Contemporary YA with Strong Male Voice

katiemac · Aug 12, 2011

I mean strong as in powerful and memorable, not of a physically strong male. First person, third person doesn't really matter, nor does the subject matter of the book, although I'd prefer it to be edgier and dealing uncomfortable/tough issues in a contemporary setting.

Any suggestions? Much appreciated.

strawberryblondie · Aug 12, 2011

Break by Hannah Moskowitz

katiemac · Aug 12, 2011

Went to get that one today but I'm going to have to order it. I'll have to order Target, too, as that one also wasn't on the shelf.

Smish · Aug 12, 2011

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie.
An Abundance of Katherines, by John Green. All John Green's novels, really, but especially that one.
I am the Messenger, by Markus Zusak.
And I liked Shady's Invincible Summer. Chase is a great character.

Becca C. · Aug 12, 2011

I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak, for sure. I've read it so many times I can recite parts of it. I love it to death.

Hmm... why am I coming up with nothing? Hannah's books and John Green's have already been recommended.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan is completely fabulous. Two very memorable POVs there.

notthatheroine · Aug 12, 2011

I second the John Green recommendation. Also, Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, and if you're in a more whimsical mood, Going Bovine by Libba Bray.

Matches · Aug 12, 2011

Mindi Scott's FREEFALL was pretty good as well.

The_Ink_Goddess · Aug 12, 2011

I AM THE MESSENGER - Markus Zusak.
YEAR OF SECRET ASSIGNMENTS or FINDING CASSIE CRAZY - full disclosure: this is multi-POV, with three girl POVs and two (okay, three/four, but mainly two) male POVs. But it's lovely and you must read it.
AVOIDANCE by Michael Lowenthal. But heavy. Very heavy. And scary.
THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER by Stephen Chbosky doesn't exactly have a 'strong' voice, in my opinion, but it does have a sweet and engrossing one.
WHAT HAPPENED TO CASS MCBRIDE? by Gail Giles is multi-POV with two male POVs and one female POV, but mostly 50/50 between a female and male POV. One of the strongest male POVs I've ever read, because since the female POV is 98% her talking to the main guy, it's...scary. But great.
And BREAK, obviously.

Onto the books I don't like as much, but I'm willing to concede their narrative voices:
DOING IT by Melvin Burgess.
MARTYN PIG, CANDY and ROAD OF THE DEAD by Kevin Brooks.

chocowrites · Aug 12, 2011

thirding/fourthing (?) I AM THE MESSENGER solely for the love of it. Zusak's FIGHTING REUBEN WOLFE & GETTING THE GIRL are also good for this, I think.

And the ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF THE PART TIME INDIAN, seconding that. YES.

This thread is full of awesome recs.

Harper K · Aug 12, 2011

Another vote for Markus Zusak's books. I love 'em all.

Also:
Someday This Pain Will Be Useful To You - Peter Cameron. I've read this one about 6 or 7 times. My husband loves it, too, and we often quote our favorite lines.
The Vast Fields of Ordinary - Nick Burd
You Killed Wesley Payne - Sean Beaudoin
Are We There Yet? - David Levithan (3rd person novel with two brothers' perspectives)
Flash Burnout - L.K. Madigan
Fat Kid Rules the World - K.L. Going (oh, and Saint Iggy is another good one by her)
Feed - M.T. Anderson (oops, this one is futuristic, not contemporary, but it's one of the voiciest books I've ever read)
Mexican Whiteboy - Matt de la Pena (or any of his other books)
Okay For Now - Gary D. Schmidt (probably shelved with MG, but the kid is 13, and the voice in this one can't be beat)

Becca C. · Aug 12, 2011

Fat Kid Rules the World FTW!!! One of my favourite books. Love.

ryannj5 · Aug 12, 2011

I second Freefall.

Matches said:
Mindi Scott's FREEFALL was pretty good as well.

Rhoda Nightingale · Aug 12, 2011

Adding to the chorus of "anything written by Hannah."

And also anything by Sherman Alexie.

Also-also, Catherine Jenks' Evil Genius / Genius Squad / Genius Wars books. I've only read the first, actually, but it's fantastic--very memorable and intriguing narrator.

ETA: Almost forgot--Robin McKinley's Dragonhaven. I love all of her books, but that's probably the best YA she has with a male narrator. Boy finds, befriends, and raises abandoned baby dragon. It's not nearly as cute as you might think reading that description.

thebloodfiend · Aug 12, 2011

Into the Great Wide Open by Kevin Canty
The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl by Barry Lyga
BoyToy by Barry Lyga, though YMMV as it deals with a teacher molesting her male student
Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher, deals with a boy and his relationship with a MTF transgirl.
I've wanted to read Flash Burnout for a long, long time.

Everyone else has pretty much listed everything I wanted to.

Smish · Aug 12, 2011

Becca C. said:
Fat Kid Rules the World FTW!!! One of my favourite books. Love.

YES! How could I have forgotten to list that one?! Awesome, awesome book.

eyeblink · Aug 13, 2011

Two by Aidan Chambers - Breaktime and Dance on My Grave. Less so his Postcards from No Man's Land, which is third past from a male POV, with first-person flashbacks from a female POV.

Creature of the Night by Kate Thompson

Ostrich Boys by Keith Gray

Ryan_Sullivan · Aug 13, 2011

Ordinary Ghosts by Eireann Corrigan and King Dork by Frank Portman

KTC · Aug 13, 2011

Mine. ;-)

Cassiopeia · Aug 13, 2011

KTC said:
Mine. ;-)

agreed

Katallina · Aug 13, 2011

KTC said:
Mine. ;-)

Cassiopeia said:
agreed

Yes, I'll second that.

What a great thread idea. I love book suggestion threads. Though I often seem to spend more money when one is going. :tongue

Oh well.

katiemac · Aug 13, 2011

I've only read a handful of what's been suggested, so this is really wonderfully helpful. Thank you. I just came back from the bookstore with eight of these titles, and left the bookseller with a few to order for me. (Thank goodness for discount shops!)

Much appreciated, everyone. Rep points on the way!

Now it seems my only problems is which one to read first.

KTC · Aug 13, 2011

Cassiopeia said:
agreed

Katallina said:
Yes, I'll second that.

What a great thread idea. I love book suggestion threads. Though I often seem to spend more money when one is going. Oh well.

Thank you both!

ChaosTitan · Aug 14, 2011

Deadline, by Chris Crutcher. Just loved the voice of the MC in this one (but keep tissues handy).

katiemac · Aug 15, 2011

Well, I'm through three of the eight books I picked up. Really great suggestions so far, everyone, thank you.

Mayfield · Aug 15, 2011

IT'S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY by Nick Vizzini

and ditto to Barry Lyga.

Contemporary YA with Strong Male Voice

Five by Five

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Vampire Junkie

Cory

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Agented YA Writer

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sleeping the sleep of the sleepless