Believe it or not, books labeled “young adult” or “teen” are often read by adults, too. 55 percent of young adult books are bought by adults, according to a 2012 study by Bowker Market Research.
The intensity of emotions that comes from these books brings adult readers back to a time when they felt like they were young and the world was full of possibilities. Teen characters can develop throughout a story, while many adult characters have already become the way they were meant to be. Whether you’re a young adult looking for your next read or an adult wanting to experience a little nostalgia, below are a few thrilling young adult books that you may enjoy:
Divergent by Veronica Roth – In a dystopian future-era Chicago, 16-year-old Beatrice Prior must choose among five predetermined factions to define her identity for the rest of her life, a decision made more difficult when she uncovers powerful secrets and truths about her identity, her family and the order of her society.
Threatened by Eliot Schrefer — Luc is an orphan, living in debt slavery in Gabon, until he meets a Professor who claims to be studying chimpanzees, and they head off into the jungle–but when the Professor disappears, Luc has to fend for himself and join forces with the chimps to save their forest.
Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry – In a post-apocalyptic world where fences and border patrols guard the few people left from the zombies that have overtaken civilization, fifteen-year-old Benny Imura is finally convinced that he must follow in his older brother’s footsteps and become a bounty hunter.
City of Masks: A Cree Black Thriller by Daniel Hecht – Returning to her ancestral New Orleans home, Lila Beauforte is tormented by an insidious and violent spectre, until her brother calls in “ghostbusters” Cree Black and her partner to unlock the mystery of the historic house, contact the ghosts that haunt it, and exorcise them from the Beaufortes’ lives.
Unwind by Neal Shusterman – In a future world where those between the ages of thirteen and eighteen can have their lives “unwound” and their body parts harvested for use by others, three teens go to extreme lengths to uphold their beliefs–and, perhaps, save their own lives.
The staff at the library will be happy to help you find the book that is just right for you.