Expanding YA Horizons
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Expanding YA Horizons

Forget John Green and try these.

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Expanding  YA Horizons

With the movie version of "Paper Towns" now in theater, it is time for another burst of love for John Green. While "Paper Towns" is arguably john Green’s least popular book (though he does not have many to compare it too), teens and young adults alike will spend weeks and weeks lauding John Green as the savior of Young Adult Fiction. However, savior he is not. There are so many other young adult books that trump John Green not only in romance, but also situation, language, and intrigue. If you think you like young adult fiction because you like John Green, these books will teach you how great Young Adult fiction can be.

"The Selection" Series by Keira Cass


It is "The Bachelor" meets "The Hunger Games," and this dystopian novel will have you wanting to be a princess more than you have since you were six-years-old. Spunky heroine America Singer is an amazing character, awkward and charming in the best way, and both her potential heroes will have you swooning. This book is full of romance, competition, rebellion (teenage and military) and the perfect amount of suspense.

"Fangirl" by Rainbow Rowell

This is for the girls who loved fan-fiction, or Harry Potter. Rowell understands being a teenager way too well for someone of her age, and her books are absolutely captivating. Cat is a heroine we can’t help but relate to, especially as readers and writers, and her romance will keep you on your toes but also begging for her to open her eyes to what is right in front of her.

"We Were Liars" by E. Lockhart

Though this is one of the creepiest young adult books I’ve read, it is still a must-read book. Set in Martha’s Vineyard, this book has it all: rivalry, family issues, the beach, and romance. The novel can best be described as a ticking time bomb, and from the very beginning you know that something is wrong. Cadence will draw you into the story of she and her two cousins, Johnny and Mirren, and along with Gat, they create a spellbinding story that you won’t be able to put down. I read this book in one sitting. That is how suspenseful it is.

"Between the Lines" by Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer

This is the perfect read for those of us who get too emotionally invested in book characters, and will not help you overcome that problem in the slightest. Written by the author "My Sister’s Keeper" and "Nineteen Minutes" along with her college-aged daughter, this book takes Picoult’s alternating points of views and adds a young adult twist. Every teenage girl will be able to relate to Delilah in some way, whether it be her love for books, her romantic tendencies, or her family situation. Oliver, the hero, is the kind of hero you find in fairy tales, literally. It is a great read for those of us who cannot get enough of Picoult’s other books, but also love young adult fiction.

"I Was Here" by Gayle Forman

If you loved "If I Stay," you’ll absolutely adore "I Was There." By the same author, "I Was Here" delves into the serious issues of suicide and depression while exploring what we know about those we love through friendship and new, budding relationships. Cody is a tantalizing protagonist, and the book is both heart wrenching and brutally honest, leaving you questioning your own life and the life of those around you. This is an even more moving book than If I Stay, more realistic, and also includes the rescuing of kittens, which is always a good time.

"Avalon High" by Meg Cabot

From the mastermind behind the "Princess Diaries" series comes a book that blends high school, young romance, jealousy, reincarnation, and suspense. If you love King Arthur and the Camelot story, you’ll love this book. Emerson and Will are the kind of high school couple we all strived to be, and the twists and turns of the story are sure to keep you on your toes. Do not be turned off by the Disney Channel attempt at making this book into a film, because they absolutely failed. Forget that ever happened and read this book!

"The Beach Blondes" Series by Katherine Applegate

Everyone needs a good beach read, and this is just that. They are certainly not substantive books, but that makes them the perfect beach reads! If you dream about spending your summers in Florida, or a summer fling, you need to live vicariously through the life of Summer Smith (the most Beachy name ever, right?). Her boy troubles will either hit home or make you extremely happy that they don’t. Dive into a good summer read anytime of the year with these books.

"The Uglies" Series by Scott Westerfeld

If you’re looking for dystopian young adult fiction that isn’t "The Hunger Games" or "Divergent," this is for you. "The Uglies" Series blends the end of the world as we know it with amazing technology, rebellion, and secrets. You’ll have a love-hate relationship with Tally Youngblood, but I promise you’ll want to follow her story. If you think plastic surgery is being taken too far in our modern age (Looking at you, Human Barbie) than you’ll definitely want to check out this book. It is the perfect dystopian novel that won’t leave you in an arena or abandoned airport.

"The Maximum Ride" Series by James Patterson

James Patterson, author of sooo many books, comes at us with the kind of dystopian novel that no one else could even dream of. Complete with robots and human-bird hybrids, you’ll absolutely fall in love with "Maximum Ride" and become deeply invested in her survival, even if she is annoyingly stubborn. By the end of the first book, you’ll have favorite members of the gang and start postulating about what else could possibly go wrong. If you like bird-children and apocalypses, this is the perfect book for you. They are quick reads, and will leave you wanting more (and wanting to save the world).

"The Carlyle" Series by Cecily von Zeigesar

If you love "Gossip Girl," you’ll adore this spin-off. "The Carlyles" transplants new characters into the Upper East Side we love, and that is perfect for those of us who cannot reconcile the Chuck Bass in the books with Ed Westwick. Owen, Baby, and Avery remind us of Nate, Serena and Blair and their adventures in New York are just as entertaining as their predecessors. Gossip Girl is still around (which pretty much proves it should not have been Dan Humphrey) and the conflicts that arise in this four part spin-off are both refreshing for us Gossip Girl experts and familiar for those who love the Upper East Side.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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