Sunday, November 28, 2010

You Recommend - CONTEMPORARY FICTION


Calling all fellow reviewers/bloggers! I need yall's help big time!
For two years I've read almost exclusively YA, and especially YA with some kind of fantasy elements: either high fantasy, paranormal, etc.
So I really don't know what's out there, contemp-wise. But I'd love to find out!

Would you help a girl out and name some great contemp books that you liked?
Please?

... Here's where I'm going to be a pain in the butt, though (sorry!)
I'd really like for the recommendations to be "clean," or at least, *minor* sexual content/drug-and-alcohol content, please. Nothing too gritty, like Thirteen Reasons Why or The DUFF or anything like that. The reason I'm being picky is because I'm going to put these rec's on my "local blog" for middle school/high school kids and their parents, and I'd feel comfortable recommending stuff that would be appropriate and suitable for as many kids as possible :)
Thank you guys so much! I really appreciate it :D

15 shout-outs!:

Unknown said...

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan, The Lonely Hearts Club by Eulberg, and Heist Society by Ally Carter

The Happy Booker said...

Contemporary fiction isn't really my genre of choice either. However, every now and again, I come across one that I simply have to read, and I'm a sucker for any book that has a whole lot of southern charm. The one I read this year that I absolutely loved was "Saving CeeCee Honeycutt" by Beth Hoffman. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6617928-saving-ceecee-honeycutt
If you decide to read it, let me know what you think! :-)

Allison said...

anything by Sarah Dessen - but especially The Truth About Forever. Other ones of hers that stand out for me are Just Listen and Along for the Ride.

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson.

Audrey (holes In My brain) said...

Totally agree with Allison :)
I'd also rec any of the contemps by Melina Marchetta (like Saving Francesca and Jellicoe Road)
John Green books! Love them: Paper Towns, An Abundance of Katherines, Looking For Alaska (it's has some mature scenes though)
If I Stay by Gayle Forman (it's pretty clean but emotional)
the Suite Scarlett series by Maureen Johnson
The Body Finder by Kimberley Derting (kinda paranormal-ish though..)

brave chickens said...

Here's a short list of clean (mostly!) YA contemp fiction. There's a mix, such as contemp with travel, mystery, family/friendship issues and even celebrity.

'Lola Rose' and 'The Diamond Girls' by Jacqueline Wilson

'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time' by Mark Haddon

'My Big Birkett' by Lisa Shanahan

'Kiss My Book' by Jamie Michaels

'My Life Starring Mum' and 'Hollywood Bliss: my life so far' by Chloe Rayban

'Missing Abby', 'Child X', 'Kat Got Your Tongue', 'Breakfast at Sadie's' all four are by Lee Weatherly

'The Great Call of China' by Cynthia Liu

and... any book by the author Cathy Cassidy.

Melissa (i swim for oceans) said...

I put a few in my last comment, but I'd recommend

The Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin

I Heart You, You Haunt Me by Lisa Schroeder (it's in verse novel form though)

Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers (true take on high school bullying)

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan

Amelia said...

Lol thanks for all the suggestions guys. I am a little surprised by other definitions of "clean," though. John Greens books are not clean, and I personally could not recommend them. Neither is Will Grayson or If I Stay or The Sky is Everywhere... Maybe I should just stick with fantasy/paranormal

Jamie said...

I enjoyed Please Excuse Vera Dietz by AS King. I thought it was decently clean. If I Stay by Gayle Forman was another good one. I've heard good things about the Pretty Little Liars series but I can't vouch for how clean they are!

j said...

And Then Everything Unraveled and And Then I Found Out the Truth by Jennifer Sturman were clean and fun YAs.

As Easy as Falling Off the Center of the Earth by Lynne Rae Perkins is a fun one that boys will like too. It was so clean it read like a Middle grade to me.

The Lonely Hearts Club starts out with the MC wanting to have sex with her BF, but when she finds him cheating, she swears off all boys. It's a great one for girls with it's girl power-ness. Not sure if that would work for you or not.

That is all the contemps I can think of now. I could name a bunch of clean fantasy YAs, but I am sure you know them all! :) God luck!

Kath said...

Amelia- here are a few clean reads you might enjoy....

How to take the ex out of ex-boyfriend by Janette Rallison (anything by Rallison is super cute and really clean)

Books by Tina Ferraro or Ally Carter, the ones I've read have all been clean.

Troy High by Shana Noris

Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs

danya said...

Just wanted to say, thanks for your nice comments on my Nevermore review! So glad you enjoyed the review style :)

Bookish in a Box said...

The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg and Princess for Hire by Lindsey Leavitt are my favorites.

Lale said...

I'd 100% recommend 'Amy & Roger's Epic Detour' by Morgan Matson. It was sweet and funny with well developed characters- always a winner :)

Mari - Escape In A Book said...

I LOVED Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta but I'm not sure how clean it needs to be? The mother of the main character have been working on the street and did drugs.

Either way I would recommend that you read it for the love of reading, it is a wonderful book.

CHRISTIE said...

Anna and the French Kiss was amazing and I’d consider it very clean compared to other contemps I’ve read.

 
Blog designed by Dreamy Blog Designs using Joifa Designs Birght Night and Cozy kit