7 Young Adult Books Everyone Should Read

 Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s/Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling 

The book that introduced us to spells, potions, platform 9 and 3/4, the Hogwarts Express, the Sorting Hat, Gryffindor and Slytherin to name but a few. The entire book is packed with well rounded characters, exciting plots, a world that other authors would die for, and a magic system so steeped in lore that it temporarily renewed interest in Latin. This book has it all  - thrills, spells, and magical beasts - no wonder it continues to be popular all around the globe over thirty years after its initial publication! Young Adult fiction at its very best.

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

Another book that started a saga - in this case His Dark Materials. The first book in the trilogy introduces us to Lyra, an orphaned girl in the care of her uncle, Lord Asriel. Welcome to a world of armored bears, gyptians, parallel universes, and magical animal souls (daemons). Together with her daemon, Pantalaimon, Lyra scours her world for her missing friend Roger and the all important dust - the key to the opening of new and magical worlds. Stuffed with memorable characters- not least Lyra and her daemon - and a world built out of pure imagination, this book is not to be missed. 

The Long Walk by Stephen King

Written by his alter ego, Richard Bachman, this dystopian tome ranks among King’s finest works. The plot? Ray Garraty and forty nine other boys set off on a walk across a fictional Maine, with the winner set to receive whatever they desire. And if they fail to keep their pace consistently above 3 miles per hour? A bullet in the head. One by one the competitors are whittled down over several days to a bare few including our erstwhile hero. Gruesomely satisfying until the very end, this book allows us to reflect on our own media-obsessed world in a way that few books do. Dystopian fiction at its most brutal.

A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder by Holly Jackson

Holly Jackson’s debut novel ranks as one of the best YA novels around. The story revolves around Pippa Fitz-Amobi who is researching an apparent murder suicide for a sixth form project, only to realize that the official story published by the authorities doesn’t quite add up. What follows is a classic whodunnit as she investigates the murder, whilst trying to keep the real culprit off her tail. An excellent book with a strong female protagonist who uses her wits, not her braun to solve problems. Inspiring.

Pine by Francine Toon

One of the best YA novels that I’ve come across in recent years. The story revolves around Lauren, a teenage girl who lives in a small and remote town in Scotland. She lives alone with her drunken dad, her mother having disappeared a few years earlier. The story starts when they encounter a strange wraith-like woman on the road. What follows is a tragic tale of love and loss as well as a classic whodunnit. Everyone is a suspect in her mother’s disappearance, even her father. Hauntingly mysterious until the very end. You won’t be disappointed. 

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

Orson Scott Card’s debut is almost the perfect YA sci-fi novel. It has everything: flawed protagonists, weird aliens, futuristic spaceships that can be controlled with the mind, and some great space battles. Why almost perfect? Because it’s violent and because some of the characters particularly Peter Wiggin are certifiably crazy. And therein lies its genius - it pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in YA fiction- something that as authors we all should be doing. If you haven’t read it- go out and purchase a copy from your local bookstore or else borrow one from your library- you won’t regret it!

The Eye of the World (The Wheel of Time book 1) by Robert Jordan

Okay, I’m going out on a limb with this one as some people class it as high fantasy. But as the three main characters - Rand, Matt, and Perrin - are all 19/20 at the start of book 1 and are only 22 years old when the series finishes on book 14 (yes, that’s right - fourteen books!), the YA undertones are very strong. Follow Rand and his friends’ journey across the Westlands, as they are pursued by Trollocs, Aes Sedai, Dark Friends, and Fades. Is Rand really the Dragon Reborn, and if so will he go insane and destroy the world as foretold? Read the book to find out. One of the best fantasies you’ve likely never read.