4 Contemporary YA novels to read

Jesus told us in John 16:33 that in this world, we would have trouble, but to take heart! He has overcome the world.

Contemporary fiction allows us the opportunities to live through other people’s troubles and to see how they fared. While our chair provides us safety, the emotions grab us. In really good stories, we won’t soon forget the lessons learned.

Today, I’d like to share with you about four contemporary young adult novels written by Christian authors: Salvaged by Shanna M. Heath, Inside The Ten-Foot Line and Offsides, both by Lori Z. Scott, and You Were There by Melissa Knight.

The tough topics covered in these novels range from losing parents/guardians to eating disorders to human trafficking to bullying and self-esteem issues.

Salvaged

Salvaged by Shanna M. Heath, full of emotional tension, kept me invested to the last sentence. High school senior Hadley’s world gets turned upside down with her grandmother’s cancer diagnosis. When her teen mother deserted her when she was young, Nonny raised her, but now with her health deteriorating, Nonny can’t take care of her anymore. Hadley moves from Maryland to Kentucky to live with her father and his family. You can imagine the adjustments. She hadn’t known her father, and he hadn’t known she existed until now. She finds herself in all sorts of new: parents, siblings, school, friends. Adjusting to all that newness and dealing with the stresses of a sick caregiver create lots of tension in the story. To top it off, she has to do a senior project at her new school at an antique salvage company known for its grumpy owner. Her mentor doesn’t exactly welcome her aboard either. Heath ties everything together beautifully. While there are tissue-grabbing moments, the story ends with hope. I enjoyed the moments of humor and the emerging romance too.

Inside The Ten-Foot Line

Inside The Ten-Foot Line by Lori Z. Scott immerses you in volleyball. Lorali seeks a scholarship to play at a Division One school, however, her grumpy teammate Gwen hides a dangerous secret that might cost them both more than they bargained. I enjoyed moments of laughter and nail-biting-moments of suspense. An eating disorder and domestic abuse play an important part in the story, and near the end, you fear more than one person’s going to die. Lorali’s courage to stick with someone in need who continues to reject her speaks of a tenacity many will admire. Often, we walk away from such people without realizing their desperate cries for help. She exemplifies what real friends are made of.

Offsides

In Offsides, also by Lori Z. Scott, Dani, a shy, soccer player, gets entangled in a sex trafficking ring when she tries to protect a middle-school girl in her neighborhood. This novel keeps one trying to figure out who the bad guy is throughout the story. Readers learn how predators pick their victims and what symptoms to watch for if a friend is suspected of being endangered. This book has surprises and gets intense at the end. Readers are forewarned about human trafficking triggers. Indeed, this is a subject we could all learn more about so that we can protect ourselves and loved ones.

You Were There

In You Were There by Melissa Knight, growing up without a father causes Reese problems. She errors on excusing behaviors that ought to incite caution. For example, she uses avoidance techniques with a former boyfriend. To get her attention, he posts a picture with nasty comments about her. Rather than be firm, she allows his poor behavior to escalate to the point she feels endangered. Because of him, she vows to not date anymore in high school. As soon as she makes this decision, she notices another boy who wants to get to know her. Rather than explain her bad experience, she tries to avoid him too. In this story, Reese learns to stand up for herself and to make better friend choices. While Reese gets into some scary situations, this novel is less intense than the Scott books. Reese wrestles with life-changing decisions also such as deciding whether she should find her father she never met. I like that Reese’s friends protect her. The character arc includes starting a relationship with Jesus. Generational hurts and learning to trust themes weave through the story.

Relatable characters, real-life situations, and familiar settings make these novels fast and gripping reads. All the stories cover their tough topics tastefully.

Happy reading, friends!

What contemporary YA novels would you recommend?