Eight Young Adult books worth a look

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By Sara Miranda
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If you're not revising for the on-going HKDSE, then make the most of your Easter break by catching up on eight of the (soon-to-be) biggest titles in recent YA releases.

By Sara Miranda |
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When a Young Adult book blows up, it really makes a scene. And there's nothing worse than being the last person to hear about it. If you felt that way about The Fault in Our Stars or Divergent, we're here to help. Sit back, relax and curl up with any one of these eight books - they're all on the verge of becoming the next big thing.

Fallen

By Lauren Kate

This book was published in 2009, but it's set to hit cinemas sometime this year. Fallen tells the story of Lucinda Price and Daniel Grigori, two students at the Sword & Cross Reform School. To Luce, Daniel is the only ray of sunshine in a school full of dull students. But Daniel wants nothing to do with her, and Luce can't accept it, even though the consequences are dangerous.

Eleanor & Park

By Rainbow Rowell

If you haven't heard about this book already, you will soon - DreamWorks bought the rights to it last year. This unconventional love story tells the tale of Eleanor and Park, star-crossed lovers who take on their crazy secondary school and emotional family lives in 1986. It's jam-packed with first-love and awkward moments. In other words, it's awesome.

Afterworlds

By Scott Westerfeld

If you're a fan of Westerfeld's 2005 hit novel Uglies, you'll want to pick up his new read. In an oddly relatable plot, aspiring author Darcy Patel puts college on hold and moves to New York City to publish her YA novel, Afterworlds. In true YA form, Darcy falls in love as her novel unfolds. It's the perfect book to read while graduation is looming.

Let It Snow

By John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle

Perfectly appropriate for those wishing it was still winter, this three-part book is a great read. Caught in a severe snowstorm, the residents of Gracetown must make the most of the terrible winter weather. Sound familiar? Each author writes a unique, interconnected love story, which makes this book different from most YA literature. Let It Snow might make you wish summer would never come back.

Unbroken

By Laura Hillenbrand

The movie version of this biography hit cinemas in December, and the book itself has been featured on The New York Times bestseller list. This powerful, true story follows the life of Louis Zamperini, a former Olympian and veteran of the second world war. Growing up, Louis was a total bad boy who found peace in running. After tackling the Berlin Olympics, he went to war and survived the unimaginable when his plane went down in the Pacific Ocean. It doesn't fit the YA mould, but this book is sure to suck you in.

Autumn Falls

By Bella Thorne

In her debut novel, Blended, actress Bella Thorne introduces readers to some of her personal life experiences through the book's main character, Autumn Falls. With her clumsy personality and new-girl status, secondary school is a nightmare for Autumn. Things fall to an all-time low when she finds out her crush is part of the popular crowd. But as she writes in her journal, all of her wishes start coming true. This book marks the first in a series, so jump on the bandwagon now!

We Were Liars

By E. Lockhart

Named a New York Times bestseller, this book follows a series of spooky events that unfold on a private island off the coast of Cape Cod, in the eastern US. Heiress Cadence Sinclair Eastman spends the summer there with her family, but after a mysterious accident, she's left with no memory of what happened. To make things even weirder, her family won't discuss the events of that unfortunate day. If you're into suspense, this book is a must-read. And with an insanely twisted ending, We Were Liars is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.

 

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

By Ransom Riggs

This eerie story is making its way to the big screen next year, so you still have time to say you read the book first. Unfortunate family circumstances take 16-year-old Jacob to a desolate island off the coast of Wales. That's where he discovers Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, an abandoned orphanage. During his self-guided tour of this strange institution, Jacob learns a lot about the children - and realises they might still be alive. This creepy-crawly novel will send chills down your spine.

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