Hey Everyone!

Not only should you be surprised that I am doing a YA post now, but that I will be advocating YA novels! Yes, me, who was admitting everywhere, high and low that Twilight must have been the last YA novel I have read as I’m not a big fan of teenage literature. And guess what? Seems I was proven wrong! I know, sounds pretty shocking, so hear me out.

I don’t/didn’t like YA books because I was irritated by all the teenage drama, the constant whining and drama queen antics, that every little problem means the end of the world and the lack of maturity and intelligence in the characters not only frustrated, but angered me. But recently, despite my misgivings I have read a few YA novels and believe me, I was the most shocked to discover that I loved them!

So it seems my prejudiced days against YA novels are over, and from now on – even if treading carefully but – I’ll give YA books a chance when they sound interesting.

So if you are/were like me, I think you should give a few YA novels the benefit of the doubt, who knows, maybe you’ll discover you had a misconception about young adult literature and will even become a fan! 🙂

And if you are curious as to which YA novels made me a believer, I would wholeheartedly recommend these two. Not only is the plot exciting, the writing quality is brilliant and thankfully even though the characters are teenagers, they show extraordinary maturity.

Goodreads appetizer: Be normal, invisible. Don’t get close to anyone. Kids with psychic abilities tend to mysteriously disappear when they get noticed. Joss has spent years trying to hide. Now she has an unasked-for best friend, who is the victim of an extortion plot by the school bully, who used to like Joss, who is best friends with her long-time crush, who is actually talking to her. Life just got more complicated.

Longer version:
They call their abilities Talents, and that’s what they call themselves as well. Talents are people born with supernatural powers, feared by the population at large. Possession of an “unregistered ability” has become illegal, and those who are discovered are forcibly removed to government-run research facilities. For Talents, keeping their secret is the most important thing in their lives. For some, that need for secrecy begins to define who they are.

That’s how it is for Joss, a high school girl who does everything in her power to go unnoticed. She’s incredibly bright, but strives to maintain grades that are good yet not too good. She doesn’t participate in school activities, keeps quiet in class, eats by herself. Despite her longtime crush on Dylan, she wouldn’t even think about trying to talk to him. Joss doesn’t make friends of any kind, because friends can draw attention, friends can make you slip up, friends can make things complicated.

When new girl, Kat, steps in to rescue Joss from an uncomfortable situation with Marco, the class jerk, she doesn’t realize what she’s getting into, and it blows up in her face. Joss finds herself torn between a desire to do the right thing, to find some way to help a girl who was kind to her; and her need to mind her own business and fade into. For the first time, Joss begins to question the way she operates, and starts to long for connections with other people–especially a connection with Dylan, who’s finally starting to talk to her.

But what’s up with Dylan’s sudden interest? As Marco’s best friend, can he be trusted at all?

It’s bad enough when a girl’s got to worry about friends, boys, over-protective dads, and shoes that pinch, but when you throw in blackmail, government agents with guns, and really annoying little sisters…that’s just about too much to handle, even for a girl with an ass-kicking superpower.

Release date: 13 July 2010

Amazon, Goodreads

Goodreads appetizer: So. Were you glad, deep down? Were you glad to be rid of her? Your perfect sister? Were you secretly glad when she was killed?

Following a terrible tragedy that leaves her once-perfect family shattered, Katherine Patterson moves to a new city, starts at a new school, and looks forward to a new life of quiet anonymity.

But when Katherine meets the gregarious and beautiful Alice Parrie her resolution to live a solitary life becomes difficult. Katherine is unable resist the flattering attention that Alice pays her and is so charmed by Alice’s contagious enthusiasm that the two girls soon become firm friends. Alice’s joie de vivre is transformative; it helps Katherine forget her painful past and slowly, tentatively, Katherine allows herself to start enjoying life again.

But being friends with Alice is complicated – and as Katherine gets to know her better she discovers that although Alice can be charming and generous she can also be selfish and egocentric. Sometimes, even, Alice is cruel.

And when Katherine starts to wonder if Alice is really the kind of person she wants as a friend, she discovers something else about Alice – she doesn’t like being cast off.

Even if based on the above two summaries you think the stories are just “too high school-y” and you’d pass, I would still urge you to pick them up. In my opinion these blurbs were put together to entice the younger readers, believe me these two books are very much enjoyed by adult audience too!