If something by Holly Black gets reviewed, I'd want it to be Tithe or Valiant. Way better than the Curse Workers books.

If something by Holly Black gets reviewed, I'd want it to be Tithe or Valiant. Way better than the Curse Workers books.

I'd love to see Why We Broke Up reviewed here, or any Printz books, really.

Some of my earliest, most intense memories of reading are of Animorphs. I was something like 7 years old and I remember being deeply disturbed by the one where they trap the evil psychopath as a rat, or the one where Tobias is kidnapped and tortured. I really do feel like those books shaped me as a reader somewhat.…

I didn't "get" The Scorpio Races, but everybody loves it so much I've got to give it another shot. Personally I'm hoping for Where Things Come Back to make an appearance. Or John Green or Margo Lanagan or something.

I got an ARC back in December and felt very special. Ended up putting off writing a huge essay to devour the book. No regrets, because PENNY. Holy shit, Penny.

As an unironic fan of YA lit, I'm really happy with this new column, Tasha. But - and I know it's only two entries in - are you ever going to review some books that aim a bit higher? If you just look at what's on the YA bestsellers list you'll mostly come up with stuff that's fun at best and godawful at worst. Is…

I actually fucking love this series. I may be the only AV Club commenter who does, but if I'm not, let this thread be the "The Gone Series Is Actually Awesome" thread. Alternately it could be an Animorphs nostalgia thread (Michael Grant co-wrote those books, and I remember them well).

Eh, Norm Son-of-a-Gunderson is, I think. This is just my pet peeve.

Argh - not all YA books are bad! It's so annoying when people act as if they're all Twilight. Like, I don't think The Hunger Games is brilliant, but it doesn't represent the entire genre. Lots and lots and books written for children and teenagers are terrific - they just don't get as much attention. Good adult books…

Huzzah, a plaque!

This is such a fucking awful show now.

Agreed.

I agree that a lot of the awards given out to YA books are a bit useless - there's more "reader's choice" awards than there are in other genres, and lately the NBAs have been picking books that are a little awards-bait issue-y for my taste. That said, the Printz is the exception. They usually pick really solid stuff.

I've got to get to Chime! I tried reading it a few months ago and it wasn't to my taste (I remember shouting at the protagonist, "I GET IT. YOU HATE YOURSELF.") but everyone loves it so much I ought to give it another shot.

Yeah, exactly. You have to dig through a lot of shitty romance novels and awful dystopias to get to the good stuff, but that's true of every genre. I've found the best YA fiction in the past few years to be a lot fresher than the best adult fiction (though of course it's not to all tastes).

My main problem with The Scorpio Races was that this girl was entering a race for freaking kelpies on a regular horse and everyone's problem with it was that she was a woman, not that she was *cheating*. Maybe that changed or was explained, but I was too exasperated to finish it. I guess I'll give it another go.

Why We Broke Up is really great. It's so unlike anything else on the young-adult shelves - wordy and crisp and a bit of a commentary on YA books where the heroine is defined by what she likes more than what she's like. Plus, those illustrations.

So I know this comment thread is mostly just jokes, but for what it's worth the Printz awards are really, really good this year. Has anybody read any of the winners?

No.