One can not classify Young adult fiction or YA or young adult novel as a separate genre. It is actually an established age grouping criteria based on demographics. So, it can include anything from magical schools in castles to funny cancer books to alternate universes and coming of age. The targeted audience is generally under eighteen but statistics show that 55% of the Teen adult fiction novels are read by people above the age of eighteen. A few of the most common characteristics of such novels are: The protagonist is a teenager and is rarely an adult. They are more than often written in First person narrative which makes them crispier and sharper. The average young adult novel is 70,000 words. Today, Adult Fiction has become so loved by the critics that even some of the classics have been accepted into this category. Let’s check the top ten Young Adult Fiction Novels here:
10. Speak-Laurie Halse Anderson
“When people don’t express themselves, they die one piece at a time,” says Laurie Halse Anderson, writer of this heart touching and hear wrenching young adult novel. The story revolves around Melinda Sordino’s life as freshmen. What happens is the whole school turns against her because she called the police at one of the parties the year before. She completely shuts herself off from her peers and unable to speak to anyone about what really happened at the party she struggles through her freshmen year. She becomes the target of hate-talk every where. The story is all about how she struggles through all these and finally speaks up.
9. The Fault in our stars-John Green
“That’s the thing about pain, it demands to be felt.” This book is about those kids suffering from cancer and their journey through hopes and despair as they fight their own battles against it. It is about pain and loss and about the journey of life. With John Green’s bouts of witty humor speaking through the characters it’s a must read in this category. He has also been awarded the Michael L.Printz Award for one of his other novels, Looking for Alaska.
8. Perks of being a wallflower-Stephen Chobsky
Perks of being a wallflower is a simply brilliant book. The theme is: Charlie, a typical wallflower, has been through some tough times in his life but gradually finds his space and friends in high school. He keeps on writing to an anonymous person from where we can know about his personality. It is a compilation of his firsts. First bestfriends, first kiss, first love, first homecoming and how through all of it he is still struggling with things in his head which eventually makes him end up in the hospital. He finally realizes that he needs to move out of his head and participate in life rather than watch time pass by.
7. Matilda-Roald Dahl
The story is almost a children’s tale but has interestingly found a place in hearts of all ages especially teenagers with parental problems and school issues. The story line goes this way: Matilda is a little genius who has taught herself to read by the age of three and by the age of four has read all the books in the children’s library. She is completely oblivious to her talents and it’s only after meeting one of the teachers in school she discovers how different she is from everyone else. She struggles in between her parents and twisted principal and is finally rescued by Miss Honey.
6. The catcher in the rye-J.D. Salinger
J.D Salinger is famous for establishing the category of Young Adult Fiction with his classic The Catcher in the Rye. The emotional instabilities of coming of age, the notions of right and wrong and the forming opinions and judgments about everything around you and most importantly standing by what you believe in is the crux of the book. Holden Caulfield, the protagonist conjures a sort of fandom to his point of view and Mark David Chapman is held for alleged killing of John Lennon. Thus The catcher in the rye as the title say.
5. His Dark Materials Trilogy-Philip Pullman
His Dark Materials Trilogy-Philip Pullman has put the elements of metaphysics, cosmology, theology, philosophy, history and science all together. Philip Pullman Trilogy is about the 11 year old Lyra working her way through her destiny without being conscious of what lays ahead of her life. From the very beginning, Phillip Pullman throws upon the very power act of nature – fate. In the beginning you will ask what is there that hasn’t been said about religion and religious autocracy that these books will tell us, but it’s only in the third book of the series that we realize the confluence of metaphysics and a climax no one can ever anticipate.
4. The Book Thief-Markus Zusak
The book thief won’t leave your thoughts even if the last page is turned down. One time reading is probably not satisfying. You are bound to come back to it again and again and always find something more enthralling than before. You must be wondering what else can be said about this period in History that hasn’t been said before, but trust me, Markus Zusak could change the angle in such a way that this period is made more challenging.
3. Hunger games-Suzanne Collins
The Hunger Games” Trilogy is written by Suzanne Collins. The frame is set in a dystopian world where teenagers killing other teenagers are a source of pleasure to the Capitol’s inhabitants. It also bears an uncanny similarity to our world and our probable future. The protagonist Katniss is made to face all kinds of situations imaginable – love, poverty, anguish etc. It is a quick and easy read and knowledgeable at the same time.
2. To Kill a Mocking bird-Harper Lee
To kill a Mocking bird is the sole book from the author Harper Lee as she felt she had said whatever she had to with it. The book is a master piece. It has been highly acclaimed by readers and critics for its fluent and almost life-like narrative and incorporation of themes much bigger for the understanding of its protagonists. It challenges the notion that kids can not know better.
1. Harry Potter series-J.K Rowling
Who has not heard about the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling? She is believed to have produced a literary work which will be appreciated for decades to come. The series appeals to all age groups and readers across continents. Harry Potter has found a special place with the teenagers below 18 and thus in the top of our list. Not only the Potter loving teenagers but a huge majority of kids above 18 waits for their own admission envelope in the post.
Akshay Agarwal
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