5 Things I Want To See More In Young Adult/New Adult Novels - Part 2

In the previous post, I listed off 3 things I really want to see more in YA/NA novels. Here are numbers 4 and 5:

4. Different ethnicities and cultures.
One prominent things I like about reading is the ability to take readers to places he or she has never been, whether to a fictional place like Narnia, or somewhere halfway around the world like Papua New Guinea (I'm still waiting on this one). Maybe it's the fact I live in Canada and read books published by English-speaking publishers that I find it difficult to encounter a story who has a "person of colour" as a main character. I want to experience something that is not easily accessible to me, like other cultures' traditions, their festivals, their beliefs and myths. And yet, I'm left with dystopian this, angels that and shy girl with a special power that can safe the world, instead. 

The Kite Runner and The Book Thief were two novels that I've read which left me feeling satisfied (and sad). Some other books that I've heard about are: The Memoir of a Geisha, Eon: Dragoneye Reborn, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan and A Fine Balance.

                         

If you guys know any other "cultural reads", please feel free to comment and let me know.


5. Can I haz funnies?
Surprise! The sci-fi/fantasy fangirl is a huge fan of David Sedaris! Yes, if you ask any one of my close friends, they will tell you Stella laughs a lot.

This mystical creature finds almost anything humourous and she isn't afraid to let you know. Common behaviour includes shrieking laughter and intense knee-slapping.

Comedy is definitely a microscopic field in the world of YA. I have personally never read anything that is purely funny. I've encountered funny characters with awesome personalities but nothing to the scale of what the Internet can't provide. The two books (that really can't be considered YA) I am looking to check are by Matthew Inman or more commonly known as The Oatmeal (www.TheOatmeal.com). They are called:

5 Very Good Reasons to Punch a Dolphin In the Mouth (And Other useful Guides)

and

How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You.

That's it! Five things I want to see more in YA/NA. Let me know what are your top five in the comments.

5 Things I Want To See More In Young Adult/New Adult Novels - Part 1

I have loved reading for as long as I can remember (well, the same probably goes for you, if you're reading this), so I am pretty open to any sort of novels or stories. With that said, ever since I've made the transition from middle grade books to young adult novels, I've noticed the lack of some of my favourite things about stories. Here are 5 things I want to see more in Young Adult/New Adult novels:

1. More standalone books.

Series are great if you want to spend a large chunk of your year rolling on the floor crying waiting for the next book in the series. But, I already belong in way too many emotions draining, pain causing fandoms to last me my whole life so no thanks.

I want to pick up a book that leaves me satisfied, from the first page to the last. No cliffhangers, no waiting. I believe, it takes real talents to write a good story, develop settings and characters in just one single book. Any aspiring authors out there, you get a pixelated high-five from me.

Some examples are: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, The Fault In Our Stars by John Green and The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. Of the three, I've only read The Book Thief but I'll definitely be reading the other two. 

2. More spy/espionage novels.

Hello high-tech gadgets, awesome fight scenes and bucket loads of suspense. What is not to love? With the teen readers consisting mostly of females, an expansion in this genre not only will draw in much-needed male readers, but it also spoils yours truly silly.

People who knows me well knows I am a die-hard kaboom-shazam fangirl. I have a soft spot for big explosions, well choreographed chase/fight scenes and heroic comebacks. Can we have a love child of Kill Bill and 007? Pretty please?

3. More mystery/detective/whodunits 

I am sick of "mysteries" being thrown around in practically every urban fantasy novel. 

"But Edward is not like everyone else. He has a secret. A secret so dark that everyone he loves is in danger..."

Hold up. Stop right there. I'm afraid I cannot let you enter Stella's brain. There seems to be an incompatibility with you and the system. Please step back and walk to the other side of the world so the system can be safe from you?

I miss Sherlock Holmes, Nancy Drew, Cam Jansen mysteries. I want clues, neat tricks for finding fingerprints. I want to be amazed by the killer's method and motives. Once you're qualified, you may be granted access into Stella's brain.

As for number 4 and 5, I will save those for another day. For you series readers out there, I'm sure you're used to waiting, anyways.