By: Adam Sockel, Marketing Communications Specialist

This year, the literary world will be celebrating Teen Read Week from October 8-14 and in preparation we’re sharing some of our favorite young adult book quotes. Throughout the school year, students will receive required reading assignments designed to engage them with literature both classic and modern. The books they read for class help foster their interest in reading, but if those particular books don’t strike a chord with students, they may turn away from books entirely. This is why it’s so essential for both public and school libraries to provide access to leisure reading options that will set students on the path to being a lifelong lover of books.

Young adult books offer important life lessons in their pages and they also help teenagers to cope with feelings they’re likely experiencing for the first time. YA books can help young readers find their voice, see life through the eyes of people who look and sound like them or, even better, people who look and sound differently than they do. The ideals and moments that can be experienced through young adult books can help shape how we view the world and better understand our place in it. These books can give us confidence to be ourselves and an understanding of what can be achieved if you’re willing to work for it.

Below you’ll find quotes from some of our favorite young adult books. These are the stories, both old and new, that kept us coming back to YA books, regardless of our age, and the lessons they helped teach us. These books are great choices for a curated collection on your digital library not just during Teen Read Week, but all month long.

 

This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp

Teenagers, and readers of all ages, can sometimes feel overwhelmed and weighed down by the mistakes they’ve made or the expectations that others set upon them. It’s important to remember that these alone do not define what we can achieve and who we can become.

 

Every Exquisite Thing by Matthew Quick

Along those same lines in dealing with expectations, it’s important to remember that you can be great at something but not enjoy it. Our teen years should be about discovering our passions. Sometimes, our passion and our talent align but if you find you have talent in a certain area, that doesn’t mean you have to follow that path.

 

The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett by Chelsea Sedoti

During our teen years, we experience several changes from a physiological, emotions and mental aspect. Teens will discover countless emotions and feelings for the first time and it’s important that they know not to bottle these things up inside. Learning ways to let out these feelings aids in creating a healthy emotional life.

Note: The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett was chosen by our readers as the next Big Library Read, our global digital book club which kicks off October 12. Learn more about this book and the Big Library Read program at http://biglibraryread.com/.

 

Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson

Having lofty goals is a wonderful idea and helps to keep you motivated, but it’s also a good idea to be realistic now and then with what you can expect the results to be.

 

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Following your heart a perfectly acceptable way to discover what you’re passionate about. Just make sure that you keep your focus when you discover that passion.

 

In Lucia’s Eyes by Arthur Japin

Now and then, if you get a gut feeling, go with it.

 

Morning Star by Pierce Brown

Thinking back to my time as a teenage reader, I struggled to remember any books that addressed war in a realistic manner in regards to what it does to those involved. The Red Rising series by Pierce Brown may be set in the distant future, but it does a wonderful job of conveying the internal emotional struggle that war creates.

Note: These books are more mature than standard YA books and should be read by older teenagers due to some violence, language and adult situations.

 

Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard

One of the best aspects of young adult literature in the past several years has been the wonderful rise in strong female characters. These stories show young women that they can achieve anything and are capable of being the hero in their own story. Teen Read Week is a perfect time to highlight these women by curating a collection of female-driven YA books.

 

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

They say a journey of a 1,000 miles starts with the first step and we agree. You’ll never accomplish anything if you don’t take a chance and take that first step.

 

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

YA books teach us how to handle our emotions and one of those is soul crushing sadness. This quotes gets us right in the feels every time.

 

Check back later this week as we’ll be sharing more of our favorite young adult book quotes in preparation for the celebration of Teen Read Week.