Young Adult Literature

[MissPandora]

I read the first two, haven't read the last one yet. They're fairly predictable, but a decent read. My fourteen year old daughter and I enjoyed them.

[incognito]

Jeez, I still read Seventeen and Teen People.

I'm 22.

So ashamed.

Although, I only read about half of it 'cos I just flip right past all the fashion/diet/does he REALLY LIKE YOU!!! articles.

chiqui: I read only the first book in the Uglies trilogy. I didn't like it much; it came off as too contrived. I think YA dystopias deserve better.

[carrier76]

Sometimes I buy Seventeen for plane flights. It's fluffy and entertaining, and I can actually afford the clothes.

And I am 30 years old.

[lpatrice]

I love Seventeen. Don't subscribe anymore but I'll check out at the bookstore. Back to books, who is this Stephenie Meyer and his trilogy really as good as some people say it is. I can't think of the name of the books right now, but it is about a girl named Bella who is in love with a vampire, and her best friend is or becomes a warewolf. It sounds like Underworld fanfiction to me but apparently it is very popular or at least increasing in popularity. Has anyone read these books?? Yay or nay??

[chiquita]

I just finished the first Stephenie Meyer book - Twilight. I enjoyed it, but I'm a sucker for vampire stories. It gets a little over the top in the romance aspect of it (profuse declarations of love between Bella & the vamp, appropriate for a teen-targeted book), but that was a minor quibble, given how much I liked most of the story. I thought Meyer's version of vampirism was an interesting take on the mythology.

[Deleted]

I've read all three of Stephenie Meyer's books, based on the (fervent!) recommendations of my students. Seriously, in one Grade 10 class, I had 7 kids reading them in class one day.

But I can't figure out what's so great about Edward, other than he's a vampire. We're constantly getting told that he's awesome, but other than "He's awesome because he's awesome" there's nothing there. Team Jacob all the way!

This opinion did not endear me to my students.

[chiquita]

I could understand why Bella fell for Edward, what with his natural qualities meant to attract his prey. I like his character well enough, but I'm a sucker for the dangerous guy with the heart of gold (in lit and tv, not in real life). He's emotionally wounded and he loves her sooooo much, which is tailor-made for teenage girls to swoon over. Is Jacob in books 2 and 3 more than in the first one? He was very likable in his bits. Since I enjoyed the 1st, do you think I should go ahead and read the other two?

[Deleted]

I know that Edward is supposed to have qualities that attract his prey; I thought that the unique thing about Bella was that she was impervious to his charms (and the tortures of the nasty vamps).

If you liked book 1, I'd say pick up 2 and 3...maybe from the library.

[incognito]

I tried to read Twilight, but couldn't get past the first couple of chapters. I just found Bella to be very unlikeable as a character. And her name just bothers me because it seems like such a Mary Sue name. Why can't there by a YA protagonist named Bertha?

[Deleted]

stargirl said:

I've just finished reading A Great and Terrible Beauty and Rebel Angels by Libba Bray--the first YA books I've read in awhile--and really liked them. They have an intriguing blend of history, gothic elements, fantasy and suspense. There was enough heavy foreshadowing to figure out some of the characters' secrets, but on the whole, I really thought the characters were very well fleshed out. Plus, there's something about British boarding schools that just makes for a great setting.

I loved these! The thrid part comes out next month!