How to Read Young Adult Literature Like a Young Adult Writer

Often, the difference between success and failure as a young adult writer comes down to your ability to truly read young adult literature, and understand the mechanics behind it. As a writer, the most important skill you will ever learn is how to read like a writer: how to distinguish good fiction from bad, an enthralling read from a dull one. Through reading the instant classics of the new generation: J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter, Ann Brashares' The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games to name a few, you will hopefully gain greater insight into what will make your book a success and what will mark it for failure from day one.

The "chapters" are in no particular order, the book titles are organized by genre. This book is essentially an extended reading guide from a young adult writer's perspective.

Fantasy and Science Fiction

 * Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
 * The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
 * Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
 * The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
 * The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares