Forty of the best YA novels

In 2014 Rolling Stone tagged forty "classic staples and overlooked gems" from the mountain of YA novels. One title on the list:

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Between this and her follow-up, Rose Under Fire, Wein is revealing herself to be a new master of young adult historical fiction. Nazi-occupied France serves as the backdrop for this book, in which a British spy plane crashes and its two young female occupants are taken prisoner. The story is told by Verity, as she is interrogated by Nazis under the threat of torture. Filled with twists and turns, Code Name Verity is not for the faint of heart.

Read about another novel on the list.

Code Name Verity also appears on Marie Lu's top five list of books about fighting for broken worlds, Avery Hastings's top five list of books featuring unreliable narrators, Ryan Graudin's top five list of historical YAs, all set during World War II, Kelly Anderson's list of seven awesome books that celebrate female friendship, Natalie Zutter's top seven list of YA books where friendship trumps romance, Arwen Elys Dayton's top five list od books about false identities, Melissa Albert's top five list of YA books that might make one cry, Sara Brady's list of six of the best spies in romance, Lenore Appelhans's top ten list of teen books featuring flashbacks and Lydia Syson's list of ten of the best historical novels for young readers.

--Marshal Zeringue