M.T. Anderson
It’s amazing how divided the genre of young adult novels can be. There is the mindless shlock full of sparkling vampires, short words, poor grammar and insipid plot-lines. Then there are brilliant, complex and wildly imaginative series like Jinks’ Evil Genius, Stewart’s Mysterious Benedict Society and …
Brian Vaughan
I heard this graphic novel mentioned as NPR commentator David Lipsky’s guilty pleasure. It is full of funny and snappy dialogue (Vaughan wrote for a few seasons of Lost), interesting plot devices and some great illustration. However, Lipsky hits the “guilty” bit of guilty pleasure right on: …
Berkeley Breathed
I was kind of shocked when Breathed killed off Opus earlier this year. I understand his rationale that the world is really just too messed up for an Opus, no matter how feisty he is. However, I think Breathed did a great disservice by taking away a gently …
Trenton Lee Stewart and Catherine Jinks
Like all sequels to excellent books, these two YA titles are a teeny bit of a letdown – primarily because they aren’t the first book. Both take a few chapters to hit their stride, Genius Squad more so. However, I had no complaints by …
Neil Gaiman
It’s Neil, ’nuff said. No? OK, a sweet, funny and often sad book about a baby named Nobody who grows up in a graveyard, raised by the kindly dead. Beautiful and otherworldly as only Gaiman can write.…
Catherine Jinks
Where do you go to school if you are a genius and your father is an evil genius? Why, the evil genius academy, of course. Learn the fine arts of lying, stealing, poisons, hacking, disguise and other deeply useful skills. The only drawbacks? The matriculation rate is nothing …
Trenton Lee Stewart
An ad in the paper looking for exceptional children lures orphan Reynie Muldoon into a strange shadow conspiracy. With a band of other brilliant and bizarre children, they must overthrow an evil mastermind. Inventive and fast-moving, though personally I think a few fires would have solved a …
PB Kerr
The Akhenaten Adventure, The Blue Djinn of Babylon and The Cobra King of Kathmandu.
Upon the removal of their wisdom teeth, twins John and Phillipa Gaunt discover they have strange magical powers. Sent off to their Uncle Nimrod, the Gaunt kids learn to use their djinn …
Eoin Colfer
This fun, silly young-adult book is by the author of the popular Artemis Fowl series, as of late being compared to the Harry Potter books in popularity. While I think that may be pushing things a bit, Colfer’s books are amusing for readers of any age. His Half …
Catherine Murdock
I have no idea how I came across this title, but there it was in my hold pile. I can’t say I often peruse “young adult” chick lit., but this turned out to be an excellent book. DJ, a Wisconsin farm girl, has a busy, messy, broken family. …
