As a former teen librarian, I firmly believe that young adult books can (and should!) be enjoyed by people of all ages. I was so excited to see Young Adult as a category on this year’s Book Bingo and am thrilled to share some of my recent favorites that I think will appeal to teen and adult readers alike.
Darcie Little Badger’s A Snake Falls to Earth is one of the most imaginative novels I’ve read in recent years, reshaping my conceptions of narrative possibility. Nina and Oli are both fifteen years old, but that’s where the similarities end. She’s a Lipan Apache girl living in modern-day Texas; he’s a cottonmouth snake in the Reflecting World. Their parallel narratives come together through Nina’s family history of connecting with animal relatives, and their shared families’ struggles wrought by climate change. The book manages to be both a modern-day fable and a genuinely entertaining story, with strong world- and character-building.
Yolk by Mary H.K. Choi falls into a category sometimes termed “New Adult,” which features older teenage or early 20’s protagonists, who are, as the phrase suggests, new to the adult world. Focused on issues such as moving away from home, deeper exploration of gender or sexuality, and figuring out relationships with family, friends, and lovers, New Adult books may be a good entry point for adult readers interested in trying books written for a specific age. I’ll give a big trigger warning for disordered eating for Yolk, but let you know that it manages to deliver some of the rawest and realest portrayals of mental illness and sisterhood that I can recall. The book follows Jayne and June, Korean American sisters who are estranged but come together in the wake of June’s cancer diagnosis.
Nonfiction can be for young adults, too! Black Birds in the Sky by Brandy Colbert (a prolific YA fiction author) compellingly tells the story of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and the destruction of Black Wall Street. Using quotes from survivors, historical context of Oklahoma and Tulsa history, and a detailed account of the horrific events of Memorial Day 1921, Colbert situates the racialized violence in the greater story of the United States– what stories get told, what gets marginalized, and the long-lasting effects of intentional destruction.
For more Young Adult titles perfect for adult readers, check out Book Bingo NW 2024: Young Adult.
For more ideas for books to meet your Summer Book Bingo challenge, follow our Shelf Talk BookBingoNW2024 series or check the hashtag #BookBingoNW2024 on social media. Book Bingo is presented in partnership with Seattle Arts & Lectures.
~ posted by Jane S.
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