Young Adult Fiction Starter Recs

coming of age
young adult
fantasy
slice of life
upper intermediate
intermediate
13 items
16
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A good stepping stone to native adult novels.

Korean YA literature is a great place to find unique and interesting storytelling that uses slightly easier language and familiar everday settings.

These are the easiest I've come across so far and would rec to anyone starting out with novels.

A story that is told through a conversation beteen a police woman and a teenage girl. The vocab and grammar used is very accessable for learners, the overall length isn't too long and the format keeps things quite simple. Despite being quite a simple story it unfolds to be more twisted than you expect.
A story that is told through a conversation beteen a police woman and a teenage girl. The vocab and grammar used is very accessable for learners, the overall length isn't too long and the format keeps things quite simple. Despite being quite a simple story it unfolds to be more twisted than you expect.
너의 유니버스
Children's book
Level 23
At only 83 pages this is a really nice size for learners who aren't ready to read full novels yet. It combines relateable teenage frustrations with a sci-fi element for a mellow but poignant short story.
At only 83 pages this is a really nice size for learners who aren't ready to read full novels yet. It combines relateable teenage frustrations with a sci-fi element for a mellow but poignant short story.
A story that follows a group of young adults trying to overcome their agoraphobia. There's lots of descriptions of everyday routines which is great for language learners. Although the premise is quite simple the plot and characters are well developed and satisfying to read.
A story that follows a group of young adults trying to overcome their agoraphobia. There's lots of descriptions of everyday routines which is great for language learners. Although the premise is quite simple the plot and characters are well developed and satisfying to read.
Adaptiation of a quirky japanese animated movie about a lonely girl that can turn into a cat. This is quite a simple but well-paced adventure story, and the cat world described is unique and interesting. The movie is available on netflix and so you can also watch it to better understand the story depending on your level.
Adaptiation of a quirky japanese animated movie about a lonely girl that can turn into a cat. This is quite a simple but well-paced adventure story, and the cat world described is unique and interesting. The movie is available on netflix and so you can also watch it to better understand the story depending on your level.
A coming of age type novel where a boy struggles to accept his new step-dad. The main character is by turns awkward/funny/frustrating in the way most teenagers are. Outside of some specific cafe terms like "coffee beans" the vocab is very high frequency. I found the dialogue a little harder than in other novels on this list just because at times it was so colloquial but good for anyone looking for realistic dialogue.
A coming of age type novel where a boy struggles to accept his new step-dad. The main character is by turns awkward/funny/frustrating in the way most teenagers are. Outside of some specific cafe terms like "coffee beans" the vocab is very high frequency. I found the dialogue a little harder than in other novels on this list just because at times it was so colloquial but good for anyone looking for realistic dialogue.
Another novel by 이꽃님 who wrote the first book on the list. It also has a simple structure (2 girls writing letters to one another) which makes it particularly easy for language learners to follow (once you get into the flow of it). This one is a particularly sweet and emotional story.
Another novel by 이꽃님 who wrote the first book on the list. It also has a simple structure (2 girls writing letters to one another) which makes it particularly easy for language learners to follow (once you get into the flow of it). This one is a particularly sweet and emotional story.
Another good pick for a first book as it's only ~150 pages. Two 18 year old girls who should be worrying about dating and exams and their futures have their lives brought to a standstill by one awful accident. While the vocab is generally based on very mundane daily life activities like cooking and studying, the story itself is quite thoughtful and meaningful.
Another good pick for a first book as it's only ~150 pages. Two 18 year old girls who should be worrying about dating and exams and their futures have their lives brought to a standstill by one awful accident. While the vocab is generally based on very mundane daily life activities like cooking and studying, the story itself is quite thoughtful and meaningful.
소리를 삼킨 소년
Children's book
Level 26
Probably my fave YA novel I've read so far. A mute teenage boy witnesses a murder and starts his own investigation. The language is generally very straightforward, partly because everything is narrated from the point of view of the main character who is autistic and has quite a literal, black & white perspective on the world. The characters in this book are written with a lot of compassion and depth and the story is really enjoyable without using dense prose.
Probably my fave YA novel I've read so far. A mute teenage boy witnesses a murder and starts his own investigation. The language is generally very straightforward, partly because everything is narrated from the point of view of the main character who is autistic and has quite a literal, black & white perspective on the world. The characters in this book are written with a lot of compassion and depth and the story is really enjoyable without using dense prose.
구미호 식당
Novel
Level 29
After dying a teenage boy meets a gumiho (fox spirit) and is given the chance to live for an extra 49 days. A very unique story that mostly takes place in one setting making it particularly suited to language learners as you don't have to keep track of multiple POV or settings.
After dying a teenage boy meets a gumiho (fox spirit) and is given the chance to live for an extra 49 days. A very unique story that mostly takes place in one setting making it particularly suited to language learners as you don't have to keep track of multiple POV or settings.
The story follows a teenage girl trying to get past the sudden death of her best friend. While it has more angst than some of the other novels here it's overall a positive and touching coming of age story. The prose was at times a little denser than in the other books on this list so I probably wouldn't suggest starting off with this one.
The story follows a teenage girl trying to get past the sudden death of her best friend. While it has more angst than some of the other novels here it's overall a positive and touching coming of age story. The prose was at times a little denser than in the other books on this list so I probably wouldn't suggest starting off with this one.
엄마는 좀비
Children's book
Level 26
A boy looks after his mother after she is turned into a zombie. This takes a silly horror plot idea seriously and deals with some heavy family feelings. Overall the sentences are quite short and grammar not too complex though there are some genre-specific words a learner will probably not be familiar with.
A boy looks after his mother after she is turned into a zombie. This takes a silly horror plot idea seriously and deals with some heavy family feelings. Overall the sentences are quite short and grammar not too complex though there are some genre-specific words a learner will probably not be familiar with.
Another entry by 이꽃님 but probably her best book. A twisty-turny mystery about a girl found dead at school and her best friend the main suspect. This has a very approachable one-pov-per chapter format and is primarily made up of interview style chapters where a character talks to the camera to explain what they know.
Another entry by 이꽃님 but probably her best book. A twisty-turny mystery about a girl found dead at school and her best friend the main suspect. This has a very approachable one-pov-per chapter format and is primarily made up of interview style chapters where a character talks to the camera to explain what they know.
A quiet, whimsical story about a young girl who is best friends with a cat, the adventures they go on after school and the people they meet. There is a lot of natural repition and the prose isn't too complex which means this gets easier to read the further into it you get.
A quiet, whimsical story about a young girl who is best friends with a cat, the adventures they go on after school and the people they meet. There is a lot of natural repition and the prose isn't too complex which means this gets easier to read the further into it you get.