Five on the Fifth: YA Fiction for Guys
When I was in high school, one of my favorite places to shop was the young adult section of Barns and Noble. As time passed, I began to notice a trend. Most of the covers were pastel (usually pink) and had cute illustrations on the cover. The chick lit trend was big and, spurred on by the success of books like The Princess Dairies and Angus, Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging, had spread into the young adult section. I visit the same section now and I discover that the pink has been replaced by dark moody colors with stark photography. Due to the success of Twilight, paranormal romance now rules the young adult section.
And it had me thinking, what about the guys?
YA Lit has grown into something impressive in the past ten years, but it’s always had a female slant (children’s literature on the other hand, is quite different), often leaving male readers to look elsewhere, or drop reading all together. But if you’re willing to look past the majority of the section (whether the covers be pastel pink or covered with vampires) there are many great books out there that will appeal to guys. The point of this five on the fifth is to list five that are my personal favorites. The books listed below have male protagonists, speak of issues that appeal to male readers, and have crossover potential for female readers (like me!). That’s not to say that men can’t read books with female protagonists, or that speak of women’s issues, but one of the best ways to bring readers to a genre is to let them know that you're covering issues they care about.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Genre- contemporary fiction
Summary- You wouldn't think a story of a young American Indian suffering under immense poverty on an Indian reservation would be a funny read. Believe it or not it's one of the funniest books I've ever read, as well as one of the most heartbreaking. Junior choose to defy tradition attending school off the reservation. Here he is able to start a new life, which he documents in his journal in both print and pictures.
One More Thing- This book was one of my top 15 reads of 2008
Feed by M.T. Anderson
Genre- Sci-Fi
Summary- Titus lives in a world where you can travel to the moon for fun, and the Internet is loaded directly into your head through a feed. He doesn’t think too much of the consequences of his feed until he meets a strange girl who hasn’t had hers for quite as long, and is more willing to question the benefits of having the entire world of the internet at only a thought away.
One More Thing- M.T. Anderson’s Thirsty is a good alternative to Twilight for guys looking for a unique vampire read.
Going Bovine by Libba Bray
Genre- contemporary fiction (kinda)
Summary- Cameron Smith does his best to coast through school and life with minimal effort. That is, until he discovers that he has mad cow disease, his brain is being turned into Swiss cheese, and he doesn't have long to live. Cameron is, as you many expect, not feeling very good about this turn of events. So when a fairy named Dulice offers him that chance to find a cure, he jumps at it. With a game-obsessed hypochondriac Little Person as his companion, Cameron embarks on a road trip that will involves rescuing a missing scientist, Mardi Gras at New Orleans, a cult of happiness, snow globes, reality TV, fire giants, and a lawn gnome that claims to be the Norse god Balder.
One More thing- Going Bovine is also the Printz Winner for 2010!
Read my review
Looking for Alaska by John Green
Genre- contemporary fiction
Summary- Miles is tired of his humdrum existence, and is looking for a new start at Culver Creek Boarding School. After meeting his new roommate, The Colonel, Miles gains a new identity (the nickname “Pudge”) and falls head over heels in love with the beautiful (and unavailable) Alaska Young. Miles finds himself caught up in a world of elaborate pranks, complicated romance, and religion class. Then, mid-year, the unexpected happens, and Miles knows that life will never be the same.
One More Thing- John Green’s books fit into this category really well. An Abundance of Katherine’s is more lighthearted, but also good (my review)
Read my review
I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak
Genre- contemporary fiction
Summary- Nineteen-year-old Ed Kennedy’s life has been somewhat disappointing so far. The underage cab driver is unlucky in love, has a mother that cannot stand him, and he lives in a crummy place with a smelly dog named the Doorman. He’s not really sure how he managed to stop that bank robbery, nor does he know how to react when he starts to receive aces in the mail. Each has three tasks listed that he must complete. The task could be something nice, like reading to a sweet old lady. Or it could be something more dangerous, like stopping an alcoholic man from abusing his wife. As Ed works his way through the diamonds, clubs, spades and hearts, he changes someone’s lives with every task, but he also changes himself. As the tasks continue he can’t help but wondering, who could be sending him these cards?
One More Thing- Markus Zusak’s beautiful historical fiction epic The Book Thief, is also relatively gender neutral and highly enjoyable.
Read my review
I'd be happy to see if anyone else has any suggestions, especially if they're in other genres. I feel as if this month is a little too slanted towards modern day fiction.
And it had me thinking, what about the guys?
YA Lit has grown into something impressive in the past ten years, but it’s always had a female slant (children’s literature on the other hand, is quite different), often leaving male readers to look elsewhere, or drop reading all together. But if you’re willing to look past the majority of the section (whether the covers be pastel pink or covered with vampires) there are many great books out there that will appeal to guys. The point of this five on the fifth is to list five that are my personal favorites. The books listed below have male protagonists, speak of issues that appeal to male readers, and have crossover potential for female readers (like me!). That’s not to say that men can’t read books with female protagonists, or that speak of women’s issues, but one of the best ways to bring readers to a genre is to let them know that you're covering issues they care about.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Genre- contemporary fiction
Summary- You wouldn't think a story of a young American Indian suffering under immense poverty on an Indian reservation would be a funny read. Believe it or not it's one of the funniest books I've ever read, as well as one of the most heartbreaking. Junior choose to defy tradition attending school off the reservation. Here he is able to start a new life, which he documents in his journal in both print and pictures.
One More Thing- This book was one of my top 15 reads of 2008
Feed by M.T. Anderson
Genre- Sci-Fi
Summary- Titus lives in a world where you can travel to the moon for fun, and the Internet is loaded directly into your head through a feed. He doesn’t think too much of the consequences of his feed until he meets a strange girl who hasn’t had hers for quite as long, and is more willing to question the benefits of having the entire world of the internet at only a thought away.
One More Thing- M.T. Anderson’s Thirsty is a good alternative to Twilight for guys looking for a unique vampire read.
Going Bovine by Libba Bray
Genre- contemporary fiction (kinda)
Summary- Cameron Smith does his best to coast through school and life with minimal effort. That is, until he discovers that he has mad cow disease, his brain is being turned into Swiss cheese, and he doesn't have long to live. Cameron is, as you many expect, not feeling very good about this turn of events. So when a fairy named Dulice offers him that chance to find a cure, he jumps at it. With a game-obsessed hypochondriac Little Person as his companion, Cameron embarks on a road trip that will involves rescuing a missing scientist, Mardi Gras at New Orleans, a cult of happiness, snow globes, reality TV, fire giants, and a lawn gnome that claims to be the Norse god Balder.
One More thing- Going Bovine is also the Printz Winner for 2010!
Read my review
Looking for Alaska by John Green
Genre- contemporary fiction
Summary- Miles is tired of his humdrum existence, and is looking for a new start at Culver Creek Boarding School. After meeting his new roommate, The Colonel, Miles gains a new identity (the nickname “Pudge”) and falls head over heels in love with the beautiful (and unavailable) Alaska Young. Miles finds himself caught up in a world of elaborate pranks, complicated romance, and religion class. Then, mid-year, the unexpected happens, and Miles knows that life will never be the same.
One More Thing- John Green’s books fit into this category really well. An Abundance of Katherine’s is more lighthearted, but also good (my review)
Read my review
I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak
Genre- contemporary fiction
Summary- Nineteen-year-old Ed Kennedy’s life has been somewhat disappointing so far. The underage cab driver is unlucky in love, has a mother that cannot stand him, and he lives in a crummy place with a smelly dog named the Doorman. He’s not really sure how he managed to stop that bank robbery, nor does he know how to react when he starts to receive aces in the mail. Each has three tasks listed that he must complete. The task could be something nice, like reading to a sweet old lady. Or it could be something more dangerous, like stopping an alcoholic man from abusing his wife. As Ed works his way through the diamonds, clubs, spades and hearts, he changes someone’s lives with every task, but he also changes himself. As the tasks continue he can’t help but wondering, who could be sending him these cards?
One More Thing- Markus Zusak’s beautiful historical fiction epic The Book Thief, is also relatively gender neutral and highly enjoyable.
Read my review
I'd be happy to see if anyone else has any suggestions, especially if they're in other genres. I feel as if this month is a little too slanted towards modern day fiction.