Top Ten YA Books I Want To Reread

This week’s list from the Broke and the Bookish is books I’d like to re-read. I didn’t include books I re-read on a regular (obsessive) basis, like “Deathly Hallows” or “Where She Went” or “The Sky Is Everywhere.” These are all books I have somewhere around the house or borrowed from the library so I don’t have daily access to them.

“Before I Die” by Jenny Downham
Maybe it’s because I just finished her follow-up, “You Against Me,” but I can’t get Tessa’s story out of my head. It’s not the typical “wise dying kid” story. She wants to LIVE right until the end, and it’s just such an emotional but brilliant book.

“The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak
I read this book in a flurry last year and scared my family with the tears I spilled for Liesl and Rudy. But I’d like to read it again at a more leisurely pace and savor Zusak’s writing. Not sure why I want to reread some of the saddest books on my shelf!

“The Bridge to Terabithia” by Katherine Paterson
This was my favorite book as an older elementary schooler, and it was so significant to me because I had male best friends as well as girl BFFs. I love how the two protagonists build their own world where their differences don’t matter–just their friendship.

“Divergent” by Veronica Roth
I blazed through this dystopian thriller and was blown away by how good it was, and every now and then I go back and read a few of my favorite scenes, but I want to start at the very beginning and follow Tris’ story again. Plus, “Insurgent” comes out next Spring, so there’s a good excuse to read the impressive debut novel again.

“Forever” by Judy Blume
I know I read it as a tween, but I can’t remember much about it. Maybe I skipped ahead to the steamy parts? I have no idea, but I do know the female half of my sixth grade class passed that and the “Clan of the Cave Bear” books around in a fury of hormones and curiosity. So, I should revisit Blume’s controversial classic.

“Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” by J.K. Rowling
Of all seven Harry Potter books, OotP is the only one I *haven’t* re-read. I’m not sure why, exactly, but it felt a bit bogged down in places the first time I read it, and I got tired of Harry’s incessant ALL-CAPS angst. But now that I’ve read all the others more than once (not in order, mind you), I should give book 5 another shot.

“The Hobbit” by J.R.R. Tolkien
My oldest brother forced me to read this when I was 10 (he was 24). I wasn’t into it, but I felt compelled to get through the book and afterward my brother quizzed me about it. But more than two decades later, I can’t recall much besides the Elvish and singing and feeling coerced to read it.

“The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins
I need to reread this before the movie comes out in March. Since my day job is to write about films, I always try to Read It 1st before watching an adaptation.  I’ve already read all three, obviously, but I need to go over all the little Katniss-Peeta-Arena details to see how closely Gary Ross follows the book.

“Jellicoe Road” by Melina Marchetta
I think I’m a little bit in live with Marchetta right now. I’ve read all but one of her YA books and adored them all. I’d like to reread the book specifically to pay even closer attention to the flashback story. I was more preoccupied with Taylor and Jonah during my first read, so in my second I’d like to focus on Narnie’s tale.

 “Please Ignore Vera Dietz” by A.S. King
I was a mess after reading this book. I had never read such an inventive, multiple-narrator book about suicide and grief and friends who love each other but don’t feel they deserve each other. Charlie and Vera’s story broke my heart and made me rage against spiteful Mean Girls like Jenny. There’ no Happy Ending, but it’s worth reading, and reading again.

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