10 Best Young Adult Books About Male-Female Friendship
In the realm of young adult literature, a universe teeming with romantic relationships, epic love triangles, and heart-wrenching break-ups, there lies a subtly coveted niche - that of friendships, specifically those between males and females. These narratives, daring and distinct, delve into the well-tuned harmony, playful banter, emotional anchor, and the deep understanding these friendships foster. They're captivating, no doubt, but they also play a crucial role in counteracting gender stereotypes, proving that boys and girls can thrive in the blossoming landscape of platonic love.
So if you're hunting for an alternative story arc, something that strays from the whirlwind of young romance and instead enlightens you on opposite-gender friendships, we've got you covered. In the following list, we'll walk you through the ten best young adult novels, celebrating the delicate dance of friendship between male and female characters. Each narrative is rich in its portrayal, addressing the trials and triumphs of these bonds, displaying how they survive adolescent hardships and morph into adult friendships.
So sit back, grab your preferred choice of beverage and prepare to dive into a world where young men and women navigate the rocky roads of adolescence, not as star-crossed lovers, but as unwavering friends.
『The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle, Book 1)』
An all-new series from the masterful, #1 New York Times bestselling author Maggie Stiefvater! Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue never sees them--until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks to her.His name is Gansey, a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can't entirely explain. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul whose emotions range from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher who notices many things but says very little.For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She doesn't believe in true love, and never thought this would be a problem. But as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she's not so sure anymore.
Author | Maggie Stiefvater |
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Price | $7.99 |
Publisher | Scholastic Inc. |
Release Date | Sep 18, 2012 |
Source | Google Books |
『Six of Crows』
See the Grishaverse come to life on screen with the Netflix series, Shadow and Bone -- Season 2 streaming now! Meet Kaz Brekker and his crew: Jesper, Inej, Wylan, and the star-crossed Nina and Matthias, on the heist of a lifetime in Six of Crows from #1 bestselling author, Leigh Bardugo. Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone. . . . A convict with a thirst for revenge. A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager. A runaway with a privileged past. A spy known as the Wraith. A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums. A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes. Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz's crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don't kill each other first. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo returns to the breathtaking world of the Grishaverse in this unforgettable tale about the opportunity—and the adventure—of a lifetime. Read all the books in the Grishaverse! The Shadow and Bone Trilogy (previously published as The Grisha Trilogy) Shadow and Bone Siege and Storm Ruin and Rising The Six of Crows Duology Six of Crows Crooked Kingdom The King of Scars Duology King of Scars Rule of Wolves The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic The Severed Moon: A Year-Long Journal of Magic The Lives of Saints
Author | Leigh Bardugo |
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Price | $9.99 |
Publisher | Henry Holt and Company (BYR) |
Release Date | Sep 29, 2015 |
Source | Google Books |
『The Lost Hero』
Jason, Piper, and Leo, three students from a school for "bad kids," find themselves at Camp Half-Blood, where they learn that they are demigods and begin a quest to free Hera, who has been imprisoned by Mother Earth herself.
Author | Rick Riordan |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Disney Press |
Release Date | Jan 01, 2011 |
Source | Google Books |
『Radio Silence』
The second novel by the phenomenally talented Alice Oseman, the author of the million-copy bestselling Heartstopper books—now a major Netflix series. What if everything you set yourself up to be was wrong? Frances has always been a study machine with one goal: elite university. Nothing will stand in her way. Not friends, not a guilty secret—not even the person she is on the inside. But when Frances meets Aled, the shy genius behind her favorite podcast, she discovers a new freedom. He unlocks the door to Real Frances and for the first time she experiences true friendship, unafraid to be herself. Then the podcast goes viral and the fragile trust between them is broken. Caught between who she was and who she longs to be, Frances’s dreams come crashing down. Suffocating with guilt, she knows that she has to confront her past… She has to confess why Carys disappeared… Meanwhile at university, Aled is alone, fighting even darker secrets. It’s only by facing up to your fears that you can overcome them. And it’s only by being your true self that you can find happiness. Frances is going to need every bit of courage she has. A coming-of-age read that tackles issues of identity, the pressure to succeed, diversity, and freedom to choose, Radio Silence is a tour de force by the most exciting writer of her generation.
Author | Alice Oseman |
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Price | $13.99 |
Publisher | HarperCollins |
Release Date | Mar 28, 2017 |
Source | Google Books |
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Price | unknown |
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Source | Google Books |
『Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (Movie Tie-in Edition)』
The book that inspired the hit film! Sundance U.S. Dramatic Audience Award Sundance Grand Jury Prize This is the funniest book you’ll ever read about death. It is a universally acknowledged truth that high school sucks. But on the first day of his senior year, Greg Gaines thinks he’s figured it out. The answer to the basic existential question: How is it possible to exist in a place that sucks so bad? His strategy: remain at the periphery at all times. Keep an insanely low profile. Make mediocre films with the one person who is even sort of his friend, Earl. This plan works for exactly eight hours. Then Greg’s mom forces him to become friends with a girl who has cancer. This brings about the destruction of Greg’s entire life. Fiercely funny, honest, heart-breaking—this is an unforgettable novel from a bright talent, now also a film that critics are calling "a touchstone for its generation" and "an instant classic." Includes a discussion with Jesse Andrews and an annotated excerpt from the screenplay! STARRED REVIEW “One need only look at the chapter titles (“Let’s Just Get This Embarrassing Chapter Out of the Way”) to know that this is one funny book.” –Booklist, starred review STARRED REVIEW “Though this novel begs inevitable thematic comparisons to John Green's The Fault in Our Stars (2011), it stands on its own in inventiveness, humor and heart.” –Kirkus Reviews, starred review New York Times bestseller! Capitol Choices 2013 - Noteworthy Titles for Children and Teens Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) Choices 2013 list - Young Adult Fiction YALSA 2013 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers YALSA 2013 Best Fiction for Young Adults YALSA 2014 Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults
Author | Jesse Andrews |
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Price | $8.31 |
Publisher | Abrams |
Release Date | May 26, 2015 |
Source | Google Books |
『Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, Book 1: The Sword of Summer』
Magnus Chase has always been a troubled kid. Since his mother’s mysterious death, he’s lived alone on the streets of Boston, surviving by his wits, keeping one step ahead of the police and the truant officers. One day, he’s tracked down by an uncle he barely knows—a man his mother claimed was dangerous. Uncle Randolph tells him an impossible secret: Magnus is the son of a Norse god. The Viking myths are true. The gods of Asgard are preparing for war. Trolls, giants and worse monsters are stirring for doomsday. To prevent Ragnarok, Magnus must search the Nine Worlds for a weapon that has been lost for thousands of years. When an attack by fire giants forces him to choose between his own safety and the lives of hundreds of innocents, Magnus makes a fatal decision. Sometimes, the only way to start a new life is to die . . .
Author | Rick Riordan |
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Price | $7.99 |
Publisher | Disney Electronic Content |
Release Date | Oct 06, 2015 |
Source | Google Books |
『A Good Girl's Guide to Murder』
THE MUST-READ MULTIMILLION BESTSELLING MYSTERY SERIES—NOW ON NETFLIX! • This is the story about an investigation turned obsession, full of twists and turns and with an ending you'll never expect. Everyone in Fairview knows the story. Pretty and popular high school senior Andie Bell was murdered by her boyfriend, Sal Singh, who then killed himself. It was all anyone could talk about. And five years later, Pip sees how the tragedy still haunts her town. But she can't shake the feeling that there was more to what happened that day. She knew Sal when she was a child, and he was always so kind to her. How could he possibly have been a killer? Now a senior herself, Pip decides to reexamine the closed case for her final project, at first just to cast doubt on the original investigation. But soon she discovers a trail of dark secrets that might actually prove Sal innocent . . . and the line between past and present begins to blur. Someone in Fairview doesn't want Pip digging around for answers, and now her own life might be in danger. And don't miss the sequel, Good Girl, Bad Blood! "The perfect nail-biting mystery." —Natasha Preston, #1 New York Times bestselling author
Author | Holly Jackson |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Ember |
Release Date | Jan 05, 2021 |
Source | Google Books |
『Alanna』
Eleven-year-old Alanna, who aspires to be a knight even though she is a girl, disguises herself as a boy to become a royal page, learning many hard lessons along her path to high adventure.
Author | Tamora Pierce |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Simon and Schuster |
Release Date | Oct 21, 2014 |
Source | Google Books |
『Ramona Blue』
The fourth novel from Julie Murphy, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dumplin’—now a Netflix feature film starring Danielle Macdonald and Jennifer Aniston, with a soundtrack by Dolly Parton! For fans of Rainbow Rowell and Morgan Matson, Julie Murphy has created another fearless heroine, Ramona Blue, in a gorgeously evocative novel about family, friendship, and how sometimes love can be more fluid than you first think. Ramona was only five years old when Hurricane Katrina changed her life forever. Since then, it’s been Ramona and her family against the world. Standing over six feet tall with unmistakable blue hair, Ramona is sure of three things: she likes girls, she’s fiercely devoted to her family, and she knows she’s destined for something bigger than the trailer she calls home in Eulogy, Mississippi. But juggling multiple jobs, her flaky mom, and her well-meaning but ineffectual dad forces her to be the adult of the family. Now, with her sister, Hattie, pregnant, responsibility weighs more heavily than ever. The return of her childhood friend Freddie brings a welcome distraction. Ramona’s friendship with the former competitive swimmer picks up exactly where it left off, and soon he’s talked her into joining him for laps at the pool. But as Ramona falls in love with swimming, her feelings for Freddie begin to shift too, which is the last thing she expected. With her growing affection for Freddie making her question her sexual identity, Ramona begins to wonder if perhaps she likes girls and guys or if this new attraction is just a fluke. Either way, Ramona will discover that, for her, life and love are more fluid than they seem.
Author | Julie Murphy |
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Price | $11.49 |
Publisher | HarperCollins |
Release Date | May 09, 2017 |
Source | Google Books |
In conclusion, it's fair to say these novels and comics offer a breath of fresh air with their unique and multi-faceted portrayals of male-female friendships. Unromantic in nature yet incredibly impactful, these relations speak volumes about human compatibility beyond societal gender norms. They serve as precious reminders of love stitched not with a sappy connotation but with the fabric of mutual respect, understanding, and camarities. Boys and girls together, fighting evil forces, solving mysteries or simply navigating through the stormy seas of adolescence are testaments of the power that true friendship holds. Hopefully, this list helps those looking for books that beautifully depict non-romantic male-female friendships, breaking stereotypes and promoting the idea that girls and boys, men and women can indeed just be good friends. So, get started on these gripping tales and be prepared to redefine your concept of friendship!
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