AboutKit Willihnganz Expertise I can answer questions concerning both the general history of the young adult genre and questions about specific books. I'm happy to recommend books, both to readers and to parents looking for books to give their children. I have a limited knowledge of the personal lives of authors (trivia, etc.) but will do my best to find the information you want.
Please do NOT send me your homework questions. I won't answer them.
Experience I have been reading young adult fiction since I was nine years old, and written five (unpublished) young adult novels. I am currently pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in writing, concentrating on writing for children and young adults, at Spalding University.
Organizations The Kent Society Homeopathy Study Group, the Classics of Literature Book Group, and the Modern Fiction Book Group (leader).
Publications Calliope, Odyssey
Education/Credentials B.A. Theatrical Linguistics (minor in Russian and East European Studies) at Indiana University. Currently pursuing a M.F.A. in writing with a concentration in writing for children and young adults. I'm also a licensed facilitator of Women Writing for (a) Change.
Awards and Honors Phi Beta Kappa, graduated Suma Cum Laude, won first place in the Indiana University R.P.S. Short Story Contest, and won third place in the 2004 Women Who Write Prose Competition.
Question Hello
My daughter (13) is a great reader (tested 2 grades a head). I'm looking for
good books that you can't put down. There is so much trash out here in
books. It's getting harder to find GOOD books that don't have Black magic,
killing,sex,ect..... Please no Harry Potter!
She likes books that are funny,stories that you make your own ending,,diary
books,orphaned books. I'm open to suggestion of other books.
PS. At night I have to tell her toput the book down and go to bed.
Answer Dear Tae,
This is a difficult recommendation, because your daughter is 13 and a lot of the issues she's inevitably facing (whether at home, at school, or simply aware of in the community) involve intense and sometimes controversial issues, which it sounds like you don't want her reading.(Keep in mind that she's probably old enough to pick out her own books by now.) And to clarify, Harry Potter is not a story about black magic, it's a fantasy story about a bunch of Christian kids who look forward to Christmas and Easter holidays and happen to have magic powers and use them exclusively for good.
I do agree that there is a huge amount of trash out there for young adult readers, such as the "Gossip Girls" and "A-List" series (although I'm more offended by the dreadful writing than the inclusion of sex and foul language--I was shocked by how DULL these books are).
But those things aside, it sounds like your best bet are historical novels. I'd suggest:
*A Coalition of Lions, by Elizabeth E. Wein
*The Bronze Bow, by Elizabeth George Speare (one of the best YA novels of all time, with a Christian slant)
*Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry (actually, anything by Lowry)
In terms of contemporary fiction:
*Swallowing Stones, by Joyce McDonald
*The Spirit Window, by Joyce Sweeney
*Flight 116 Is Down, or The Face on the Milk Carton, by Caroline B. Cooney
*Any of Lurlene McDaniels's books, which almost all focus on the stories of teens facing life-threatening or terminal illnesses
