Young Adult Books You’ve (Probably) Never Heard Of

Today, I’m joining other bloggers to tell the world about a few Young Adult books that you may never have heard of. This has been organized by Kelly of YAnnabe, whose post for today can be found here. A few of these are some of my favorite books ever, but some are simply books I’ve enjoyed. To make this easier (for me and my book-sorting brain), I’ll arrange the list alphabetically by author.

The Secret Country
by Pamela Dean
If you know Pamela Dean’s work at all, it’s usually because of her novel Tam Lin, which is my absolute favorite book in the entire world (and let’s be honest- most people who read my blog have heard me rhapsodize on my utter adoration of Tam Lin on many an occasion).  Through that, however, I became acquainted with her Secret Country trilogy, a lighter fantastic romp through a not-quite-imaginary land with five not-quite-magical children.  What would you do if your game of make-believe turned out to be quite real and in need of your help?  If your answer is quote great literature and use your knowledge of fantasy to help you impersonate a person you spent nine years “making up…” then you’ll quite enjoy this series.

Dingo
by Charles deLint
Charles deLint is one of the few authors whose books I will buy strictly because he wrote them and thus they must be mine.  Before reading one of his Newford books, I hadn’t realized that this amazing genre of Urban Fantasy existed, let alone that it could be as lyrical as a fairy tale.  In Dingo, one of his more recent books set in the Canadian city of Newford, a boy meets a girl and her dog, and another boy meets another girl and her dog… there is magic in those connections, and while it becomes obvious fairly early on that the book can only go one way, the journey is still a satisfying one.

Waifs and Strays
by Charles deLint
A collection of various short stories from the different worlds that the author writes in- Bordertown, Newford, and a few others.  Sometimes the magic is obvious- sometimes it’s in the subtle connection between friends… but the magic is always there.  I love the way that the stories transport me from our solid reality into a more fluid dream- just the way a fantasy should.

The Silenced
by Jim Devita
Dystopian literature was never an addiction of mine (that would be more my friend Coral’s area of expertise), but I picked up this book anyway, based strictly on the fact that it was written by one of my favorite actors from a local theater company I adore.  The story, like most of its genre, is a fairly straightforward one- the oppressed begin to learn who they are and to rise against the totalitarian regime- but was inspired by The White Rose, a German resistance group formed against the Nazis during 1942.  The knowledge of that inspiration made the whole book more interesting to me.  In addition, the characters were well-formed, and the story is paced well, leading you to the (rather predictable) ending while maintaining suspense.

Cybele’s Secret
by Juliet Marillier
This author’s prose is lush, like silks and sandalwood, and she uses it well to describe the Ottoman Empire in which this adventure takes place.  There is a search for an ancient artifact, subtle negotiations, kidnappings, and romance.  Although the plot can feel rushed at times, the sheer joy with which the author uses language entirely makes up for the parts that are lacking.  Her dialogue is witty without being too shallow, and I cannot stress enough how well she paints pictures with her words.  (Can you tell I love love love this author?)

Mara, Daughter of the Nile
by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
Thutmose and Hatshepsut are vying for the throne of Egypt, and Mara- a slave girl- is caught up in the machinations of the nobility and their followers.  Her gift with languages very nearly wins her freedom until she’s swept into being a double agent.  She can’t tell anyone without her life being in danger- so who will she choose?  And will she even be given the chance to make that choice herself?  This book has everything I love- romance, adventure, court intrigue… I’m on my second, very battered copy, of the book, as I find myself re-reading it at least once a year.  At least.

The Sherwood Ring
by Elizabeth Marie Pope
Ghosts, spies, cyphers, underhanded dealings, Tories, Patriots, and a bit of romance tossed in for good measure.  It’s a bit fluffy, but well-written, and another one of my favorites.  Really, who can object to a charming young redcoat named Peaceable Sherwood?

Changeling
by Delia Sherman
I am a huge sucker for fantasy, and especially the stories of changelings- the human children taken by the fairies.  This was a light and fluffy little tale about a girl who lives happily with the the fairies in New York City until she breaks a rule she’d never known existed… as always happens in fairy tales.

The Safe-Keeper’s Secret
by Sharon Shinn
The safe-keepers will never break a confidence.  It is never their choice which secrets to keep and which to tell, and so when a baby is brought to Damiana, she raises him alongside her own daughter.  There are more secrets than just that one, and Reed and Fiona must learn who they are and what they themselves need to do about it.

Calico Captive
by Elizabeth George Speare
While most people know this author best for her book The Witch of Blackbird Pond, I’ve always liked this one of hers best.  Based on the true story of English settlers captured by the Abenakis and sold to the French as prisoners of war, it is told from the perspective of Miriam, a young woman who is a little too spunky for her own good, as she learns how best to survive as both a prisoner and a foreign seamstress in Montreal.