I have a soft spot in my heart for young adult fiction, particularly dystopian future stories.

In my opinion, the longer a YA series, the better. Lately, I’ve been incredibly drawn to two series in particular – The Lunar Chronicles (Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter) by Marissa Meyer, and The Selection Series by Keira Cass. I have always loved a good fairy tale, so I really enjoy how The Lunar Chronicles translated the stories we know and love in an entirely new way, with just a glimmer of the original details peeking through. The Selection Series is a fresh take on The Bachelor / Bachelorette habit I just can’t kick, but with a deeper political message dressed up underneath.  

I tried to read each book slowly, dreading the day I would finish one without the next waiting on my nightstand. But the stories were too engaging and I found myself finishing them all too quickly.

As the mom of two young girls (and the daughter of an ardent feminist), the strong female heroines in these books really speak to me. I relate to the main characters as "real girls," with everyday concerns and insecurities, but with inherent leadership abilities that allow them to persevere, overcoming absurd (albeit fictional) odds and situations.

In a world where women and girls are accomplishing incredible feats every day, I’m excited to have these fictional heroines as an additional example for my daughters. They are already in love with books like Grace for President, My Name is Not Isabella, and Rosie Revere, Engineer, so I’m glad to know there are plenty of books waiting for them as they grow and mature that will continue to celebrate the strong, innovative heroine.

So, I guess it’s not actually a guilty pleasure after all…

For the entire month of November, Free Library staff will be embracing our so-called “guilty pleasures” without embarrassment! Join in and show us your pride for whatever you’re reading, watching, or listening to by snapping a photo with the hashtag #FLPNoShameNovember. We’ll feature your photos on our social media accounts and curate a list of the now-shameless titles!