{Book Matchmaker} Kate Needs Some Quality Reads with Deep Themes

Our latest book matchmaker victim participant is Kate, who loves good young adult fiction. This is one of the most fun book matchmaker posts we’ve done, since Kate’s tastes appear to be very similar to Laura’s and mine. She’s looking for YA novels that have either historical or contemporary settings and have some depth.

The biggest challenge was finding books to recommend that Kate hadn’t read yet! 

Kate’s Responses

Adult, YA or Both: YA

Genres: Contemporary, Historical, Romance

Narrative Style & POV: First Person, Multiple POV, Present Tense, Past Tense, Male POV, Main Character or Narrator, Female POV, Main Character or Narrator 

Swoon Factor: 4

Gross Out Factor: 1

Fluff Factor: 3  

Smut Factor: 3

Likes: “Favorites include: The Summer books by Jenny Han, Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys, Nicholas Sparks. But I also books with deep themes, such as dealing with death, etc. I’m really up for anything. Just not a huge fantasy fan!”

Dislikes: Vampires, made-up creatures, really improbable plotlines :)

The Results

All the Broken Pieces by Ann E. Burg

This is a novel in verse recommended by Laura that deals with several big issues and has a semi-historical setting (the 1970s—which I can’t really comprehend as “historic,” but oh well). This is an emotional book in which the author makes every word count. 

{Buy it at Amazon | Book Depository}
{Add it on Goodreads} 

The Wicked and the Just by J. Anderson Coats

This is another historical that deals with serious themes of friendship and loyalty and the ideas of good and bad. The setting (Wales) is well-developed and researched and the writing is excellent. 

{Laura’s Review}
{Buy it at Amazon | Book Despository}
{Add it on Goodreads} 

Raw Blue by Kirsty Eagar

I am so thrilled to be able to finally recommend this fabulous Australian book to U.S. readers. No, it’s not yet published here (arg!), but it is coming out in the U.K. soon, and will be easily available via The Book Depository. Raw Blue is is a book about moving forward. And Eagar’s brilliant writing lingers. 

{Sarah’s Review}
{Buy it at The Book Depository}
{Add it on Goodreads} 

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

I haven’t had a chance to review Morgan Matson’s sophomore novel, Second Chance Summer, yet, but it’s a wondeful novel. It’s much more about family than Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour (which I loved), but it’s got that same specialness to it. Matson is great at drawing the reader into the story and making you care about all the characters. 

{Buy it at Amazon | Book Depository}
{Add it on Goodreads}

Far From You by Lisa Schroeder

It is a known fact that Lisa Schroeder only writes awesome books. And we noticed on Kate’s Goodreads profile that she hadn’t read any Lisa Schroeder books. Obviously, this problem needs to be remedied ASAP. Far from you is Laura’s favorite, and with good reason. This novel in verse handles family issues in a sensitive, realistic way while also being (and I mean this as a good thing) quite sweet, ultimately. 

{Buy it at Amazon | Book Depository}
{Add it on Goodreads}

Something Like Normal by Trish Doller

This is one of my favorite books of 2012, and definitely my favorite YA debut. Something Like Normal’s cover would lead you to believe that it’s a book about kissing, but it’s really a book about a Marine at home on leave after his best friend is killed in Afghanistan. It’s an emotionally tough book, as Travis isn’t the easiest narrator—he’s been through a lot and it feels very real. The romance is one of my favorites in YA.

{Sarah’s Review}
{Buy it at Amazon | Book Depository}
{Add it on Goodreads}

Stretch Book 

Come See About Me by C.K. Kelly Martin

I know that Kate asked for YA, but I think this novel, which is definitely “adult” has a lot of the qualities of excellent YA. It deals with serious issues, is character driven and is really different from most of the adult novels on the market these days. It’s one of my favorite reads of 2012. 

{Sarah’s Review}
{Buy it Kindle | Paperback  | Smashwords (ePub)}
{Add it on Goodreads}

What would you recommend for Kate?

She’s a tough one, because she’s read a lot of our usual suspects for YA, so most of our recommendations are newer releases. Anyone have some oldies that she may not have heard of?