My favorite books to give... for parents who want an occupied teen over the holiday break?

When my mom was sick, I discovered the Harry Potter series. One of the reasons those books will always have such a special place in my heart is because they took me away from a very bad time in my life. I might have been sitting in the hospital, watching my mother fight to live, but I could open the pages and instantly be in Hogwarts. They let me shut out the world for a while.

I recently discovered another series with that power, one that I have devoured throughout the last few weeks. Admittedly, life is good right now. In fact, I had many, many more important things on my to-do list than reading 5 books in 10 days, but once I opened the first one, there was no stopping until I was done.

And so, for you parents of YA readers that are looking for a quiet winter break, buy them the Mortal Instruments books.

The series stars Clary (short for Clarissa), who discovers just before her 16^th birthday that she is not a normal human (or mundane… think muggle), but is actually a Shadowhunter. Shadowhunters are a race of humans with some angel blood that hunt demons throughout a world that the rest of us just can’t see. While Clary would love to confront her mother about hiding this powerful secret for so long, she can’t… her mother has been kidnapped.

And what YA series would be complete without a love interest? Enter Jace Wayland, golden blond, sarcastic, and the sexy as heck.

This series, quite literally, made me feel like a teenager again—sleep deprived and irritable if I was interrupted while my face was buried in the Kindle. As an adult, there are so many things I love about the idea of YAs reading this. Clary, though truly a 16-year-old, complete with some annoying whining and stupid, impetuous behavior, is a strong, independent character. She has none of the obnoxious, weak characteristics that made me so loathe Bella Swan.

And the author intersperses some mature scenes throughout, but also with some important lessons for young readers, like “yes, you love your boyfriend, but you are still very young and need to think about this decision. If that doesn't stop you, you still need this condom.” 

My Favorite Books to Give: Young Adult Fiction

When I got the news that Lucky Press would be publishing my first novel, Max and Menna, I was overjoyed… and confused. The publisher indicated that she intended to market this novel, full of sex, violence and other “adult themes” as YA. At the time, I knew YA as Judy Blume and Sweet Valley High and had no idea how my novel would fit into that world.

My quest to learn more about YA led me to Libba Bray. I’ve now read almost everything by her, and had the delightful opportunity to meet her in person once (read about it here). The book that sucked me in was Going Bovine.

I guess this could be called fantasy, depending on your point of view. I just call it brilliant. The School Library Journal review sums this one up rather perfectly:

In this ambitious novel, Cameron, a 16-year-old slacker whose somewhat dysfunctional family has just about given up on him, as perhaps he himself has, when his diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jacob, "mad cow" disease, reunites them, if too late. The heart of the story, though, is a hallucinatory—or is it?—quest with many parallels to the hopeless but inspirational efforts of Don Quixote, about whom Cameron had been reading before his illness. Just like the crazy—or was he?—Spaniard, Cam is motivated to go on a journey by a sort of Dulcinea.

This book made me realize that YA today is made of much tougher stuff than Nancy Drew (though I still love me some Nancy). It is a great book for any YA reader on your list, though I recommend reserving it for age 13 and above.

My Favorite Books to Give: YA Science Fiction

I am continuing on the December series all about my favorite books to give. This second installment in my favorite books to give series should be no surprise to anyone who has stopped in before.

Ender’s Game, by Orson Scott Card, has been, perhaps, the most impactful book of my life.
I am sure this one is high on everyone’s list because of the recent movie (and you can read my review here), but the film failed to capture something very central to the novel, which is the moral turmoil within the character of Ender Wiggin.

If you have a young reader, whether they love science fiction or not, this is a great book to give them, and one they will likely cherish as they grow up (I know I did).

As a note, Card a Mormon and is fairly vocal about opposing gay marriage. While I am respectful of all religions, I am not respectful of discrimination. Thus, I buy his books used whenever I can, but do not purchase them new to ensure that my money isn’t funneling into lobbying against tolerance. There are many used copies of Ender’s Game on Amazon if you feel the same way.

My Favorite Books to Give: Paranormal YA

When I was 10, I gave everyone in my family books for Christmas. At that age, Christmas is still something magical and nebulous. To me, the holiday extended beyond the gifts under the tree and Amy Grant’s Christmas album playing on repeat in the background. Christmas was a feeling, an excitement that was almost tangible. As such, books represented the perfect gift to me—something that could also create that infinite feeling.

I’m older now, with somewhat more practical concerns. Nonetheless, I am still a frequent book-giver, and still hope that my gifts will impart a little of that infinite feeling to the receivers.

Thus, what better way to blog through December than a list of my favorite books to give? Today’s edition… for your paranormal YA lover.

Have you seen a YA reader in your life reading Twilight… and grimaced? I admit to devouring Meyer’s whole series when in my 20’s (and secretly loving it), but I hate the idea of young girls reading Bella Swan. Young women should have strong female characters in their life! And so, I am happy to recommend Chasing Memories by my good friend Tia Bach.

Take a break from vampires and zombies and check out this novel with a hint of Lycan and a whole bunch of girl power. Bach’s main character Reagan is OK with saying no to her sex-starved boyfriend, and much more worried about the changes she is facing after a strange animal attack than about what the hottest trend is.

For the 13 and over in your life, Chasing Memories is an engrossing read, and a delightful gift!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

I am a Christmas junkie. I love it! I love giving gifts, baking cookies, hacking down a tree and moving it in my house. I am the girl of perpetual smiles at this time of year. More and more, however, I am looking around and realizing that my holiday glee simply isn't shared by all.

I've been told I am a good gift picker-outer, so I thought I would share over the next couple of blogs some of my recommendations for any story lovers on your list, should you be stumped. I've put together a store on Amazon that contains some of my favorite gifts here.

Your YA Book Lover:

Got a teen on your list you are just not sure what to buy for? If that teen loves to read, then I suggest one of three Lucky Press titles:

Guardian Spirit by Sarah Martin Byrd combines some beautiful myths with some harsh realities in this story of a woman and her children fleeing from an abusive man. According to reviews on Amazon:
"Within the story, Byrd masterfully entwines Native American magic with the steely reserve of a woman protecting her children, and creates a narrative that will have readers cheering, and hurriedly turning pages. I found this to be an engrossing, exciting read, and would highly recommend it to others."

My Beginning by Melissa Kline is the book for any budding sci-fi loving girls on your list. We're under-represented, us female nerds, and so I recommend nurturing it for the girl on your list. Reviews on Amazon:
"This book draws you in immediatley. The adventure and curiousity keeps you turning the pages. The anticipation of the ending made it difficult to put it down but the thought of it ending so soon made me want to slow down. I do hope for a sequel. Great read!"


And, of course, I have to self-promote a litte... it is my blog :)
 
Max and Menna by Shauna Kelley is my debut novel, about a brother and a sister struggling together against poverty, alcoholism, and neglect. Here's what Amazon readers say:
"Max and Menna went above and beyond my expectations. I just could not put the book down, reading into the late hours of the night, just to see what would happen next! It's a great story full of romance, courage, laughter, and heartbreak. I highly recommend this book!"
AND if you're in Maryland, I have copies I can sign for you!
 
Of course, I have to throw in Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card because I think EVERYONE should read that book...
 
And more gift giving ideas to come!