Father’s in Classic Young Adult Fiction

The Phantom Tollbooth has Miles escaping through a tollbooth to travel another land while his parents know nothing of his adventures. Little Women have an absent father in the war as does the Chronicles of Narnia. These stories show children in action, but not with parents. They do have guiding characters who help the young people on their way.

Father’s in Modern Young Adult Fiction

Absent Fathers

Modern fiction isn’t much better. In D. J. MacHale’s Pendragon series, Bobby’s trying to find his parents while Mark and Courtney’s parents are present but not active. Brandon Mull’s Beyonders series isn’t much better. Jason’s parents don’t understand or know about the other world he falls into. Both of these authors do have characters who help mold and shape our young heroes. Bobby has his Uncle Press, and Jason has the Blind King. Jace and Clary in the Mortal Instruments don’t have fathers to assist them on their way.

Present Fathers

Some of my favorite young adult books have good fathers. This year I introduced a class of sixth and seventh graders to Mildred D. Taylor’s Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. My students loved reading the story and even some non-readers wanted to learn more about the Logan family. What struck me the most was the powerful father-figure the children had in Papa. He worked hard and held them to strict respect and obedience and yet at the same time he loved them unconditionally.

In Cornelia Funke’s books parents have a good role. The Inkheart trilogy introduces Mo and Meggie, a father and daughter duo who can read characters and items out of storybooks into the real world. Even with a father around watching over her, Meggie still manages to have interesting adventures. In The Dragon Rider Ben doesn’t have a father, but he meets Professor Greenblum who is a father and acts as a father-figure to Ben, while in The Thief Lord the children are searching for parents.

The Redwall series is another strong set of books with role models for young readers. Mariel and Joseph the Bellmaker are just one set of father and child pairs that play an important part in the plot. Peter and the Starcatchers shows Molly Aster and her father working together to save the world, while Peter ends up mixed up in the whole mess.

Father’s in Indie Young Adult Fiction

Indie authors seem to have more involved fathers. The first indie authored book I heard of was the Inheritance Trilogy. Eragon’s fatherhood created a driving plot, but the book also showcased other successful fathers with Garrow and Roran and Ajihad and Nasuada. In the Godsland series, Catrin and Wendel Volker have a strong relationship, and Catrin’s love for her father drives her to return from her mission. The first trilogy also shows several good relationships between the young characters and older male characters.

If those two larger names aren’t enough to show you how indie authors showcase fathers, let’s look at two other series. L. R. W. Lee’s Andy Smithson series has Andy’s parents as a key to his whole adventure. Andy doesn’t have his parents right with him for most of his journey, but he has others who are like parents supporting him as well. Lea Doue tells the story of twelve princesses and their coming of age. With the advances of an unwanted suitor, the oldest inadvertantly entangles her sisters in a wizard’s web. It is with the help of their father they are rescued.

The teen years are the ones where parents and children conflict the most. Mark Twain said when a boy turns twelve to put him in a barrel with a knot hole, but when he turns sixteen block the hole. Parents with teens can laugh at this and yet relate. However, I say, if you can build a relationship with your child between seven to twelve years old, you can salvage many of the potholes of the teen years. Give your child books to read with good parents as role models. and you’ll be able to give them a hunger for good relationships with you.

Old Favorites

The Godsland series by Brian Rathbone

I’ve featured this series before. It’s well worth the read. A clean, epic fantasy which often is hard to find. The story of Catlin is just a normal farm girl who must go to school in town and endure the bullies; that is until the bullies decide to pick on her friend. When she wakes up, she finds she’s won the fight and majorly wounded the bully. This catalyst sets her and her friends on a journey to save their homeland from an even bigger threat. You can get the first book free on Brian Rathbone’s website. The series is good for everyone from 8 to 108. You may have to read it to an eight-year-old, though.

Saga of Recluce series by L. E. Modesitt, Jr

With fall coming, I’m often drawn to Recluce where white or chaos and black or order magicians clash and where food is abundant and mouthwatering. The world of Recluce sends out potential mages who can’t abide by the rulers into Gandar to find their way. Each story builds the world history. Each character is unforgettable and multifacetted. And did I say food? Yes, the descriptions of burhka a spicy meat dish served with piping hot bread or the cheese, wine, sausage, and bread platters make me want to bake bread and sit beside a fire and enjoy it. The series is for older readers teenage and above.

New Books

The Beat on Ruby’s Street by Jenna Zark

I may have mentioned this book before, but it’s still fairly new. It has been republished since June. I’m currently reading it to my 6th and 7th grade English Language Arts class. The kids are loving it, even though we only get a page or two a day.

Ruby’s an outgoing, young teen that just wants to go meet the famous poet who’ll perform at The Scene. However, Tatoo Tina messes up those plans when she accusses Ruby of stealing some fruit from the cart outside the store. When children’s services step into the scene, Ruby’s life is turned upside down. Her courage and ingenuity earn her friends and give young readers someone to look up to. Adults will enjoy learning about or reliving the Beat Generation all in a fun story with depth that will stir the heart to tears. You can learn more about it on Jenna Zark’s website.

Dragon’s Cure by Kandi J Wyatt

I usually don’t add my own books to these lists, but if this is a list of books I’m reading or have read, then Dragon’s Cure needs to be on it. I read Dragon’s Cure repeatedly this summer as it went through editing and then proofreading. Yes, it’s book 4 of the series, but my proofreader was introduced to the series via this book and had no problem reading it without having read the others.

This is a book that is a little darker and tells a story of the emotional struggle to survive abuse. Serena’s decisions in trying to stay in control lead her from bad to safe to okay to worse than bad. It’s a cautionary tale for ages twelve and up.

New on October 10

Tyrants and Traitors by Joshua McHenry Miller

This book is a great read. It won’t be completely available until October 10, but that’s less than a month away. In the meantime, you can read the first chapter on the author’s website.

If you’re looking for the traditional Sunday School story of David the shepherd boy, this book isn’t for you. But, if you want a very believable spiritual struggle of a young teen thrust into a role he didn’t ask for, then go grab Tyrants and Traitors. To add to the mix, you’ll have laughs and a delightful story of shinanegans and tight spots. This is a read for the whole family.

Godsland series by Brian Rathbone

I was introduced to the Godsland series last year when I met Brian Rathbone via Twitter. I’ve read the first three books and instantly fell in love with the style of writing. I’d recommend the series as a read-aloud to any child ages 8 and above. Anyone ages 12 and up should be able to read it on their own.

Catrin Volker dreams of a peaceful life training horses. It’s not to be. Comets appear in the night skies, announcing the return of a goddess. While trying to save her friend from bullies, Catrin unknowingly triggers powerful, ancient magic, and fulfills a prophecy that says she will destroy entire nations. Her quest for peace captures the imagination with fantastical landscapes, magic and dragons.

Brian Rathbone believes in having a PG Twitter and Facebook feed. His books live up to that standard. His humor follows through in the stories as well. Definitely a must read for Children’s Book Week.

Imaginary Boy by Mark Eldrich

I first read the blurb for this book and was immediately intrigued. Rarely do you read a book where the main character has a major disability. In the Imaginary Boy Benji uses a cane. He also has some kind of disfigurement, but the reader never really learns what that is. What impressed me is that Benji’s disability really isn’t the main point of the story, and yet it is. Okay, I’m speaking in riddles here. Benji is limited by what he can or cannot do; however, the author does a wonderful job of not belittling his character. Once I picked it up on sale and began to read it, I wasn’t able to put it down! I’d recommend it for any read aloud or to read on your own.

Eleven-year-old Benji Saintaubin dreams of becoming a hero like the ones in the books he reads while banished in the dark attic of his family home. But those heroes are all strong and handsome, not like Benji who uses a crutch and hides his disfigured face. When his father dies, leaving behind an unfinished story about an imaginary boy who must defeat a cruel and mighty dragon, Benji’s safe and secluded world is turned upside down.

After venturing out of the attic and onto the perilous streets of 19th century London, Benji finds himself separated from his mother in a frightening and unfamiliar world. Nearly trampled to death and sold into slavery, Benji comes to believe his father’s story may be more fact than fiction after his captor reveals a dragon-tail tattoo around his arm and plans that could destroy Benji. If he ever hopes to escape, be reunited with his mother and finish his father’s cryptic story, Benji must trust that a crippled boy can discover the unseen power needed to defeat a brutal and powerful dragon.

Join Benji on his treacherous journey in this compelling, edgy and inspiring middle-grade novel by debut author Mark Eldrich.

I will give you a warning that this book may be out of stock come June 1. I have assurances that the author will republish it, but the publisher is going out of business.

Nyssa Glass and the House of Mirrors by H.L. Burke

For those of you who attended my Facebook parties for the Dragon Courage series, the name H.L. Burke will ring a bell. I picked up this book and read it over the course of two or three lunch breaks. It was a fun read that I’d recommend for any age even though it is designed for the young adult bracket. Nyssa is a young gal who is blackmailed into doing another breaking and entry job. What she finds will change her life! The story is steampunk style and would fit perfectly into a Hayao Miyazaki film.

Nyssa Glass is a reformed cat burglar turned electrician’s apprentice, settled into a life repairing videophones and radio-sets. However, when her past comes calling, she finds herself forced into one last job. No one has entered Professor Dalhart’s secluded mansion in almost a decade, at least not and returned to tell the tale. If Nyssa wants to ensure her freedom, she’ll brave the booby trapped halls and mechanized maids. Nyssa has skills, but this house has more than its share of secrets. As she steps into the cobwebbed halls lined with dusty mirrors, she has to wonder. Is the House of Mirrors really abandoned?

Krillonian Chronicles by Annie Douglass Lima

I found out about this series in a Facebook group for clean indie fantasy. Annie ask for help with the launch of book two, The Gladiator and the Guard. The blurb didn’t really grab my attention. It sounded like a good read, but did I really need to add it to my To-Be-Read list? I didn’t think so. However, the more I saw the cover, the more I heard about Annie, the more I thought why not give it a shot? Then The Gladiator and the Guard went on sale for Kindle. I purchased it, finished out another book during lunch, and started this book about Bensin. The story drug me into this strange world. It’s not quite fantasy and it’s not sci-fi, but it’s good. Bensin is a slave that is about ready to win his freedom. A twist of events throws him into the arena as a gladiator. I am loving how the story is unfolding and how Bensin’s character is growing. The balance between what is right and wrong comes across clean and clear. This book is great for anyone ages 10+.

Bensin, a teenage slave and martial artist, is just one victory away from freedom. But after he is accused of a crime he didn’t commit, he is condemned to the violent life and early death of a gladiator. While his loved ones seek desperately for a way to rescue him, Bensin struggles to stay alive and forge an identity in an environment designed to strip it from him. When he infuriates the authorities with his choices, he knows he is running out of time. Can he stand against the cruelty of the arena system and seize his freedom before that system crushes him?

Well, I could go on and I’ve listed several different books that all are good reads in other blog posts. So, I’ll let you go find them instead of adding them here. Feel free to share with me what your favorite children’s books are.