Which New York Times Best Books Of 2017 Suit Young Adult Readers?

Question

I'm thinking of gifting my teen niece a popular read from the NYT's 2017 bestseller list. Are any specifically great YA novels or crossover stories that year?

DanBarnes · Answer

The mystery 'Magpie Murders' by Anthony Horowitz is a clever, nested whodunit—a book within a book. It's a love letter to the golden age of detective fiction. A YA reader who enjoys puzzles, Agatha Christie, or meta-fiction might adore its intricate construction. It's smart and engaging without being overly violent or dark. Horowitz also writes YA (Alex Rider), so he understands pace and intrigue, which shows in this adult novel. It's a sophisticated but fun brain-teaser.

NadiaSnow · Answer

I’m seeing a lot of contemporary and fantasy, which is fair. But for the historical fiction fans, 'Salt to the Sea' by Ruta Sepetys was still charting in early 2017 (published in 2016). It’s about the WWII sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff.

It follows four teenagers from different backgrounds, and it is devastatingly good. Sepetys makes history feel immediate and personal. It’s absolutely suitable for YA readers, and its presence on the bestseller list well into 2017 shows how its impact lasted. A powerful, necessary read.

EliasLane · Answer

I'm just here for the 'Scythe' love. That book is a masterpiece of the genre. The concept is so chillingly simple and ripe for drama. The two apprentice protagonists, Citra and Rowan, are fantastically written—their moral journeys feel real and earned. Thunderhead, the sequel, is even better in some ways. If a teen likes that one, you've got them set for a whole series. It's the kind of book that creates lifelong speculative fiction fans. Neal Shusterman doesn't talk down to his readers, and it shows.

JossSmith · Answer

I have a soft spot for 'Genuine Fraud' by E. Lockhart. It was her follow-up to 'We Were Liars' and hit the list. It’s a psychological thriller with an unreliable narrator, told in reverse chronological order.

It’s a divisive book—some found it confusing, others brilliant. For a YA reader who wants a challenging, unconventional narrative structure and a dark, amoral protagonist, it’s a fascinating pick. It didn’t have the universal love of her previous book, which makes it a more interesting, niche recommendation from the bestseller pile.

LuxDunn · Answer

The mystery of ‘what actually sells to teens’ is partly solved by looking at what parents and schools buy. 'The Hate U Give' and 'Long Way Down' became curriculum staples. Their bestseller status was turbocharged by institutional adoption.

So, suitability can also mean ‘teachable.’ A book that can spark necessary classroom discussions about race, violence, and grief while still being compelling fiction is uniquely valuable. The list, in this case, reflected what adults decided was important for teens to read, as well as what teens chose themselves.

KateHunt · Answer

Accessibility is a factor. Some of those literary hardcovers are expensive. Point young readers toward the library Libby app or Hoopla. Many libraries have 'Always Available' copies of bestsellers from past years. 'Scythe', 'Turtles All the Way Down', and 'The Hate U Give' are almost always available in some format. Getting a book for free lowers the barrier to trying something new. A teen might hesitate to spend an allowance on 'Lincoln in the Bardo', but borrowing it digitally is zero-risk.

RobEllis · Answer

A book's 'suitability' can also be about timing. 'Turtles All the Way Down' deals with intrusive thoughts. A teen in a good headspace might find it illuminating; a teen in the midst of a severe anxiety spiral might find it triggering. There's no one-size-fits-all. As a recommender, knowing the individual is key. The NYT list tells you what sold well, not what's right for a specific person at a specific moment. A gentle check-in like 'are you in the mood for something heavy or something fun?' goes a long way.

GrantFinn · Answer

For the re-readers, the ones with the most layered depth might be 'Scythe' for its philosophical puzzles and 'Turtles All the Way Down' for its nuanced portrayal of mental illness. A book you can return to and find new insights in is a special kind of suitable—it grows with the reader.

Bestsellers are sometimes seen as disposable, but several of these have proven their staying power on shelves and in school curriculums precisely because they offer that re-readable, teachable quality alongside mass appeal.

PaxKent · Answer

Controversial opinion: some YA-focused books on the list are overhyped. The hype itself can be off-putting to a teen who doesn't want to read what 'everyone' is reading. In those cases, recommending an adult title from the same list that flies under their radar can feel like giving them a secret. 'Pachinko' by Min Jin Lee (a multi-generational saga) is a commitment, but for a reader who wants an epic, it offers a perspective (Korean immigrants in Japan) rarely seen in assigned school reading.

NadiaNash · Answer

The real value for a YA reader might be in the non-fiction. 'Educated' by Tara Westover wasn't published until 2018, so scratch that. But 'The Radium Girls' by Kate Moore is on the 2017 list. It's a devastating but empowering true story of young women fighting for justice against corporate negligence. It reads like a novel, and the historical context is gripping. For a teen interested in history, science, or stories of resilience, it's far more engaging than any textbook. It teaches history through incredible human stories.

KaiNash · Answer

Why is no one mentioning the practical angle? Audiobooks! 'Scythe' has a fantastic full-cast audiobook production that totally elevates the experience. For a young adult who might be a reluctant reader or who consumes stories while gaming or commuting, that's a game-changer. The performance adds layers to the different Scythe personalities. So when you're looking at that 2017 list for suitability, consider the format too. The right production can make a denser book from the list, like 'Killers of the Flower Moon', accessible as a listening experience for an interested teen.

JunoStone · Answer

For the sports fans, 'The Throwback' isn't YA, so scratch that. But 'The Hate U Give' has basketball as a background element, tying the community together. Sports aren’t the focus of most of these bestsellers, which is interesting. The driving forces were social issues, fantasy, and romance.

Maybe the crossover appeal for YA lies less in specific hobbies and more in universal emotional stakes—injustice, first love, finding your power, facing mortality. Those themes dominated the list, and they’re exactly what resonates with that age group.

JackLong · Answer

The international perspective is interesting. 'The Hate U Give' and 'Warcross' were huge globally. But a title like 'The Sun and Her Flowers' by Rupi Kaur had a different kind of global, viral reach through social media, particularly Instagram.

Its suitability for YA readers might be less about traditional marketing and more about its shareable, quotable format that resonated across borders. The NYT list captured that shift—a poetry collection becoming a mainstream bestseller driven largely by young women sharing it online.

CamTorres · Answer

I have to mention 'They Both Die at the End' by Adam Silvera. The title kinda gives it away, but it’s about two boys who get a call saying they’ll die within 24 hours and decide to spend their last day together.

It’s a heartbreaking but ultimately life-affirming story about connection, fate, and living without regret. It made the NYT list and is a huge favorite in the YA community. It’s speculative fiction with an incredibly emotional, character-driven core. Just have tissues ready.

MasonWebb · Answer

Honestly, I'd skip most of the list for a typical 15-year-old. A lot of the non-fiction and dense literary fiction just won't hold their attention. The one clear winner is 'Scythe'. It's got a cool premise (a world with no natural death, so 'Scythes' are tasked with killing to control population), constant moral dilemmas, and enough action to keep pages turning. The sequel system is also solid, so if they like it, there's more to dive into. It respects its young readers' intelligence without being a slog.

Which New York Times Best Books Of 2017 Suit Young Adult Readers?

15 答案

相關作品

The Girl with the Violet Eyes

A Good book

Promises We Made at Seventeen

All I Want Is You: The Youngers Book 3

Teen Hunters

The bad girl has a heart

相關問題

Which New York Times 100 best books of all time suit young adults?

Which New York Times best selling fiction books suit new adult readers?

Which New York Times books to read list focuses on young adult readers?

Which New York Times best books of 2023 are suitable for teens?

Which New York Times best seller list romance books suit new readers?

Which best seller books right now are ideal for young adult readers?

What impact do New York Times best seller young adult books have on teens?

How does a young adult book qualify for the New York Times best seller list?

相關搜尋

Best Young Adult Novel

Best Fiction Books Of All Time For Young Adults

Best Ya Books

Best Rated Books For Young Adults

Best Ya Novels Of All Time

Best Selling Novels For Young Adults

Best Ya Reads

Best Ya Novel

Best Selling Books For Young Adults

Young Adults Recommended Books