T he setting is usually contemporary, with social dynamics that readers recognise. It doesn’t mean that the action has to be mundane. There can be romance or mystery or adventure within realistic fiction. The key is that the story is easy to relate to. Characters encounter problems that we — the readers — might be grappling with ourselves, and the choices those characters make can help us reflect on our own lives. Most realistic fiction is aimed at young adults, featuring characters in their late teens. Here we select some of the best examples, recommended by writers and librarians.
“This book is important because it bears witness. It holds within its pages some of the urgency and anger of the Black Lives Matter movement and could even be an act of resistance in and of itself. The book is such a relevant read… We know the names and the statistics when it comes to police brutality in the USA but this story makes readers actually feel it.” Read more...
The best books on Interracial Relationships
Stephen Chbosky's YA cult classic unfolds as a series of letters from 16-year-old student Charlie to an unnamed 'friend,' bringing the reader the sense of being in an intimate, confidence-sharing relationship with the troubled protagonist.
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“Speak is a popular novel written from the point-of-view of a young woman who is sexually assaulted in high school. Reading Speak will help boys understand what they shouldn’t do. Speak is a book that should be read by every teenager to begin a conversation about how to approach sex without doing harm.” Read more...
The best books on Sex and Teenagers
Jennifer Hirsch ,
Anthropologist
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds is a novel in verse, aimed at young adults. As well as becoming a New York Times bestseller, Long Way Down has won a string of prestigious awards, including a Newbery Honor. The action takes place in sixty seconds, as a 15-year-old boy called Will decides whether or not to shoot the person who killed his brother. The book is "dedicated to the young brothers and sisters in detention centers around the country, the ones I've seen and the ones I haven't. You are loved."
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“It’s romantic, and it’s funny, and it’s entertaining—but there’s a deep discussion of identity and trauma as well. What I’m learning is that romance isn’t always cotton candy; it can delve into these complex and dark topics.” Read more...
The Best LGBTQ+ Romance Books
Aaron Aceves ,
Novelist
15 year old Molly, who is growing up on an East London housing estate, is determined to be a boxer. Molly’s brother Denny has agreed to train her, but on the day of her first match he suddenly goes missing, the main suspect in a brutal assault case. She is certain Denny is innocent, but how can she help him prove it? Molly is a very relatable character who readers care about, and the writing style is a dynamic mixture of verse and prose. This is a fresh story of overcoming adversity to follow your dream, combined with a mystery.
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“It is a local story rooted in Northern Ireland, but I think that it’s a novel for an international audience. With themes of prejudice and radicalisation it speaks to our time, wherever there is conflict and polarisation. Aidan and Iona live in peace time, but their whole world is overshadowed by the past… This novel is about how teenagers can escape from that sort of inherited identity conflict.” Read more...
Great Teen Reads from Ireland’s Great Reads Awards
Breege O'Brien ,
Librarian
“It’s about a girl called Georgia who is just about to start university. She’s never had a relationship and she’s never had any sexual or romantic feelings, never had a crush on anybody before. She gets to university and thinks she’s going to find love and it’s going to be great. It’s one of those books that I still feel like I’m in it, I can still imagine those characters, like I could walk past Georgia on the street. It feels very real, very visceral, very emotional. I think it’s brilliant.” Read more...
The Best LGBT Novels for Young Adults
Cassie Kemp ,
Librarian
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