Another Golden Year for Young Adult Fiction: Top 10 YA Novels of 2019
I don’t know about you, but 2019 was a wild year for me. Whether I was working to put together a great lesson for my students, hustling between my part-time jobs, or trying to squeeze in some doctoral work before bed, I always found time to read, allowing me to put together a list of our Top 10 YA Novels Of 2019.
This year’s crop of top YA novels has something for everyone and promises protagonists who are always having a weirder week than you. From magical realism to murder mysteries, this list is full of writers who can balance believable characters and unbelievable situations that give the genre its page-turning, can’t-put-it-down flavour. Here are our top ten picks in no particular order.
1. Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson (456 pages) (published 4 June 2019)
Elisabeth, an orphan raised in a magical library, has always wanted to become a Librarian. When one of the library’s most dangerous books is released, Elisabeth must work with a sorcerer, sworn enemies of Librarians, to save the Great Libraries.
Who Should Read It
Sorcery Of Thorns is incredibly fun and is for anyone that’s always wanted to spend extra time in the libraries of Hogwarts or Brakebills.
Magical Weirdness Factor
****
2. The Beautiful by Renee Ahdieh (448 pages) (published 8 October 2019)
In her new novel, Ahdieh brings us back to 1872 in New Orleans, a city plagued by vampires and death. This novel is atmospheric and exactly what you’d expect from a vampire novel in New Orleans. Celine, a refugee from Paris, is living in a convent when one of her roommates is discovered dead. Celine must battle with her attraction to a dangerous stranger while trying to stop a string of brutal murders.
Who Should Read It
The Beautiful is a page-turner designed to appeal to anyone who prefers Interview with a Vampire over Twilight, or whose podcast playlist contains no less than four titles with “murder” in the show name.
Magical Weirdness Factor
***1/2
3. Opposite of Always by Justin A. Reynolds (464 pages) (published 5 March 2019)
Jack has had a lot of almosts in his life. When we enter the story, he meets Kate and instantly falls for her. Unfortunately for them both, Kate is chronically ill and soon dies. The twist? Jack wakes up back at the party where they first met and has the chance to change everything.
Who Should Read It
Opposite of Always is a fun take on the Groundhog Day concept and will have you riveted to the last page; odds are you’ll even cry a little.
Magical Weirdness Factor
****
4. Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan (385 pages) (published 2 April 2019)
Duncan’s novel tells the story of Nadya, a young girl hidden away in a monastery in the mountains. Her secret? She can commune with the gods and is honing her supernatural skills. In an attempt to save the outskirts of the kingdom from a savage war, Nadya must disguise herself as a noble seeking the prince’s hand in marriage. The story that unfolds is a dark and intriguing mix of religion, politics, and magic.
Who Should Read It
Looking for something dark and twisty to curl up with when your power goes out this winter? Well, Wicked Saints is for you. It’s part of an in-production trilogy so plan your snow days accordingly.
Magical Weirdness Factor
*****
5. Finale by Stephanie Garber (478 pages) (published 7 May 2019)
Growing up with a cruel father, sisters Tella and Scarlett Dragna have always dreamed of running away. When Scarlett receives an invitation to Caraval, a far-away carnival that’s more than just games, the Dragna sisters don’t hesitate before taking the chance. In Finale, the final instalment of this trilogy, the sisters’ second (and no-less eventful) Caraval has ended and the Fates have been set free. Now, Tella and Scarlett need to work together to uncover secrets that will help them tell friend from foe and hopefully save their mother. With both girls caught up in their own love triangles, they must put their hearts on hold and work with unlikely allies to take down the toughest enemies they’ve come up against so far.
Who Should Read It
If you’re like me, you’ve been reading Garber’s Caraval series since the beginning. This novel is not only engrossing on its own but also masterfully wraps ups Garber’s wildly popular trilogy.
Magical Weirdness Factor
*****
6. Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus (329 pages) (published 8 January 2019)
While not a sequel, McManus’s follow-up to One of Us Is Lying does not disappoint. Set in small-town America, this gripping mystery follows Ellery as she moves in with her grandmother to a town with its fair share of secrets. Ellery’s aunt went missing there at seventeen and five years ago, the town’s homecoming queen was murdered.
Who Should Read It
With Karen McManus’s signature twisty style, readers are in for a treat as Ellery works to unwind a complicated web in order to save the town’s most recent victim: another missing homecoming queen. Murder mystery fans unite!
Magical Weirdness Factor
**
7. Rayne & Delilah’s Midnite Matinee by Jeff Zentner (400 pages) (published 26 February 2019)
Delia and Josie spend their Friday nights as their alter egos, Rayne and Delilah, hosting Midnite Matinee, a campy horror feature show on a local cable station. With the end of their senior year approaching, the friends need to make some serious decisions. To make matters more complicated, Delia decides to search for her long-gone father, hoping to reconnect over their love of monster movies. With tensions already straining their relationship, Delia and Josie put their bond to the test in order to help each other find their way.
Who Should Read It
With a low-budget, so-good-it’s-bad public access TV show as its backdrop, Rayne & Delilah’s Midnite Matinee is a perfect read if you can’t get enough of the “campy” and “lo-fi”. From skeleton raves to dog weddings, their show has it all–including an emotional throughline.
Magical Weirdness Factor
***
8. The Past and Other Things That Should Stay Buried by Shaun David Hutchinson (304 pages) (published 19 February 2019)
Dino spends a lot of his free time with the dead working in his parents’ funeral home. Things take an unexpected turn, however, when he’s preparing his best friend’s body for burial and she suddenly wakes up. July is just as surprised as Dino is and the two must work together to figure out why this is happening.
Who Should Read It
This novel is darkly funny and truly touching as it grapples with the importance of friendship and the heartbreak of death. A must-read for the need-a-good-cry set.
Magical Weirdness Factor
***1/2
9. With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo (400 pages) (published 7 May 2019)
Emoni Santiago has a lot going on. Not only does she have to keep up with school and help her abuela around the house, but she must also care for her young daughter. Emoni’s form of therapy? Cooking. Emoni feels most at home in the kitchen and is thrilled when her school starts a new culinary arts program.
Who Should Read It
With Fire on High is heart-wrenching and honest as Emoni struggles to balance her responsibilities as a mom and student with her dreams of travelling to Spain for a school trip and working in a real kitchen. Be warned: this novel will make you hungry!
Magical Weirdness Factor
*
10. The Grace Year by Kim Liggett (416) (published 8 October 2019)
Out in the country, girls are banished upon turning 16 for their “Grace Year” in order to purge a dangerous magic said to seduce men and lure them to sin. Not only do these girls have to face the elements of the wild and the black market poachers, but they’ll also have to contend with each other. With major Lord of the Flies vibes, this masterfully dark story will be a tough one to put down.
Who Should Read It
For fans of The Handmaid’s Tale and The Hunger Games, Kim Ligget brings us a novel that encapsulates all the best parts of survival stories and YA dystopias.
Magical Weirdness Factor
****
YA Just Keeps Getting Better
The business of YA is booming, with an ironically multi-generational crossover appeal. That success has exploded not only the quantity of titles in the YA section, but also their quality. As an adult reader of YA and an English teacher, I can tell you that many of these YA authors are out-performing their adult fiction counterparts. Not only are these stories well constructed, but they’re also just wildly entertaining and hard to put down.
2019 is a turning point where we’re no longer delighted to find complex characters or insightful dialogue, but instead, we’ve come to expect them. If this is your first year diving into the world of Young Adult novels you’re in luck; the YA section of your local bookstore will have something that will pique your interest.
Interested in hosting a BooknBrunch event with one of our top 10 YA novels in 2020? Found out how here.
Rachel Gomes is a 30-something high school English teacher who lives with her high school sweetheart-turned-husband and their son. Rachel is a voracious reader who loves to learn and has her doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction. She’s happiest listening to podcasts and talking to friends about the latest news in nerd culture.
Favourite book: Don’t make me choose between A Song of Ice and Fire and Harry Potter
Favourite brunch spot: The Farmer’s Table
