Groundbreaking Teen Lit

 

Are you a fan of teen lit?  While some people still think of teen lit as fluff, light romances, or vampires and melodrama, it has also produced some truly groundbreaking, innovative books. Publishers have started to recognize that there are a lot of adults who read it, so sometimes there is a curious tension between what is considered teen vs. adult.  Have you read any great teen titles lately? Here are a few that we think are especially groundbreaking:

The Lines We Cross by Randa Abdel-Fattah

Insightful social commentary and compelling look at the beliefs that shape us. Micheal has always thought the anti-immigration rallies his parents took him to made sense, until he met Mina.  Mina is a new student at school, an Afghani refugee, who challenges Micheal’s assumptions and helps him see more clearly the racism that Mina faces daily.

Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan

One of the first LGBTQ books published with an optimistic outlook, it imagines a utopian world. A romantic comedy where a boy falls in love, and learns where he needs to grow to make a relationship work.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

A witty social commentary on high school combined with gritty realism make this a novel that is hard to forget.  Isolated after an incident at a party, Melinda is so traumatized she is unable to speak.  Former friends who made assumptions leave her spiraling into a void of depression.

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo

While young, pregnant girls usually are used as tired examples in film and literature of potential unrealized, especially young women of color, Acevedo puts an upbeat spin on things that is rare to find.  The stress and pressure are acknowledged realistically, but Emoni has a culinary talent that can’t be denied. Despite trying to juggle high school, a new boyfriend and a baby, she works hard to reach her dreams, and the delicious Puerto Rican fusion dishes will definitely make your mouth water.

Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett Krosoczka

An autobiographical graphic novel, Jarrett takes a hard look at his childhood.  Raised by opinionated grandparents who weren’t happy about having to raise another child, it is his only option as his mother was an addict and his father disappeared.  A powerful journey as he learns to find coping methods to survive some very tough years.

The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas

One of the most important teen books written in the past few years, it gives great insight into the BLM movement and systematic racism in the US.  Starr, a teen who leads a double life between her home in the projects and an affluent school in the suburbs, witnesses firsthand the death of a close friend by a police officer and it shakes both of the worlds she lives in.  A sorely needed perspective with relatable characters and a rising awareness of the need for change.