Some YA books that Adults will like more than teens

There are some books that are meant for teens that I think adults like better than teens. Here's a few.

Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin

Fifteen year old Liz is killed in a hit-and-run and goes to Elsewhere, which is basically heaven. There she learns she will live backward from 15 until birth, and then be reincarnated. Liz is not at all happy to be in Elsewhere: she was looking forward to turning 16 and learning to drive.

Good for adults because of the aging in reverse concept. Basically, being able to go back in time with your older brain.



Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt
Doug goes to a school where everyone leaves on Wednesday afternoon for religious eductaion - except for him. He's stuck in the class with a teacher that hates him who makes him read Shakespeare. This book takes place in 1967. A sequel's coming in April 2011 called Okay for Now.






On the Blue Comet by Rosemary Wells
This was a fantastic read. It starts in Chicago at the beginning of the Depression. Oscar and his dad build model railroads... until his dad loses his job and loses their home and is forced to sell the railroads. Oscar's dad goes to California to look for work and Oscar moves in with his aunt. He witnesses a crime and ends up on a train bound for California - with a young Ronald Reagan. The train travels through time and Oscar ends up in 1941 and in 1926. In his travels, he meets Alfred Hitchcock and a very young John F. Kennedy. Normally you don't see illustrations in teen books but this book has some full-page color illustrations that are beautiful and reminiscent of Norman Rockwell. Better for adults than the teens. Teens aren't going to care or get the references to the historical figures.

Stuck in the 70s by D.L. Garfinkle
Another time travel read. Tyler is a nerdy teenager in 1978 until he discovers a hot (and naked) girl in his bathtub. Shay has traveled to 1978 from 2006 and wants to go back. She and Tyler make a deal: she'll help him become popular if he helps her get back to 2006. Absolutely hysterical... but more fun for those of us who actually remember the late 70s than for those who weren't born for another 20+ years.




Unwind by Neal Shusterman
In a future world, parents have the option of "unwinding" their children between their 13th and 18th birthday. The politically correct definition of "unwind" means the child's organs are transferred to other people and all of the child is used to help others. The actuality of it is kids are killed. This story follows three teens who are about to be unwound: Connor's parents find him too difficult and troublesome, Risa is an orphan, and Lev is a tithe, meaning his religious parents chose to unwind him before he was even born. This dystopian novel is full of action and suspense and is horrific in its descriptions of unwinding. Nevertheless, what parent of teenagers hasn't had momentary feelings of wanting to unwind of own children...


Carter Finally Gets It by Brent Crawford
Will Carter is 14. He stutters, has ADD, and he's a virgin. He and his friends are determined to have sex. His older sister gives him awesome dating advice. Carter and his friends are rude and crude and I was rolling on the floor laughing. Carter is definitely not a boy I want dating my 14 year old daughter.

Better for adults than teens mainly because every adult who has read it has loved it but it hasn't circulated as well among teens.



Deadline by Chris Crutcher
Seventeen year old Ben has fatal cancer. He keeps diagnosis secret from family and friends and tries to live the rest of his life to the fullest. I loved the conversations with "Hey-Soos," who is God or Ben's spiritual advisor. It's a tearjerker.