Best YA Book Club Reads
Best YA Book Club Reads
Books clubs are magical! Groups of all sizes select a book and read it in their spare time, venturing into someone else’s shoes or other worlds, then gather to talk about what they read. Book clubs spark conversation, whether fun or serious, and also foster friendship and companionship. There are endless books that can be read and discussed with a group, but if you’re looking for a newer YA selection, here are five best YA Book Club reads that I’d recommend.
1. American Street by Ibi Zoboi (352 pages)
Image via Amazon
In America, Fabiola Toussaint thought she would finally find une belle vie—a good life. But after they leave Haiti, Fabiola’s mother is detained by U.S. immigration, leaving Fabiola to navigate her loud American cousins, the grittiness of Detroit’s west side, a new school, and a surprising romance, all on her own.
Why You Should Read It:
American Street is a smart, authentic tale that’s full of emotion. Fabiola is living in a strange new world without her mother by her side, and after receiving a dangerous proposition, realizes freedom comes at a cost. This one might spark conversations about immigration, poverty, making tough choices, and the complexities of the American dream.
4/5 Brookie Stars
2. Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram (336 pages)
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Darius Kellner is about to take his first-ever trip to Iran, and it’s pretty overwhelming—especially when he’s also dealing with clinical depression, a disapproving dad, and a chronically anemic social life. In Iran, Darius meets Sohrab, and soon he’s spending his days playing soccer and eating rosewater ice cream with him. But when it’s time to go home to America, he’ll have to find a way to be himself all on his own.
Why You Should Read It:
Darius the Great is Not Okay is a touching story that deals with real, heavy issues with subtlety. This book would be a good jumping off point to discuss mental health issues such as discrimination of those diagnosed, the stigma attached such diagnoses, and the representation of mental health in the media, both in the past and present.
5/5 Brookie Stars
3. Internment by Samira Ahmed (400 pages)
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In a horrifying near-future United States, Layla Amin and her parents are forced into an internment camp for Muslim American citizens. With the help of newly-made friends also trapped within the internment camp, her boyfriend on the outside, and an unexpected alliance, Layla begins a journey to fight for freedom, leading a revolution against the internment camp’s Director and his guards.
Why You Should Read It:
While the premise of Internment poses a question ripe for discussion, the book itself broadens the scope by throwing one girl into the deep end of the terrifying near-future. While the storytelling is a bit heavy-handed at times, this one may foster discussions of American’s past and future in regards to immigration and internment.
3.5/5 Brookie Stars
4. I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver (336 pages)
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When Ben De Backer comes out to their parents as non-binary, they’re thrown out of their house and forced to move in with their estranged older sister. Struggling with an anxiety disorder, they try to keep a low profile in school, but those attempts are thwarted when Nathan Allan, a funny and charismatic student, decides to take Ben under his wing.
Why You Should Read It:
I Wish You All the Best is an emotionally powerful and heartfelt tale. After being kicked out of their house, Ben only tells their sister, her husband, and their therapist the truth, and fully expects to fly under the radar at school. This one could spark conversation about coming out, acceptance, identity, and what it means to live true to yourself.
4.5/5 Brookie Stars
5. These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong (464 pages)
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Shanghai, 1926. Juliette Cai has returned to assume her role as the proud heir of the Scarlet Gang—a network of criminals above the law. Their only rivals to power are the White Flowers, whose heir, Roma Montagov, is Juliette’s first love… and first betrayal. As the city descends further into chaos, Juliette and Roma must set their guns aside and work together to stop the mayhem.
Why You Should Read It:
While These Violent Delights is a Romeo & Juliet retelling, it’s also a mysterious and complex tale that takes place in early twentieth century China. Reading this with your book club could foster a fun discussion of Shakespearean retellings, as well as a more serious one about colonialism and white supremacy.
4/5 Brookie Stars
What’s your favourite YA book club read? Let us know by emailing us here!
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Jamie Mitchell is a writer, library assistant, former bookseller, and all-around lover of the written word. She’s currently working on her fifth novel, and if you’re wondering where the other four are, they’re safe on her laptop and in need of rewriting. She lives in Indianapolis with her husband, and enjoys traveling, bookstagramming and experimenting with gluten-free flours.
Favourite book: Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Favourite brunch spot: 1823 Bakehouse
