10 Best YA Books Featuring Unique and Fascinating Characters!
If you're anything like me, you love sinking your teeth into a good young adult novel that features beautifully fleshed-out, unique, and fascinating characters that grow with you and jump off the page. A narrative can only be as good as the people populating it and that's where these top-notch YA novels step up; they don't just present you with unforgettable stories, but also with characters who are unlike any others – complex, relatable, and engaging.
These aren't your average heroes and heroines either, no sir. They march to the beat of their own drum, they challenge norms and they radiate authenticity, whether they're fighting against dystopian regimes, navigating the muddy waters of adolescence, or exploring magical realist worlds. If you're tired of seeing the same old tropes trotted out and yearn for characters with a vibrant palette of personality traits, quirks, and issues, then you're going to love this list.
Ready to go on an unforgettable journey with characters who will stick with you long after the last page is turned? Then buckle up, because these YA novels are going to rock your world. They're as diverse as they are compelling, and every single one of them will redefine the way you think about character development in young adult literature. Dive in and discover your new favorite fiction companions!
『Six of Crows』
The Grishaverse will be coming to Netflix soon with Shadow and Bone, an original series Enter the Grishaverse with the #1 New York Times-bestselling Six of Crows. 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. "Six of Crows is a twisty and elegantly crafted masterpiece that thrilled me from the beginning to end." -New York Times-bestselling author Holly Black "Six of Crows is] one of those all-too-rare, unputdownable books that keeps your eyes glued to the page and your brain scrambling to figure out what's going to happen next." -Michael Dante DiMartino, co-creator of Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra "There's conflict between morality and amorality and an appetite for sometimes grimace-inducing violence that recalls the Game of Thrones series. But for every bloody exchange there are pages of crackling dialogue and sumptuous description. Bardugo dives deep into this world, with full color and sound. If you're not careful, it'll steal all your time." --The New York Times Book Review Praise for the Grishaverse "A master of fantasy." --The Huffington Post "Utterly, extremely bewitching." --The Guardian "The best magic universe since Harry Potter." --Bustle "This is what fantasy is for." --The New York Times Book Review " A] world that feels real enough to have its own passport stamp." --NPR "The darker it gets for the good guys, the better." --Entertainment Weekly "Sultry, sweeping and picturesque. . . . Impossible to put down." --USA Today "There's a level of emotional and historical sophistication within Bardugo's original epic fantasy that sets it apart." --Vanity Fair "Unlike anything I've ever read." --Veronica Roth, bestselling author of Divergent "Bardugo crafts a first-rate adventure, a poignant romance, and an intriguing mystery " --Rick Riordan, bestselling author of the Percy Jackson series "This is a great choice for teenage fans of George R.R. Martin and J.R.R. Tolkien." --RT Book Reviews 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 Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic
Author | Leigh Bardugo |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Macmillan |
Release Date | Sep 29, 2015 |
Source | Google Books |
『Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone』
Harry Potter lives in a cupboard under the stairs at his Aunt and Uncle's house. He is bullied by them and his spoilt cousin, and lives a very unremarkable life. But then Harry is transported to a world of magic and excitement.
Author | J. K. Rowling |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |
Release Date | Jan 01, 2015 |
Source | Google Books |
『Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief』
Look, I didn't want to be a half-blood. I never asked to be the son of a Greek god. I was just a normal kid, going to school, playing basketball, skateboarding. The usual. Until I accidentally vaporized my maths teacher. That's when things started really going wrong. Now I spend my time fighting with swords, battling monsters with my friends and generally trying to stay alive. This is the one where Zeus, God of the Sky, thinks I've stolen his lightning bolt - and making Zeus angry is a very bad idea. Can Percy find the lightning bolt before a fully fledged WAR OF THE GODS ERUPTS? Follow the author on his blog Also available: Percy Jackson and the Battle of the Labyrinth Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief (audio) Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief (film tie-in) Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters Percy Jackson and the Titan's Curse Percy Jackson: The Demigod Files
Author | Rick Riordan |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Puffin Books |
Release Date | Dec 01, 2009 |
Source | Google Books |
『The Perks of Being a Wallflower』
Read the cult-favorite coming of age story that takes a sometimes heartbreaking, often hysterical, and always honest look at high school in all its glory. Also a major motion picture starring Logan Lerman and Emma Watson, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a funny, touching, and haunting modern classic. The critically acclaimed debut novel from Stephen Chbosky, Perks follows observant "wallflower" Charlie as he charts a course through the strange world between adolescence and adulthood. First dates, family drama, and new friends. Sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Devastating loss, young love, and life on the fringes. Caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it, Charlie must learn to navigate those wild and poignant roller-coaster days known as growing up. A #1 New York Times best seller for more than a year, an American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults (2000) and Best Book for Reluctant Readers (2000), and with millions of copies in print, this novel for teen readers (or "wallflowers" of more-advanced age) will make you laugh, cry, and perhaps feel nostalgic for those moments when you, too, tiptoed onto the dance floor of life.
Author | Stephen Chbosky |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Simon and Schuster |
Release Date | Aug 14, 2012 |
Source | Google Books |
『All the Bright Places』
NOW A NETFLIX FILM, STARRING ELLE FANNING AND JUSTICE SMITH! The New York Times bestselling love story about two teens who find each other while standing on the edge. Theodore Finch is fascinated by death. Every day he thinks of ways he might kill himself, but every day he also searches for—and manages to find—something to keep him here, and alive, and awake. Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her small Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister’s recent death. When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school—six stories above the ground— it’s unclear who saves whom. Soon it’s only with Violet that Finch can be himself. And it’s only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet’s world grows, Finch’s begins to shrink. . . . “A do-not-miss for fans of Eleanor & Park and The Fault in Our Stars, and basically anyone who can breathe.” —Justine Magazine “At the heart—a big one—of All the Bright Places lies a charming love story about this unlikely and endearing pair of broken teenagers.” —The New York Times Book Review “A heart-rending, stylish love story.” —The Wall Street Journal “A complex love story that will bring all the feels.” —Seventeen Magazine “Impressively layered, lived-in, and real.” —Buzzfeed
Author | Jennifer Niven |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Ember |
Release Date | Sep 13, 2016 |
Source | Google Books |
『I'll Give You the Sun』
A New York Times bestseller • One of Time Magazine’s 100 Best YA Books of All Time • Winner of the Michael L. Printz Award • A Stonewall Honor Book The radiant, award-winning story of first love, family, loss, and betrayal for fans of John Green, Becky Albertalli, and Adam Silvera "Dazzling."—The New York Times Book Review "A blazing prismatic explosion of color."—Entertainment Weekly "Powerful and well-crafted . . . Stunning." —Time Magazine “We were all heading for each other on a collision course, no matter what. Maybe some people are just meant to be in the same story.” At first, Jude and her twin brother are NoahandJude; inseparable. Noah draws constantly and is falling in love with the charismatic boy next door, while daredevil Jude wears red-red lipstick, cliff-dives, and does all the talking for both of them. Years later, they are barely speaking. Something has happened to change the twins in different yet equally devastating ways . . . but then Jude meets an intriguing, irresistible boy and a mysterious new mentor. The early years are Noah’s to tell; the later years are Jude’s. But they each have only half the story, and if they can only find their way back to one another, they’ll have a chance to remake their world. From the acclaimed author of The Sky Is Everywhere, this exhilarating novel will leave you breathless and teary and laughing—often all at once.
Author | Jandy Nelson |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Penguin |
Release Date | Oct 27, 2015 |
Source | Google Books |
『Enola Holmes: The Case of the Missing Marquess』
Now a Netflix original movie starring Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, and Helena Bonham Carter! Meet Enola Holmes, teenaged girl turned detective and the younger sister to Sherlock Holmes. When Enola Holmes, sister to the detective Sherlock Holmes, discovers her mother has disappeared, she quickly embarks on a journey to London in search of her. But nothing can prepare her for what awaits. Because when she arrives, she finds herself involved in the kidnapping of a young marquess, fleeing murderous villains, and trying to elude her shrewd older brothers—all while attempting to piece together clues to her mother’s strange disappearance. Amid all the mayhem, will Enola be able to decode the necessary clues and find her mother?
Author | Nancy Springer |
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Price | $7.99 |
Publisher | Penguin |
Release Date | Nov 08, 2007 |
Source | Google Books |
『Love & Gelato』
"After her mother dies, Lina travels to Italy where she discovers her mothers's journal and sets off on an adventure to unearth her mother's secrets"--
Author | Jenna Evans Welch |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Simon and Schuster |
Release Date | May 02, 2017 |
Source | Google Books |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | |
Release Date | |
Source | Google Books |
『More Than Just a Pretty Face』
Perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli and Jenny Han, this sweetly funny coming-of-age story is about falling in love, family expectations, and being a Renaissance Man. Danyal Jilani doesn't lack confidence. He may not be the smartest guy in the room, but he's funny, gorgeous, and going to make a great chef one day. His father doesn't approve of his career choice, but that hardly matters. What does matter is the opinion of Danyal's longtime crush, the perfect-in-all-ways Kaval, and her family, who consider him a less than ideal arranged marriage prospect. When Danyal gets selected for Renaissance Man, a school-wide academic championship, it's the perfect opportunity to show everyone he's smarter than they think. He recruits the brilliant, totally-uninterested-in-him Bisma to help with the competition, but the more time Danyal spends with her...the more he learns from her...the more he cooks for her...the more he realizes that happiness may be staring him right in his pretty face. In this young adult debut full of depth and heart, author Syed M. Masood will have readers laughing, sighing, tearing up, and shouting "YES!" at the top of their lungs.
Author | Syed M. Masood |
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Price | $9.99 |
Publisher | Little, Brown Books for Young Readers |
Release Date | Aug 04, 2020 |
Source | Google Books |
In conclusion, the world of Young Adult literature is vast and diverse, brimming with unforgettable characters and rich, immersive storylines. The books we've visited today offer more than just thrilling adventures or budding romances - they introduce us to characters that are layered, multifaceted, and unique. They challenge norms, break stereotypes, and breathe life into every page they grace, making us laugh, weep, cheer, and contemplate. Reading these books not only promises hours of entertainment but also introduces us to different perspectives, making us ponder and broadening our world views. Whether you're a seasoned YA reader or a newcomer to the genre, these books should top your reading list. After all, what could be more delightful than losing oneself in a world of magic, mystery, and mayhem, only to find pieces of oneself in characters as real as they are extraordinary? Let these books inspire you, move you, and above all, let them remind you of the transformative, inexhaustible power of stories and the indomitable spirit of human resilience and imagination. Happy reading!
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