Code Name Verity

Earlier this month, Time released a list of The 100 Best Young Adult Books of All Time, which was less, well, young adult than you might expect. While it stands as a collection of 100 worthwhile reads, many are more reasonably classified as children’s, middle grade, or even adult titles. And while I’d never complain about a reminder to reread, […]

The best thing about being a reader is the way it lets you live countless lives, countless stories. Books let you leave yourself behind, becoming such a part of your worldview that sometimes you can’t remember what came first: the book or the feeling. Truly great books say things we didn’t even know we felt, or at least express them better […]

When is romance a key part of a coming-of-age young adult story, and when is it simply a box to be checked? In a 2013 Huffington Post op-ed, author Elizabeth Vail lamented the unnecessary YA romance, which can overshadow other plot elements. Other bloggers agreed, with author Morgan Matson pointing out that friendship can take a […]

Female pilots are every bit as brave, adventurous, and downright badass as their male counterparts, but historically they haven’t gotten the same amount of attention. Luckily, some YA writers are trying to change that. The novels below all feature women who are reclaiming the term flygirl, dead set on proving themselves as first-class pilots. Whether they’re fighting […]