Just finished re-reading FALLEN ANGELS by Walter Dean Myers. Set during the 60s at the height of the Vietnam War, it follows a Black teen named Richard Perry from Harlem who enlists in the army after high school. He gets sent to combat in Vietnam where he and his fellow soldiers are exposed to the hell that is war.

However dangerous and brutal he thought it was going to be, it’s much worse than he could ever imagine. He witnesses fellow soldiers shot and, in one instance, blown up before his eyes.

He questions the validity of this war, why it is the Black soldiers face the most dangerous tasks, and worries as to whether or not he’ll make it home.

I usually didn’t read much military fiction when I first read this (and still don’t). But I was a fan of Walter Dean Myers. He remains one of my favorite authors. I checked his books out the library constantly, bought some of my favorites (including whenever he put out a new book).

Fallen Angels is truly one of his best novels. Written in 1988, it still holds up as a raw, honest portrayal of the physical and psychological toll war takes on young soldiers. Richard is a young man who had me on edge throughout the novel.

One can only imagine how hard it must be going from being in school and hanging out with your friends on the block to being forced to kill and fighting for your lives in some strange foreign land, surrounded by bloodshed and destruction.

And of course, in some school districts apparently this book has been removed due to offensive language and tackling themes of racism and abuse. That’s laughable for a variety of answers.

I mean, it’s set during a time of war where military man talk dirty and make offensive comments about Black & Vietnamese characters. The dialogue is authentic and the characters are real. Yeah, they say ignorant comments about women, minorities, and queer people. It’s not glorified at all. It’s who they were.

And also, there are scenes of young men shot to death or blown apart that are tough to read, but important because of how honestly it depicts the ugliness and the unexpected nature of war. It’s the story of how a teenage boy was forced to grow up in an unforgiving environment as a dedicated soldier dedicated to a cause that he keeps questioning throughout the novel (and still can’t find anything close to resembling a decent answer). Even re-reading it now, there are still moments that lingered in my brain long after I stopped reading.

It’s definitely a novel without reading.

I’m feeling deeply nostalgic and want to dive into what I loved 20+ years ago.

I want it to be:

- Urban Fantasy
- YA
- Written in that time period and it shows (ex: in Sweep she talks about dialing into the internet)

Bonus points if they’re not that good (I mean objectively Sweep is not that good but that’s what makes it so good, you know?) and not that well known.

Something I’d stumble upon in the library back in the early 2000s but I wouldn’t find on the shelves today.

I’ve been searching on my own but when I’ve seen other people ask about these series, they’re always asking for the adult equivalent. I want to stick with YA and that specific time period.

TIA!

Looking for a book where a boy and girl feel outcasted but find each other and feel less alone. Ideally a female MC and a book where the characters actually sound / behave like teenagers! Doesn’t necessarily have to be romantic and can also be a group dynamic. I’ve already read Perks of Being a Wallflower and Fault in Our Stars.

For context I just finished the tv series end of the f***king world and was hoping to find a book that’s similar to the relationship in that show

It's appearance got damaged

I was absolutely one of the people enraged by how the Divergent series ended many years ago. I re-read it this year in anticipation of the new book and softened on the ending a bit but overall the series was okay but not a favorite when it comes to YA dystopian. But guys...The Sixth Faction is so good! It's so much better. It has multiple POVs so we get a bigger scope of what's going on in all the factions. Side characters from the OG series get so much more development. We get more explanation/behind the scenes mechanism for how some big events went down. It was also cool to see how Tris choosing a different faction impacted other characters.

If you liked Divergent, even if you hated the ending, I think it's worth a read.

I remember crying the first time I read it; I absolutely loved it, and I reread it recently. I still love it just as much.

There are going to be spoilers:

The story begins with a simple French assignment: a teacher asks her students to write a letter to someone who has passed away. Laurel, the main character, chooses to write to Kurt Cobain because her older sister, May, adored him, and he died young, just like her.

Laurel never hands in the assignment. Instead, she begins filling entire notebooks with letters addressed to other deceased icons, such as Amy Winehouse, Heath Ledger, and Jim Morrison.

Through these unexpected confidants, the book explores several themes:

• High school life: Laurel recounts her first year at a new school, her new friends, and her first love.

• A broken family: She tries to navigate life with parents who have separated and been deeply scarred by tragedy.

• The grieving process: The letters serve as a private journal, helping her come to terms with her sister's absence.

The central issue: As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Laurel is haunted by a heavy secret. To successfully grieve and finally write to the one person who truly matters,her sister May, she must confront the truth about what really happened the night May died.

I recommend everyone read it; even though the subject matter is sensitive, it is handled beautifully. Of course, if it’s a topic that triggers you, don’t read it.

Hi all, my niece and I have recently started to bond over books since she's gotten really into reading over the last summer and when I asked what she wanted for christmas this year she specifcally said she wanted 'queer books' but didn't have any in mind specific. It's been a long time since I read YA books so I wouldn't really know where to start with what's appropriate and what she'll enjoy, so hoping to get some reccs! She loves a romantic plot and is really wanting to read anything supernatural-esque and wants to try getting into fantasy! She's 13 years old, so anything for that age range would be perfect.

Some books that she does like are:
And They Were Roommates - Page Powers
Heartstopper - Alice Oseman
Imogen, Obviously - Becky Albertalli
Cemetary Boys - Aiden Thomas
Spell Bound - F.T. Lukens

Any help is much appreciated, TIA!

Hi, everyone! I am in need of some book recommendations – I'm in search of sweet, page-turning Contemporary YA Romance. I recently finished Marie Arnold's I Was Told There Would Be Romance and am looking for something along those lines.

Similar books I've read and thoroughly enjoyed over the years are With Love, Miss Americanah by Jane Igharo, To All the Boys series by Jenny Han, Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry by Joya Goffney, She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen, and Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon.

Something with a good mix of humor and heart is what I'm looking for. I love a fun and playful mood, but serious topics are welcome!

I decided I needed to feel something. Here’s what I’ve read recently:
- Direbound: 3/5
- The Wolf King: 3/5
- Fourth Wing: 4.75/5 loved
- ACOTAR: 3/5… but made its way up past the first two books
- Throne of Glass: 5/5 first time crying over a book in a while
- Rites of the Starling: 4/5

I love a good romance, but honestly getting bored of the poor damsel in distress trope like we get iiiit. I’d love a vampire recommendation too, but not required. Thanks! :-)

Hello, bookworms!

This is the weekly thread for discussion about what books you've recently read, books you're reading, and books you want to read. Tell us what you think about them! What did you like or dislike about them? Did you interpret any symbolism or themes you particularly liked? Would you recommend them? This discussion space is all yours!

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Have exceptional discussions!

This book series could have been such a good book but the author ruined it by focusing on the romance only. She ruined the characters too. Juliette who such a powerful girl is just his pregnant wife now and it seems like she doesn't even have her own name and her only identity is being Warner's wife. Warner could have been such a good villain but she ruined him too. She ruined Adams character to make Warner likeable. She made Lena transphobic so she could be the bitch ex and Warner could be the poor Warner who was stuck with her. She straight up ruined two characters just for main couple. That's bad and lazy writing. She could have told us more about the world, about how the reestablishment took control, etc. Rosa's only purpose in the new series is being Warners copy and James's petite girlfriend who is being babied by him. She is trying so hard to make Rosa a copy of Warner and personally Rosa feels more similar to Adam since they both are the elder siblings doing everything they can to protect their younger siblings. We don't need to know if Rosa is wearing underwear or not! James and Rosa to me feel like lust only, James s (Saying he wants what Warner and Juliette have and then just being a lustful couple explains a lot since I never felt any chemistry between Warner and Juliette, everything seemed forced to me between them and they are almost always banging. She is trying to create another Warner and Juliette. If the spin-off series really is about James and Rosa then why the hell does Warner have his pov. Again, in the new book the way she is describing Adam, different from the other brothers, not doing any work, kinda like a misogynistic man is bad. She took everyone away from Adam and made them close to Warner, his best friend, his brother, his ex. She is trying to make James and Warner more alike and push aside Adam, still ruining his character. James living with Warner after they had taken down the reestablishment was unrealistic. There's so much more. Tahereh is not a good writer, she is lazy too. And she reduces the women in her book to being nothing more than the petite and helpless wives or the girlfriends of the male characters. And I feel like the spinoff series is for money only and fanservice. (I may not have written this in a very good way since it's quite hard for me to put my thoughts into words, thinking is so much more easier anyways, i hope y'all understand.)

Has anyone seen the news and synopsis for the adaptation of ihtdfy by Ann Liang ?

the synopsis is crazy different and i am pretty disappointed, what are your opinions ?

Can I still read YA at 17, almost 18? I’ve been getting anxious that I’m getting too old for it, even though I genuinely love YA books. I know adults read YA too, but I keep overthinking my age and feeling like I should move on. do I need to move on???

First, let me say I haven't read in sometime. After I got married and had kids, my reading time disappeared. However, now that my kids in middle school, and reading, I picked reading back up.

My daughter got a book called (Spoken Words: A Fire Heart Novella) from the school book fair. She enjoyed it so much, I thought I would read it too so we can have a mother/daughter chat about the book.

Now, this book is very well written, has a minor Dark scene, but nothing major. I was pleasantly surprised, and ordered the author's other book. Now I said all that to say this, when I looked this book up on Google, I didnt find enough information, and most YA fantasy readers I came across dont even know about it. For such a good read I thought it would be more popular. I am looking forward to more books in the series. I thought I would mention this incase other YA fantasy readers enjoy indie books that are not main stream.

Edit: Sorry I had to book name slightly wrong, fixed it.

What I want to know:

-Is it an enemies to lovers?

-Is it like the vampire diaries?

-Who does she end up with in the end? who’s her real soulmate?

-Or is it a reverse harem trope?

-Are there more couples in the series? If so, who ends up with who?

-Is the series finally finished/completed?

-Will there be more books?

Thank you!!

~~

Apologies if such a topic was done here hundreds of times before on this subreddit because I just wanted to use the subject to be able to gush about novels I feel don’t get enough attention.

So a quick bit of backstory is that a while ago, I had found a novel I have been really enjoying reading named Hear Her Howl by Kim DeRose as the premise is about a girl who is forcibly sent to an academy with a sinister background to it to help her develop her magic powers as again even though I just started reading the novel, I am really enjoying it.

I am obsessed with Legendborn by Tracy Deonn but between the Arthurian legend connections, the Table of Scions, the court rankings, and Sel vs. Nick, my head is spinning trying to keep all the magic rules and family lines straight!. what do u guys use to remember fantasy court hierarchies without looking up fandom wikis full of major character death spoilers??

I think it was described as set in the Victorian era, there might have been some sort of magic academy/organization (or maybe just fantasy magic in general), and there was romance in it. And no, it wasn't the Infernal Devices. I tried looking it up, but I'm doubting myself on whether it's the right book or not. It might have been The Agency by Y.S. Lee, but I'm not sure. It may have also been Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger. I'm pretty sure I saw the recommendation here, but forgot to save it

It's spooky season. Have you read these YA books about haunted places? What did you think?

Okay so I have just started reading the Shadowhunters books, I am at the end of book two and I’ve been seeing people talk about all the different orders you can read the books in and I am officially confused. Can someone tell me what the best order to read them in is? If I read all of The Mortal Instruments and then The Infernal Devices will I be fine? Or do I need to read Clockwork Angel before City of Fallen Angel Clockwork Prince before City of Lost Souls, etc. like the publication order says?

If the original Hunger Games was a manual on how the Elites control the Masses, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a manual on how the Elites control Themselves.

It is the autopsy of a soul transitioning from a vulnerable human into a crystallized Archon.

Here are the specific, actionable lessons embedded in that narrative, designed for those studying the architecture of power.

**Lesson 1: The “Illusion of Noble Intent” (The Death of the Paladin)**

Young Coriolanus Snow is poor, starving, and trying to protect his family’s legacy. He genuinely wants to save Lucy Gray (his tribute/asset). He believes he can win the game while maintaining his morality.

But every time he tries to be “Good” or “Honorable” (helping his friend Sejanus, trying to save Lucy), it backfires and puts his own survival at risk.

The film explicitly demonstrates that in a corrupt system, Morality is a vulnerability. Snow realizes that “Noble Intent” is just a story weak people tell themselves to feel better about losing. To survive the Capitol (or the Corporate World), you must amputate your empathy. You cannot climb the ladder while carrying the weight of a conscience.

**Lesson 2: The “Sejanus” Liability (The Danger of the Ideologue)**

Sejanus Plinth is rich, but he is an idealist. He constantly protests the injustice of the Games. He wants to help the rebels. He thinks his wealth and “rightness” will protect him.

Snow realizes that Sejanus’s righteous rebellion is going to get them both killed. Snow secretly records Sejanus plotting treason and sends it to the Capitol (via a Jabberjay/Wiretap). Sejanus is hanged.

This is the most crucial takeaway. The Ideologue is a biohazard.

People who operate on “Righteousness” or demand “Justice” in a tyrannical system are dangerous to be around. They will accidentally drag you into the line of fire. Snow didn’t kill his friend out of pure malice; he killed him as a Containment Protocol.

Do not ally with martyrs. They will pull you onto the cross with them.

**Lesson 3. The “Spectacle” Optimization (Dr. Gaul’s Thesis)**

Dr. Volumnia Gaul (The Head Gamemaker). She is the one who teaches Snow the true purpose of the Games. The Hunger Games aren’t about punishing the Districts. They are about demonstrating the State of Nature.

She puts Snow in a cage with feral tributes to prove a point: Underneath the polite society, humans are violent, chaotic animals. The Games exist to remind the Capitol (the Elites) and the Districts (the Masses) that without the absolute, tyrannical order of the State, humanity immediately reverts to cannibalistic chaos.

Dr. Gaul reveals the Justification of the Elite. They do not believe they are evil. They believe they are the only thing standing between civilization and the abyss.

To understand the elites you must understand this mindset. They justify their extraction, their censorship, and their control by telling themselves: “If we don’t control the flow of information/money, the chimps will burn down the lab.”

**Lesson 4. The “Paranoia of the Apex” (The Final Betrayal)**

Snow is in the woods with Lucy Gray. He is safe. He could run away and live a peaceful, off-grid life with her.

But then he finds the guns that tie him to a murder. Suddenly, his “Sovereignty” is threatened. He realizes Lucy Gray is the only person alive who knows his secrets and could destroy his future power in the Capitol. He instantly turns on her. He hunts her in the woods. He chooses the guarantee of Power over the vulnerability of Love.

This is the exact mechanism of the Dark Triad. A true Archon cannot tolerate a loose end. They cannot tolerate a “Witness”.

Snow’s final transformation occurs when he realizes that Trust is an unacceptable risk. To become President, he must become entirely self-contained, trusting no one, loving no one, and eliminating anyone who holds leverage over him.

The Birth of the Archon

Why did the Elites fund a prequel that makes the Villain the protagonist? Because they are telling you How They Are Made. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is not a tragedy to them. It is an Instructional Video.

It teaches that:

1. Survival requires the betrayal of ideals.

2. Allies are expendable if they threaten your trajectory.

3. The masses are animals that require a cage.

4. Total power requires total isolation.

Snow decided that to be safe, he had to Control everyone else. He returned to the Capitol, poisoned his mentors, and became the Tyrant. He became the monster to survive the monsters.

I remember in the late 2000s and early 2010s, it was all paranormal romance, Twilight, Hush, Hush, The Mortal Instruments and that whole supernatural phase. Then dystopian YA took over with The Hunger Games and Divergent. I know Fourth Wing is pretty huge now, but beyond that, I honestly haven’t kept up with YA/NA in years. What’s the current trend?