YA books that will get you through this cold, snowy winter
The weather outside might be frightful, but you know what’s always delightful? Reading in your pajamas, by a fire or under a blanket, and totally ignoring whatever’s going on outside. You probably have a few extra minutes this holiday season to check out a book, so put on your slipper socks, find your Snuggie, put on some Bon Iver, and settle in with one of these awesome YA winter reads.
Let it Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle
Are you looking for the book equivalent of those totally-cheesy-but-totally awesome Hallmark/ABC Family Christmas movies? (Don’t act like you don’t watch them.) Then this is the book for you! Maureen Johnson, Lauren Myracle, and John Green each tell a story in this collection about teenage romance during a snowstorm.
My True Love Gave to Me edited by Stephanie Perkins
Why read one holiday story when you can read 12? In this collection, Stephanie Perkins assembled a super-team of 12 of the best YA writers around to tell stories of winter romance. Favorites like David Levithan, Rainbow Rowell, Jenny Han, and Matt de la Peña write love stories that will make you swoon and maybe get a little teary-eyed. If you’re looking for a YA Love Actually that will make you feel all warm and cozy, this is your best bet.
The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth LaBan
Are you dreaming of a white Christmas? Then pick up The Tragedy Paper, a book with a plot that revolves around a snowstorm. Set at a boarding school, this quiet-but-captivating novel is full of suspense and heartbreak.
Lovely, Dark and Deep by Amy McNamara
This is another quiet book that will totally consume you. Wren lives with her dad deep within the wintry woods, hiding out after a tragedy wrecks her life. It sounds depressing, but it’s actually full of romance and healing. Although her situation is definitely not enviable, this book did make me want to move to the woods to ride out the rest of the winter there. Plus, the title of the book comes from the quintessential cold-weather poem, Robert Frost’s “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening“.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Maybe it’s just because I instinctively think of the 1994 Winona Ryder starring film and its many snowy scenes, but I always associate Little Women with the holidays. And, really, is there any better time to curl up with this long story about the March sisters? Fall in love with Marmee, get annoyed with Amy, develop a vehement opinion on whether or not Jo should have married Laurie—reading Little Women is fun no matter what season you do it in, but there’s something special about reading it in winter.
What about you guys? What YA books are you planning to read over the holidays? Let me know in the comments! And a BIG thank you to all of you for reading my column this year. I appreciate it so much, and your tweets and emails make me so happy. I’ll be back in January with plenty more YA book recommendations and author interviews. If there are any books you’d love to see in Young Adult Education, please let me know on Twitter @KerryAnn or send me an email at [email protected].
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