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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.  

Keller, Beverly . The Amazon Papers. Browndeer Press, Harcourt Brace & Co., 1996. (Gr. 6-9)

Fifteen-year-old Iris gets into hilarious trouble when her mother goes on vacation and leaves her alone.

Kerr, M. E. Deliver Us from Evie. Harper Trophy, 1994. (Gr. 9+)

Paul Burrman, a sixteen year old boy from a rurual Missouri town, deals with his sister's lesbianism.

Kerr, M. E. Dinky Hocker Shoots Smack. Harper & Row, 1972. (Gr. 7+)

Fifteen-year-old Tucker's life changes in many ways when he meets the unusual overweight girl who gives his cat a home.

Kidd, Sue Monk. The Secret Life of Bees. Viking, 2001. (A/YA)

When Rosaleen, the African-American woman who has taken care of Lily for the past ten years, is victimized by racist police officers, they must leave their home.

Kingsolver, Barbara. The Poisonwood Bible. Perrenial, 1999. (Adult)

The story of Nathan Price and his family after they move to the Belgian Congo in 1959.

Konigsburg, E. L. Silent to the Bone. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2000. (Gr. 6-8)

Conner's best friend Branwell becomes mute after his baby sister goes into a coma. Conner must find a way to communicate with Branwell to help his friend get better and to determine what really happened to baby Nikki.

Korman, Gordon. The Chicken Doesn't Skate. Scholastic, 1996. (Gr. 4-6)

Milo hatches a chicken as part of a science project and plans to eat it at the science fair to show the life cycle.until she becomes the team mascot of the hockey team and their only chance at winning.

Langer, Adam. Crossing California . Riverhead Books, 2003.(Adult)

This is a coming of age story about Jewish kids in Chicago during the 1970s, reminiscent of Catcher in the Rye .

Lasky, Kathryn. Beyond the Divide. Macmillan, 1983. (Gr. 7+)

In 1849, a fourteen-year-old Amish girl defies convention by leaving her secure home in Pennsylvania to accompany her father across the continent by wagon train.

Lawrence, Iain. The Lightkeeper's Daughter. Delacorte Press, 2002. (Gr. 10+)

When, after a four-year absence, seventeen-year-old Squid returns to her childhood home on a remote lighthouse island off British Columbia with her young daughter in tow, she and her parents try to come to terms with each other and the painful events of the past, especially the death of her older brother.

Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins , 1961. (Gr. 8+)

In this classic work, Scout Finch tells the story of her father's defense of an African-American man charged with the rape of a white girl.

Le Guin, Ursula K. A Wizard of Earthsea. Houghton Mifflin, 1968. (and sequels) (Gr. 6+)

As an apprentice to the Master Wizard, a boy unleashed great evil on the world only to try to undo it as he grows to be a man.

Levithan, David. Boy Meets Boy. Alfred A. Knopf, 2003. (Gr. 9+)

An upbeat novel in which being gay is accepted without question, but the pitfall of love are still possible.

Lipsyte, Robert. The Contender. Bantam Books, 1967. (Gr. 8+)

A harlem high school dropout at the beginning of a successful boxing career changes his goals.

Lisle, Janet Taylor. The Crying Rocks. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2003. (Gr. 6-9)

Thirteen-year-old Joelle has always wondered about her life before being adopted by the woman she calls Aunt Louise and her husband Vernon, and she makes some surprising discoveries while researching a 17th century Indian tribe.

Lowry, Lois. The Giver. Houghton Mifflin, 1993. (Gr. 5-9)

Given his lifetime assignment at the Ceremony of Twelve, Jonas becomes the receiver of memories shared by only one other in his community and discovers the terrible truth about the society in which he lives.

Lubar, David. Dunk. Clarion Books, 2002. (Gr. 8+)

While hoping to work as the clown in an amusement park dunk tank on the New Jersey shore the summer before his junior year in high school, Chad faces his best friend's serious illness, hassles with police, and the girl that got away.

Lubar, David. Hidden Talents. Tom Doherty Associates, 1999. (Gr. 6-8)

When thirteen-year-old Martin arrives at an alternative school for misfits and problem students, he falls in with a group of boys with psychic powers and discovers something surprising about himself.

Mackler, Carolyn. The Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things. Candlewick Press, 2003. (Gr. 7-10)

Feeling like she does not fit in with the other members of her family, who are all thin, brilliant, and good-looking, fifteen-year-old Virginia tries to deal with her self-image, her first physical relationship, and her disillusionment with some of the people closest to her.

MacLachlan, Patricia. Sarah Plain and Tall. Harper & Row, 1985. (Gr. 4+)

When their father invites a mail-order bride to come live with them in their prairie home, Caleb and Anna are captivated by their new mother and hope that she will stay.

Mahy, Margaret. The Changeover: A Supernatural Romance. Scholastic, 1974. (Gr. 7+)

Laura needs help for her brother who seems to be possessed by an evil spirit and believes an older boy at school is the person who can help her.

Mahy, Margaret. Memory. M.K. McElderry Books, 1988. (Gr. 7+)

On the fifth anniversary of his older sister's death, nineteen- year-old Jonny Dart, troubled by feelings of guilt and an imperfect memory of the event, goes in search of the only other witness to the fatal accident and, through a chance meeting with a senile old woman, finds a way to free himself of the past.

Mahy, Margaret. 24 Hours. Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2000. (Gr. 9+)

During his first twenty-four hours after finishing high school, seventeen-year-old Ellis unexpectedly becomes part of an inner-city world far different from his comfortable life, which helps deal with his best friend's recent suicide.

Marchetta, Melina. Saving Francesca. Alfred A. Knopf, 2004. (Gr. 9+)

Francesca tries to deal with her new school that has just started accepting girls, while her depressed mother lies in bed at home.

Marsden, John. Tomorrow, When the War Began. Houghton Mifflin, 1995. (Gr. 7-10)

Seven Australian teenagers return from a camping trip in the bush to discover that their country has been invaded and they must hide to stay alive.

Martin, Judith. Common Courtesy: In Which Miss Manners Solves the Problem That Baffled Jefferson . Atheneum, 1985. (Adult)

A humorous books about the historic ills of our society's human behavior.

Martinez, Victor. Parrot in the Oven, Mi Vida: A Novel. (Gr. 7+)

A coming of age story about the son of an alcoholic in a poor Mexican American family.

McDonald, Joyce. Swallowing Stones. Delacorte Press, c1997. (Gr. 6-8)

Dual perspectives reveal the aftermath of seventeen-year-old Michael MacKenzie's birthday celebration during which he discharges an antique Winchester rifle and unknowingly kills the father of high school classmate Jenna Ward.

McKay, Hilary. The Exiles. M.K. McElderry Books, 1992. (Gr. 5-8)

The four Conroy sisters spend a wild summer at the seaside with Big Grandma, who tries to break them of their reading habit by substituting fresh air and hard work for books and gets unexpected results.

McKay, Hilary. Saffy's Angel. Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2002. (Gr. 4-7)

After learning that she was adopted, thirteen-year-old Saffron's relationship with her eccentric, artistic family changes, until they help her go back to Italy where she was born to find a special momento of her past.

McKillip, Patricia. The Riddle Master of Hed trilogy. Atheneum, 1976. (Gr. 7+)

In seeking the answer to the riddle of the three stars on his forehead and the three stars on the enchanted harp and sword, Morgon, Prince of Hed, goes ultimately to the High One, himself.

McKinley, Robin. Beauty. Harper & Row, 1978. (Gr. 6+)

Kind Beauty grows to love the Beast at whose castle she is compelled to stay and through her love releases him from the spell which had turned him from a handsome prince into an ugly beast.

McKinley, Robin. The Blue Sword. Greenwillow Books, 1982. (Gr. 6+)

Harry, bored with her sheltered life in the remote orange-growing colony of Daria, discovers magic in herself when she is kidnapped by a native king with mysterious powers.

McKinley, Robin. The Hero and the Crown. Greenwillow Books, 1984. (Gr. 6+)

Aerin, with the guidance of the wizard Luthe and the help of the blue sword, wins the birthright due her as the daughter of the Damarian king and a witchwoman of the mysterious, demon-haunted North.

Mikaelsen, Ben. Touching Spirit Bear. HarperCollins Publishers, 2001. (Gr. 7+)

After his anger erupts into violence, Cole, in order to avoid going to prison, agrees to participate in a sentencing alternative based on the native American Circle Justice, and he is sent to a remote Alaskan Island where an encounter with a huge Spirit Bear changes his life.

Miller, Mary Beth. Aimee. Dutton Books, 2002. (Gr. 9+)

After she is accused of playing a role in her best friend's death, a young woman battles depression, anger, guilt, loneliness, and the problems of her own family as well as those of the families of her old friends.

Moriarty, Jaclyn. The Year of Secret Assignments. Arthur A. Levine Books, 2004. (Gr. 8+)

Three female students from Ashbury High write to three male students from rival Brookfield High as part of a pen pal program, leading to romance, humiliation, revenge plots, and war between the schools.

Myers, Walter Dean. Fallen Angels. Scholastic Inc., 1988. (Gr. 10+)

Seventeen-year-old Richie Perry, just out of his Harlem high school, enlists in the Army in the summer of 1967 and spends a devastating year on active duty in Vietnam .

Myers, Walter Dean. Hoops. Lauren Leaf Books, 1983. (Gr. 7+)

A teenage basketball player from Harlem becomes friends with a former professional player who hopes to prevent other young athletes from repeating his mistakes.

Myers, Walter Dean. Monster. HarperCollins , 1999. (Gr. 7+)

While on trial as an accomplice to a murder, sixteen-year-old Steve Harmon records his experiences in prison and in the courtroom in the form of a film script as he tries to come to terms with the course his life has taken.

Na, An. A Step from Heaven. Front Street, c2001. (Gr. 8+)

A young Korean girl and her family find it difficult to learn English and adjust to life in America.

Naidoo, Beverly. The Other Side of Truth. HarperCollins, 2001. (Gr. 5-8)

Smuggled out of Nigeria after their mother's murder, Sade and her younger brother are abandoned in London when their uncle fails to meet them at the airport and they are fearful of their new surroundings and of what may have happened to their journalist father back in Nigeria .

Napoli , Donna Jo. Beast. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2000. (Gr. 8+)

Elaborates on the tale of "Beauty and the Beast," told from the point of view of the beast and set in Persia .

Napoli , Donna Jo. The Magic Circle . Dutton Children's Books, 1993. (Gr. 7-10)

After learning sorcery to become a healer, a good-hearted woman is turned into a witch by evil spirits and she fights their power until her encounter with Hansel and Gretel years later.

Napoli, Donna Jo. Sirena. Scholastic Press, 1998. (Gr. 8+)

The gods grant immortality to the mermaid Sirena when she rescues a human man from the sea and they fall in love, but his mortality creates great conflict between love and honor when he is called to defend Greece in the Trojan War.

Napoli, Donna Jo. Zel. Dutton Children's Books, 1996. (Gr. 9+)

Based on the fairy tale Rapunzel, the story is told in alternating chapters from the point of view of Zel, her mother, and the nobleman who pursues her, and delves into the psychological motivations of each of the characters.

Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds. The Agony of Alice . (and sequels) Atheneum, 1985. (Gr. 6-9)

Eleven-year-old, motherless Alice decides she needs a gorgeous role model who does everything right; and when placed in homely Mrs. Plotkins's class she is greatly disappointed until she discovers it's what people are inside that counts.

Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds. Jade Green: A Ghost Story. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2000. (Gr. 6-8)

While living with her uncle in a house haunted by the ghost of a young woman, recently orphaned Judith Sparrow wonders if her one small transgression causes mysterious happenings.

Neufeld, John. Lisa, Bright and Dark. Signet, 1969. (Gr. 6+)

Since her parents and teachers neglect to notice Lisa's increasingly severe depression, she turns to her friends to help her.

Nix, Garth. Sabriel. (and sequels) HarperCollins, 1995. (Gr. 7+)

Sabriel, daughter of the necromancer Abhorsen, must journey into the mysterious and magical Old Kingdom to rescue her father from the Land of the Dead.

Nodelman, Perry. Behaving Bradley. Simon and Schuster, 1998. (Gr. 6+)

Brad helps create a code of conduct for his school, and discovers just how much hypocrisy exists there.

Nolan, Han. Born Blue. Harcourt, 2001. (Gr. 8+)

Janie was four years old when she nearly drowned due to her mother's neglect. Through an unhappy foster home experience, and years of feeling that she is unwanted, she keeps alive her dream of someday being a famous singer.

Oates, Joyce Carol. Big Mouth and Ugly Girl. HarperTempest, 2002. (Gr. 8+)

When sixteen-year-old Matt is falsely accused of threatening to blow up his high school and his friends turn against him, an unlikely classmate comes to his aid.

Pattou, Edith. East. Harcourt, 2003. (Gr. 6+)

A young woman journeys to a distant castle on the back of a great white bear who is the victim of a cruel enchantment.

Peck, Richard. Are You in the House Alone? Viking Press, 1976. (Gr. 8+)

As the recipient of threatening notes and phone calls, a high school girl becomes aware that she is under constant observation.

Peters, Julie Ann. Keeping You a Secret. Little Brown, 2003. (Gr. 9+)

Holland is in love with another girl and is not sure whether she trusts the people around her enough to tell them.

Pierce, Meredith Ann. Birth of the Firebringer. Collier Macmillan, 1985. (Gr. 6-9)

Aljan, the headstrong son of the prince of the unicorns, becomes a warrior and discovers his destiny in his people's struggle against the hideous wyrms usurping their land.

Pierce, Meredith Ann. Darkangel. Little, Brown, 1982. (Gr. 6+)

The servant girl Aeriel must choose between destroying her vampire master for his evil deeds or saving him for the sake of his beauty and the spark of greatness she has seen in him. "An Atlantic Monthly Press book."

Pierce, Meredith Ann. Dark Moon. Joy Street Books, 1992. (Gr. 6-9)

Jan, the prince of the unicorns, pursues his destiny to save his kind from their enemies by seeking fire in a distant land of two-footed creatures.

Pierce, Meredith Ann. A Gathering of Gargoyles. Little, Brown, 1984. (Gr. 6+)

Painfully aware that her husband Irrylath is still not free of the white witch's spell, Aeriel sets out on a dangerous quest to gather the winged steeds that Irrylath and his brothers need to do battle against the powerful witch.

Pierce, Meredith Ann. The Pearl of the Soul of the World. Joy Street Books, 1990. (Gr. 6+)

With the aid of a shimmering pearl, Ariel battles the White Witch to free her husband Irrylath. Last volume in the Darkangel trilogy.

Pierce, Meredith Ann. Son of Summer Stars. Little, Brown, 1996. (Gr. 6-9)

Jan, the prince of the unicorns, uses his knowledge of fire to form a historic alliance between his people and their former enemies and to return the unicorns to their ancestral homeland.

Pierce, Meredith Ann. Treasure at the Heart of the Tanglewood. Viking, 2001. (Gr. 8-10)

Hannah, a healer with unusual powers, leaves the wizard she has always served and, along with her animal companions, begins a journey which uncovers the truth about her real nature.

Pierce, Tamora. Alanna: The First Adventure. (and sequels) Random House, 1983. (Gr. 6+)

Alanna disguises herself as a boy and trains to be a knight. She befriends Prince Jonathan but alienates his evil uncle, Duke Roger.

Pinkwater, Daniel Manus. 5 Novels. Farrar Straus Giroux, c1997. (Gr. 5+)

A compilation of five humorous tales.

Plum-Ucci, Carol. The Body of Christopher Creed. Harcourt, 2000. (Gr. 8+)

Torey Adams, a high school junior with a seemingly perfect life, struggles with doubts and questions surrounding the mysterious disappearance of the class outcast.

Plum-Ucci, Carol. What Happened to Lani Garver? Harcourt, 2002. (Gr. 9+)

Sixteen-year-old Claire is unable to face her fears about a recurrence of her leukemia, her eating disorder, her need to fit in with the popular crowd on Hackett Island , and her mother's alcoholism until the enigmatic Lani Garver helps her get control of her life at the risk of his own.

Pullman, Philip. The Golden Compass. (and its sequels) Alfred A. Knopf, 1995. (Gr. 7+)

In the first book of the His Dark Materials trilogy, Lyra Belacqua makes a journey to the Far North to protect her best friend and other kidnapped children from gruesome experiments.