Don’t Like YA? Give These YA Books a Shot

I loved this feminist fairytale immediately. A sheltered princess, confined to a castle, and forgotten by nearly everyone, meets a dark and handsome soldier with his own secrets. There’s a demon in the dungeon with information the princess wants. And, by the way, the princess is poison to the touch. The story is dark and twisty and delightfully queer, and I think you should read it right now.

Obviously, I really like dark fairytales. In this gem inspired by the Asian diaspora, a morally gray witch named Violet is faced with a tough decision. As a peddler of not-always-true prophecies, which she uses to manipulate her way into favor at court, she shouldn’t balk at the king’s request that she falsely prophesy a love story for the prince. Since the prince hates and plans to fire her, this could be Violet’s chance to keep her lucrative position. However, the consequences could unleash a deadly curse that would endanger the entire kingdom.

What if I told you that after the Civil War, the dead rose again and united the U.S. against a common enemy? That’s right. This story is about a historic zombie apocalypse. Of course, the oppressive post–Civil War society is built on the back of Black and indigenous people, who are forced to train and become protectors for white folks. Luckily, our heroine is a smart-mouthed, recklessly brave, Black, bisexual badass. This book and its sequel are among my favorites of all time.

Did I mention I love fairytale retellings? Well, I LOVE queer fairytale retellings featuring people of color even more. Cinderella is Dead is just such a story, with lovable characters and surprising twists that will keep you turning the pages until the very end.

Yep, another fairytale retelling. This one is part of a series called The Lunar Chronicles and takes place in a futuristic society with lots of robots and space travel. Don’t worry, fantasy fans, there’s also plenty of magic, along with a litany of heroines to root for. If you like these, you will probably also like her twisty and heartwrenching Lewis Carroll retelling, Heartless.

Have you ever sobbed on an airplane while reading a book? Well I have done so several times, most recently at Adam Silvera’s talented hands. The title tells you what you’re in for, but there’s still no way not to fall in love with the two main characters. A mysterious system called Deathcast notifies people at midnight on the day of their death. Mateo and Rufus meet on their death day and spend it together, trying to live it to its fullest. You will cry.

Yes, this is what you think it is. If you, like me, grew up on Anne of Green Gables, you are in for a treat. This reimagining has all of the quirky, silly accidents and calamities that we’re used to from the original story. However, this book is updated for today’s times. Anne is a queer, Japanese American, artsy romantic who moves to a small town. There she meets her best friend Berry and the girl of her dreams, Gilly. This is a feel-good nostalgic delight.

This YA book for people who don’t like YA works partly because the young characters are dealing with universal struggles like grief and belonging. It’s told in beautiful verse and ends in a twist so heart-wrenching you will never see it coming. If you happen to be on an airplane and don’t want to cry, finish it at home.

Nicola Yoon is so talented it makes me want to puke. Similar to They Both Die at the End, this love story takes place mostly over the course of a single day that the audience already knows will likely end badly. Nonetheless, readers can’t help but root for the protagonists despite the odds.

This book. THIS BOOK. I cannot even pinpoint exactly why I loved it so much, but I could not stop gushing over it after I read it. I tried not to include many books on this list with extensive high school settings, because I figured people who dislike YA would be turned off by it, but I had to make a few exceptions. This achingly sweet coming out story follows a queer brown boy who, because of a dare, secretly dates the most popular guy in school for a week. Friends, the least believable thing about this book is that any high school kid could be as thoughtful, kind, and swoon-worthy as Bryson Keller.

This is one of the most disturbing books I’ve ever read. Jackson has a knack for writing upsettingly real and haunting YA. After reading this book, I told the friend that recommended it that she had ruined my life. Then I read another book by Tiffany D. Jackson. And then another.

This is the true story of an attack on a transgender youth by a Black boy. Slater masterfully explores the nuances on both sides, addressing how the media, courts, and law enforcement treated and mistreated both parties. The story doesn’t feel good, but it is real and it is well written.

I couldn’t decide whether to include this or Angie Thomas’s The Hate U Give, since they deal with similar issues and they both do it so well. In the end, I figured this one was slightly less popular and more folks should read it. In it, the two authors wrote as two characters on opposing sides of a case of police brutality. It’s honest and nuanced, much like The 57 Bus.

I was and am still disturbed by this book. The story follows Riley, a nonbinary teenager, dealing with both being outed and coming out on their own terms. What disturbed me is that at the end, I wasn’t finished. I don’t know if Riley is going to be okay, and I desperately want Riley to be okay.

While I’m not big on historical fiction, this one got me. When her British spy plane crashes into Nazi-occupied France, Verity is taken into custody. The adventure that follows is so full of twists, turns, and unexpected character developments that I simply could not put it down.

Honestly, you can’t go wrong with Elizabeth Acevedo. I fought hard not to put several of her books on this list. In the end, I settled for my favorite of her works. There’s just something about a spunky underdog protagonist that I can’t resist. Despite poverty, teenage pregnancy, a useless baby daddy, and an absent father, Emoni perseveres toward her big dreams in this poignant tale of family, self-love, and overcoming.

This is hands-down one of my favorite books of all time. We follow a Black queer girl who needs the scholarship that comes with being prom queen if she is going to pay for her dream college. For adults who don’t like YA, this book includes a sprinkling of ’90s nostalgia along with a stellar story.

While there’s some intense pain and sadness in this story, it is ultimately beautiful and hopeful. Felix, a trans boy, is viciously harassed and humiliated by an anonymous schoolmate. Despite the abuse, Felix finds his voice, his place in his family and community, and even finds love. I love a happy ever after.

I’m using realistic loosely here, but who am I to say what really happens in Vegas? This YA book for people who don’t like YA avoids some of the features that typically turn off older readers. Instead of a high school setting, protagonist Jack thrives in the underbelly of Las Vegas with his casino mogul mother. There’s organized crime, betrayal, and family secrets galore. When a rival casino owner and jilted lover seeks revenge, Jack’s mom gets arrested. Ultimately, Jack and his friends have to infiltrate a high-stakes gambling club to clear Jack’s mom’s name.

LOL, okay, this isn’t very realistic, but I didn’t have a category for it. This fabulously twisty mystery has been touted as Pretty Little Liars meets The Breakfast Club, which sounds like a great combination for people who grew up on either. A group of kids become murder suspects when, left alone in detention, one of them dies. Lies and secrets abound, and it is ridiculously fun. The sequel One of Us is Next is just as entertaining.