In the ever-growing world of young adult (YA) literature, a new trend has been steadily gaining momentum: clean YA books, especially in Christian circles. These novels offer readers all the engaging storytelling, relatable characters, and emotional depth of the YA genre while steering clear of explicit content. For parents, educators, and young readers alike, clean YA books are a breath of fresh air—providing stories that entertain without crossing sensitive boundaries.
What Are Clean YA Books?
Clean YA books are novels that focus on age-appropriate content, making them accessible to a wider audience. While they may still tackle complex themes such as identity, relationships, and personal growth, they typically avoid:
- Explicit sexual content
- Excessive violence or graphic depictions
- Profanity or offensive language
This doesn’t mean these stories lack depth or drama. Instead, clean YA books rely on skillful storytelling and character development to capture readers’ hearts.
Why Choose Clean YA Books?
Clean YA books appeal to a diverse audience for several reasons:
- Appropriate for Younger Readers: While the YA genre traditionally targets readers aged 12-18, many younger readers and their parents seek out clean books that align with their comfort levels.
- Engaging Without Explicit Content: Clean YA books prove that compelling narratives don’t need to rely on shock value. Readers can still experience emotional highs and lows through well-crafted plots and relatable characters.
- Appealing to All Ages: Adults often enjoy YA literature for its fast-paced storytelling and emotional tone. Clean YA books broaden this appeal by avoiding content that might alienate more Christian readers.
Recommendations for Clean YA Books
If you’re new to the world of clean YA books, here are some excellent starting points:
- Unbetrothed by Candice Pedraza Yamnitz: A story about an inadequate princess who makes a mortal oath that requires her to find a dangerous valley to retrieve a gifting.
- The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen: A gripping fantasy full of twists, political intrigue, and adventure.
- To Bind Fire by DE Carlson: A story about a girl with secret fire power and a prince of a dark realm.
- Suspended in the Stars by E.A. Hendryx: A unique blend of space, circus, and royal intrigue.
- One Must Die by Candice Pedraza Yamnitz, Sarah Everest, Claire Kohler, Lydia Mae, Amber Lambda, and C.C. Urie: A story about teens who get invited to a scavenger hunt to win the wealth of a lifetime, but the only catch is that one person must die for anyone to win.
Where to Find Clean YA Books
Finding clean YA books has never been easier. Here are some tips:
- Follow this blog: The storyteller blog has the unique benefit of having multiple authors reading and writing reviews for multiple genres.
- Lorehaven: Check-out the website if you love fantasy and sci-fi books.
- Join my newsletter: I write book reviews that focus on main content points like romance, violence, language, and agendas. Right now, I send it once a month. Click here to sign up and get 50 book recs.
- I’m going to be trying out reviews on You Tube soon so sign up to be in the know.
Great book recommendations, and I look forward to seeing more book review on Youtube.
I agree with these book recommendations! I’m so glad to see more and more authors writing clean fantasy for teens!