National Reading Day: Reconnecting with our beloved stories from childhood

Happy National Reading Day everyone!

National Reading Day is an annual event aiming to foster and encourage a love of reading in the younger generation, a vitally important event which can provide children with a life-long appreciation of literature and learning.

I don’t know about you, but my love of reading started when I was first taken to my local library. I was the child who would take out 10+ books and pile them up on my bedside table, managing to devour them all in less than two weeks!

For me, fantasy stories were my all-time favourite – if I opened a book and it had a map inside, I always squealed in delight and this love for the fantasy genre has continued right the way into my adulthood.

Over the past couple of years of lockdowns, I decided to return to my much-loved Young Adult (YA) novels for a little comfort and I just loved being re-immersed in these worlds and stories and it made me realise how fun YA and children’s novels can be.

And so, in the spirit of fun I have compiled a list of genres with suggested YA and children’s literature equivalents to you favourite fiction genrs.

The intention of this is to reignite the passion many of us all had for reading in our childhoods and to reconnect with an often overlooked or snubbed sub-genre of literature.

You might also know a teenager or young adult who you’d like to recommend these titles to to nurture their love of reding.

What is your favourite YA novel? Let us know in the comments.

1 Fantasy

The 'Shadow and Bone' trilogy by Leigh Bardugo
Join Alina Starkov in the Grishaverse as, when under attack from creatures in the Fold - a place of dark magic - she unleashes dormant magic she didn't know she possessed and saves the lives of those around her. Soon thrust into the lavish world of the Grisha - the countries military elite - she is to be trained to control her magic in order to destroy the Fold and regain political strength for the country. While here, Alina meets people who aren't quite what they seem and where trust and loyality are easily bought and discarded.
Can Alina summon the strength to do what is asked of her or will she put her faith into the wrong hands?
2 Science Fiction / Dystopian

The 'Gone' series by Michael Grant
The story opens in the fictional Southern Californian town of Perdido Beach as every human over the age of 15 vanishes, with the town surrounded by an impenetrable barrier that burns to the touch. As the town becomes overrun with mischevious children, clans begin to form and violence simmers.
Will these children be able to create a successful microcosym of society and what happens to those who disappear?
3 Adventure

'The Edge Chronicles' series by Paul Stewart
Consisting of four trilogies, plus four additional books, join countless characters on their many journeys in the fictional world of The Edge. Incredibly detailed with beautiful illustration from Chris Riddell, immerse yourself in this new meticulously created land.
4 Detective & Mystery

The 'Skullduggery Pleasant' series by Derek Landy
Join newby detective Stephanie Edgley and her mentor Skulduggery Pleasant, who just so happens to be a walking, talking skeleton mage, as they try to stop evil forces from destroying the world.
5 Horror

'Coraline' by Neil Gaiman
When Coraline's family move into a new house she soon discovers a hidden door that leads to a house strangely similar to her own, with things seemingly perfect. But this other house is not all what it seems and Coraline must fight to save herself from the dangers she doesn't quite yet know she has thrown herself into.
6 LGBTQ+

'Radio Silence' by Alice Oseman
A coming of age story that explores the concept of platonic soulmates, issues of identity, diversity and the pressures teens face in order to succeed.
A great amount of representation is found within this novel with bisexual, demisexual, asexual, gay and multiracial characters.
7 Historical Fiction

'Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry' by Mildred D. Taylor
Written from the perspective of nine year old Cassie, follow the Logan family and the struggle they faced as African Americans in 1930s Mississippi. The novel explores themes of Black landownership, Jim Crow segregation and the Great Depression.