Philosophical YA

sol_ · Jan 30, 2012

Does anyone know some YA books I could read that explicitly address/play with philosophical themes? Things like consciousness, existentialism, free will, etc.

missesdash · Jan 30, 2012

NOTHING by Janne Teller is awesome. Deals with existentialism.

ETA: Also, RATS SAW GOD by Rob Thomas deals with Dadaism. Was actually the first time I encountered it, so interesting in that respect.

Brickcommajason · Jan 30, 2012

Virtually all of the good stuff does in one way or another. I recommend Rich Wallace. He writes teen sports novels, but the subtext covers morality, determinism, the existence of supernatural entities, etc...

Becca C. · Jan 30, 2012

I haven't read it yet, but There is No Dog by Meg Rosoff seems very philosophical indeed.

TudorRose · Jan 30, 2012

Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder

When 14-year-old Sophie encounters a mysterious mentor who introduces her to philosophy, mysteries deepen in her own life. Why does she keep getting postcards addressed to another girl? Who is the other girl? And who, for that matter, is Sophie herself? To solve the riddle, she uses her new knowledge of philosophy, but the truth is far stranger than she could have imagined. A phenomenal worldwide bestseller, SOPHIE'S WORLD sets out to draw teenagers into the world of Socrates, Descartes, Spinoza, Hegel and all the great philosophers. A brilliantly original and fascinating story with many twists and turns, it raises profound questions about the meaning of life and the origin of the universe.

eyeblink · Jan 30, 2012

Becca C. said:
I haven't read it yet, but There is No Dog by Meg Rosoff seems very philosophical indeed.

As does her earlier novel Just in Case, which has chapters narrated by the embodiment of Fate.

AmyJay · Jan 30, 2012

Flyers by Daniel Hayes discusses transcendental philosophy in some parts. The main plot is a mystery, but the philosophical elements are definitely a theme.

legendary bum · Jan 30, 2012

Throwing out John Green, as is obligatory. LOOKING FOR ALASKA and THE FAULT IN OUR STARS particularly.

Fulk · Jan 30, 2012

I'm seconding legendary bum. I don't know how extensive the trend is in YA, but John Green tends to drop philosophy in his novels, and AW's own ShadyLane drops Camus into her work.

sol_ · Jan 31, 2012

TudorRose said:
Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder

I love that book!

CharacterInWhite · Jan 31, 2012

Anything by John Green. Looking for Alaska, Paper Towns, and An Abundance of Katherines all have some sort of philosophical theme laced in them. His most recent publication, The Fault in Our Stars, probably does too (haven't read it yet--don't crucify me John Green fans).

Also, Rats Saw God by Rob Thomas.

Edit: Missesdash beat me to it.

Double edit: So did legendary. I'm slow on the uptake apparently.

Philosophical YA

sol_

missesdash

You can't sit with us!

Brickcommajason

Becca C.

TudorRose

not napping... brainstorming!

eyeblink

Barbara says hi

AmyJay

legendary bum

needs to change her sheets

Fulk

Occasional Contributer

sol_

CharacterInWhite

Kind of a big deal