Screaming/Crying: Heartwrenching YA
This week, we get some dark and depressing recommendations for young adult readers from Books Are Magic intern, Janiya.
Warning: these are not happy stories.
Written by Janiya M.
Sadie by Courtney Summers
This YA mystery is written from two perspectives—the title character, and the reporter investigating the disappearance of Sadie’s sister, Mattie. This story is definitely heavy, with many mature themes—family, class issues, abuse, and it’s fantastically written, the ending leaves room for readers’ interpretation, very unique storytelling.
They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
Spoiler alert: the title is not a lie. They Both Die at the End is a book is filled with love, yearning, and yes, death. I have a soft spot for books with sad endings, since the majority of contemporary reads all end with something great and triumphant. The relationships in this are remarkably developed, as well. It’s a must-read!
monday’s not coming by tiffany d. jackson
The plot twist here is INSANE! I truly was on the edge of my seat, trying to read as fast as I could to get to the big reveal. Tiffany Jackson has written a heartbreaking book which deals with love, belonging, grief, and guilt. It’s compulsively-readable mystery.
girl in pieces by kathleen glasgow
If you have the heart to go through the many emotional highs and lows of Kathleen Glasgow’s 2016 novel about a teen girl who has lost everything, then I applaud you. I honestly struggled to finish Girl in Pieces because it was so emotionally heavy. Still, the book evokes such strong connection to the main character, it was captivating.
All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
The characters at the center of this book are not your average, cookie-cutter protagonists, and this is no cookie-cutter YA romance. For my own experience, I felt completely empty after reading this book, but i also finished it at 3 am! it was beautifully written and I recommend it to anyone who appreciates romance books that aren’t the happiest.
