What YA book are you reading RIGHT NOW?

DrummerGirl · Oct 24, 2010

I hate deets too. The thing I hate about it is that it also gets stuck in my head for some reason (?)

I also love this thread

Inkspatters, what page are you on? I need motivation to get going back into it (just started reading another book instead of BC) I stalled at page 112. You have given me some hope. The weird thing is, while I'm reading it, I don't mind it - it's once I put it down that I don't feel compelled to get back to it.

DrummerGirl · Oct 24, 2010

Oh - and re verse novels - I love them so much. let me know about your binge so I can join in on the good ones! I have a shelf of verse novels

inkspatters · Oct 24, 2010

I'm at page 160-something. For me it got interesting after Ethan and Lena sit down with Macon Ravenwood (I felt like a bit of the mystery started coming together at that point), who is a fairly interesting character, imo.

Altho, my getting into Beautiful Creatures *could* have more to do with me avoiding studying for Maths, than anything else, lol.

vfury · Oct 24, 2010

SillyMom25 said:
-Teenagers refer to things as "fly" and "whack" and call their parents "rents" (what the hell?)

I do remember 'rents' having its heyday in the late '90s. It was a British thing that came over to Ireland through the teen magazines, but I only ever noticed it in the magazines. I never actually heard someone say it.

I started SHADOW KISS, the third Vampire Academy book, on Friday and I'm already almost three-quarters of the way through. I'm loving it--it really feels like this is the turning point of the series where everything becomes much darker and serious.

adktd2bks · Oct 24, 2010

MStarky said:
I'm reading Evernight by Claudia Gray. Or should I say I'm considering making it bedding for my friend's hampster. Why do I keep doing this to myself? Is there no such thing as a good YA book anymore?

I didn't like Evernight because it felt like she was purposely setting the reader up - you'll see what I mean when you get to that part. But, I know plenty who really loved that aspect of it.

Finished City of Glass last night - spent the whole day reading it. Some parts of it were fairly predictable, but I found myself continuing to read just because I wanted to know if I was right. And I was pretty much right about everything, though it was still pretty good. Have no idea how she's going to make a 4th and 5th book. Kind of feels like one of those cases where the publishers are trying to milk the cow dry.

I've got Paranormalcy, Wings, The Summer of Skinny Dipping, Prom (by Laurie HA) and Peeps (Scott Westerfeld) up for grabs next. Any suggestions? Or maybe I should actually do some writing.

SillyMom25 · Oct 24, 2010

I wouldn't have minded if she'd said "rents" once or twice, but she says it several times per chapter. It got incredibly annoying. And "Those boots are fly."? Who says that anymore. LOL The book was published in 2007.

Smish · Oct 24, 2010

MStarky said:
Why do I keep doing this to myself? Is there no such thing as a good YA book anymore?

Um, there are LOTS of good YA books. You must just be reading the wrong ones...

Senora Verde · Oct 24, 2010

My step-siblings and I used to call our parents "rents." Saying "Where are the rents?" is much quicker than saying "where is your dad and my mom?"

But we were teens in the 90s. I think the characters on Dawson's Creek used "rents" no? Sounds like the type of precocious thing they'd do.

I just started Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers.

Despite it's a-little-too-familiar beginning with hot new guy (who's really a paranormal creature) shows up at school and sits next to heroine in boring class, I'm liking it. I like that we're told on page one that hot new guy is a demon and after MC's soul. I don't like paranormals where we spend half the book figuring out what type of creature the paranormal is and what he/she wants.

Parametric · Oct 24, 2010

Senora Verde said:
I just started Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers.

Despite it's a-little-too-familiar beginning with hot new guy (who's really a paranormal creature) shows up at school and sits next to heroine in boring class ...

Sweet Jesus, another one? How many does that make now? Is there seriously no other place to meet a stranger? :rant:

Sage · Oct 24, 2010

Is it the English class? Don't they always seem to meet in English?

I don't mind so much them meeting in school (although there seem to be a lot of new guys; still, I'm going to have one for NaNo) because teens spend a lot of time at school and that's where they meet a lot of people.

bertrigby · Oct 24, 2010

I just finished The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan (got it in a box set of Urban Fantasy/Paranormal books from WHSmiths - only £10!). It started off cliched but I got really into it as it went on - awesome twists.

DonnaDuck · Oct 24, 2010

Parametric said:
Sweet Jesus, another one? How many does that make now? Is there seriously no other place to meet a stranger?

Sage said:
Is it the English class? Don't they always seem to meet in English?

I don't mind so much them meeting in school (although there seem to be a lot of new guys; still, I'm going to have one for NaNo) because teens spend a lot of time at school and that's where they meet a lot of people.

How about meeting someone in shop class over a table saw? I agree that school is pretty much the center of a teen's universe but the "hot guy enters classroom, cue breeze to ruffle hair" is a little old. How about gym class and she takes a dodge ball to the face because her beauty distracted her? Just something other than the norm, you know?

Parametric · Oct 24, 2010

bertrigby said:
I just finished The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan (got it in a box set of Urban Fantasy/Paranormal books from WHSmiths - only £10!). It started off cliched but I got really into it as it went on - awesome twists.

One of my favourite books!

Shadow_Bee · Oct 24, 2010

inkspatters said:
Also, oooh verse novel, Bee! I'll have to check that out (I'm intending to go on a verse novel reading binge soon <img src="images/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Smile" smilieid="1" class="inlineimg" />).

This is actually my first full-length verse novel and I wanna gobble up the whole thing. It's tragic and beautiful and just my kinda read.
Also, now I wanna read every verse novel out there!

DrummerGirl said:
Oh - and re verse novels - I love them so much. let me know about your binge so I can join in on the good ones! I have a shelf of verse novels

Which ones on your shelf, Nomes?

The_Ink_Goddess · Oct 24, 2010

Finished CATCHING FIRE yesterday. I had such mixed feelings on this one. I don't see Gale/Katniss at all and I feel that was just shoehorned in by Collins to create OOH LOVE TRIANGLE! drama. But some scenes were just such pure mindblowing awesome. Loved the concept of the Quarter Quell. Loved all of the scenes in the Quarter Quell. And this book has the best cast of supporting characters in any book ever -- Finnick, Johanna, Haymitch, Effie and especially Wiress and Beetee (both of whom I really adored despite their few scenes; don't know why, maybe it's just 'cause they were "different" winners?) stole the show from Katniss and Peeta IMO.

Senora Verde · Oct 24, 2010

Sage said:
Is it the English class? Don't they always seem to meet in English?

I don't mind so much them meeting in school (although there seem to be a lot of new guys; still, I'm going to have one for NaNo) because teens spend a lot of time at school and that's where they meet a lot of people.

Yes! It's English class! They're essay partners.

But after that first part, it gets good. And some of the story is told in 1st person from Luc's (the demon's) POV. so we don't have the whole, do his smoldering looks mean he likes me or wants to kill me? thing.

emma_kate · Oct 24, 2010

Sage said:
Is it the English class? Don't they always seem to meet in English?

I don't mind so much them meeting in school (although there seem to be a lot of new guys; still, I'm going to have one for NaNo) because teens spend a lot of time at school and that's where they meet a lot of people.

I thought everyone met in Biology :ROFL:

I finished Personal Demons last night - really enjoyed it! I really liked Luc's pov the best!

DrummerGirl · Oct 24, 2010

adktd2bks said:
I've got Paranormalcy, Wings, The Summer of Skinny Dipping, Prom (by Laurie HA) and Peeps (Scott Westerfeld) up for grabs next. Any suggestions? Or maybe I should actually do some writing.

I've heard Peeps is pretty cool - out of that list I've only read two:

Wings was okay in an MG kinda way. But I found the dialogue and characters flat

Still, it was cute.

I didn't like The Summer of Skinny Dipping (well, it was okay-ish). Sorry if that's a downer

Then again, I may have liked it more if it hadn't been hyped so much which led to me continually waiting for the brilliance. So now you can lower your expectations a little and then be pleasantly surprised

Or maybe it was just me as a lot of people have liked it.

I do want to read Prom though - so it'll be cool to know what you think!

Shadow_Bee said:
Also, now I wanna read every verse novel out there!

Which ones on your shelf, Nomes?

About 20 are Aussie (and prob not available overseas)... so, after that - I recommend Sonya Sones (my fave is What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know but all are awesome) and Sold by Patricia McCormick and I've heard awesome stuff about Song of the Sparrow by Lisa Ann Sandel. Also, Lisa DeSchroers.

emma_kate said:
I thought everyone met in Biology
I finished Personal Demons last night - really enjoyed it! I really liked Luc's pov the best!

I never took biology

But, yeah, I think Wings, Twilight and Hush, Hush are all Biology meet-cutes

There's prob more I haven't read yet...

miss marisa · Oct 24, 2010

Smish said:
Um, there are LOTS of good YA books. You must just be reading the wrong ones...

The can you suggest the right ones?

Smish · Oct 24, 2010

MStarky said:
The can you suggest the right ones?

Read this thread; you'll find all sorts of good books mentioned here. What types of books do you like? We can maybe recommend some based on your tastes.

But it's kind of offensive to suggest that there are no good YA books, when we're all here because we love to read and write YA.

inkspatters · Oct 24, 2010

MStarky said:
The first time I heard "rents" I was reading a YA book (I forget which one it was). I thought it was completely stupid when I kept seeing the word in other books. I've only heard it used once in real life, and that was by a girl with the IQ of her hair gel.

So the word grates on my nerves like nothing else.

I'm reading Evernight by Claudia Gray. Or should I say I'm considering making it bedding for my friend's hampster. Why do I keep doing this to myself? Is there no such thing as a good YA book anymore?

Of course there is.

Have you read John Green? Or Laurie Halse Anderson, Elizabeth Scott, Gail Giles, Tamora Pierce, Sherman Alexie (Absolutely True Diary, at least), Melina Marchetta, Chris Wooding (The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray is YA, and it knocks his adult fantasy out of the water), MT Anderson's novels?

Try those books/authors. They're good.

Or, as Smish says, tell us what types of books you like so we can recommend stuff more fitted to your tastes. This whole reading thing can be pretty subjective

eyeblink · Oct 24, 2010

DrummerGirl said:
I do want to read Prom though - so it'll be cool to know what you think!

I read it about a month ago. Despite the very American theme and setting (hence the title) it had UK publication, and the copy I read was from my local library.

I did enjoy it. It's less "edgy" than some of LHA's other contemporary novels, but it has it's moments so it's still in the 14+ reading bracket. It has an interesting chaptering technique as you will see - there are 160 of them in a novel which is in the upper 40ks word range.

KTC · Oct 25, 2010

SillyMom25 said:
I just suffered through Crazy in Love by Dandi Daly Mckall and feel like I've been subjected to a lesson in Morality 101.

Things I learned from this book:

-Teenagers refer to things as "fly" and "whack" and call their parents "rents" (what the hell?)
-Good girls don't have sex.
-Guys are all sex-crazed morons.
-Being alone with a boy will ruin your reputation.
-Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?
-When girls have sex with their boyfriends, the relationship is doomed.
-Girls who have sex are whores.
-Girls who have sex are only doing it to keep their boyfriends.
-Couples who abstain have wonderful, perfect, magical relationships.
-You should only ever have sex after you are married, when it's "safe" to do so.
-God made our bodies to have sex with that one special, together-forever person.

I had no idea this was a Christian author until I was halfway through the book. I have nothing against Christian authors, and I'm sure some can write without being preachy, but this isn't one of those authors. Also, she tries so hard to seem "with it", but fails epically at every turn. The mc is supposed to be 17 years old, but she and her friends come off as a bunch of immature 13 year olds. Skip this one. It's a "throw against the wall" bonanza.

Our daughter always called us the rents. We saw it on her facebook page, she said it while on the phone. We were always the rents. And all her friends called their friends the rents too.

The_Ink_Goddess · Oct 25, 2010

eyeblink said:
I read it about a month ago. Despite the very American theme and setting (hence the title) it had UK publication, and the copy I read was from my local library.

I did enjoy it. It's less "edgy" than some of LHA's other contemporary novels, but it has it's moments so it's still in the 14+ reading bracket. It has an interesting chaptering technique as you will see - there are 160 of them in a novel which is in the upper 40ks word range.

I liked PROM, and I loved the really short chapters. What I also really liked about it was how she wrote about someone who was very much the "lower class" end of the bracket and very unambitious - I know that sounds snobby and judgemental, but there are so many of the upper class yuppies in YA lit right now (VEGAN VIRGIN VALENTINE, etc.) and so many super smart, smug heroines who don't have to work for their straight A's that I thought it was engaging to read about such a "different" MC if that makes sense.

It hurts my YA-loving heart that you would say that, MStarkey. It's true, there is some crap. But there is plenty of brilliance, too.

Thirdly, what does "deets" mean, Inky? I know of parents/'rents, although I've never heard anyone call their parents that, but "deets"?

inkspatters · Oct 25, 2010

Deets = details. I hate it with a fiery (and irrational) passion.

Also, I totally understand what you mean about having an MC from a lower socio-economic group. I feel like there's a dominance of middle class MCs in YA -- and although that's perfectly okay, it's lovely to get a bit of variety every now and then.

Annnnd I'm nearing the end of Beautiful Creatures. Yeah, I really quite like it now, so I guess I've changed my mind on this one. But there are still some very irritating things about it (like, for some odd reason, Ethan will describe the clothing of any woman he meets in detail. It's annoying, because I think the authors had an okay-ish male voice apart from this, and it drags me out of the story every time).

What YA book are you reading RIGHT NOW?

Capturing the Castle

Capturing the Castle

The coordinates keep changing...

Hearts the furrily challenged.

addicted to books

Reads more than she writes.

Teacher by day, YA writer by night

Supreme Guessinator

Dysfunctional dystopian

My Worlds Are Building

Meddling with the Muse

we're gonna make it out of the fire

Teacher by day, YA writer by night

Capturing the Castle

Reads more than she writes.

The coordinates keep changing...

Barbara says hi

Stand in the Place Where You Live

we're gonna make it out of the fire

The coordinates keep changing...