This list was compiled during Wolves & Apples 2016 and is a small demonstration of the breadth and ambition of writing for young people. It is by no means definitive, but a snapshot of work that inspired or taught delegates and guest speakers something about writing for children and young adults. You may not agree with all the books included (feel free to send us your suggestions) but we’d be surprised if you didn’t find something here to interest and excite you.
| Author | Title | Why included? | Other books by the same writer. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Janet and Alan Ahlberg | The Jolly Postman | Each Peach Pear Plum | |
| Joan Aiken | Black Hearts in Battersea | Alternative history/worldbuilding, dialogue. | The Serial Garden, Night Birds on Nantucket, The Wolves of Willoughby Chase |
| R.M. Ballantyne | The Coral Island | Makes the reader work. | |
| Marc Boutavant | Around the World with Mouk | A picture book that integrates text and illustration. | |
| Tanya Burn | Follow Me Down | ||
| Doris Burn | Andrew Henry's Meadow | Evocative picture book which shows what you can do in black and white. | |
| Beverley Cleary | Ramona Forever | ||
| Eoin Colfer | Artenis Fowl | ||
| Susan Cooper | The Dark is Rising | Over Sea, Under Stone, Greenwitch, The Grey King, Silver on the Tree. | |
| Robert Cormier | The Chocolate War | I Am the Cheese | |
| Roald Dahl | Matilda | Child's pov. | |
| Kate DiCamillo | The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane | ||
| Helen Dunmore | |||
| Neil Gaiman | Coraline | Spare use of language. | The Graveyard Book, A View from the Cheap Seats |
| Alan Garner | The Owl Service | Makes demands on the reader, use of mythology. | The Weirdstone of Brisingamen, The Moon of Gomrath, Red Shift, Elidor. |
| Frances Hardinge | The Lie Tree | ||
| Lian Hearn | Across the Nightingale Floor | Worldbuilding | Grass for His Pillow, Brilliance of the Moon. |
| Russel Hoban | Riddley Walker | The Mouse and His Child | |
| Brian Jaques | Redwall | ||
| Clive King | Stig of the Dump | ||
| Ursula LeGuin | A Wizard of Earthsea | The Tombs of Atuan, The Farthest Shore. | |
| E. Lockhart | We Were Liars | Compelling writing and a clever twist | |
| Sarah J. Maas | Throne of Glass | Plotting/worldbuilding. | |
| Margaret Mahy | The Tricksters | ||
| John Masefield | The Box of Delights | Influences many fantasy writers that come after. | The Midnight Folk. Dead Ned. |
| Cliff McNish | |||
| Jandi Nelson | For YA 'tone'. | ||
| Patrick Ness | A Monster Calls | ||
| Garth Nix | |||
| B.J. Novak | The Book with No Pictures | ||
| Louise O'Neill | Asking For It | YA issues/ voice/ observation of dialogue. | |
| Terry Pratchett | The Wee Free Men | Nation, Only You Can Save Mankind, A Hat Full of Sky | |
| Nonn Pratt | For YA 'tone'. | ||
| Susan Price | |||
| Phillip Reeve | Mortal Engines | Imaginative concept. | |
| Lynne Reid Banks | The Indian in the Cupboard | Great concept and what the story then does with it. | |
| Katherine Rundell | Rooftoppers | ||
| SF Said | Phoenix | Mythology | Varjak Paw |
| Francesca Sanna | The Journey | Beautiful picture book that explores the refugee experience for young children. | |
| Dr Seuss | Green Eggs and Ham | Compelling story using simple vocabulary. | The Sneetches and Other Stories, I Had Trouble in Getting to Solla Sollew, The Cat in the Hat. |
| Sean Tann | Days of Summer | The Arrival | |
| Elfrida Vipont | The Elephant and the Bad Baby | ||