(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best teen family issues fiction books

1.) Something that is blue.
This Neblua Funko Pop is not only cute, but also BLUE.
Because Mother's Day is around the corner, how about this gorgeous necklace?
Not only that, but are you a fidget kinda preson? Then this is the perfect thing for you!

2.) Something that says summer (literally or figuratively).
Gotta love summer! You know what comes with summer? Sunflowers!
For some reason, pineapples really remind me of summer. I can't really say why. They just, like, SCREAM "summer" to me.
Summer, to me, also means relaxing with a good book. And what better book than the next one in the Mara Dyer series by Michelle Hodkin?

3.) Something food related that is unusual.
Not sure if this counts as unusual, but I thought it was quite abnormal...
Also, I can't say I've ever seen a water melon cake-topper, though I'm no expert on cake toppers.
Also, if horror movies and the undead are your kinda thing, how about a side-dish of zombie?


4.) Something you want to gift to someone else, and tell me why.
I really want to gift this beautiful Pop moment to my brother, because he's amazing and deserves all the things.
I also want to gift this soundtrack to my sister because she's always singing, and I know it'd makes her happy.

5.) A book I should read! I am an avid reader, so take your best shot and tell me why I need to read it!
Oh my gosh, you are totally asking the right person. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is one of the best books that has ever existed. Not only that, but it's a series! Also, my username is taken from the first page of the book, so that must mean that it's good. It's got suspense, kids with powers, and some horror themes. It's just overall a great book. PLEASE check it out!
Another good book series is the Red Queen series by Victoria Aveyard. The final book is coming out this year, so I'm excited!
Why stop there? Another great book is All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven. It will break your heart, but in a good way. It's a beautifully written book. I'm not sure what genre you like, but it reminded me of the genre of books like The Fault in Our Stars and Everything, Everything.
Another great series is The Darkest Minds series by Alexandra Bracken. Not only is a great series, but there's also a movie coming out in August that's based off the books! Better get reading. ;)

6.) An item that is less than a dollar, including shipping... that is not jewelry, nail polish, and or hair related!
These are totally adorable AND affordable! Talk about a deal.
Like writing? This notebook would be the excellent choice for the writer within! Or just someone who likes taking notes.
Have a cat? How 'bout some good ol' catfood?

7.) Something related to dogs. (Bonus point if it works for my GSD)
I don't know what GSD means I'M SORRY! But here is the cutest alligator plushie. Like if I was a dog I would legit want it for myself.
I stumbled across this adorable squirrel set thing and I am internally squeeing at the cuteness.
Okay by now I really want a dog. Somebody send me one pronto. Here's an adorable taco plush, because heck it's cute and funny and I really want a puppy.

8.) Something that is not useful, but so awesome you must have it.
Oh boy, you shouldn't have asked. It's the most expensive thing on my wishlist, and it's beautiful. I know, I know, it's a book, but it's more than that! It's a HUGE book with photographs from my favorite, most-loved movie series! Seriously. Words cannot describe how cool of a book it is. And there's a limited number of them made, and there's only 3 left in stock. But I digress. It's not what one would consider useful, but it sure is awesome.
Wait, what's that? I haven't mentioned Kylo Ren in 2 minutes? Oh boy, better change that. Yes, I love Kylo Ren. I'm aware that is a touchy subject with people. I don't care. I have a shrine in my room for Kylo Ren. This pillow is not what most people would call necessary, though honestly I would probably beg to differ.
Pretty much everyone can agree that Funko Pops aren't necessary, but they are so much fun oh my gosh. Like, for instance, this somewhat expensive yet cool Darth Vader Pop.

9.) A movie everyone should watch at least once in their life. Why?
I love movies. With a passion. But my favorite movies of all time, are The Hunger Games movies. If that wasn't evident by the massive expensive book above, then I don't know what is. But honestly, they're great movies. I know they're not for everyone, but they hold a special place in my heart.
Someone recently gifted me Moulin Rouge, and honestly it is so good. So, I also, of course, recommend that. It has singing, great vocalists, great songs, and a great plot. It also has Ewan McGregor, so what's not to like?
I saw Logan (the final Wolverine movie in theaters, and it is such a beautiful movie. Very sad, but very beautiful. The best Wolverine movie in my opinion. 10/10 would watch/cry again.
Another great futuristic movie is V for Vendetta. It's a well-known movie, and it's very good.
If you're into horror, I love the most recent Carrie movie. I know it's not for everyone, but I really liked it.

10.) Something that would be useful when the zombies attack. Explain.
I mean, I think it's pretty self-explanatory, but this bat would make a great weapon in the apocalypse. Also, if you're into leading an army and "saving" people, this bat will probably get you there. (Ahem I totally didn't just buy this bat for myself cough.)
Not sure if bright green is the way to go in the apocalypse, but I'm sure a bow and arrow set would keep you alive for a little bit. Especially if you happen to be Daryl Dixon (though I guess he technically has a crossbow... I digress).
Don't try and tell me that in the apocalypse you won't get peckish. Everyone knows that snacks will be the first to go. Better stock up on those sweet, sweet snacks.

You're a little bit of a kiss-ass, aren't ya? I like it. That will work very well for you in the future. :P

As for the reading, try reading some fiction about people who are your age or a little older. In my experience, that can give a more subtle lesson. Sometimes subtle is good. Something that's not really mainstream (that I know of), but that I read a couple years ago (at the recommendation of my dad, who was in his early 60's when he read it) is Deadville by Ron Koertge. It wasn't mind-altering for me or anything, but it was really enjoyable. I didn't think it was one of those YA books that's dumbed down to the lowest common denominator. It deals with drugs and popularity and relationships and friendships and how easily everything can change. I just thought it seemed very true to life without throwing around a lot of preachy morals. It might not be something you'd enjoy, but I did...in my mid- to late-twenties.

As for your parents, I completely understand what you feel about them not understanding because things are so different. Here's a secret though - things really aren't THAT different. I'm not telling you that you should just suck it up and listen to what your parents say, because I know that I didn't when I was your age. My parents were the enemy. The information I gave them was only to be used to gain some advantage in the game of chess that was me trying to be a grown up and them not letting me.

However, as I've gotten older, I've learned that Holy Shit, my parents do get it! I was about to dwell on it, but it's kinda pointless. Fact is, if you really need help getting through something. Talk to your parents. They may not understand 100% where you are coming from, but they can give you good advice and make sure you are thinking through the things that need to be thought through.

Hell, here's a story for you. I had an off-and-on boyfriend my senior year of high school. Very off and on. As in, neither my parents nor my friends could keep up with whether or not we were in love or hated each other. Ahh, hormones. Yay! Anyway, when prom started to get close we were broken up and I wound up going with another guy. I kinda dated the guy but felt badly about it because I knew I wasn't ever going to be serious about him because I was in love with the other guy. My mom told me - and I specifically remember these words, "Fluffy, sometimes you just have to play the game." Are you kidding me? My mom was supposed to be all about true love and happily ever after. Not dating someone just for the sake of playing the game. Turns out, she was right. I went to prom with guy B. I talked to guy A at prom for a second. Asked him if he was having a good time. He wasn't. I told him it sucked to be him because I was having a blast and walked away. We were back together...umm...been a little while now...maybe the next week, maybe two weeks. Doesn't really matter. Turns out, I just had to play the game. Like I said, most shocking advice I ever got from my mother. You'd be surprised what your parents will tell you to do if you give them a chance.

As for your friends not getting it, meh. Talk to the ones who will talk back to you. The ones who will share what they're going through even if it's not what you're going through. I had a great guy friend when I was 15. I had a huge crush on my best friend's older brother. I obviously couldn't talk to her about this. One of my guy friends liked my crush's girlfriend. We could talk about that stuff together because we understood that neither of us could say a word about it to anyone else. You have a girlfriend, so obviously that isn't going to be the way you make that friend, but I could talk to that guy about everything. I knew he couldn't and wouldn't say anything or try to be spiteful about it and so we became free to talk about all sorts of stuff that we wouldn't share with just anyone. I was also fortunate enough to be an athlete on various teams that were all fairly close knit. Teamwork is all about trusting each other. I think that trust really goes a long way in being able to be open with each other. Plus, you spend a lot of time together, so you can't help but know each other really well. My life changed when I joined a club rowing team. That might not be an available option for you, but that team was so much closer than any basketball or tennis team I had ever been on in my life and it was 85 people. If you don't already have something you are passionate about, then find something. It will change your life for the better. It will introduce you to people and things you otherwise never would have known about. Having a shared passion with someone can open up all sorts of floodgates of communication.

I completely understand that you feel misunderstood. Again, everyone does as one point or another. Maybe you should start looking into taking some classes at a local college or community college as part of your schoolwork for your senior year. I get that you are probably a rising junior, but it's not too early to start looking into that. Maybe you just need to surround yourself with people who are a couple years older. You seem pretty smart, so I would think this could be an option.

I'm really happy you found strength in my first response. It makes me so happy to feel like I might be helping you in any way at all, even if it only lasts tonight/today/whatever time it is for you. I was once a psychology major who switched to accounting and wound up with a Psych minor. This is adding to my desire to go back to school and get the degree in psychology. You might be helping me out more than I'm helping you.

I saw that you're always looking for YA with strong female characters? Let me crack my knuckles, I love exercising the Masters degree I never get to use.

• Legend by Marie Lu is hugely wonderful. It's a 3-book dystopian trilogy, but the girl is kick-ass. This is probably my favorite YA dystopian.
  
• Matched by Allie Condy - in case you haven't picked this one up yet, it's a dystopian "arranged marriage break out of your shell" bit. It's pretty good.
  
• Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins. This was SO GOOD. Everyone needs to read this book. It's got a kick-ass heroine, a hilarious and dry wit, it's soulful, it's sweet, it's got twists I actually DID NOT EXPECT!! A+ would wipe my memory and reread. (she's a female paladin, need I say more?!)
  
• You gotta have the Vampire Academy series as well. I thought it was just going to be a silly "vampire boarding school" book but it's actually a whole lot more.
  
• Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins is an amazing YA book dealing with living overseas, finding love and home ... it's pretty great. Its sequel (Lola & the Boy Next Door) is also great, for different reasons.
  
• Love Letters to the Dead is about a girl who writes letters to deceased celebrities, and it helps her cope with her older sister's death. A really relateable read.
  
• My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick is a lovely, sweet book about finding family everywhere.
  
  I could keep going if you want, just let me know! :D

John Lennon was raised by his aunt and uncle, because they felt his mother wasn't capable of it. One of his younger half-sisters was adopted at birth by a Norwegian couple and he never met her, the other two were brought up by his mother and their dad until she died and they were sent to another aunt. His song "Mother" is about his parents not raising him.

I read a lot of Young Adult books, so here's some:

• Finley and the Foster Brother teenage romance, main character goes into care when her mother is hospitalized. Like most YA romance, you have to like the genre :)
  
• Anne of Green Gables for any kids today who don't know it!
  
• Ballet Shoes is an old UK book about three girls who have been adopted into the same family, and go to ballet school (if old stuff counts, there's quite a lot of British stuff set around world war II, like "The war that saved my life" and "Goodnight Mr Tom")
  
• The Great Gilly Hopkins, now a 2016 movie with a great cast, a 12yo girl who wants out of foster care
  
• Dicey's Song, the 2nd book in a series. In the first book, Dicey (a teenage girl) managed to get herself and her siblings to their grandmother's home after their mother disappears ("Homecoming"). This book is about the experience of settling in. It's part of a whole series, the Tillerman Cycle, that covers people in and around the family for years. Great books. My favorite is The Runner, book 4, but that's nothing to do with foster care.
  
  I haven't read these but heard strong recommendations:
  
  
• Returnable Girl, a 13 year old girl in foster care. This won a bunch of awards, but seems pretty predictable
  
• The Last Chance Texaco, I've seen it recommended as a solid story about a kid in a group home
  
  not quite what you asked for, but a few from the perspective of kids with foster siblings:
  
  
• Kinda Like Brothers, a kids book about a 12 year old boy and his foster siblings.
  
• The trouble with Donovan Croft, a boy and his new foster brother, in England.
  
  And some movies, besides Anne of Green Gables and The Great Gilly Hopkins above
  
  
  
• December Boys is a movie about four boys in a (1950's Australia) group home that I feel like is mostly famous for having Daniel Radcliffe in it.
  
• And here's a list of movies recommended by foster alumni. I had totally forgotten that the kid in Free Willy was in foster care!
  
  edit to add: Far From the Tree, an adopted teenage girl learns about her siblings, one adopted and one not.

Well, in that case!

• Welcome to the World, Baby Girl! by Fannie Flagg
  
  This is my favorite book of all time. It draws you in and makes you feel like the characters are family. I also really enjoy the underlying themes of ethics in TV and new technology contrasted against small-town America. Sad and funny and heartwarming.
  
  
• Blankets, by Craig Thompson
  
  The autobiographical comic of a teenage boy and his overbearing parents, his relationship with his little brother and his first love. It perfectly captures the confusion of growing up and dealing with the lot life gives you.
  
  
• The Help, by Kathryn Stockett
  
  Wickedly funny, but also a melancholy look at racial tension and prejudice. The audiobook is fantastic!
  
  
• Wicked, by Gregory Maguire
  
  Dark, very wtf, confusing at times, but overall a really cool take on the Wizard of Oz universe. Dark City meets Heat meets Wizard of Oz.
  
  
• The Secret of Platform 13, by Eva Ibbotson
  
  A fun, whimsical story about spoiled children being terrible. Ibbotson's books are all really great in that bad people aren't just misunderstood or lonely. They are also assholes. And everyone calls them on it. It is really refreshing in children's/YA books.
  
  
• The Solitaire Mystery, by Jostein Gaarder
  
  This book changed my teenage existence. It's very simple, yet beautifully crafted. It's everything Alice in Wonderland fans have built that mythos into, without any of the pretentiousness/needing to be zany for zaniness' sake.
  
  
• Deerskin, by Robin McKinley
  
  This is my favorite dark fairy tale. The beginning gets into some heavy stuff, but it has everything that I love: a strong lady protagonist, excellent character growth, and dogs. SO MANY DOGS. Dogs are the real love story.
  
  
• The Raging Quiet, by Sherryl Jordan
  
  I stole this from my high school library because I didn't know where to get my own copy. It's a really excellent look at disability in the middle ages, couched in a very sweet romance.
  
  
• The Blue Castle, by LM Montgomery
  
  This is the ultimate vicarious experience book. The protagonist goes from mousy and trod-upon to "I don't care what you think, I'm gonna run away with misfits and unemployables and have a grand time, thankyouverymuch". It's everything you want to happen in a non-contrived, excellently paced way.
  
  
• Tarzan of the Apes, by Edgar Rice Burroughs
  
  The first of a classic series! They're short, which is nice, and very dated but still so much fun. Tarzan is the ultimate early 20th century Mary-Sue but it works for him.
  
  
• The Mount, by Carol Emshwiller
  
  I really enjoyed the world built in this book. It's silly at times without trying to be, but it's a cool horse-flavored dystopian coming-of-age story.
  
  
• Tamora Pierce's Tortall series (17 books total in 3 quartets, a duo and a trilogy. They can be read separately but I feel chronologically gives the best experience.) This is the first one. They're the ultimate female-lead sword and sorcery books.
  
  The first quartet focuses on a young girl who pretends to be a boy so she can become a knight. The second is about an orphaned country girl who discovers she can communicate with animals just in time to help with a war between humans and immortal monsters. The third is about the first girl allowed to train as a knight and a non-magical war.
  
  The duo is about a spymaster's daughter stuck in a civil war based on the British occupation of India.
  
  The trilogy is set in the past and is a series of intense mysteries/police dramas. Pidgeons are carriers of the dead in this mythos and the main character can hear their voices.

1. gray item. because who doesn't need to keep a pack of Gatorade strapped to your back! [on wishlist]http://www.amazon.com/Sports-Trailrunner-Hydration-Backpack-Bladder/dp/B006JYHFJA/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2NVQK9OBQEJK9&coliid=I2WYDQ9W75X9MC
   
   2)its cheep and it will help you sleep, I think its pretty awesome! I love sleeping with the rain!
   http://www.amazon.com/Rain-Therapy-Rest-Relax-Unwind/dp/B008245WE0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376278734&sr=8-1&keywords=rain+fall+sleep
   
   3)these are soo freaking awesome! little tablets that change your taste buds! I got them once and was able to eat a whole lemon and it tasted sweet and just like lemon aid! really cool experience!
   http://www.amazon.com/mberry-MFT10-Miracle-Fruit-Tablets/dp/B001LXYA5Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376279107&sr=8-1&keywords=mirical+berry
   
   
2. this is for my dad because he is really into with the number pi right now. [on wishlist]
   http://www.amazon.com/Super-Pi-T-shirt-Blk-2XL/dp/B004JKRCMQ/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2NVQK9OBQEJK9&coliid=I53I11B0DGEEB&psc=1
   
   
3. my girlfriend wants to read it! [on wishlist]
   http://www.amazon.com/Burned-Ellen-Hopkins/dp/1416903550/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2NVQK9OBQEJK9&coliid=I1LD6ZH0J4LS6D
   
   6)cheep and good looking!!
   http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B005DV7JZA/sr=8-2/qid=1376279020/ref=olp_tab_new?ie=UTF8&colid=&coliid=&condition=new&me=&qid=1376279020&seller=&sr=8-2
   
   
   7)come on, if you had an iphone you know you would want it.
   http://www.amazon.com/Apple-iPhone-Black-White-Case/dp/B00CTKY6RC/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1376279221&sr=8-9&keywords=awesome+cat
   
   
   
   
4. i thought this would be awesomely cool and make my room real awesome looking! control the lighting from your phone!!! [on wishlist]
   http://www.amazon.com/Multi-Color-LED-Lightbulb-w-Remote/dp/B001JOCXDS/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2NVQK9OBQEJK9&coliid=I7T1UGEXIIX4W
   
   
5. because it is very well done! [on wishlist]
   http://www.amazon.com/Skyfall-Daniel-Craig/dp/B007REV4T8/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2NVQK9OBQEJK9&coliid=I337EPFUIZB7TZ
   
   
6. well its a Katana and its a silent kill and wont attract more zombies! [on wishlist]
   http://www.amazon.com/Musashi-Handmade-Zetsurin-Samurai-Katana/dp/B00168E63W/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2NVQK9OBQEJK9&coliid=I1MMEZJU0KOPQM
   
   
7. from what I've heard this book has some great philosophy in it, and its by the man that holds my favorite quote. “Today is victory over yourself of yesterday; tomorrow is your victory over lesser men.”
   ― Miyamoto Musashi
   http://www.amazon.com/The-Complete-Book-Five-Rings/dp/1590307976/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376279321&sr=8-1&keywords=miyamoto+musashi
   
   
   
   
8. i hate using batteries so this is a must! [on wishlist]
   http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-One-Play-Charge-Kit/dp/B00DBDPOZ4/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2NVQK9OBQEJK9&coliid=I3CIM3292FZ14G
   
   
9. Im a big zombie fan and i am supper hype for this game!! [on wishlist]
   http://www.amazon.com/Dead-Rising-Day-One-Edition-Xbox/dp/B00DB90AHA/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2NVQK9OBQEJK9&coliid=I1QT52XNPP3INH
   
   
10. put your bread in this!!! http://www.amazon.com/Electrolux-ELECTRIC-Laundry-Pedestals-EIFLS60LSS_EIMED60LSS_EPWD15SS/dp/B008BVX4QC/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1376280622&sr=8-9&keywords=washer
    
    
    
    
11. the evil tron! perfect for spooky pranks! [on wishlist]
    http://www.amazon.com/ThinkGeek-Eviltron/dp/B002X8ROD8/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2NVQK9OBQEJK9&coliid=I2LGK14P2YYOQH
    
    
12. Sex Panther. 60% of the time, it works every time
    http://www.amazon.com/Sex-Panther-1-7-oz-Cologne-Spray/dp/B001LNG4YG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376280230&sr=8-1&keywords=sex+panther
    
    
13. id consider this a toy, though I'm not sure how they would feel about it at work! [on wishlist]
    http://www.amazon.com/Assassins-Brotherhood-Auditore-Role-Play-Gauntlet/dp/B00829SW06/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2NVQK9OBQEJK9&coliid=IPNN90SAUHJ1M
    
    
    
14. having this Pen is like having a second brain!
    http://www.amazon.com/Livescribe-Sky-Wi-Fi-Smartpen-APX-00011/dp/B009FU2AW2/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1376349421&sr=8-5&keywords=smartpen
    
    
15. i LOVE one piece and i just started watching it again after a long break! [on wishlist]
    http://www.amazon.com/Piece-Fabric-Scroll-Poster-Inches/dp/B005V5G0R6/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2NVQK9OBQEJK9&coliid=I13FE5IYZNX2I0
    
    
16. its a shirt that lights up when you are near a wifi source!! Its so awesome! [on wishlist]
    http://www.amazon.com/Wi-Fi-Detector-Shirt-Medium-built/dp/B00BL8EIGM/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2NVQK9OBQEJK9&coliid=I4Q5WD2P3YS0O
    
    Made in Oregon!!
    http://www.amazon.com/Rise-Shine-Breakfast-Gift-Set/dp/B0011UNLKY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376276190&sr=8-1&keywords=made+in+oregon
    
    Fear cuts deeper than swords.
    
    (Sorry that the links are not compressed idk how to do it, and I'm on mobile =\ hope its not a problem)
    Thanks for the Awesome Contest!!!
    
    Edit: Updated!
    2nd Edit: #18

This looks pretty entertaining for only $2.99!

I read a bit further down that you love Stephen King. Have you ever read anything by Robert R. McCammon? Swan Song is one of my favorite books of all time. I haven't read the The Stand yet, but a lot of people say Swan Song is very similar. I was completely wrapped up in the characters and their stories when I read it in high school. I've been thinking I need to re-read it soon!

Also, if you like mysteries I strong recommend Harlan Coben. My favorites by him are The Woods and Tell No One.

Thanks for the contest! I love participating in anything that is responsible for spreading book love!

My name is Christine and I have heard SO many good things about the Chaos Walking books. Internet friends rave and rave about them and I would LOVE to experience them. I bought my dad a Nook color for Christmas and had to play around with it so I could teach him how to use it. I've heard such awesome things about the kindle from my friends that have one. This would be a super birthday gift and would definitely help with reading more during the summer.

This is SUCH a nice thing to do. Thank you!! :)

I've read and loved almost all of the recommendations already here (TAMORA PIERCE). But to add some that haven't been mentioned (and trying really hard to not overload you with 20 books at once), I read and reread Robin McKinley's The Hero and the Crown and its prequel so. many. TIMES. Maybe even more than I reread Tamora Pierce. Patricia McKillip, Maria Snyder, Patricia C. Wrede (Dealing with Dragons quartet), Althea Kontis, Francesca Lia Block, Libba Bray and Susan Fletcher (Dragon Chronicles) are similar authors to check out for awesome female-driven fantasy, with varying degrees of lightheartedness. Wrede, Fletcher, Snyder and Kontis all wrote books that lean a little less epic/serious, Block writes a lot in prose that's also a very quick (but more intense) read, McKillip tends to be more wordy but beautifully so, and Bray can kind of go either way depending on the series.

For more contemporary fiction, RACHEL COHN (of "Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist"). Her Gingerbread series has content a good deal more mature than Angus, Thongs, etc., but her style is similarly irreverent and witty and really fun. Seriously, check her out. Sharon Creech's Walk Two Moons is like a much younger version of Cohn, still zingy and sweet. For a quieter modern-day read, Garret Freymann-Weyr writes realistic (more mature) young adult relationships, and introduced me to the idea of bisexuality in a sort of roundabout way.

Julia Alvarez relates stories about the Latina-American experience incredibly well, although I think the first book I read by her takes place solely in the Dominican Republic. According to my reading list, I guess young me got sick of reading about other white people, so I'll add Marjane Satrapi's hilarious graphic novel Persepolis and the more sedate Shabanu series by Suzanne Fisher Staples.

I'd also strongly second comments for Gail Carson Levine, E.L. Konigsberg, and did I mention Tamora Pierce?

(I tried to link a lot of authors to my faves from their work, but I won't be mad if you never look at any of them. Is your reading list long enough now? Also, I know you didn't ask for a ton of fantasy/historical fiction recs, but I think a lot of us defined our teenagerhood by and identified more strongly with one of those series or another.)

tl;dr my top three recs that haven't been mentioned yet are Rachel Cohn, Julia Alvarez, and that one duo by Robin McKinley.

Ellen Hopkins is a really unique author who writes about drug addiction, mental illnesses etc in sort of “poem” form. They’re super easy to ready but highly addicting. Probably written at a young adult level but they hit me really hard when I read them in my early 20’s
impulse is a great place to start
identical is very well written and dives into some intense mental illness
crank (series) is also written in the same style and all about drug addiction

They’re all older and you can probably find them at your local library. They’ll take less than 2 days to read haha

Divergent Series book Although, it's actually called Four.

Does that work? If not, let's go with Daria!

Thanks for the contest! I love this idea.

HOLY CRAP I AM EXCITED TO SHARE THIS!!!

FOR TODAY ONLY THE PROGRAM BY SUZANNE YOUNG IS $1.99!!


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Synopsis:

In Sloane’s world, true feelings are forbidden, teen suicide is an epidemic, and the only solution is The Program.

Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.

Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them.

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I have never seen this have less than 4 out of 5. If you get this and like it, please tell me!


Happy Reading Everyone!

My girl will be a little over 2 when her sister is born. We've been reading her this book from day 1 but she doesn't get it yet. We talk a lot about her sister, how there's a baby in mommy's belly, how she'll be a big sister soon, etc. It's not registering at all. But I expect one day it'll click. Even if it doesn't I don't want to sensor myself or other people around her so I'm just making it a part of our lives even though she won't be here for months. There are going to be a lot of changes for her before baby arrives - moving to her big girl room and out of the crib/nursery, getting rid of her pacifiers, moving to the 2 year old room at daycare. I'm hoping that by talking about everything long before it happens it'll make for an easier transition.

Definitely This series I've been wanting to read the books but haven't got them yet, I know they're good though.

Rotten or The Program are both on the top of my list.

Thank you!

That may have been the one called "The Fear Street Saga" trilogy

Book 1 - The Betrayal

Book 2 - The Secret

Book 3 - The Burning

I always liked the stand alone books like The Cheater or The Wrong Number and the Super Chillers because they were extra long. My favorite was probably Silent Night. I also liked the 99 Fear Street Series or all the books in the Fear Street Cheerleaders series.

When I was in 6th grade, one time the Scholastic book order had this monthly club you could sign up for. Every month they would send you 2 Fear Street books and some other Fear Street/R.L. Stine merchandise like stickers, buttons, or bookmarks, things like that. When I first started, it was great. They would send me the latest one that just came out that month and one of the previous older ones. I did this for a really long time, many many months and built up quite a collection of Fear Street books. However, I think they started running out of books to send me because it ended up becoming they would send me the latest Fear Street and then some other "horror" novel, like non-Fear Street R.L. Stine books, a Christopher Pike book or something like Twins by Caroline B. Cooney. I had so many of these books I was like my own library. After awhile though, the books they were sending got shittier and shittier and they were sending me stuff like some Ichabod Crane/Sleepy Hallow type book and I ended up stopping the monthly book club. Then, a few years later, my mother sold most of them at a yard sale. Now I'm really wishing she had kept them, I would have taken them back. Which is why, I bought a bunch of them again! Now I want to go read a Fear Street book...

Same here! The sagas were my favorite. Especially this one. Man, I loved those books!

The scene where the matriarch and patriarch drink blood together has always stuck with me.

Here they are lol

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is the first of 3 books in the series (the second is out, the third isn't yet) about a girl named Mara who wakes up in the hospital after a building collapses and kills 3 of her friends and she doesn't remember any of it and then weird stuff happens to her afterwards. The first two books are creepy and interesting and really good.

• Dune by Frank Herbert.
  
  
• Riverworld by Philip Jose Farmer - somewhat of a longshot, but something made me think of it.
  
  
• Brave New World by Aldous Huxley.
  
  
• Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card.
  
  
• Battle Royale by Koushun Takami.
  
  
• Ready Player One by Ernest Cline.
  
  
• Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand .
  
  
• Neuromancer by William Gibson.
  
  
• The Running Man by Stephen King.
  
  You might even get a kick out of The Hunger Games or Divergent... And of course 1984 :)

Would it be Gingerbread by Rachel Cohen?

Here's the original cover also.

Hello in there, a big sisters book of waiting. It shows the mommy's belly growing and it has a flap and there's a baby underneath!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1419703714?pc_redir=1407204235&robot_redir=1

Was it Burned by Ellen Hopkins?

http://www.amazon.com/Burned-Ellen-Hopkins/dp/1416903550/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1376264203&sr=8-5&keywords=Ellen+Hopkins

They are very thick books.

Hello in There!: A Big Sister's Book of Waiting (Growing Hearts)

https://www.amazon.com/Hello-There-Sisters-Waiting-Growing/dp/1419703714

Identical by Ellen Hopkins It's written in a freestyle poetry format but the story is FAN-FREAKING-Tastic. It's a story about twins who are treated unequally with a crazy twist you'll never expect.

Buying a book is not about obtaining a possession, but about securing a portal.

The Ask and the Answer

The second in the Chaos Walking Series. I got The Knife of Never Letting Go from the reddit gifts book exchange and I am dying to read the next one but no bookstores near me have it! You should read it if you haven't, it is amazing!