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Young adult literature is for young and young at heart

May 16, 2011 12:15 am

DO YOU WANT to know a secret? People assume I read it only because I have to--but I truly enjoy literature for children and young adults.

True, it's a key part of doing my job well, but when I get to choose a book for pleasure reading, I am more likely to choose a young adult title than an adult one. And why not? Young adult literature is imaginative and well-written, and the characters face challenges that resonate with everyone, regardless of age.

Here are some of the titles I have recently read for pleasure.

Author Franny Billingsley's fantasy novels are a little unusual, and her latest, "Chime," is no exception. Briony has second sight and through her own anger and jealousy has unwittingly used her powers to wound her stepmother and sister. Her stepmother spells it out for her; she's a witch. Briony is lucky, though. Her stepmother loves her so much she promises to protect her from herself, her father and the village folk who would hang her.

Adults will probably notice a pattern, but the young heroine believes every word. When Eldric comes to town, Briony makes a friend whose intelligence matches her own. Slowly, their friendship grows into more, but her secret is a barrier.

The swamps of Great Britain provide a deliciously dark atmosphere. The magical creatures that reside there, helping and encumbering, add creepiness and a touch of horror. Billingsley has outdone herself with this latest book. I was spellbound and finished it with a satisfied sigh.

The weather is a big player in another favorite. It started like any other snowstorm, so when Scotty and his friends decided to stay after school a little longer, it didn't seem like a big deal. The next time they looked out the window, they knew they'd made a huge mistake. In "Trapped" by Michael Northrop, seven teens are stranded together in their high school. At first things don't seem too bad. They raid the cafeteria for food, the generator provides some light and they find blankets in the nurse's office. But then the generator dies, the temperature drops and they can no longer get to the kitchen. Tempers flare, friendships are tested and the snow just won't stop.

In "Numbers" by Rachel Ward, Jem doesn't get close to anyone. And why should she? The minute she meets their eyes she sees the exact date of their death.

When she meets Spider, she knows he has only a few months to live, but he won't leave her alone. Before she knows it, they've become friends looking out for each other. Then, on a visit to the London Eye, Jem notices that everyone's eyes show the same date--that very day.

Panicking, she runs, dragging Spider with her. When a bomb goes off, police assume they are guilty. The teens lead police on a chase across England. While they wait for everything to "blow over," Spider is convinced they have their whole lives ahead of them, but Jem knows that his time, at least, is running out.

It's her 16th birthday and Cassia, in "Matched" by Allyson Condie, has been waiting for this her entire life--the day she discovers who the government has determined is her ideal mate. She's thrilled that it's her best friend and neighbor, Xander. But the next day when she looks at her match disc, it's not Xander's picture she sees, but Ky's.

An Official apologizes for the error, but the damage is done. Cassia has gone from being thrilled about Xander to wondering if maybe Ky is indeed The One. Of course, the fact that the Officials tell her he's off limits makes him even more appealing. Soon she's questioning everything.

In Cassia's world you don't do that. The Officials are infallible, and what Cassia is doing is a danger to everyone she loves.