5 Young Adult Books That Adults Will Fall in Love

The young adult genre or YA is a category of fiction written for readers from 12 to 18 years of age.

Don’t let this definition fool you, though.

While it is targeted to teenagers, approximately half of YA readers are adults. According to some market estimates, nearly 70 percent of all YA titles are purchased by adults between the ages of 18 and 64.

This shows the power of the Young Adult genre that transient through age group and genders. Anyone and their mothers can easily breeze through the books as long as they are able to find something that suits their taste buds.

So I have compiled a list of 5 titles that anyone can read.

1. Wing Jones by Katherine Webber

Wing Jones, by Katherine Webber, is a beautiful story about family, love, and the most important, growing up in the face of adversities.

It follows Wings, a half Chinese and half black, and her struggle with her mixed identity in the USA.

Wing Jones is an adorable character. After spending her whole life in the shadows of her brother, when faced with troubles, she does not cower. She stands up. Her character development is just wonderfully written. She is indeed one of the most alluring main characters I have read until now. The side characters are equally charming. Her family, especially her grandmothers are a delight to read.

Webber has done a fantastic job of weaving the characters and their story. Everyone feels real. For me, a major aspect of the book is diversity. The majority of the characters in the story are black and mixed race.

Overall, It is a fantastic book and I would recommend it to everyone.

2. The Assassin’s Blade By Sarah J Maas

The Assassin’s blade is a prequel to the mega-famous series, The Throne Of Glass. While I haven’t had the opportunity to read that series, this prequel is brilliant.

It follows Celaena Sardothien’s adventures in the form of 5 short stories, before the events of the TOG series.

The writing is terrific. I really like how Sarah J Maas weaves in words and conveys her characters. If I were to draw a parallel, I would compare her writing to the wind. It’s beautiful and poetic, yet feels light to read.

If you can learn to endure pain, you can survive anything. Some people learn to embrace it- to love it. Some endure it by drowning it in sorrow, or by making themselves forget. Others turn it into anger.

3. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

The Hate U Give is inspired by the black lives matter movement.

It tells the story of a 16-year-old Starr who witnesses her best friend being murdered by police officers. This moment causes her entire world to shatter and she is forced to face the shocking reality of the police brutality in the USA.

Especially in the current political scenario, this book is extremely relevant. It portrays the emotions of a scared young girl who has just witnessed her black friend bring murdered for having done nothing. Her complex relationships and the media narrative of black men being guilty until proven innocent give the book a realistic flavor.

Everyone needs to read this book for its brutally honest portrait of blatant racism and classism that prevails in society even today. It will give you a check on your privileges.

What’s the point of having a voice if you’re gonna be silent in those moments you shouldn’t be?

4. The Hunger Games By Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games is a 3 parts series that follows the story of Panem, a post-war version of North America where the riches and the luxury is enjoyed by the Capitol that rules over the 12 districts.

To let the district know its place, each district is forced to send a pair of children to compete in The Hunger Games where only one child survives.

I am sure that everyone must have heard about this series by now. However, I believe that you should read the books, even if you have watched the movies. The books capture the essence of the revolution and the characters in a much-nuanced manner. Along with this, the series takes a very realistic view of rebellion and fight against the oppressive regime.

In particular, the final book deals with the PTSD that comes after the war and losing loved ones. As a psychology major, I was very impressed with the depiction of mental health issues.

As adults, you would also be able to enjoy this book.

5. They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

”Mateo, I regret to inform you that sometime in the next twenty-four hours you’ll be meeting an untimely death. And while there isn’t anything we can do to suspend that, you still have a chance to live.”

In this alternative world, 24 hours before death, the individual is called by a company called Death-Cast informing them of their destined demise. Mateo receives such a call and he decides to install the ‘Last Friend’ app where he meets Rufus, another boy who has received only 24 hours to live. The book follows Mateo and Rufus going on their last great adventure together.

The concept behind this book is fantastic. It gives an interesting twist to the question everyone has thought of at least once in their lives, “what if we were to die tomorrow”. The addition of points of view of several side characters adds to the depth of the storytelling.

It is a character-driven book. Both the characters are spectacular. They are fleshed out and well constructed. Mateo is a Puerto Rican, while Rufus is Cuban-American and bisexual. Their personalities are contradictory to each other, fitting well, making it a delight to read their conversations.

If the plot isn't enough to convince you to read this, then go and read it for the characters.