I've decided to do the A to Z Blogger Challenge this year and I'm recommending five books all from the same alphabetical genre each day. So today, Y is for Young Adult. I know what you are probably thinking, way more than half of the 120 books I've already recommended this month have been YA, but I write YA and therefor read a LOT of YA. So don't worry, coming up with five more recommendations for today's list wasn't a challenge.
Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater - I'm a big Maggie Stiefvater fan, and this is my favorite of all of her books. It's a weird modern legend that I kept out of my urban fantasy list because I really don't know how to classify it except to call it YA. It's about these legendary wild man-eating waterhorses that rise out of the sea each fall. The islanders capture them and compete in a race for fame and riches called the Scorpio Races. Maggie's story focus on two competitors, the orphaned past winner whose closest companion is his beloved wild waterhorse, and a young girl who enters to ride her land pony in a final attempt to win the money needed to save her family and their farm.
All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin - In this futuristic tale a prohibition has been put on chocolate. Anya's family is the center of a powerful chocolate producing mafia. But when her ex-boyfriend falls ill after eating a bar of poisoned chocolate, Anya finds herself in the center of a battle over more than just sugar and coco.
Saving Francesca by Melina Merchetta - This is a great Australian YA about a girl who is one of only 30 female students at a predominantly male pre-school. Francesca's mother is suffering from acute depression, and Francesca wants nothing more than to return to her days at an all girls school with her friends. But somehow, Francesca maneges to navigate the muddy waters of adolescent males and find a close family of supportive friends.
Heist Society by Ally Carter - Katarina is a kind of a moder day Robin Hood who steels from the rich and gives to the poor, but that's may be a bit to generous. Really she is just the daughter of one of the worlds greatest art thieves. But when her father's life is threatened after he's accused of steeling a painting he didn't take, Katarina's mission is simple. She has to find the actual thief, steel the painting back, and then return it to it's rightful owner. This fun teen caper has a Tomas Crown Affair or Oceans Eleven feel, only it stars a spunky crew of high school delinquents turned master criminals.
Far From You by Lisa Schroder - This is a very beautiful lyrical novel (written in verse) about a teenage girl who is caught in a snow storm and trapped in a freezing car for three days. At times sad, at times uplifting, this emotional story is definitely worth reading.What about you? What's your favorite YA?
