8 Great YA Authors I’m Totally Thankful For

In the spirit of Thanksgiving week, this weeks theme for Top Ten Tuesday with The Broke and the Bookish is “Top Ten Books/Authors I’m Thankful For”. See who everyone else is thankful for here. And let’s become friends on Goodreads, I’m here.

Shannon Hale – Yes I loved Goose Girl and Princess Academy (excited for Palace of Stone), but I expecially love her because of her blog. She takes the time to explain things and she’s not afraid to challenge people and hold positions that may be controversial or unpopular. I especially loved her thorough defense of Twilight and how she took us through her reflections and writing process of Princess Academy this Summer. Check out Goose Girl.

Veronica Roth – For giving me the reading bug, bad. I’ve always liked books, and after I officially quit grad school I started reading fiction again (during grad school the only fiction I read was Harry Potter). I was reading and enjoying my books but something took over and possessed me when I finished Divergent. It was like a spark hit me that hadn’t been there since I read the Ender’s Game/Shadow books or Harry Potter. It’s this wonderful thirst that has driven me to seek out even more wonderful reads and I am so so grateful for it. Check out the Divergent Series.

Kristin Cashore – For creating beautiful, strong, admirable, and totally relateable heroines and love interests totally worth their affection and partnership. Check out the Graceling Realm Books.

Cassandra Clare – Oh how I enjoy her writing but I also really appreciate the way she interacts with her fandom. Seriously I have no idea how she finds the time. She amazingly cranks out quality reads while at the same time blogging and tweeting what seems like all the time. Check out The Mortal Instrument Series.

Rae Carson – For making a main character of faith who isn’t a blind follower, doesn’t abandon her beliefs when they are seriously challenged, or is a number of other stereotypes that so many authors like to attribute to religious folk -judgmental/ignorant/unreflective/etc. I’ve said it before but I really appreciate being given a character who struggles through her faith. Check out The Fire and Thorn Books.

J.K. Rowling – For all the wonderful years of reading and the continued fun. Looking forward to the next installments of these books and then also the movies were awesome. Check out Harry Potter  and if you’ve already read that The Tales of Beedle the Bard is great!

Eoin Colfer – While the Artemis Fowl books are fun, I am very grateful that Colfer wrote Airman. It is one of the best, most uplifting tales of hope, and perseverance, and making the best out of your situation no matter how unfair that may be. Some how he juggled the line of a very much wronged main character but unlike so many other authors I never felt weighed down by the struggles depicted. Check out Airman.

Erin Morgenstern – For celebrating the fan and the ordinary fellow. I love all of my skilled, talented, and gifted heroes and heroines but I think besides the beautiful words and imagery in The Night Circus, what stole my heart was how Erin celebrates the fan. And also for reminding us that sometimes it’s not that we are particularly special but that we are willing and that makes us special and important in it’s own awesome way. Check out The Night Circus.