BOOKS WRITERS
Why Vladimir Nabokov recorded his dreams for three months
Are you desperate for your t eens to put down their screens? Wondering how to instill a love of literature in your tween? After considerable research, we’ve discovered an innovative technique to get your kids to start reading this holiday season: Give them books they’ll like.
Reading is one of life’s greatest pleasures. There is nothing better than lying in bed tearing through a bodice- ripper, or reading a creepy murder mystery in a motel room that’s seen better days. Reading should never be a chore, but it can be when you’re handed a boring book. If you think the tweens and teens in your life don’t want books for the holidays, that’s because you don’t know which books to buy. The genre of Young Adult literature is exploding, and it’s more diverse than ever: Why give your kids a dreary Dickens novel? There’s no prize for forcing your kid to read Plato or Proust, so when shopping for books to stuff in your kids’ stockings, skip the canon – it rarely hits its target. Instead, take the contemporary route with our list of the five best Young Adult books of 2017. You’ll thank us (and so will your kids).
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (HarperCollins)
Few books this year are as woke as The Hate U Give, the debut novel by Angie Thomas. A New York Times bestseller out of the gate, it follows 16- year- old Starr Carter, a black teenager who witnesses the police shooting of her unarmed best friend Khalil. A story of race and racism, as well as activism and resistance, The Hate U Give is already an iconic book within the Black Lives Matter movement. While published with young readers in mind, The Hate U Give is arguably the most important book of 2017, regardless of genre. Tell your teen to read this poignant tale, and don’t forget to borrow their copy once they’re finished.
So Much I Want To Tell You: Letters to My Little Sister by Anna Akana (Ballantine Books)
Can’t get your kid to stop watching Youtube videos long enough to read a whole book? We have found the solution to your problem: Give them a memoir by a YouTube star! Few YouTube personalities are as thoughtful, funny and feminist- friendly as the 28- year- old Anna Akana. When her younger sister tragically committed suicide in 2007, Akana started making videos to cope with her grief. A decade later, Akana’s YouTube channel boasts nearly two million subscribers. Written as a series of letters dispensing advice she never got the chance to pass on, So Much I Want To Tell You poignantly tackles topics ranging from managing money to birth control and abortion. This coming-of-age memoir is a heartfelt portrait of a journey into adulthood through the fog of grief. It will make your teens laugh, cry, and inspire them to cherish their younger siblings.
The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee (HarperCollins)
Monty is as posh as they come – he goes by “Monty,” after all. A British gentleman educated at the best boarding schools, Monty is ready to embark upon a Grand Tour of Europe. However, this dashing young dandy has a secret; he’s crushing on a guy named Percy. Set in the 1700s, this delicious historical romp may just accomplish the impossible, and inspire your teens to put down their smartphones for a few hours. It’s a delightful, adventurous LGBTQ love story with wit and style to spare. Plus, your kids may pick up a thing or two about European art and history. It’s like sending your child to a finishing school in Switzerland, but cheaper.
The Education of Margot Sanchez by Lilliam Rivera (Simon and Schuster)
Picture Jane The Virgin meets Gossip Girl, and that’s the feel of Lilliam Rivera’s debut novel. Margot Sanchez is a smart, single- minded teen who aspires to popularity, and all that entails. Less wealthy than the other students at her elite prep school, Margot finds herself desperate to fit in. After she steals her father’s credit card to finance a new, cooler wardrobe, Margot’s parents punish their daughter’s thievery by forcing her to work for free at the family’s grocery store in the South Bronx, New York. All those hours spent slicing deli meat provide Margot with endless hours for self-reflection. And spending time near home gives Margot the opportunity to get closer to an intriguing neighbourhood boy named Moises, a former drug dealer turned sexy community activist. Ultimately, this is a coming-of-age novel about a teen deciding what makes her happy, and where her priorities should lie.
The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli (HarperCollins)
Unrequited l ove is as much a staple of high school life as pierogi day at the cafeteria. The technology and the slang may change, but the agony and the ecstasy of crushing on someone stay the same. That’s what makes Albertalli’s book about a young woman who’s gone through twenty-six unrequited loves so relatable. This addictive read examines both queer love and straight love, as well as the insecurities that prevent teens from confessing their feelings. As a bonus, the diversity of characters mirrors the diversity of the real world your kids actually live in. Instead of writing about traditionally attractive white, heterosexual prom kings and queens, Albertalli creates an array of vibrant characters from different backgrounds. There are Jewish teens and Korean teens, Lesbian teens and pansexual teens. Without being tokenistic, The Upside of Unrequited is truly inclusive.