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Best YA Novels (According to New Jersey Librarians)

New Jersey Librarians on the NJYAC listserv were polled for their top ten young adults novels. Titles receiving more than one vote are starred. With seven votes, the top title is Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier, M. T. Anderson's Feed, S. E. Hinton's The Outsiders and Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher received five votes apiece.  

Farmer, Nancy. The Ear, the Eye and the Arm. Orchard Books, 1994. (Gr. 7-10)

In 2194 in Zimbabwe , General Matsika's three children are kidnapped and put to work in a plastic mine, while three mutant detectives use their special powers to search for them.

Farmer, Nancy. The House of the Scorpion. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2002. (Gr. 7-10)

In a future where humans despise clones, Matt enjoys special status as the young clone of El Patrón, the 142-year-old leader of a corrupt drug empire nestled between Mexico and the United States .

Flinn, Alex. Breathing Underwater. HarperCollins Publishers, c2001. (Gr. 9+)

Sent to counseling for hitting his girlfriend, Caitlin, and ordered to keep a journal, sixteen-year-old Nick recounts his relationship with Caitlin, examines his controlling behavior and anger, and describes living with his abusive father.

Frank, E. R. Friction. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2003. (Gr. 9+)

When a new girl at the private school Alex attends starts rumors about Alex's favorite teacher, Alex and her eighth-grade classmates are not sure how to act around him or with each other.

Gaiman, Neil. Coraline. HarperCollins, 2002. (Gr. 6-8)

Looking for excitement, Coraline ventures through a mysterious door into a world that is similar, yet disturbingly different from her own, where she must challenge a gruesome entity in order to save herself, her parents, and the souls of three others.

Gaiman, Neil. Stardust. William Morrow, 1999. (Adult)

Young Tristran Thorn sets out into a strange world on a quest to retrieve a fallen star he has promised to his beloved, Victoria Forester.

Garner, Alan. Owl Service. H. Z. Walck, 1968. (Gr. 8+)

Three young people spend the summer in a Welsh valley haunted by mythical spirits and find themselves reenacting an old tragedy.

Gibbons, Kaye. Ellen Foster. Algonquin Books, 1987. (Adult)

An abused child finally gets a chance at a better life when she lives in the home of a loving woman who has several foster children.

Giles, Gail. Shattering Glass. Roaring Brook Press, 2002. FIC (Gr. 9+)

When Rob, the charismatic leader of the senior class, turns the school nerd into Prince Charming, his actions lead to unexpected violence.

Going, K. L. Fat Kid Rules the World. G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2003. (Gr. 8+)

Seventeen-year-old Troy , depressed, suicidal, and weighing nearly 300 pounds, gets a new perspective on life when a homeless teenager who is a genius on guitar wants Troy to be the drummer in his rock band.

Golding, William. Lord of the Flies. Faber and Faber, 1954. (Gr. 9+)

A group of young boys try to survive after they are abandoned on a desert island.

Greene, Bette. Summer of My German Soldier. Dial Press, 1973. (Gr. 6+)

When German prisoners of war are brought to her Arkansas town during World War II, twelve-year-old Patty, a Jewish girl, befriends one of them and must deal with the consequences of that friendship.

Grimes, Nikki. Bronx Masquerade. Dial Books, 2002. (Gr. 8+)

While studying the Harlem Renaissance, students at a Bronx high school read aloud poems they've written, revealing their innermost thoughts and fears to their formerly clueless classmates.

Haddix, Margaret Peterson. Among the Betrayed. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2002. (Gr. 5-9)

Thirteen-year-old Nina is imprisoned by the Population Police, who give her the option of helping them identify illegal "third-born" children, or facing death.

Haddix, Margaret Peterson. Among the Hidden. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 1998. (Gr. 5-8)

In a future where the Population Police enforce the law limiting a family to only two children, Luke has lived all his twelve years in isolation and fear on his family's farm, until another "third" convinces him that the government is wrong.

Haddix, Margaret Peterson. Among the Imposters. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2001. (Gr. 5-7)

In a future where the law limits a family to only two children, third-born Luke has been in hiding for the entire twelve years of his life, until he enters boarding school under an assumed name and is forced to face his fears.

Haddon, Mark. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Doubleday, 2003. (A/YA)

Despite his overwhelming fear of interacting with people, Christopher, a mathematically-gifted, autistic fifteen-year-old boy, decides to investigate the murder of a neighbor's dog and uncovers secret information about his mother.

Hale, Shannon. The Goose Girl. Bloomsbury, 2003. (Gr. 6-10)

On her way to marry a prince she's never met, Princess Anidori is betrayed by her guards and her lady-in-waiting and must become a goose girl to survive until she can reveal her true identity and reclaim the crown that is rightfully hers.

Hamilton , Virginia. Sweet Whispers, Brother Rush. Philomel Books, 1982. (Gr. 7+)

Fourteen-year-old Tree, resentful of her working mother who leaves her in charge of a retarded brother, encounters the ghost of her dead uncle and comes to a deeper understanding of her family's problems.

Handler, Daniel. The Basic Eight. St Martins Press, 2000. (Adult)

The story follows the journal of Flannery Culp and her clique of friends, the basic eight, and the events which led to Flan's stint in jail for two murders.

Hautzig, Esther. The Endless Steppe. HarperCollins Children's Book Group, 1968. (Gr. 6+)

Arressted in Poland and exiled to Siberia , Ester and her family must struggle to find enough food and clothing to stay alive. It is only the family's strength that will allow them to survive.

Hayden, Torey L. Ghost Girl. Avon Books, 1992. (Adult)

The story of a teacher of emotionally disturbed children and an eight-year-old girl who is the possible victim of abuse.

Hinton, S. E. The Outsiders. Viking Press, 1967. (Gr. 7+)

The struggle of three brothers to stay together after their parent's death and their quest for identity among the conflicting values of their adolescent society.

Hobbs, Will. Far North. Morrow Junior Books, 1996. (Gr. 7+)

After the destruction of their floatplane, sixteen-year-old Gabe and his Dene friend, Raymond, struggle to survive a winter in the wilderness of the Northwest Territories .

Hoover, H. M. Return to Earth. Viking Press, 1980. (Gr. 7+)

In a future world a diplomat returns to Earth to retire and finds himself involved in political intrigue and a disquieting friendship with a young girl.

Horvath, Polly. The Canning Season. Farrar Straus Giroux, 2003. (Gr. 2-6)

Thirteen-year-old Ratchet spends a summer in Maine with her eccentric great-aunts Tilly and Penpen, hearing strange stories from the past and encountering a variety of unusual and colorful characters.

Howe, James. The Watcher. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 1997. (Gr. 7-9)

As she sits watching a seemingly perfect family and a handsome lifeguard on the beach, a lonely, troubled girl projects herself into the fantasy lives she has created for them.

Jackson, Shirley. We Have Always Lived in the Castle. Viking Penguin, 1962. (Gr. 8+)

After a murder takes place on their family's land, Merricat Blackwood tries to protect her sister, Constance from the nearby villagers.

Jenkins, Lylle Becerra de. The Honorable Prison. Dutton, 1988. (Gr. 8+)

Because of the moral stand taken by her father, a newspaper editor who has persistently attacked the military dictator ruling their Latin American country, Marta and her family find themselves prisoners of the government.

Jimenez, Francisco. Breaking Through. (Sequel to The Circuit) Houghton Mifflin, 2001. (Gr. 5-8)

Having come from Mexico to California ten years ago, fourteen-year-old Francisco is still working in the fields but fighting to improve his life and complete his education.

Johnson, Angela. The First Part Last. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2003. (Gr. 8+)

Bobby's carefree teenage life changes forever when he becomes a father and must care for his adored baby daughter.

Jones, Diana Wynne. Howl's Moving Castle . Greenwillow Books, 1986. (Gr. 6+)

Eldest of three sisters in a land where it is considered to be a misfortune, Sophie is resigned to her fate as a hat shop apprentice until a witch turns her into an old woman and she finds herself in the castle of the greatly feared wizard Howl.

Juby, Susan. Alice, I Think. HarperTempest, 2003. (Gr. 8+)

Fifteen-year-old Alice keeps a diary as she struggles to cope with the embarrassments and trials of family, dating, school, work, small town life, and a serious case of "outcastitis."