Our 2024 picks: Young Adult favourites of the year
We're very lucky that YA books keep getting published and we keep getting to read them. And even luckier that we get to write about the YA books we like! Read on for our librarians' top picks of 2024.
Somehow, it's been another whole year.
Twelve whole months since we last sat back and thought "You know what, why don't we stop and think about all the great Young Adult books that have been published/that we've read over the last year?".
So since it's been a full 365 days (or thereabouts) since we last thought to subject y'all to our thoughts and opinions about the YA-books-of-the-year that we think are great, here you go! Books that we enjoyed, for you to read about!
We've got two lists of books here for you to peruse. There are books that were published in 2024, and books that we only just read for the first time in 2024 and can't believe we waited this long to read them so need to share them with you immediately.
I've been saying "we" here, and that's because these great books come not just from me, the humble librarian compiling this list for you, but from all our wonderful librarians at Wellington City Libraries. I have cast out a literary net, and pulled it back flopping with fresh literary recommendations.
Read on, friend, and maybe you'll find your next favourite too?
Our top books published in 2024
Gus’ pick: Karate prom by Kyle Starks
Blending John Hughes with John Woo, Karate Prom by Kyle Starks and Chris Schweizer is a fun and action-packed comic about two teenage martial artists who have a meet-cute during a karate tournament and then go to prom together, only to end up fighting legions of ninjas and evil exes. Starks' trademark love of 80s action movies and silly comedy pair incredibly well and the simple cartooning really makes the fight scenes sing, but what surprised me most about Karate Prom was how it wound up being a surprisingly heartfelt teen romance that examines how emotional labour relates to fighting prowess.
Kate’s pick: Bad dream: A dreamer story by Nicole Maines
Nia Nal (Dreamer) is really the epitome of the modern superhero in a world that is diverse and dynamic. It explores themes of strained family relationships and found family, but it does so in a way that feels approachable and keeps this a fun teen read. It's also written by Nicole Maines, a trans actress who originated Dreamer in the Supergirl TV series - I'm always here for trans characters written by trans people!
Ethan’s pick: One Piece Omnibus 34 : Includes vols. 100, 101 & 102 by Eiichiro Oda
We don't have the most recent omnibus in our collection yet, but it is on order and was only released on the 10th of December 2024. There has never been a better time to get into One Piece, for reasons I can't really get into without spoilers.
Suffice to say:
Arittake no
yume wooooooh
kaki atsume!
Sagashi mono sagashi ni yuku no saaaaa
One Piece! etc.
Furthermore,
Poketto no koin sore to
Ahhhh you wanna be my friend?
We are, we are, on the cruuuuuuuuise...
We are! ☠️
Librarian's choice: Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier
Only available on Libby.
Fantastic world building based on Pacific Island mythology. A fast-paced romantic fantasy with wild and fantastic sea-dragons.
Chloe's pick: I think our son is gay. 5 by Okura
The final volume of I think our son is gay, a cute manga series from the point of view of Hiroki's mum who strongly suspects her son is gay, but is waiting for him to tell her himself.
It is recommended that you read the first four volumes before this one!
Librarians' choice: Tūhono. a journal of poetry by Wellington teens / 2024
Yes, that apostrophe is in the right place - how could all us librarians not choose our own poetry journal?
This year's theme was Tūmanako, or hope. Young Wellington poets submitted their poems earlier in 2024, and we hope you enjoy them as we present them back to you in a published form.
Our favourite discoveries of 2024
Merritt's pick: Catch a falling star by Eileen Merriman
Published July 2023
This is a prequel, and I do admit that I hadn't read the original book before I read this. But I have read it now!
This is a compellingly stressful read. I really got caught up in Jamie's actions and justifications and spirals and everything just relentlessly keeps going, and going, and going, until it can't go any further. This is a book about mental health and the slide into psychosis, and it presents you with such an accurate depiction of both. You know how it's going to end, but you just can't help but hope that maybe things will take a swerve and not end exactly the way you know they will.
Catch a falling star won the Young Adult Fiction Award at the 2024 NZ Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.
Chloe's pick: The princess and the grilled cheese sandwich by Deya Muniz
Published August 2023
A cute and sometimes silly hidden-identity romance involving lots of cheese and pining.
Recommended for anyone who likes Kate Beaton (if you don't know who this is, go read her books!).
Marija's pick: Northern lights by Phillip Pullman
eAudiobook, eBook, illustrated edition
Published 1995
I re-read Northern lights (or The Golden Compass??) in winter which was very atmospheric. I read it once as a teen (and didn’t like it much strangely), but my reread changed my opinion.
Merritt's pick: Moira's pen by Megan Whalen Turner
Published 2022
I'm usually a little wary of short stories in the same world as a series I've loved (which is why I put off reading this), but there was no disappointment here!
It's no secret that I love Megan Whalen Turner's Queen's Thief series, and these stories deliver perfect snapshots of character's lives before the series, and a peek forward into the future as well. And some snippets of Turner's travels around Greece and other countries that show how and where she gathered inspiration for the setting of her series.
Marija's pick: I am not Esther by Fleur Beale
Published 1998
I read this for the first time this year - a classic New Zealand novel about Kirby who is suddenly abandoned with relatives who belong to a fanatical cult.
I think I would have been so interested in the religious theme as a teen lol
Sabrina's pick: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
eAudiobook Borrowbow, eBook Borrowbox, eAudiobook Libby, eBook Libby
Published 2020
Suzanne Collins is an author who can make a comeback and still shake my world - Snow's backstory isn't superfluous or filled with desperate connections, instead it feels as is this has been his story the whole time and she has finally decided to share it with us.
Needless to say, my most anticipated book from 2025 will be Sunrise on the Reaping in March.