DEATH. It’s inevitable. And even though DEATH isn’t the biggest fear for MG/YA, (alienation from peers is number one according to a child psychologist friend who conducted a study on the topic) it is still a topic YA think about. Yesterday, I finished reading The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder. It was another powerful read about the main character dying of cancer that left my head spinning and my dreams mingled with images right off the pages. When I woke up, I started thinking about how many MG/YA novels I’ve read on this topic. I searched my Goodreads list and I realized that DEATH is definitely a reoccurring theme. No, I am not DEATH obsessed at all. But it’s everywhere – from the Hunger Games to Under the Never Sky to Across the Universe—all fantastic novels I highly recommend. In those novels, characters are murdered and DEATH is prevalent. But they don’t necessarily address the deeper issues of DEATH. So, I decided to compile a list for readers who are looking for some of the BEST novels that dig into this topic. In no particular order:
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, WhoRuBlog post: http://www.whorublog.com/?p=1043
The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder, my Goodreads review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/227446798
Before I Die by Jenny Downham, Goodreads review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/245856732
Winter Longing by Tricia Mills, Goodreads review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/215029968
Fracture by Megan Miranda, Goodreads review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/243297421
Mercy Lily by Lisa Albert, Goodreads review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/151807847
You Are Not Here by Samantha Schutz, Goodread review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/226657322
I Heart You, You Haunt Me by Lisa Schroeder Goodreads review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/223975181
Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroeder Goodreads review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/223975181
Elsewhere by Gabriella Zevin, Goodreads review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/274770802
Between by Jessica Warman, Goodreads review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/207351225
The Everafter by Amy Huntley, Goodreads review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/162762230
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, Goodreads review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/174050466
The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson, Goodreads review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/150999990
Deadline by Chris Crutcher, Goodreads review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/104403811
Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver, Goodreads review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/91838896
If I Stay, by Gayle Forman, Goodreads review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/115787142
Read and added on April 21, 2012 – after recommendations from several YA book bloggers: The Catastrophic History of You and Me, Goodreads review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/195927203
MIDDLE GRADE:
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness (author), Siobhad Dowd, Jim Kay (illustrator), Goodreads review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/234705851
Radiance, Shimmer, Dreamland (Riley Bloom Series, 1, 2, 3) by Alyson Noel, Goodreads review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/223997625
Would love to know your favorites. Feel free to share by clicking on comments.
