I just looked back at the post where I listed my favourite young adult books from 2021. When I wrote that, I resolved to read more YA in 2022.
And that didn’t happen.
In fact, I read fewer.
Just one of the three books on this list is a YA book; the other two would be classified better as late middle-grade. The reason I include them here rather than on my MG list is that I know I would have enjoyed them more as a young adult than as a middle-grader!
Clap When You Land
I love it when I chance upon a book that I’ve never heard of and love it! I was scrolling through recommended reads on Kindle Unlimited, and I came across Clap When You Land. It had nearly 5,000 ratings. That was all I looked at before I downloaded and read it.
And I loved it. Verse novels, when well done, are brilliant. I love their sparseness – no beating around the bush, no unnecessary details, just the crux of the story told in a way that is both beautiful and hard-hitting. And Clap When You Land? It’s a gem.
Rain Must Fall
I have one graphic novel on my list of favourite middle-grade books from 2022, and one on this list. Perhaps I need to rethink my generalisation about not enjoying graphic novels?
The graphic novel format was perfect for Rain Must Fall. In fact, I cannot imagine the story being told in any other way, for Nandita Basu never in the course of the book chooses a pronoun for the protagonist, Rumi. A book that is full of heart, Rain Must Fall is a lovely read, one that made me smile and read on, page after page, until I was done.
The Best At It
The Best At It is a sensitively told coming-of-age story. While I know of nine-year-olds who enjoyed the book, I also know that I would have enjoyed it when I was older – probably eleven or twelve, maybe even older. From embarrassing moments to the confusion of being an adolescent, The Best At It charmed me with its authentic voice and relatability. A book about identity, friends and family, it’s a funny, moving story.
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