The Sherwood Ring by Elizabeth Marie Pope (another fave), and The Hollow Kingdom by Clare B. Dunkle. Hope you can find and enjoy some of those! :)

Desiree, I loved The Hunger Games too! You could try Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments series. It kind of reminded me of a bad boy Edward(Twilight). There is also The Secret Circle by LJ Smith-it's about witches and Scott Westerfeld's Uglies series that I thought were pretty good.

Alchemyst: Immortal Secrets of Nicholas Flamel. really good

Peacelovenadpat wrote: "Alchemyst: Immortal Secrets of Nicholas Flamel. really good"

I really liked this series. I can't wait for the third book to come out. My son is reading the second one, "The Magician."

I'm reading "Forever" by Judy Blume

Ashley wrote: "I'm reading "Forever" by Judy Blume"

I just bought Forever at Half-Price Books! I'll be reading it soon.