Young Writers Recommend: Winter 2023
As well as being very talented writers, our Newcastle Young Writers’ Group are ferocious readers. We asked them for some book recommendations, and they gave us classics, non-fiction, fantasy, and everything in between!
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Good in depth analysis of the characters and the unreliable narrator was someone you love to hate.
– Magda
The Song of Achilles or the Kurt Cobain Journals
Very interesting and poetic in its sense of humankind and strangeness.
– Faye
Kindred by Octavia E Butler
A mix of historical fiction, fantasy and science fiction, with neat time travel.
– Maya
Cunk on Everything by Philomena Cunk
Encyclopedia to be trusted as a comedy guide and not true fact.
– Kitty
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
It’s a mystery. It’s funny, depressing at times and there is a series coming out with Matthew Baynton in it and he is VERY GOOD so you wouldn’t want to miss out.
– Anon
When Will There Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson
There’s a character with my name and it’s a very good crime novel, mystery woo!
– Gabrielle
What About Men? by Caitlin Moran
How men are impacted by sexism and the role they play in supporting women. Both funny & powerful.
– Kitty
Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
Good comical narration style, easy to follow.
– Eleanor
The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux
Good story and different to the musical.
– Eleanor
The Harry Potter series by JK Rowling
All of them, they’re really good.
– Anon
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
All of them, I love the characters.
– Anon
1984 by George Orwell
The best dystopian novel. Horrifying and sucks you in.
– Magda
The Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson
Great characters, amazing world, interesting commentary on religion, easy to read.
– Vincent
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
It’s interesting because it isn’t told from the perspective of the main characters and it’s surprisingly relatable.
– Maya
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
It’s incredible.
– Gabrielle
Before I Die by Jenny Downham
Really sad, it’s about a girl dying of cancer but it will make you feel sad.
– Anon
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Very funny.
– Samuel