The other day, while browsing new releases in YA fiction at my local library, three novels with flashy covers and catchy titles grabbed my attention. I plucked them from the shelf, read the back covers . . . and immediately thought, “How is a young reader supposed to maintain a pure mind with literature like this?!”
The mainstream YA fiction market is rife with books shamelessly promoting lifestyles contrary to biblical teaching. Sexual relationships (both of the homo and hetero variety), underage drinking, assisted suicide . . . And those are the ones that make their content obvious on the back cover.
What about the ones you don’t realize are full of foul content until you take it home?
Not all secular fiction is bad, however. But in order to help you sift through the options, I’ve compiled a few resources for Christian teens and anyone else wondering how to find clean young adult fiction in a dirty market.
You don’t have to navigate the murky waters of the YA fiction market alone!
Hi, I’m Lauren Thell, author of Christian YA fiction and blogger for teens who are ready to exceed the world’s expectations!
In This Article
How to Find Clean Young Adult Fiction: 5 Resources for Christian Teens
1) Common Sense Media
Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a website that summarized every book on the market and gave you a content rating the way IMDB does for movies? Just plug in the title and, bam, you have a full synopsis and a PG-13 warning for scenes depicting underage alcohol use.
If you’re willing to pay a small monthly fee (definitely worth it if you do a lot of reading), Common Sense Media is the best place for pre-checking book content. The site caters to parents and educators, but who says teens can’t do their own research? Simply enter the title of a book into the search bar and you’ll find a level rating for multiple content areas (violence, language, sex & nudity, etc.) along with a brief summary of what you’ll encounter in the book.
This site is, hands down, the most comprehensive for previewing content. Unfortuantely, however, it works best for popular books. Lesser known titles are hit-or-miss.
Which is where the next resource comes in handy.
2) Goodreads
Goodreads doesn’t have a rating system for content like Common Sense Media, but you can still find valuable information for just about any book—if you’re willing to do some digging.
Start with the reviews. Don’t bother with the one-star reviews (which are chock full of the worst humanity has to offer). I reccommend looking at the three- and four- star reviews. If there’s any questionable content, someone will mention it here.
Don’t want to slog through heavy opinions? Scroll past the reviews and click Questions. The Questions section sometimes has exactly what you’re looking for. For example, I recently looked up the popular YA dystopian novel Divergent and someone asked what age this was appropriate for. Within the answers, another reader pointed out that there is a passionate kissing scene.
3) Friends of Faith
Do you have friends who share your tastes in fiction and the same dedication to Christian values? Great! The community of believers is itself a resource. Work together to find young adult literature worth reading. Share recommendations for books that make the cut and warn each other against novels that stray from your beliefs.
Goodreads also allows you to see what other people are reading. Find someone with the same values as you and follow her reading list.
4) Your Bible!
After all that hard work of previewing a book’s content, you might still come across questionable content. Honestly, the only way you can know if what you’re reading is moral and good is to become one with the Holy Spirit—and that happens through God’s word. If you’re cruising through a “clean” book and suddenly stumble into a moral situation, knowing what God says about it will tell you if you should keep reading or put the book down.
“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Philippians 4:8
5) My Newsletter
While I sometimes do author spotlights and offer reading recommendations on this blog and social media, subscribers to my newsletter get the most updated information. Every month, you’ll get recommendations for clean/and or Christian fiction and nonfiction young adult books—right to your inbox.
I know how hard it is to find clean YA fiction that’s also appropriate for Christian readers, so when I find a worthy book, I want to share it with you!
You don’t have to have all the answers.
but, hey, why not?
Bring me your questions about faith, life, God, the Bible… and I’ll help you find the answers.
2 More Ideas for Finding Clean YA Books
1) Be faithful to “clean” authors and publishers.
The amount of YA fiction books on the market that embrace teenage sex, drinking, and vulgar language is staggering. It used to be that you might come across one or two of these while browsing the shelves of your local bookstore, but this has become commonplace.
Fortunately, a few authors remain dedicated to bringing clean content (less violence, profanity, or sex) to the mainstream YA fiction table. I personally enjoyed the novels by Kasie West and Ally Carter, both of whom write contemporary fiction.
Furthermore, certain publishers are dedicated to bringing you books with clean content. Check out Blink (an imprint of Harper Collins) and Monster Ivy. Others that are not strictly YA are Tyndale, Pelican Book Group, and Enclave Publishing.
Related: Seeking Quality Fiction – Why I’m Not a Fan of Book Banning
Cautions:
- Note that “clean” means different things to different people. For some, kissing is okay if it doesn’t escalate and the occasional swear word can be overlooked. If your standards are tighter than that, use more caution in the mainstream clean YA market.
- Beware that fiction can be “clean” but still immoral. Christians must pay heed to moral content. If the book you have in your hand embraces a non-biblical view on worldly issues (homosexuality, for example), put it down and find another.
2) Don’t overlook the Christian YA fiction market.
If you think choosing a faith-based novel means sacrificing quality or enduring stodgy preaching, think again. The Christian fiction market has come a long way and continues to evolve in response to our changing culture. Christians are real people fighting real battles and the best YA Christian novels let you experience their battles alongside them.
Wondering who to try? Check out these reviews & recommendations from my blog:
- Something I Am Not by Cher Gatto
- Author Jenny B. Jones
- YA Christian Fiction Thrillers, Suspense & Horror: 8 Books to Keep You On Edge
External resources:
Cautions:
See my post 6 Red Flags to Watch for In Christian YA Fiction.
The Bottom Line
“Therefore, I urge you . . . to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God . . . Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Romans 12:1-2
You have options! With all the wonderful uplifting and pure fiction out there, there’s no reason for you to fill your minds with garbage. Embrace literature that emboldens your faith and makes you stronger in Jesus!