More:
1. Boarding Schools! Look, I’m a sucker for a good boarding school book. Always have been, always will be. Camp was as close as I got to boarding school, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting to go back in a book. From the paranormal worlds of St. Vladimir’s, Hex Hall and Hogwarts to more typical prep schools like in The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks or The Mockingbirds or Anna and the French Kiss, I love them all!
2. Theatre Kids: While the ~special~ kids are off hunting demons, turning into angels, and finding everlasting love, there’s gotta be someone keeping the school musical going and lobbying to perform something a little more cool than The Crucible. Again. Adriana Trigani’s Viola in Reel Life and its sequel Viola in the Spotlight and E. Lockhart’s Dramarama have whet my appetite for more tales of the dramatic side.
3. Fantasy Settings: I was so excited to see Starcrossed (the Elizabeth C Bunce one not the Greek myth one) and The False Princess at the end of last year! I love the YA paranormals, but my first love is well-described fantasy worlds and both of these books delivered. More please?
4. Steampunk: I might regret saying this in a year or two, but YA steampunk has very, very cool so far, and I love to see different people’s takes on it. The Parasol Protectorate and Girl in the Steel Corset have just given me a bare taste of what could be. I hope to see more!
5. Heroines who aren’t “spunky”: Spunk is all well and good in its place, but I much prefer girls who have snark, can kick ass, and have a potentially bad attitude. Katniss was a great example of this along with Vampire Academy’s Rose Hathaway or Inside Out’s Trella.
6. Sarah Dessen books: What? This is totally a valid choice.
Less
1. Love triangles: Generally boring.
2. Heroines modelled after Bella Swan: It’s not terribly interesting when a character is a) perfect and b) does nothing.
3. Love at first sight: I don’t usually have a problem with ‘true love’ in books, but the current trend of characters falling for each other before they’ve exchanged a word because it’s ‘meant to be’ is awfully boring. And I think that’s where love triangles are inserted because if you don’t have to write about the characters actually getting to know each other and falling for each other, where’s the tension?
4. Angels: I don’t know why, but the vast majority of the angel books I’ve read haven’t enthralled me. I really enjoyed Unearthly and Fallen wasn’t horrible, but I’ve actively hated almost everything else. I wonder if it’s because angels have such a loaded docket with all the religious significance that it’s extra hard to write well.
I love The Broke and the Bookish's Top Ten Tuesdays, and I'm always so excited when I get to (read: inspired to) participate!
