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7 YA Pairs That Rival Bonnie & Clyde
Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow have been the subject of no less than 10 songs, four films (they were most famously portrayed by Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty), two musicals (…yep), two TV miniseries, and one video game. Glamorized by the media during their highly publicized run from the law, their legendary status only grew after their violent deaths in 1934. As with most legends, historical accuracy is not required to fuel the fascination with their story, which is best summarized thusly: Young Love/Crime Spree! And what better category than YA to draw on both themes? Here are 7 YA pairs to rival even Bonnie and Clyde. Not all the duos are male/female, or even duos—but they’re all on the run, and they’re all running out of time.
Wanted, by Heidi Ayarbi
Teenage bookie Michal Garcia is good at what she does: taking bets without ever risking her own cash. Then she meets Josh, an “instantly popular fit-in” with a past, who sees a side of Michal she didn’t realize existed—a side that burns to join in the gambling instead of watching from the sidelines. But her first bet is a disaster, so she and Josh partner up for a Robin Hood-esque series of burglaries to help pay off the debt.
Nobody But Us, by Kristin Halbrook
The kind of heartbreaking, pull-no-punches book that makes you want to reach into the story and help the characters, because no one else ever has. Abused by her father, 15-year-old Zoe impulsively hits the road with her older boyfriend, Will, who’s just aged out of the foster care system (a system that’s failed him). Poor decisions made out of desperation turn their lives from bad to worse. Soon, their violent actions mount and the police close in. Perfect for fans of dual-POV books.
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Wanted: Dead or In Love, by Kym Brunner
Who can resist a tagline that reads, “Outlaw lovers Bonnie and Clyde are back—hell bent on possessing a teenage girl in love with their legend”? Teenage Monroe (named after Marilyn) works at her dad’s 1920s-style “gin joint” and naively romanticizes the story of Bonnie and Clyde. That is, until relics from the deadly duo’s crime spree fall into her hands, with some seriously nasty side effects. Major bonus points for a Bugsy Malone reference on page one.
Joyride, by Anna Banks (Out June 2nd)
Mexican American Carly, whose parents were deported years ago, works herself to the bone earning money to hire a smuggler to reunite her family. Meanwhile, wealthy, troubled Arden blames his father, the racist local sheriff, for the death of his beloved sister. Carly and Arden couldn’t be more different, but when they team up for late-night pranks intended to restore social justice in their town, sparks fly between them.
33 Snowfish, by Adam Rapp
I felt a palpable dread while reading this book, scared of what might be around the corner for the narrator, a homeless boy of 10 who’s on the run with two teenagers: a drug-addicted prostitute, and a strong-but-silent arsonist whose drawings are included in the story. Oh, and there’s also a kidnapped baby along for the ride. I was hoping against hope for an ending that wouldn’t gut me, and scared of that hope. This is literary YA fiction at its finest.
Under a Painted Sky, by Stacey Lee
Having killed the man who tried to rape her, aspiring violinist and Chinese American Samantha flees to California with an escaped slave, Annamae. It’s 1849 and the Oregon Trail is particularly unsafe for young women, so Sam and Annamae disguise themselves as boys. Although they discover unexpected allies in a group of cowboys, it’s the girls’ beautiful friendship that forms the heart of the story.
The Museum of Intangible Things, by Wendy Wunder
New Jersey natives and best friends Zoe (a fan of Kerouc’s On the Road) and Hannah (the responsible daughter to an alcoholic) have always relied on each other, especially with Hannah’s home life in shambles and Zoe’s increasingly dire mood swings (stemming from bipolar disorder). Seeing no future for themselves at home, they take off together for the west coast, chasing storms, tagging statues, and moving ever closer to inexorable tragedy at the edge of the Grand Canyon.