Recommending Classics Based on Popular YA Books

Believe it or not, this post was inspired by a BuzzFeed quiz. (I would link the quiz in question, but I could not find it)

By Emily in book lists on
28 comments

Believe it or not, this post was inspired by a BuzzFeed quiz. (I would link the quiz in question, but I could not find it)

Note- I am not sure whether my formatting of the book covers will get messed up in the WordPress Reader. If they don’t appear side-by-side, trying viewing this post on my actual website by clicking this link!

If you liked The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, you should read 1984 by George Orwell.

Similarities:

  • Technologically advanced futuristic world, but instead of flying cars and time travel you’ll be met with suffering and oppression.
  • underdog character rebelling against the Evil Government™
  • social commentary via dystopian setting

My review for The Hunger Games

(P.S: These are both on my list of favorite books, which means you’re legally obligated to read them.)

(P.P.S: Warning- these books may or may not cause you to become extremely concerned for our society)

If you liked The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, you should read The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger.

Maybe this is cheating because some people consider Perks a classic, but it’s also a book I think of when I hear “popular YA”, so here we are.

Similarities:

  • first-person stream-of-consciousness writing style
  • bildungsroman
  • both appear on frequently-banned-and-challenged lists, automatically making them extra edgy and intriguing

My review for The Perks of Being a Wallflower appeared in my fall book haul 2020 post.

If you liked One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus, you should read And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie.

Similarities:

  • “locked-room” murder mystery trope
  • the suspense will kill you, pun intended
  • plot twists!

My review for One of Us is Lying

My review for And Then There Were None

If you liked To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han, you should read Little Women by Louisa May Alcott.

This seems like a weird comparison but hear me out! I have justification.

Similarities:

  • strong focus on sister relationships
  • also romance
  • distinctive lead female characters

My review for To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before

If you liked Illuminae by Amie Kaufmann and Jay Kristoff, you should read Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

Similarities:

  • space
  • space battles
  • yeah that’s all there is to it really

*Disclaimer (sort of)- I have read only the first half of Ender’s Game*

If you liked Tweet Cute by Emma Lord, you should read Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen

Similarities:

  • enemies-to-lovers rom-com sort of thing
  • witty and intelligent female leads
  • look, even the covers are similar-ish

My review for Tweet Cute

That’s it for today’s post! Have you read any of the books on this list? Do you agree with my comparisons?

Feel free to leave a comment! (And let me know if you’d read a Part 2 of this post)

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28 comments on “Recommending Classics Based on Popular YA Books”

  4. These are great recommendations!! Although I’m not a fan of classics (specifically big words that make me feel I’m reading a PhD textbook), these recs make them sound pretty good. Great post!!❤️

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
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  14. Please, please, PLEASE, finish Ender’s Game! It’s a book that only gets better every time you read it. Subsequent books in the series take a wildly different direction, but it still holds up as one of my favorite sci-fi series.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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