<< BACK TO LAUGHING BOY BOOKS | BOOKSHOP UPDATES >>
NAVIGATE THIS PAGE: Pre-YA and Early Young Adult Books | Were The Hardy Boys the First True YA Books? | Why Are YA Books Banned So Often? | Modern YA Classics | Young Adult Classics on Bookshop >>
NAVIGATE THIS PAGE: Pre-YA and Early Young Adult Books | Were The Hardy Boys the First True YA Books? | Why Are YA Books Banned So Often? | Modern YA Classics | Young Adult Classics on Bookshop >>
PRE-YA AND EARLY YOUNG ADULT BOOKS
WERE THE HARDY BOYS THE FIRST TRUE YA BOOKS?
Young adult (or YA) is not a genre of book, but rather a classification first coined in the 1960s. Generally speaking, YA books feature characters in their late teens or early twenties, contain themes that interest younger reading audiences, and may span genres. Despite the name, YA has huge following among adults. According to Publishers Weekly, the majority of YA readers are over 18.
While there have been stories with young protagonists for centuries, there is some debate over what was the first true YA book as we know them today. Maureen Daly's Seventeeth Summer (1942) and S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders (1967) are often heralded as some of the first. But could YA actually go back even further — all the way to 1927 and The Hardy Boys?
The Hardy Boys certainly have the classic hallmarks of YA: a youthful voice, coming-of-age themes, and protagonists who are independent and even willing to challenge adult authority. The original Hardy Boys series ended its seventy-eight year run in 2005 with 190 titles in all.
The titles shown below are books that are similar to YA but pre-date that title, or are early and acclaimed examples of young adult fiction.
Young adult (or YA) is not a genre of book, but rather a classification first coined in the 1960s. Generally speaking, YA books feature characters in their late teens or early twenties, contain themes that interest younger reading audiences, and may span genres. Despite the name, YA has huge following among adults. According to Publishers Weekly, the majority of YA readers are over 18.
While there have been stories with young protagonists for centuries, there is some debate over what was the first true YA book as we know them today. Maureen Daly's Seventeeth Summer (1942) and S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders (1967) are often heralded as some of the first. But could YA actually go back even further — all the way to 1927 and The Hardy Boys?
The Hardy Boys certainly have the classic hallmarks of YA: a youthful voice, coming-of-age themes, and protagonists who are independent and even willing to challenge adult authority. The original Hardy Boys series ended its seventy-eight year run in 2005 with 190 titles in all.
The titles shown below are books that are similar to YA but pre-date that title, or are early and acclaimed examples of young adult fiction.
After losing her parents, Mary Lennox is sent to live in her uncle's gloomy mansion on the English moors. She is lonely, but one day she learns of a secret garden on the grounds where no one's allowed to enter.
Over 50 years of an iconic bestseller. No one ever said life was easy, but Ponyboy knows that he can count on his brothers and his friends... and plenty of trouble with a vicious gang of rich kid.
Sixteen-year-old Holden Caulfield leaves his prep school in Pennsylvania and goes underground in New York City for three days in this perfectly articulated cry of mixed pain and pleasures.
WHY ARE YA BOOKS BANNED SO OFTEN?
Although any book can be banned for all kinds of reasons, YA books are some of the most heavily targeted, particularly in schools and public libraries where parents or organizations may believe they are imparting information inappropriate for younger readers. Some YA books are banned repeatedly over many decades, but often for wildly different reasons.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain has been one of the most banned books in the U.S. since its publication in 1884. Yet the reasons for its banning have changed over time. Early on, white Southerners objected to a white protagonist (Huck) helping a Black man (Jim) escape slavery. Later, the book was banned due to objections over language or what was seen as stereotypical characterizations of its Black characters. As a result, Huckleberry Finn may have the unique distinction of being pulled from shelves for being both racist and anti-racist.
Along with race, sexuality is a major reason YA books are banned. Beginning in the 1970s and 80s, YA books that dealt with topics about sex, sexual identity and gender identity became some of the most targeted books. Click here to see a more complete list of Banned YA Books.
Although any book can be banned for all kinds of reasons, YA books are some of the most heavily targeted, particularly in schools and public libraries where parents or organizations may believe they are imparting information inappropriate for younger readers. Some YA books are banned repeatedly over many decades, but often for wildly different reasons.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain has been one of the most banned books in the U.S. since its publication in 1884. Yet the reasons for its banning have changed over time. Early on, white Southerners objected to a white protagonist (Huck) helping a Black man (Jim) escape slavery. Later, the book was banned due to objections over language or what was seen as stereotypical characterizations of its Black characters. As a result, Huckleberry Finn may have the unique distinction of being pulled from shelves for being both racist and anti-racist.
Along with race, sexuality is a major reason YA books are banned. Beginning in the 1970s and 80s, YA books that dealt with topics about sex, sexual identity and gender identity became some of the most targeted books. Click here to see a more complete list of Banned YA Books.
Margaret just moved to New Jersey, and is anxious to fit in with new friends. When they form a secret club to talk about subjects like boys, bras, and their first periods, Margaret is happy to belong.
Angie never thought she'd fall in love over one short summer. But when she meets Jack, their connection is beyond a simple crush. But is their love is forever, or just a summer they’ll never forget?
A plane crashes on an uncharted island, stranding a group of schoolboys. At first, their freedom is something to celebrate. But as order collapses, adventure seems as far removed as the hope of rescue.
With their father at war, and their mother working to support them, the March sisters have to rely on one another. But there's one thing they can't help wondering: Will Father return home safely?
Following the death of bloodthirsty buccaneer, Jim Hawkins finds himself with a map that will lead him to the fabled Treasure Island. But deadly swashbucklers stand between him and the gold.
Based on the real-life adventures of Laura Ingalls Wilder, this is the first book in the award-winning Little House series. It takes place in 1871 and introduces us to four-year-old Laura and her pioneer family.
On San Nicolas Island, dolphins flash in the surrounding blue waters Here, in the early 1800s, a girl named Karana spent eighteen years alone. A gripping tale of survival which has captivated readers for decades.
Life in the community where Jonas lives is idyllic. Citizens are assigned their partners and their jobs. No one thinks to ask questions. Everyone obeys. Everyone is the same. Except Jonas.
A best-selling novel since its debut in 1974, this is a chilling portrait of an all-boys prep school which casts an unflinching eye on the pitfalls of conformity and corruption in elite cultural institutions.
MODERN YA CLASSICS:
Hazel's cancer has never been anything but terminal. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.
Stanley's been sent to a boys' detention center where he spends every day digging holes. It doesn't take long him to realize the boys at the center are digging holes because the warden's looking for something.
Clay returns home from school to find a package containing tapes recorded by a classmate who committed suicide. The girl tells him that there are 13 reasons why she ended her life. Clay is one of them.
The in between part is still fuzzy, but Travis can tell you that, at some point, his head got chopped off and shoved into a freezer. Five years later, it was reattached to some other guy’s body, and well, here he is.
Observant “wallflower” Charlie charts a course through the strange world between adolescence and adulthood. First dates, family drama, and new friends. Sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show!.
When "Verity" is arrested by the Gestapo, she's sure she doesn't stand a chance. As a secret agent captured in enemy territory, the Nazis give her a simple choice: reveal her mission or face a grisly execution.
Self-proclaimed fat girl Willowdean Dickson (dubbed “Dumplin’”) has always been at home in her own skin. Things have always worked . . . until she takes a job at Harpy’s, the local fast-food joint.
Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself in war-torn Munich by stealing books. She shares her books during bombing raids, including with the Jewish man hidden in her basement.
Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's disappears on mysterious "errands"; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she?
A spellbinding murder mystery, family saga, love story, and financial intrigue.... Harriet Vanger, a young scion of one of the wealthiest families in Sweden, disappeared and her uncle believes it was murder.
Once there was a pair of pants. Just an ordinary pair of jeans. But these pants, the Traveling Pants, went on to do great things. This is the story of the four friends who made it possible.
Justyce is a good kid, an honor student, and always there to help a friend—but none of that matters to the police officer who just put him in handcuffs. He just can't seem to escape his past.