A genre that gets too often overlooked in my opinion is young adult novels. But we will try to correct that mistake by sharing three young adult novels that we believe everyone should read. Keep reading to find out which ones we chose for you to add to your reading list!
A big reason why many people don’t read young adult novels is because they are intended for a younger audience. Typically, a young adult novel is for readers between the ages of 12-18. But that doesn’t mean that people that are older shouldn’t read them. In fact, it might be even more important to read books because you aren’t the targeted reader.
As we get older, we tend to lose our childhood innocence. Instead, we are looking at the world through the lens of an adult. And that is often times a dark and depressing outlook. Growing up means being more realistic and we lose a sense of magic in our lives.
If you have read a young adult novel recently, you will remember what it was like being a teenager and being hopeful. Even dystopian novels have a sense of reckless determination that we as adults would not agree with. And these three novels that we chose capture the magic of a world that has been closed off to many. You can see the full list below!
Best Young Adult Novels for Adults
The Catcher in the Rye Summary
The first book we decided to choose was one that has come to define the genre. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger is a classic novel that is a beautiful coming of age story. It is taught in high schools and has a lot to impart on students. The novel had a powerful effect on me and till this day, I think about Holden Caulfield and the ducks at Central Park.
17-year old Holden Caulfield has been kicked out his boarding school in Pennsylvania. Winter Break is around the corner and he decides to go back to New York City. But he doesn’t tell his parents that he has been kicked out. Instead, Holden books a hotel in New York.
He explores New York City and finds all the adults to be phony and lashes out. A drunk night out leads to him visiting his younger sister who represents all that is innocent to him. All Holden wants to do is to leave everything behind and start new but where does he go from here?
This novel either resonates with readers or they end up hating it with a passion. A big reason is that Holden appeals to a certain of reader. It also doesn’t help that the world is completely different than it was in 1951. I think this is a classic novel that still captures what it means to grow up through the lens of a teenager.
The Giver
Another novel that is taught in schools is The Giver by Lois Lowry. I still remember reading it in jr. high school but it didn’t have much of an impact on me. This was before I fell in love with books but after reading this recently, I can see why it is considered a classic by many people.
The books follows 12-year-old Jonas who lives in a community that is isolated and everyone is assigned a role. The annual Ceremony of Twelve is going to take place soon and has Jonas worried.
He will be assigned a job for the rest of his career by the elders and is nervous about it. But things take an unexpected turn and changes the course of Jonas’ life and everything he knew about the Community he grew up in.
The Giver is credited as being the novel that focused on young adult readers in the dystopian genre. It was the catalyst and inspiration for the change in direction and led to a surge in popularity that happened in the late 2000s. without this novel, we wouldn’t have gotten some of our beloved series as a result such as The Hunger Games.
I think it is also a great young adult novel that captures the loss of innocence with great storytelling. Jonas grows through many ordeals and you can easily relate to him and his predicaments. This novel shaped the future of dystopian novels and had a big impact on many readers who didn’t see themselves reflected in other books. That is one of the beautiful things about reading.
Monster
When talking about young adult novels, it is a crime to leave off Monster by Walter Dean Myers. Few novels are as raw as this one and it holds nothing back. A reason why many people can relate to this book is that is includes autobiographical moments from Dean Myers‘s own life. Much like the protagonist, he was also called a monster.
Steve Harmon is 16 years old and on trial for murder. A Harlem drugstore owner was shot and murdered in his own store and Steve is accused of being his lookout. We are told of the events of the novel by Steve who is wring it as a screenplay. He writes down the events of the court down scene by scene.
The trial will determine his future but nobody seems to care about that. He is caught up in a pawn in a system that doesn’t care what happens to him. For the first time, Steve has to think about his future and what tomorrow holds. To cope with all of that, Steve decides to write a screenplay. Will it be his salvation as he awaits his sentencing? Only time will tell.
Young adults novels are not often this powerful and life changing. Myers novel is one that encapsulates the struggles of young black men in a system that cares little for them. While reading this, you will feel the hopelessness that Steve feels and when a novel can do that, you know it is something special.
Conclusion
Like so many people, I don’t read much young adult novels because I feel like they aren’t for me. But as I revisit novels I read during school, I have realized that these novels are a portal to a world that I have left behind. It is easy to overlook these novels but they have shaped so many of us.
I would recommend reading these three young adult novels and diving into this genre. There are a ton of amazing books that are relevant no matter how old you are. They are considered classics for a reason and even now, have something to offer.
That is all for this list of three young adult novels you need to read. How many of these novels have you read or plan to read? What other young adult novels should we have included? Let us know in the comments below. Until next time, happy reading!
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