Not Just for Young Adults

I just finished reading the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series and was so pleasantly surprised by the level of writing. While technically classified as Young Adult, I didn't feel like they were written at to a lower reading level at all - in fact the stories were extremely entertaining. It made me think, what other YA series are so good that they transcend the label? Here are a few to get you started:

The Traveling Pants series by Ann Brashares: The first book in this series introduces us to Tibby, Bridget, Lena and Carmen, four girls who have been friends since before they were born, and who are about to spend their first ever summer apart. But on the day before they are to scatter, they discover a pair of pants, bought at a vintage store that miraculously fit all of them perfectly, despite their different body types and heights. They determine to send these magic pants to each other throughout the summer to help keep in touch and remain close. The chapters are narrated by the different girls and you get a feel for each of their different voices. This is maintained throughout the rest of the series, through which we get to see the girls grow up both together and apart. Series: Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Second Summer of the Sisterhood, Girls in Pants, Forever in Blue.

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery: This is an oldie but goodie - and hopefully there aren't many of you out there who haven't already devoured this series. Although technically there are 8 books in the series, the first 6 are the ones most read. They tell the story of Anne (with an E) Shirley, who was recently adopted by the Cuthbert's on Prince Edward Island, Canada. Ann has carrot red hair, is incredibly smart, and talks and dreams way too much. Ann is essentially an every-girl if there is such a thing. The series tracks her from a young girl of 11 throughout her entire life, to when she is a mother herself. If you haven't read them, or haven't in awhile, please do yourself a favor and check them out. Books: Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, Anne of Windy Poplars, Anne's House of Dreams, Anne of Ingleside, Rainbow Valley, Rilla of Ingleside

The Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud: These are along the same lines of the His Dark Materials or Harry Potter series' in that they definitely have a fantasy slant, but these definitely enough of a difference to make these fresh and interesting. Nathaniel is a boy magician who is apprenticed to Arthur Underwood, an inferior magician, who mostly ignores him. That is until Nathanial insults the famous magician Simon Lovelace, in public no less, and Underwood is too pathetic to help him. Angry and disgusted, Nathaniel throws himself into the task of learning as much magic as possible and summons a very powerful djinni, Bartimaeus, to help exact his revenge. The trilogy continues on from there with Nathaniel making friends and enemies along
the way and ends with an epic showdown between Nathaniel and Lovelace. You'll definitely enjoy the dark humor and will find yourself rooting for and against the various characters. Books: The Amulet of Samarkand, The Golem's Eye, Ptolemy's Gate

And of course, I'll reference again the Harry Potter Series and the Twilight Series.