YA Novels from Around the World: South America and Oceania

In my last post, I talked about books set in various countries in Europe. Today, I'm going to be talking about YA books set in South America and Oceania!

1) The Amazon: Origin by Jessica Khoury

source: http://cuddlebuggery.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Origin.jpg

The first of our YA novels set in South America, Origin follows Pia, a girl created by a team of scientists to begin an immortal race. She has been living in a secret laboratory in the Amazon Rainforest all her life - until her 17th birthday. She manages to escape and embarks on an adventure.

2) Chile: City of the Beasts by Isabel Allende

source: http://ccb.lis.illinois.edu/Projects/Additions%20on%209-20-07/CCB/CCB/mhommel2/Images/beasts.jpg

Alexander is our main guy in the story and he is about go on an actual adventure with his grandmother. They're going on a geographical expedition to find the Yeti of the Amazon. This is the first in a series called the Eagle and Jaguar series.

3) Ecuador: The Queen of Water by Laura Resau

source: https://celebratehispanicheritage.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/the-queen-of-water-cover.jpg

This isn't your typical YA fiction novel. Virginia is apart of a large family and she is only 7 years old. She lives in a village and is taken away one day to become a servant of a mestizo (a person of mixed white European, Native American Indian and African Black ancestry) couple.

4) New Zealand: Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey

source: http://www.karenhealey.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/GuardianOfTheDead_COVER_NOT-FINAL.jpg

Ellie Spencer's life is like any other teenager's life at the beginning of this story - she has a best friend, she's crushing on some mysterious boy and she is worried about getting her work on time. However, the plot twist is when a bunch of killings take place. One of two novels set in Oceania on this list, it's a very good novel.

5) Tasmania: Flight by Rosie Dub

source: http://static.harpercollins.com/harperimages/isbn/large/4/9780732294144.jpg

Fern has been having some horrible dreams recently, making her withdraw from her schoolwork, her friends and holing herself up in her room. When confronted, she flees from her life into the wilderness of Tasmania with three new friends she has just encountered.


Until next time!

- Grace

YA Novels from Around the World: Europe

There are a lot of YA novels set in dystopian futures, in new lands and in mystical worlds. However, there are a good few that are set in your average, everyday world. Many of these are set in the USA since the authors are from there, however there are some in Europe, Asia and South America. So here are a couple of novels set in Europe.

1) France: Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

source: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsvQsqoPHybmsWCt6RjfX637bUXoGOi7GPU2N2gTMepZAMO9qsuWGbhKsaHHDpanyuNk37ITxpU-HJa4SfljzdVhE5VXbRUB8ixPsxCP0YMi44aik00bLNbOqu1io58CuOcQovW0q9WtXL/s1600/coverf.jpg

This novel has taken the world by storm in the past year. The first in a trilogy, the story follows Anna, a 17 year old from Atlanta. She's loving her life and thinks it's a disaster when she is shipped off to boarding school in Paris. This is a great read and really highlights the Parisian life.

2) Czech Republic: Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

source: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIL3XRg1LiEr5VPuMfDCJqJE1Xs1LWVs-MJz4cPc6oth9PUik9j-SQV11fzeZtvISNaGZ5-5ZLrqdzdw7yVy9fUSBeYQ5wvYe5ohTqnqjraSUt13nYmeAPaxH1CG0t9MlF_0jbw58Gx-hu/s1600/daughter+of+smoke+and+bone.jpg

An underrated novel, Daughter of Smoke and Bone is a fantastic novel and doesn't seem to be as well known. Our main protagonist is Karou, your not so average girl who can speak non-human languages and grows blue hair naturally. Set specifically in Prague, this features a nice change of setting.

3) Germany: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

source: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKBHk3K1QHRqj3fRWdoR1wIJdyRgbXixaSvbZkr0iAf4pJ77Zt-GTIjJjOGhqJ5qY4cxB5rolro64MzI8R0B2TLvl9rhyphenhyphenU186yu3NOl4d2mvwWma9QxaP3fBD96NEn5U7QybE2X-Lxj0/s1600/thebookthief1.jpg

Having been made into a film last year, this novel has become more well known in the last few months. The first time I read this, I was intrigued by the way the story was written and who the narrator was - Death himself. Nazi Germany is our setting and Zusak creates a great atmosphere in the novel.

4) Ireland: Bog Child by Siobhan Dowd

source: https://bustybookbimbo.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/bogchild.jpg

Of course I had to include one set in Ireland. Fergus and his Uncle are digging for peat and they come across what appears to be the body of a murdered girl. It is also set in the time of the Troubles so it is a very tense time in Fergus' life.

5) Austria: Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

source: http://multimedia.fnac.com/multimedia/ES/images_produits/ES/ZoomPE/5/9/9/9788468306995.jpg

Scott Westerfeld has written other YA novels, notably the Uglies series, set in a dystopian future of sorts. This series however, is set in Austria during World War One. It follows Prince Alexsander, the would-be and should-be heir of the Austro-Hungarian Throne and Deryn Sharp, a girl disguised as a boy in the British Airforce. This makes for an interesting plot line and background.

Next time I'll do novels from South America and Oceania!

- Grace

Popular YA Authors and Where They're From

Having done some of the most popular YA fiction novels, I thought it was time to name a couple of my favourite and also some of the most popular YA authors and where they're from - some might surprise you!

1) J.K. Rowling - Yates, United Kingdom

source: http://z6mag.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/jk-rowling-new-book.jpg

The beloved creator of Harry Potter is from the UK, specifically Yates.

2) J.R.R. Tolkien - Bloemfontein, South Africa

source: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrTFA12jSCi7slcv-7bLN6FOGjcyK-0XbsZQY7Im1PwVlRULAfsRXSHKlmRO0e3pHxHVXELInrs2-P8I0lHn1mk8POFGsLGsJVsBTpLRCVW29MqUIxTQcJy-Pa0WpmuGn_sJKkg5cwDr0/s400/JRR-Tolkien.jpg

Tolkien was a English writer and author of the epic series, Lord of the Rings. However, he began his life in Bloemfontein, South Africa, after his parents had moved there for work.

3) Kiera Cass - South Carolina, US

source: http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1318605410p5/2987125.jpg

Cass is a up and coming YA fiction author that is quickly gaining a huge fan base. So far she has written 4 novels and 2 novellas for The Selection series and is set to release another two novellas for the series! She was born and bred in South Carolina, US.

4) Cassandra Clare - Tehran, Iran

source: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigKQvjMGolXX0VlnQdOLXKtMzQXjdKUcwW0Bo5f3Nqvuq3KVsAVh_ZjZVLdd-rpGy33bI9FXrF5Dca1q8WpmwdjXke0y6MzdD2JjUoaJiV0Toi7tYml50MewAHmfg9hOKYH7vn8vLxUo/s320/Cassandra+Clare.png

Known for writing The Shadowhunters Chronicles (The Mortal Instruments, The Infernal Devices, The Bane Chronicles), Clare was born in Tehran but grew up and studied in LA, California and New York.

5)  Rick Riordan - San Antonio, Texas, US

source: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEmZN6sAzfU_LiMPzY2tPqdQYirYE-yE__e3gmVwD_vaJF3SM5Gza8uzEXyzyEWxjEmQzgIR38fkwIyvldAcJP7ASik6Bu223240clKPZUJJzbk4wdZZZ9gbyKFe0zgC_hGDB6peQhUpk/s1600/Rick_Riordan.jpg

Riordan has written 30 novels in the last 10 years and over 10 of them are to do with Percy Jackson! Since Riordan has written books aimed at both children and teenagers, his stories are incredibly popular - especially for those who are interested in mythology. Rick Riordan is from San Antonio in Texas.


That's all for now!:)

- Grace

The Most Popular YA Fiction and Where They're Set: Part 2

Welcome back to the YA World! Today I will be doing part two of 'The Most Popular YA Fiction'. So let's get started.

4) The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

Though it hadn't started as a YA series, it very quickly became popular among people of all ages. One of the most well-known series of all time now, the world of Harry Potter is intricate and a masterpiece. The infamous 'Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry' is located somewhere in Scotland, Godricks Hollow (Harry's birthplace) is set in West Country, England. Little Whinging (where Harry grows up) is in Surrey, England and Malfoy Manor is in Wiltshire, England. Also, Kings Cross Station is an iconic location in the Harry Potter World and is an actual station in England.

West Country, England
source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2d/West_country_england.png/250px-West_country_england.png

King's Cross Station
source: http://www.detail-online.com/uploads/pics/kc3_CS_01.jpg

5) Heroes of Olympus Series by Rick Riordan

This series is a spin-off series of the Percy Jackson novels. While Percy Jackson only features Greek gods, this spin-off is about Greek and Roman gods. There are many locations mentioned in both of the series'. Camp Half-Blood (home of the Greek demigods) is found on Long Island South. The Roman demigod camp , Camp Jupiter, is found near Caldecott Tunnel in San Francisco. The gods live in Olympus and the location varies, depending on where civilization is at its peak. It was formally in England, Germany and Spain. Its current location is New York City. Though there is not precise location of the Underworld - except under somewhere - there are various entrances into it. Central Park supposedly has a entrance and behind the Hollywood sign is another.

Hollywood sign
source: http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5017/5442615131_58b8dc29e6_z.jpg

Central Park
source: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2kACmn-KzTE6wubVSY10VJ65U09IgnUZNNQKm3rdn-kXsBJLuBfXsY2SQAtP3fkfKF0t4xiqN4lNR7LZq2VluznFAL2CVeaGBgKQGldRP6ve9ygvxZlQplM9O8Glrf3aEpQy2KT4WUl4/s1600/Central+park.jp

6) The Selection Series by Kiera Cass

A rather recent and less well known YA novel, this world is set in Illéa, the new name for America. The name was changed as the people in this fictional world wanted a new start, after a war and rebellion. America is no longer a democratic republic and is now a monarchy. There is very little mention of places other than Illéa (America) which makes me wonder - what happened to the rest of the world?

North America
source: http://per8-0809.wikispaces.com/file/view/north_america_map.gif/67946295/480x360/north_america_map.gif

So those are a couple of the most popular YA fiction and where they're set!
- Grace

The Most Popular YA Fiction and Where They're Set: Part 1

The worlds of Young Adult (YA) Fiction has taken this world by storm.  Since they're so popular, a countless number of YA Fiction has been written in the last 5 years. There are so many choices in multiple different genres and it can be difficult to decide where to begin. So I've made a list of the best (in my opinion) YA Fiction novels and where each of these are set.

1) The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games is set in Panem, what used to be America, and in a dystopian future. The country is split into different districts and there is much speculation as to where these districts actually are geographically. There is a Hunger Games Adventure app that depicts a map of the country and the film Catching Fire also features one briefly in a single scene. The Capitol is located in the heart of the Rockies, and District 4 is where California is.

Map of Panem featured in Catching Fire
source: http://www.jabberjays.net/2014/03/30/editorial-mapping-the-mystery-the-geography-of-panem-part-1/

Map of Panem from Hunger Games Adventure
source: http://www.jabberjays.net/2014/03/30/editorial-mapping-the-mystery-the-geography-of-panem-part-1/

2) The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare

Set mainly in New York, the world of the Shadowhunters is one that is unseen unless you’re a part of the world. Shadowhunters train in Institutes and there are many around the world – in London, Beijing, Berlin, LA, Rio and many more. Places such as Roosevelt Island and Tisch School of Art are also mentioned.

Beijing
source: 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d4/BeijingCBD-2007-8.JPG/300px-BeijingCBD-2007-8.JPG

New York
source: http://www.scholasticatravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/U7Fc1sy5SCUDIu4tlJY3_NY_by_PhilippHenzler_philmotion.de_.jpg

London
source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6e/London_Thames_Sunset_panorama_-_Feb_2008.jpg

3) We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

One of the relatively new YA books, this novel won Goodreads Choice Award’s ‘Best Young Adult Fiction’ award last year. Our main character, Cadence, is from Burlington, Vermont. However the majority of the novel is set on Beechwood Island, off the coast of Massachusetts.

Map of Beechwood Island, Created by Author
source: http://wewereliarsbook.tumblr.com/sinclairs

That’s the end of part one! Come back and read part two next week.
 - Grace 

Introduction

Hello!

My name is Grace and this is a blog on YA Fiction. I'll mainly focus on the worlds and settings of some YA fiction novels I've read in the past year, as well as the origins of YA fiction stories and their authors. I hope you all enjoy reading my posts!

-Grace