Through Book Tok, it seems like YA Contemporary novels are becoming more and more popular. People can’t get enough of them!
Now, what makes a book considered to be a YA Contemporary novel? Well, according to the Wikipedia definition, “Contemporary literature is literature which is generally set after World War II.” In short, a YA contemporary novel is pretty much any book that takes place in the 2000s and involves some sort of romance or coming-of-age story.
Want to know which ones you should read? Here are the top 5 best YA Contemporary Novels.
‘The Hate U Give’ By: Angie Thomas
Considering everything that has been going on in the United States, ‘The Hate U Give’ is a powerful and revolutionary book that brings awareness to Police Brutality and the racism that many Black people face in the United States. It tells the story of Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter who witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend at the hands of a police officer.
‘Eleanor & Park’ By: Rainbow Rowell
Eleanor is a chubby 16-year-old girl with curly red hair who wears men’s clothes with unusual accessories. Park is a half-Korean 16-year-old boy who meets Eleanor on the first day of school by letting her sit next to him on the bus. The two connect through their love of 80’s music, sparking a love story.
‘The Fault in Our Stars’ By: John Green
‘The Fault in Our Stars’ is a book about a teenage girl who has been diagnosed with lung cancer. When she attends a cancer support group, she meets a young quirky boy named Augustus Waters. With their growing friendship comes a growing romance filled with challenges and love.
‘It’s Kind of A Funny Story’ By: Ned Vizzini
‘It’s Kind of A Funny Story’ tells the story of an ambitious New York City teenager, Craig Gilner, and his depression. One night, when it’s all starting to feel like too much, Craig decides to check himself into an adult psychiatric unit, where he meets different people and learns their stories. It’s a beautiful coming-of-age story that everyone should read at least once.
Since You’ve Been Gone By: Morgan Matson
This novel tells the story of Emily Hughes’ and her unexpected summer adventure. After Emily’s best friend Sloane vanishes, Emily is left with a list of 13 insane challenges that Emily would never do, but now has to.
