Young Adult Genre Exploration: From Fantasy to History and Everything In Between

By Morpheus

 

Young Adult Genre Exploration

In the world of books, there are countless genres and subgenres that we read and come to love, with our favourites decorating our shelves and collections. As someone who has difficulty myself trying to step outside of my love for particular genres and authors, I have collected together fifteen books from five different genres that I hope will inspire and encourage you to embrace something different and find your next favourite read or even genre.

Due to the current state of the world, the Nightingale Private Library is currently unable to loan any materials, and so I strongly encourage you to check out these books from the Young Adult section of the Halifax Public Libraries collection. As such, any of the titles or images found on this page will direct you to the Halifax Public Libraries catalogue where you can request the book with your library card. Alternatively, if you do not live in the Halifax Regional Municipality, I encourage you to check your local public or community library and explore these diverse voices and genres. 


Fantasy

Fantasy has always been a favourite genre of many as it allows its readers to immerse themselves into worlds of myth and magic, and fall in love with the characters as they struggle to fight a rising evil, find love, or come to terms with who they are. Books in this genre have a special place in many people’s hearts, as it allows them to leave behind their troubles and concerns and truly experience the journey the author's words will take them on, if even only for a short amount of time. 


Children of Blood and Bone - Tomi Adeyemi



King of Scars - Leigh Bardugo



A Phoenix First Must Burn - Patrice Caldwell & Various Contributors*


*Contributors include Elizabeth Acevedo, Amerie, Dhonielle Clayton, Jalissa Corrie, Somaiya Daud, Charlotte Davis, Alaya Dawn Johnson, Justina Ireland, Danny Lore, L.L. McKinney, Danielle Paige, Rebecca Roanhorse, Karen Strong, Ashley Woodfolk, and Ibi Zoboi.


Science Fiction

Science Fiction is another genre beloved by many for its ability to let readers immerse themselves in the unusual and abnormal, but unlike Fantasy, this genre focuses on robotics and the future instead of dragons and magic. Books that fall into this genre often depict post-apocalyptic or dystopian worlds led by evil dictators and self-improved Artificial Intelligence, while others discover the stars and that which hides in the unknown universe. 


Illuminae - Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff



The Darkest Minds - Alexandra Bracken



Warcross - Marie Lu



Historical Fiction

The genre of Historical Fiction is another one beloved by the Young Adult fiction community, as like Fantasy and Science Fiction, it allows its readers to escape into a world that is different from their own. However, unlike its predecessors which focus on magic and the supernatural or technology and robotics, Historical Fiction delves into the past and tells stories of events that could have happened and people that might have been real if our world had been different. It is also through this genre that stories of real people are retold in a fictional way, adding elements to their story to create an interesting and entertaining world around them.  




The Magnolia Sword: A Ballad of Mulan - Sherry Thomas



The Boy in the Striped Pajamas - John Boyne



Historical Non-Fiction

While similar to its fictional counterpart, the Historical Non-Fiction genre strives to bring truthful and accurate accounts of history to the reader, and in some cases, allows them to immerse themselves in the past. Works under this genre are often historical recounting and recollections based on academic research and interviews with individuals involved with the particular scenario or in the cases that no living participants exist, documented accounts or personal journals and writings from the witnesses.

The Boys Who Challenged Hitler: Knud Pedersen and the Churchill Club - Phillip Hoose



What the Eagle Sees: Indigenous Stories of Rebellion and Renewal - Eldon Yellowhorn & Kathy Lowinger



The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics - Daniel James Brown



Poetry

Out of all the genres in the literary world, Poetry is one of the most unique and diverse, as it allows its authors to truly express their feelings and experiences in different ways, whether that be through verse, a sonnet, a limerick, or spoken word. Works that fall into this category are loved by many because of the way it allows readers to experience the emotions the author is writing, and connect with them on levels that other Fictional and Non-Fictional genres cannot.


When the World Didn't End - Caroline Kaufman



Ink Knows No Borders - Patrice Vecchione, Alyssa Raymond & Various Contributors*


*Contributors include Javier Zamora, JoAnn Balingit, Emtithal Mahmoud, Elizabeth Acevedo, Erika L Sanchez, Bao Phi, Eduardo C. Corral, Chen Chen, and Sholeh Wolpe. 


From Me to You: The Writings of Mikalya - Mikayla Wright







Location: Nova Scotia, Canada

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