Can anyone recommend some really good books for a young adult?

Answer 1

The genre of Young Adult Fiction has exploded in recent years. "Reem" above, mentions some good titles, and while many of the others list great books, many of them are older and in the sort of fantasy vein. Many young adults that I know like contemporary, realistic, what-young-people-today are-going-through books. There's even an award - the "Printz Award" for achievement in young adult fiction. Now many of these are a little hard-core and deal with tough issues: preganancy, drugs, abuse, sexuality, etc. And many of the classically minded readers might be wary of some of the books and/or issues in them, but ask any librarian -- these books fly off the shelves in libraries frequented by teens. Some popular titles are
"Speak," by Laurie Halse Anderson,
"Monster," by Water Dean Myers
"Ironman," by Chris Crutcher and
"Stuck in Neutral," by Terry Trueman
In the Fantasy/Sci-Fi vein, "The Giver" by Lois Lowry is immensely popular. You can go back a few years to "The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier. These books and others by these authors (as well as Judy Blume, Ursula LeGuin and Gary Paulsen) are big in YA Reading Lists.
Harry Potter, Eragon, The Lord of the Rings, The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants, The Princess Diaries, The Gossip Girls, and Lemony Snicket you probably already know of. Two books that are popular among young readers, though not targetted at that audience are "The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold and "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightime" by Mark Haddon.
But you can always go back to the classics.
Happy reading!

Answer 2

I need an age...but I can recommend a few that can be enjoyed by all :) Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood (a little older, maybe) Wicked By Gregory Maguire and The Wind On Fire Sereis by William Nicholson and The Echorium Sequence by Katherine Roberts. For older 'young adults' Go Ask Alice by Anonymous, anything my Margaret Atwood and Chuck Palaniuk and Anne Rice. Hope this helps :)

Answer 3

The Hobbit series, The Chronicles of Narnia, the Mitford Series, Madeline L'Engle's books, Nero Wolf mysteries by Rex Stout, non-fiction might include anything by Terry Tempest Williams or Jane Goodall, or Bill Bryson. The books by Philippa Gregory are historical fiction. For a philosophical book, try The Fountainhead.

Answer 4

Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger
The Young Merlin Trilogy - Jane Yolen
Howl's Moving Castle - Dianna Wynne Jones
The Magic Circle - Donna Jo Napoli
The Wizard of Earthsea - Ursula K. Le Guin

Answer 5

I liked the Maximum Ride series by James Patterson. It is totally appropriate for young adults, unlike some of his other stuff. I should know, I'm 16 and I've read some of his other books. These are totally different.
I love Artemis Fowl books, and see if you can find Dennis L. McKiernan books. They are fantasy and similar to Lord of the Rings. I read them a while ago and absolutly loved them.

Douglas Adams is awesome. he wrote hitchhikers guide to the galaxy, Life, the universe, and everything, the resaurant at the end of the universe, so long and thanks for all the fish, and mostly harmless. they are a little strange, but absolutly hilarious. not very much like the movie, but cooler.

Answer 6

Well if youre into fantasy Percy Jackson is witty and cool
The Dream Merchant is long but worth it
Noughts and crosses is a brilliant story about love and racial conflict
so is Roll of thunder Hear my Cry
If you like the Wizard of Oz you need to read Wicked by Gregory Maguire
Inkspell by Cornelia Funke this fanasy book grabs you into a new world where all book lovers would love to go
I hav like a million more but i tink you hav enough

Answer 7

The Harry Potter series is excellent.
A Wrinkle in Time by Madaleine L'Engle
Any book by Roald Dahl

Answer 8

Harry Potter

Answer 9

What age, specifically?
I would encourage them to read some historical fiction, like anything by Philippa Gregory. It's pretty basic stuff, but interesting. I also like the works of Lois Lowry, but that might be a little too young for them. Or Lurlene McDaniel writes some good stuff, too.

Answer 10

I don't understand why it has to be young adult. Just read what you like and forget about the labelling by others. Read anything by Matthew Reilly or AMAZONIA by James Rollins to get you started. If you like sci-fi/fantasy there are thousands of books and thousands of great authors that will astound you with their complexity. Happy reading. ENJOY!