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.
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 cover summary . . . 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: 6 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. Unfortunately, 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 is my favorite place for prescreening books. It doesn’t have a rating system for content like Common Sense Media, but you can find valuable information for just about any book, no matter how obscure. Here’s how I do it:
- Search the title of the book in question and click on its page. The list of genres that follows the summary is helpful for obvious red flags (like erotica, for example), but they aren’t always complete.
- Scroll down to Ratings & Reviews. You’ll see the Community Reviews with a breakdown of ratings (1-5 stars) and a search bar.
- Type keywords into the search bar. Some good options: “sex,” “profanity,” “violence,” and “clean.” (Do them one at a time, not all at once.) When you click enter, you’ll only see reviews with the word you searched. If there’s any questionable content, you can bet that someone has already commented on it in their review.
This is the most effective resource for screening young adult fiction for content. Unfortunately, I’m told it does not work in the Goodreads app—you have to use your browser. You could also scroll past the reviews and click Questions. The Questions section sometimes has exactly what you’re looking for, but it only works if someone asks the question. Also, I’ve found the answers aren’t always reliable. The reviews are your best bet.
3) My Blog & Newsletter
I don’t just write books. I read them too, and I’m friends with other authors of clean and Christian YA fiction so I can give you an inside look at the industry. Subscribers to my newsletter get the most updated information including monthly recommendations for clean and/or Christian fiction and nonfiction young adult books (plus free access to my library of Christian YA fiction short stories!)
And check out my reading lists:
- Books for Christian Teens: Clean YA Sci-Fi, Fantasy, & Dystopia
- Great YA Literature: Clean Classic Books For Teens
- YA Christian Fiction Thrillers, Suspense, & Horror: 8 Books to Keep You on Edge
- Standout Characters in YA Novels: Lauren’s Picks
- Emotionally Charged YA Fiction That Will Alter Your Perspective
- Christian Teen Fiction Review: SOMETHING I AM NOT
- Christian YA Fiction Spotlight: Author Jenny B. Jones
- Seasons of Kane: A Christian YA Short Story Series
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!
Related: The Truth About Why I Write YA Christian Fiction
4) Busy Moms Read Too
This is a new resource I’m very excited about because I’m one of the reviewers for the site. Busy Moms Read Too is a database for spoiler-free book content guides and warnings, and despite the matronly name, it’s not all women’s fiction. All the YA books I review for my blog end up there as well, including the ones you never hear about because they don’t make the cut for clean or Christian YA fiction
Because it’s so new, the database is still quite limited, but keep an eye on it because it’s growing, thanks to a bunch of voracious readers.
5) 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 demand clean young adult literature worth reading. Share recommendations with your friends 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.
6) 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
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.
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.
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.
Related: Seeking Quality Fiction – Why I’m Not a Fan of Book Banning
2) Give Your Business to 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.
You can trust the books published at companies like Zondervan, Baker, Bethany House, Thomas Nelson, Waterbrook, Revell and Tyndale to not contain profanity or sex scenes. That doesn’t, however, mean every book not published by these is bad.
Wondering who to try? Check out these reviews & recommendations from my blog:
External resources:
Cautions: See my post 6 Red Flags to Watch for In Christian YA Fiction.
3) Download booklists.
There are places that make lists based on your specific age, interests, etc. Read-Aloud Revival is one of those places. Looking for clean YA romances? Check out this list from Copperfield’s Books.
4) Ask a trusted mentor to review the book or read it with you.
Yes, sometimes we forget the value of Christian parents. My then-preteen son once asked me to join him in reading a book series he was working through, and I did. Not only did I find the middle-grade series to be fascinating, but we also got the chance to discuss some life issues that had never come up before.
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
Never forget, it’s not just a book. Everything you read and view seeps into your mind and alters the way you think. So fill your mind with Godly ideas. With all the wonderful uplifting and pure fiction out there, there’s no reason to settle for garbage.
Embrace literature that emboldens your faith and makes you stronger in Jesus!
Further Thoughts on Christian YA Fiction
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.