Project READ ALL THE YA

[sharplittlteeth]

Anything you think I've missed?

Crossposted from sharplittleteeth.dreamwidth.org
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Comments

[greylock]

Of course.
I'm assuming you've read enough Potter, Garner and Pulman.

House Of Stairs springs to mind:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Stairs_%28William_Sleator_novel%29

And there's a book I read in high school (Children's Crusade, Silver Crusade, Children's War? Something like that) about a group of kids (Jewish or Polish IIRC) who need to flee Hitler's forces. And I am 99% sure it isn't When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit. It left an impression on me as you can tell.

Isobelle Carmody is classic? Gods. But she's the only classic I have not read on your list.

I don't read too much YA, but will if the mood strikes, but those ones spring to mind, especially Sleator.

[sharplittlteeth]

The Silver Sword?

Were you questioning Obernewtyn as a classic on the grounds of quality, or age? It was published in 1988. I can't comment on quality, having not read it yet, but it's certainly one of those books that's around.

House of Stairs sounds kind of cool.

And no, I've not actually read the Alan Garner books. Something else to add to the list.

[greylock]

That is it. That had been bugging me for years.

Were you questioning Obernewtyn as a classic on the grounds of quality, or age?

Age, mostly. I still think of her as a new writer.

House of Stairs sounds kind of cool.

It is. Blackbriar, The Green Futures of Tycho and (especially) Interstellar Pig have all been recommended to me as well.

I can recommend the Garner ones. Read them earlier last year at long last. They bridge that gap between young-YA and adult (well, Boneland does, bit that was rubbish).

[a_carnal_mink]

I've just spent a nostalgic (and unproductive!) hour or two reading back through my Book Book - the book in which I've listed everything I've read since 1984. Wow, that's a journey. :) Lots of YA stuff in there, particularly in the early pages, but I think of them (and excluding what was already on your list), I'd add in these...

Chaim Potok - The Chosen
Glendon Swarthout - Bless The Beasts & Children
Vivien Alcock - The Haunting Of Cassie Palmer
Carolyn Slaughter - The Story Of The Weasel
Brendan Behan - Borstal Boy

John Marsden, whose books would go in both classic AND contemporary lists. :)

Kim Wilkins - Grimoire
Sonya Harnett - All My Dangerous Friends
Kate de Goldi - Closed, Stranger

Oh and Lord Of The Flies, too. But perhaps that transcends this genre? Heh.

[sharplittlteeth]

Yeah. Kicked myself at lunchtime when I realised I'd left off Tomorrow, When the War Began.

Part of my plan was to set an achievable number of books to read. Looks like I'm going to have to make a second list.

[sharplittlteeth]

Also: have I told you how much I love that you have a Book Book?

[a_carnal_mink]

I can only assume I was a very precocious (or pretentious, take your pick) child. :)

[kitling]

So I've read through the list of 100 best YA books - I'd say I have read over 50% of the books on that list. I've also read all the books on your classic list, but none of the ones on your contemporary list. I'm wondering what that says about me.

That 100 best books list has just added a bunch of stuff to my to read pile.

And I see I have been beaten to it - but the one I find surprising isn't on the 100 best books list is the Tomorrow When the War Began series - which would be possibly my fav YA fiction. That said anything by Marsden is worth reading.

[sharplittlteeth]

It's an American list.

[p_cat]

Allen & Unwin are looking for YA manuscripts. Just saying :)

[sharplittlteeth]

Cool. Thanks!

Current MS is with Hardie Grant Edgemont's Ampersand project. Alex Hammond has been whispering "simultaneous submission... I can show it someone at Penguin..." in my ear. But I just don't feel comfortable with that.

Your thoughts?

[p_cat]

Oh, absolutely! So long as that project has no contractual conditions to the contrary, of course. If a publisher shows interested after the MS has been taken by someone else, offer to send them some sample chapters from a work in progress. Don't ever send the whole thing, just sample chapters and a synopsis. Alex can help you out with putting that together.

Think of it as analogous to job applications. You send out lots all at once, then go to a couple of interviews and are maybe offered one or two jobs, one of which you may not accept (maybe). There's generally no exclusivity until someone offers you a contract; an agent would be shopping your MS all over the place!

[mireille21]

Boy, that's a bit like opening up Pandora's Box isn't it?
Surprised to see a few titles on that list that I have never heard of (as opposed to the plenty I have heard of but not yet read.)

I assume you have already read quite a few Diana Wynn Jones. Possibly I would also add Lois McMaster Bujold, and Anne McCaffrey.