
Let’s recommend some YA books for adult readers
I don’t pick up YA books all that often these days, but that’s not to say there aren’t some absolute gems out there. I think a major put-off for a lot of people who tend to steer away from it (especially older readers) is a worry that the stories will focus too much on angsty teenage romance, and shy away from more serious, real-world issues. With that in mind, here are some YA reads that do precisely the opposite, hence why I think adult and teenage readers alike should find something to relate to.
Asking For It by Louise O’Neill
Through the eyes of a teenage protagonist in a small town, O’Neill explores the terrible culture of victim blaming, and the poisonous attitude of slut shaming, that plague society when it comes to cases of sexual assault. The genius of the book lies in how flawed our heroine actually is, proving how easy it is for people to brand a ‘certain kind of girl’ with demoralising labels that can prove as damaging as the physical assault itself.
After Tomorrow by Gillian Cross
After Tomorrow flips the readers’ perception of the refugee crisis on its head by essentially forcing us to ask, ‘what if it was me?’. This speculative dystopian novel follows a British family as they flee through the Channel Tunnel in search of asylum on the continent, following economic disaster, food shortages, and mass rioting in the UK. It touches on many aspects of the migrant experience, including displacement, language barriers, borders being closed, families being separated, widespread mistrust, and the struggle to hold onto your national identity. It also features an entirely platonic male/female friendship between two teenagers, which was a refreshing touch in a YA read.
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
This touching, universally relatable story is all about love, loss, and the transformative power of storytelling to help us deal with the hardships of life. Simple in prose, yet painfully real, it focuses on a young boy, whose mother is seriously ill. By night, he is visited by a strange monster that tells him stories, in exchange for the truth he is hiding from even himself. The moment that truth is revealed is devastatingly poignant. I highly recommend picking up an edition with Jim Kay’s wonderfully atmospheric illustrations if possible; I felt they added a whole other layer of depth and immersion.
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
Shining a light on an often-forgotten part of the war, Between Shades of Gray follows a 15-year-old Lithuanian girl, who, along with her mother and little brother, is seized under Stalin’s rule and sent to a work camp in the coldest reaches of Siberia. They must survive the brutality of both their captors and the horrendous conditions, whilst keeping the spark of hope alive amongst their peers, that they may live to see liberation.
The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton
I read this years ago, but certain scenes, and the general tone of strange beauty and quiet heartbreak, have stayed with me ever since. This lyrical, magical story is a multi-generational family drama that focuses predominantly on a girl born with wings that sprout from her back. In her search for acceptance and normalcy, she will be both ridiculed and revered, in a tale that builds towards a devastating climax that is plagued by pain and loss, but tinged with hope.
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Have you read any of these books? What YA books would you recommend for adult readers?
This is exactly what I needed, thanks for this amazing post. I love A Monster Calls is such a powerful book 💕👏🏻
My pleasure, I’m so glad you liked the post! 😊 Agreed on A Monster Calls; it’s wonderful.
I’m still yet to read any Patrick Ness!
I do like YA but don’t read it often now.
I hope you enjoy his work if and when you get round to it!
Patrick Ness is one of my favourite authors – his books are so special. And I’m planning to read The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender in the new year so I’m delighted to hear you loved it! 🙂
Yay – I hope you enjoy it! It’s been ages since I read it, and I’m not usually much of a re-reader, but it’s one I’d definitely like to revisit at some point.
I haven’t read any of these books, but they sound good!
Hope you enjoy them if you decide to give them a go! 😊
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I love this post! Obviously I completely agree with Asking For It which quickly became my all-time favorite YA book. Between Shades of Grey and A Monster Calls have both been on the TBR for ages, and After Tomorrow sounds absolutely brilliant.
Thank you! I think Asking For It is a wonderful example of what a YA book can achieve when it doesn’t patronise or underestimate the emotional maturity of its audience.
I hope you enjoy the others if and when you get round to them! 📚
I tend to not read YA because the sentences are simplistic and the plot has to be spelled out. I was told by an Australian blogger that they don’t get any of that there, that what I’m describing is pretty much American YA.
I don’t read it often either, but most of the YA I have read is American, so perhaps it’s worth seeking out some international reads to see if they generally stay away from the angsty side of things.
As with any genre/form/age range, there are always gems out there to be found.
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I absolutely love “A Monster Calls”. It’s got such gorgeous illustrations. The film’s great too.
Same here; Jim Kay’s art is wonderful! And yes, I thought the film was a very good adaptation.
I loved how they animated the stories in the film, as it called back to the illustrations from the book.
Absolutely! And I loved how clearly the design of the monster itself was inspired by Kay’s art.
Indeed! And the kid actor was brilliant. Certainly deserved a Bafta nomination for it, at least.
Agreed!