Recently, I’ve been on the hunt for a new book to read and I’ve been looking for a lot of book recommendations online from my favorite Youtubers, Goodreads and Pinterest. It also got me thinking about the books that I’m always recommending to my friends- and then I realized many of them are actually YA (young adult) novels that I read in high school.
I think a lot of people grow out of YA novels as they grow older, thinking that they’re too old for this genre of books now. But some of the best books that I’ve read are YA novels, and I do think that a lot of wisdom is to be found in these books that are supposedly meant for teenagers.
So for our time together today, I would really like to introduce to you some of my absolute favorite YA novels that I haven’t gotten over since I read them as a teenager. Some of these will provide valuable insights into life, while others will tug at your heartstrings. Regardless of your age, these are books that you cannot miss out on.
1. The Kite Runner
“For you, a thousand times over”
The Kite Runner, I’m sure, is a book that many of you have read, or even if not, I’m sure you’ve heard of it. It is a story about a rich boy named Amir and his best friend Hassan, who is the son of Amir’s father’s servant. Twelve year old Amir was determined to win a kite running competition, where he also does something terrible to betray his friend Hassan. Through a series of events, Amir and Hassan go their separate ways, and Amir realizes that he must go on a long journey to redeem himself for what he has done.
One of the most interesting topics presented by this book is the idea of redemption. Are we ever truly able to redeem ourselves for our terrible actions, or must we carry their weight for the rest of our lives?
2. A Thousand Splendid Suns
A Thousand Splendid Suns was one of the first novels I read after having just moved out for university. I remember staying up multiple nights reading and having breakdowns from the emotional blows of this story.
Compared to The Kite Runner, this story has even more depth, with numerous layers to be found in each character. A Thousand Splendid Suns tells the story of two protagonists- Mariam and Laila, offering a glimpse into the daily lives of Afghan people affected by the war. What’s even greater about this book is that this time, it is told from a perspective of women, intertwining the domestic difficulties that the women of Afghanistan face as well.
3. The Memoirs of a Geisha
The Memoirs of a Geisha is a historical fiction novel that tells the story of a poor Japanese girl named Chiyo who is sold by her father from the fishing village to the city to be a geisha. Chiyo faces many hardships in the city- homesickness, competitiveness amongst geishas, and many people were just very unkind in general. Throughout the novel, she reinvents herself as Sayuri and goes on to become one of the most prominent geishas in the city. Learn about the life of geishas and life in Japan during the World War through this heart-wrenching story.
4. The Book Thief
The Book Thief was my favorite book throughout high school and remains one of my favorites today. Although it’s fiction, it provides deep insight into life during World War II in Nazi Germany, depicting the experiences of both Jews and Germans. One of the most intriguing aspects of this book is its narrator: Death. It’s not often you find a story narrated by Death, and that was one of the best part for me. While the beginning has a lot of words and can be quite long to get through, it is definitely worth a read. I guarantee it will leave you in tears.
5. The Perks of Being a Wallflower
“We accept the love we think we deserve”
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is like THE classic YA novel. But honestly, I didn’t really understand the hype when I read it as a teenager. It just didn’t get to me- I couldn’t relate to the storyline or anything the characters were doing: the partying, all the first-times, etc. It was only after I got older that I realized the true value of this book. Many themes and lessons from the story stayed with me into adulthood, which I believe is the mark of a truly good book.
What are some of your favorite YA novels? I would love some recommendations for my next read!
Until next time,
Leave a Reply