Turning Pages by Penguin Books NZ discussion

I know, I know... Asking someone to choose a favourite book is very much like asking them to pick a favourite child, it's just not going to happen. But I'm willing to bet that many of you have a book that you always recommend! Let us know what that book is for you and why, we'd love to hear.

PS. You don't have to limit your answers to Penguin books, we're all about loving and reading lots of different books ourselves.

^ Lauren

At the moment, it has to be Flight of the Fantail by Steph Matuku, or Finding by David Hill.

Both Kiwis, both genres that I'm not normally a fan of, both had me turning the pages and unable to put them down. So good.

I found this group :D I am super excited!

My all-time favourite will always and forever be The BFG by Roald Dahl, this was one of the first books my primary teachers read to me and it's stuck with me, it's just such a classic.

Another newer favourite of mine is , it mixes everything together so amazingly well. You can read my spoiler-free review here: https://thatreadhead1.wordpress.com/2...

Rebekah wrote: "At the moment, it has to be Flight of the Fantail by Steph Matuku, or Finding by David Hill.

Both Kiwis, both genres that I'm not normally a fan of, both had me turning the pages and unable to pu..."

That's so good to hear, we love those books too! :)

Maddison wrote: "I found this group :D I am super excited!

My all-time favourite will always and forever be The BFG by Roald Dahl, this was one of the first books my primary teachers read to me and it's stuck with..."

I loved The BFG a lot as well, I also loved the cartoon movie that came out in 1989, haha!

I found myself reading Looking for Alaska by John Green a couple years ago and I haven't forgotten how much I loved it!

Shar wrote: "I found myself reading Looking for Alaska by John Green a couple years ago and I haven't forgotten how much I loved it!"

Such a classic! I really enjoyed An Abundance of Katherines as well :)

One of my all-time faves is Tease by Amanda Maciel (even though not a Penguin book... shhhh!). The voice feels so so true to me and even though it tackles some really 'issues'-y themes, it never feels preachy. It's a GREAT depiction of the dark side of some teenage friendships.

A more recent one I'll always recommend is All These Beautiful Strangers . Serious Secret History vibes and I found it super unputdownable!

I'm loving hearing your guys thoughts! Keep sharing x

One of my go to books to suggest is The Sidekicks The Sidekicks - I feel like it's such an underrated book and needs way more love!

Another... Not Penguin (but that's okay) favourite is The Diviners series by Libba Bray, I'd talk about how amazing it is for hours and hours. And if the size of the books scares you, the audiobook is also incredible.

THUG by Angie Thomas was my go to for a solid year and I still recommend it to everyone who asks for a good book

Two by Margaret Mahy (yep I'm old, but I still love YA and review it regularly): my favourite 'The Tricksters' for its supernatural theme amongst a New Zealand family Christmas (the protagonist is a secret writer, and being a writer myself, I understand her), and 'The Changeover', which I'm sure is why I've spent much of my life as a witch...I first read both of these when I was 13 and I've never forgotten them, often buying copies to give away to those who have never experienced the beauty that was Margaret Mahy's writing for YA audiences.

Mel wrote: "THUG by Angie Thomas was my go to for a solid year and I still recommend it to everyone who asks for a good book"

Omg THUG is amazing! I can't wait to read On the Come Up!

Shar wrote: "I found myself reading Looking for Alaska by John Green a couple years ago and I haven't forgotten how much I loved it!"

My favourite John Green book is still TFIOS

I mean, Harry Potter of course 😂 But I also recommend Daughter of Smoke and Bone, and The Illuminae Files to everyone!

Does the His Dark Materials trilogy count as YA? A lot of people call it a kids book but I think it fits into YA a bit better as it has so many complex themes. Definitely an all time fave anyway! Love how anyone can read it and get something from it - no matter what age or stage you’re at 🥰

Mel wrote: "THUG by Angie Thomas was my go to for a solid year and I still recommend it to everyone who asks for a good book"

Such a great one to recommend! Have you seen the film? :)

Penny wrote: "Two by Margaret Mahy (yep I'm old, but I still love YA and review it regularly): my favourite 'The Tricksters' for its supernatural theme amongst a New Zealand family Christmas (the protagonist is ..."

Nothing wrong with still loving and reviewing YA! Most of my friends still adore it as well (and I'm sure it'll be my favourite for a very long time)

Vita wrote: "Does the His Dark Materials trilogy count as YA? A lot of people call it a kids book but I think it fits into YA a bit better as it has so many complex themes. Definitely an all time fave anyway! L..."

I'm not sure, I always thought of it as YA as well. It's been on my TBR for an admittedly long time, so I should definitely get to it!

Moonrise by Sarah Crossan is one I keep going back to and recommending to people.

I absolutely fell in love with Tempests and Slaughter by Tamora Pierce. One of my top ten for sure!

My favourite (I think!) is always going to be the Tomorrow series by John Marsden. Still gives me goosebumps after all this time 💖

Jessi-Lee wrote: "I will always recommend Harry Potter, there are no two ways about it, but my recent favourite that I'm trying to get everyone to read is Children of Blood and Bone. It is one of my absolute favouri..."

Oooh I've been meaning to pick this one up-- love the cover. I'm not a massive reader of fantasy but for some reason this book really caught my attention. Looking forward to getting a chance to read it.

That Was Then, This Is Now I've just picked up a copy of The Outsiders

Thirteen Reasons Why. I read it when it came out years ago and I swear to this day it’s one of my top 10 favourite books.

Magyk by Angie Sage, the Septimus Heap series is by far my favourite and I *think* almost better than Harry Potter (I know I know it hurt to say that as I adore HP) but these books have actual representation and not retroactive "Oh I always thought X was Y" like J.K Rowling keeps pulling. So many wacky wonderful characters and Septimus Heap is actually supported by those around him.

It always saddens me that not more people know about this series!

Brooklynne wrote: "Magyk by Angie Sage, the Septimus Heap series is by far my favourite and I *think* almost better than Harry Potter (I know I know it hurt to say that as I adore HP) but these books have actual repr..."

Ooh I haven't heard of this series. . . is it comparable to HP genre wise? I'd love to find another Harry Potter type series to sink my teeth in to. . . nothing has quite come close.

In terms of emotional heft and 'quality' I think His Dark Materials is the best series I've ever read but for pure enjoyment factor, HP wins every time.

Naomi wrote: "Brooklynne wrote: "Magyk by Angie Sage, the Septimus Heap series is by far my favourite and I *think* almost better than Harry Potter (I know I know it hurt to say that as I adore HP) but these boo..."

It's about a young boy who thinks he's an orphan raised in a military setting where they have numbers instead of names and finds out he's not an orphan and is a mage and a girl who was swapped with him born the same day who finds out she's a princess, a necromancer who reclaims his throne, and god winning over evil... It has better morals than HP and more humour, it deals with hard-hitting issues very well IMHO... It's a lengthy series too but good...

I think I would have to go with The Magicians Nephew by C.S Lewis. I read this when I was younger and it has stuck with me ever since. I remember reading it while on holiday and I couldn’t put it down. Blitzed through it and then regretted it because it was over haha. So well written and incredibly imaginative. Makes me want to read it again!

I will endlessly recommend The Basic Eight by Daniel Handler. I've met no one outside of who I've given the book to who has read it unfortunately :( It's a satire about high school and teenagers. While it has it's bugs, I love it for the raw and funny debut novel it is!

I have a lot. But Reality Boy by AS King is great for hooking reluctant readers and those who want something that is different and interesting. I'm also going to recommend Eileen Merriman's first two books. They are so very good for teens.

Wait I really can’t decide! I loved An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir for an epic first book in a diverse fantasy series but for a different genre Sadie by Courtney Summers is the best YA thriller I’ve read so far hands down

mine will always be Harry Potter! no matter what I've read its still be my Favourite series

Penny wrote: "Two by Margaret Mahy..."

The Tricksters and The Changeover are both SO GOOD! I also love The Haunting, and was stoked when Hachette reprinted them a few years ago.

I continue to recommend Tamora Pierce's "Wild Magic" and the rest of her Immortals quartet, which I first read aged 11 and will continue to re-read for the rest of my life. Also, the Tiffany Aching series by Terry Pratchett which begins with "The Wee Free Men", and Susan Cooper's "The Dark is Rising" sequence. Classics!

As you can probably tell, I also love magical YA fic. :D

My favourite YA that I always recommend is The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater. It's four books - The Raven Boys, The Dream Thieves, Blue Lily, Lily Blue, and The Raven King. I love them all.

Amy wrote: "My favourite YA that I always recommend is The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater. It's four books - The Raven Boys, The Dream Thieves, Blue Lily, Lily Blue, and The Raven King. I love them all."

I read the first three books so quickly and then stopped on the fourth after a couple of chapters, I really need to finish it! Her writing is so dreamy

strange the dreamer duology - for wonderful prose and fantasy world building. a must for all dreamers and book lovers

arc of the scythe trilogy - sci fi fans will love this intelligent world Neal created. I love all the questions I am prompted to ask myself.

I will recommend any of John Green's work if they want to cry, and the Red Queen series if they want a series. Honestly, I was really disappointed about Broken Throne? I felt that she wrote what she did to make certain readers happy rather than expand on the RQ world :/

I am not sure if this is my favourite YA but I would definitely recommend The Haunting by Margaret Mahy if you haven't already read it.

Ooh definitely I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson. I’ve never read anything like it. Some of the best writing I’ve ever ever ever read and I’ve bought the book maybe five times for gifts and every time (in spite of whether the receiver is a ‘reader’) they adore it!!

The Geek Girl series
Eleanor and Park
The Hunger Games
The Darkest Minds
Tomorrow When the War Began
Matched
the Selection
Fangirl
Wonder

I always recommend Since You've Been Gone and Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson, they are some of my personal favourite YA contemporaries which I think perfectly sum up young love, coming of age, friendships, family relationships and dreamy summer vibes. They always relate on some level to everyone :)

Kathleen wrote: "I've just joined this group - can't promise to be active often, but I love YA, work in a children's bookshop and get to read and review (as much as I can manage, which is never enough!)
Thought I'd..."

Thank you Kathleen for the various recommendations. There are certainly a few books on I have on my list which I haven't read yet.

I wanted to post about this already previously, but my top 5 YA currently are:

Monday's Not Coming
Illuminae
The Hate U Give
Hunted
The War That Saved My Life

Thank you :)