Best Young Adult Books with Anna Banks, Author of The Syrena Legacy

Anna Banks | The Children’s Book Review | May 16, 2014

5 YA Must-Haves Selected by Anna Banks

Anna Banks

Anna Banks’s first two novels in the Syrena Legacy trilogy, Of Poseidon and Of Triton (a New York Times Bestseller), have won her many fans. Her latest work is Of Neptune, the stunning conclusion to her bestselling Syrena Legacy. She lives in Crestview, Florida, with her husband and their daughter.

Here are her picks for 5 YA must-haves …

Broken Hearts, Fences, and Other Things To Mend

By Katie Finn

This just might be the perfect summer read you’re looking for. In some places it’s laugh-out-loud funny: “What was I doing looking at other people’s necks?” Trust me, you’ll want to be in an open space because giggling is going to happen. What struck me about this book though was that I had a difficult time rooting for Gemma, the main character—which is something I usually don’t struggle with. I usually find some way to identify and befriend most main characters. But the heroine in BHFaOTtM, Gemma Tucker, is evil. Or is she? Of course she is! And she deserves what she gets. But not…really. Oh, but she does.

And that’s how I feel about the whole book. The point is, I have all these feels and I don’t know what to do with them now. Thanks a lot, Katie Finn!

Ages 14 and up | Publisher: Feiwel & Friends | May 13, 2014 | ISBN-13: 978-1250045249

Monument 14: Savage Drift

By Emmy Laybourn

I cannot even describe how much you will need blood pressure medication after reading this. Emmy Laybourne is a master at creating page-turners. As a writer, I’m naturally jealous that she’s able to put her characters through so much—and actually be able to get them out of the situations believably. Notice I said “believably”, and not “unscathed”. Because you never know what to expect in this series, and especially with this book.

All I can say is this: Schedule a manicure for after you’ve read Savage Drift. You’re going to chew your nails off, down to little nubs. Your hands will be sore, one from holding the book open, and the other from holding your fingers over your mouth in order not to gasp.

Ages 12 and up | Publisher: Feiwel & Friends | May 6, 2014 | ISBN-13: 978-1250036421

Ruin and Rising

By Leigh Bardugo

I expect this to be on everyone’s to-read list. If you were one of the fortunate ones who hasn’t started the series and therefore had a long, torturous wait for this book, good on you. But if you’re like me, and read each book THE DAY it came out and then ate a lot of chocolate upon finishing each installment, and if you dream about The Darkling at night and giggle at Sturmhond during the day, then you know the exact minute and hour that Ruin and Rising will be hitting the shelves. Nay, you’ll be one of those people hoping the bookstore employees will put it out early on accident so that you can snatch it up, read it, and rub it in the faces of your thousands of closest friends on Twitter.

Ages 12-18 | Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. | June 17, 2014 | ISBN-13: 978-0805094619

The Young Elites

By Marie Lu

I’m really looking forward to starting this book in October. Marie Lu’s Legend trilogy was incredible, so I already trust her to entertain me non-stop in all her ventures. Here is the description on Goodreads; if you don’t want to read it after that, I think you might need to see a doctor:

Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever. A decade ago, the deadly illness swept through her nation. Most of the infected perished, while many of the children who survived were left with strange markings. Adelina’s black hair turned silver, her lashes went pale, and now she has only a jagged scar where her left eye once was. Her cruel father believes she is a malfetto, an abomination, ruining their family’s good name and standing in the way of their fortune. But some of the fever’s survivors are rumored to possess more than just scars—they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites.

Teren Santoro works for the king. As Leader of the Inquisition Axis, it is his job to seek out the Young Elites, to destroy them before they destroy the nation. He believes the Young Elites to be dangerous and vengeful, but it’s Teren who may possess the darkest secret of all.

Enzo Valenciano is a member of the Dagger Society. This secret sect of Young Elites seeks out others like them before the Inquisition Axis can. But when the Daggers find Adelina, they discover someone with powers like they’ve never seen.

Adelina wants to believe Enzo is on her side, and that Teren is the true enemy. But the lives of these three will collide in unexpected ways, as each fights a very different and personal battle. But of one thing they are all certain: Adelina has abilities that shouldn’t belong in this world. A vengeful blackness in her heart. And a desire to destroy all who dare to cross her.

Ages 12 and up | Publisher: Putnam Juvenile | Oct. 7, 2014 | ISBN-13: 978-0399167836

Noggin

By John Corey Whaley

I’ve heard a lot of great things about this book. It’s about a boy named Travis who died, and is now alive again, only his head is attached to someone else’s body (after being shoved into a freezer in Denver, Colorado). True story.

The thing that intrigues me the most about this book is that as a writer myself, I can’t even fathom coming up with this, which makes me jealous times ten. And since I couldn’t fathom coming up with this, and making it believable, I don’t know how Whaley’s going to develop his character’s adjustment to this disgustingly unique situation, and what possible resolution there could be. I mean, why WOULDN’T you want to see what happens to Travis and his noggin?

Ages 14 and up | Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers | Apr. 8, 2014 | ISBN-13: 978-1442458727

Learn more about Anna Banks, visit: byannabanks.blogspot.com, Facebook and Twitter

Of Neptune 

By Anna Banks

Emma, who is half human and half Syrena, and her Syrena love Galen, need time together. Alone. Away from the kingdoms of Poseidon and Triton. Emma’s grandfather, the Poseidon king, suggests the two visit a small town called Neptune.

Neptune is home to both Syrena and Half Breeds alike. But Emma and Galen didn’t sign up to be peacemakers between the ocean and land-dwelling, freshwater Syrena. They didn’t bargain for meeting a charming Half Breed named Reed, who can barely disguise his feelings for Emma. And they especially didn’t expect to find themselves in the middle of a power struggle that threatens not only their love, but their ocean kingdoms.

In this stunning conclusion to her bestselling Syrena Legacy, Anna Banks thrills fans with more action and romance than ever.

Ages 12-18 | Publisher: Feiwel & Friends | May 13, 2014 | ISBN-13: 978-1250039606