After I turned in my “last” draft to Michelle (is any draft the last, really?), I finally sat down and read two authors that she had repped at her previous agency. CRASH INTO ME by Albert Borris and NOTHING LIKE YOU by Lauren Strasnick. It’s been a long time since I’ve read what’s out there in the YA world and I was blown away. CRASH INTO ME is about 4 suicidal teenagers who make a suicide pact to travel where celebrities died and then to kill themselves at the end of the road trip. Beautifully written, told with IM messages, lists, and present-day convcrsations, the book is a can’t-put-me-down. I seriously couldn’t. And the cover really says it all once the narrator reveals the meaning of the snake on his arm.
NOTHING LIKE YOU by Lauren Strasnick is totally different than CRASH INTO ME but still equally as gripping. Holly’s mother has recently died and the book opens when she hooks up with Paul. Holly thinks it’s a one-night stand that suddenly becomes all consuming. Paul has a girlfriend and Holly becomes friends with her. What I love about NOTHING LIKE YOU is how real Holly is and how every girl can relate to the guy who has a girlfriend but you love anyway. The relationships in this book are so real.
UPDATE: Lauren was gracious enough to put together a list of her fave YA books for me via Twitter. You can follow her @laurenstrasnick.
HOW I LIVE NOW by Meg Rosoff
JELLICOE ROAD by Melina Marchetta
TEACH ME by R. A. Nelson
THE BASIC EIGHT by Daniel Handler
So after I quickly finished those books, I turned to my fellow YA authors on Twitter and asked for their recommendations of what I should read next. Here are their picks. Please add your own in the comments section.
Elana Johnson, my fellow agency sister, repped by the lovely by Michelle Andelman of Lynn C. Franklin Associates, Ltd. Follow Elana on Twitter @elanaj.
SOME GIRLS ARE by Courtney Summers
LOVE YOU HATE YOU MISS YOU by Elizabeth Scott
DREAMING ANASTASIA by Joy Preble
THE DEMON’S LEXICON by Sarah Rees Brennan
MAGIC UNDER GLASS by Jaclyn Dolamore
Shari Green, my fellow agency sister, repped by the lovely by Michelle Andelman of Lynn C. Franklin Associates, Ltd. Follow Shari on Twitter @sharigreen
LOVE IS THE HIGHER LAW by David Levithan
FLASH BURNOUT by L. K. Madigan
THE MILES BETWEEN by Mary Pearson
EYES LIKE STARS by Lisa Mantchev
Andrew Carmichael (follow him on Twitter @cupcakeandy)
GENTLEMEN by Michael Northrop
Kristin Otts, my fellow agency sister, repped by the lovely by Michelle Andelman of Lynn C. Franklin Associates, Ltd. Follow Kristin on Twitter @kbotts
JELLICOE ROAD by Melina Marchetta
THE KNIFE OF NEVER LETTING GO by Patrick Ness
CITY OF DREAMING BOOKS by Walter Moers
AIRBORN by Kenneth Oppel
THE PRICKER BOY by Reade Scott Whinnem
SHIVER by Maggie Stiefvater
HOUSE OF THE SCORPION by Nancy Farmer
Books I’ve adored recently…
FINNIKIN OF THE ROCK by Melina Marchetta
RED GLASS by Laura Resau
HOLD STILL by Nina LaCour
WHEN YOU REACH ME by Rebecca Stead
HOW I LIVE NOW by Meg Rosoff
LOVED When You Reach Me! Brilliant.
Jennifer, have you read Sara Zarr’s books? All so amazing. Most recent is Once Was Lost — I LOVED this book & definitely recommend it.
I echo Sarah Zarr. I loved STORY OF A GIRL. Very moving.
I need to read both Crash Into Me and Nothing Like You. I went a little lighter and am reading Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson and Just One Wish by Janette Rallison. So far, so good.
But on the paranormal side, have you read Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink?? LOVE it.
I agree with Shari and Elana. Sarah Zarr is a wonderful writer – “Once Was Lost” is fabulous.
Sarah Dessen has never let me down. If you’ve never read her, you really should!
Newer books that I am loving are:
THE PRINCE OF MIST by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
SOMETHING LIKE FATE by Susane Colasanti
THE SWEETHEART OF PROSPER COUNTY by Jill S. Alexander
DEAR ANJALI by Melissa Glenn Haber
Some of these might not be out – I get ARCs through work, but they should be publishing sometime this year.
Fun post!!
I second the Sarah Dessen recommendation! My fave of hers is The Truth About Forever. I credit that book with getting me hooked on YA.
Shari, will totally read Sarah Zarr now since 3 of you say she’s wonderful. Now I have a great list to go through. There is something so nice about having a go-to list of what to read!
Nick Hornby is another great one for YA readers, and I just read a book by Terrance Bell – it fits in nicely in that YA/Adult crossover group. If you’re looking for more recommendations, I’d also suggest checking at infloox or create a page for yourself there if you’re so incline. (i.e. “your page” would list your fave authors and books and they generate a list of compatible reading suggestions for you)
Thanks for the suggestions! I’ll check out infloox.
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