[TracyH Posts: 714 Status: Offline WWW]

I'm wondering if anyone has any books they can recommend with a love interest in the story. Something well developed, not just hinted at (with a first kiss even).

Thanks!

[elissacruz Posts: 753 Status: Offline]

It's upper MG, maybe even YA, but Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen is a good one.

And probably not what you're thinking of, but The Strange Case of Origami Yoda has some of that.

[Karen Bly Posts: 177 Status: Offline]

Shug by Jenny Han
The Boy Project by Kami Kinard
Savvy by Ingrid Law

[Barbara Etlin Posts: 2,329 Status: Offline WWW]

SHUG by Jenny Han.

My book has a romance, but it's not published...yet. ;-)

[Kell Posts: 1,373 Status: Offline On the other hand WWW]

OK for Now by Gary Schmidt and Criss Cross by Lynn Rae Perkins have romances. They're upper MG/young YA though.

My book has a romance angle. In my most recent revision, I added in a first kiss that I had previously taken out. We'll see what my editor thinks -- it might come out again!

ETA: I remember Hannah Moskowitz talking about writing one of her MGs -- I think Zombie Tag. She'd written YA before and she wasn't sure about romance in MG, but then when she added it in, her editor said she cheered. 

[J.Ro Posts: 271 Status: Offline People talk in my head. Sometimes I listen.]

The Mostly True Story of Jack by Kelly Barnhill has a kiss.

[Kell Posts: 1,373 Status: Offline On the other hand WWW]

That's right, J.Ro! That was one of the books that inspired me to let my characters kiss rather than just stare at each other moonily. They are 12.

[MysteryRobin Posts: 781 Status: Offline]

Doesn't When You Reach Me have some romance in it? Kind of? Even though I think some of it is talked about in retrospect, like as the kids grow up.

[Kurtis Posts: 399 Status: Offline WWW]

WHEN YOU REACH ME has a kiss or two.

[TracyH Posts: 714 Status: Offline WWW]

Thanks you guys. Keep 'em coming.

Is there such a thing where the romance is more front and center? Or are they mostly sub-plots?

[Jaina Posts: 2,900 Status: Offline Just keep typing, just keep typing . . .]

There's a MG book by Patricia MacLachlan called Unclaimed Treasures where a girl of about 12 has romance at the front-and-center of her mind, so it's a big part of the "plot" as it were.  In fact, she has a crush on the man next door, but ends up realizing his son (who is her age) is a much more reasonable first love.  There is kissing and discussion/thinking about kissing (she practices on her bedpost).

I always think P. MacLachlan's writing is charming, but I admit--I liked this book more when I was younger.  I recently re-read it after about . . . twenty years, I guess.  This time around, I guess my reading was colored by the fact that I now have a 12 year old of my own.  I found it a bit squicky.  I'm just not the biggest fan of MG kids kissing, etc., and being obsessed with falling in love (and I know that's just my personal bias as a late bloomer). 

[Mike Jung]

8TH GRADE SUPERZERO is sometimes described as MG, sometimes as lower YA, but it has a nice little romance in it that includes a single kiss.

[Christine B. Posts: 455 Status: Offline WWW]

Hi Tracy~
Have you read OLIVE'S OCEAN? It is pretty much a MG romance. (I am not going to spoil whether or not there is a first kiss!)

[annastan Posts: 602 Status: Offline WWW]

REAL MERMAIDS DON'T WEAR TOE RINGS has a cute tween romance; it's a sub-plot but a pretty big one.

[TracyH Posts: 714 Status: Offline WWW]

Thanks for all the recommendations! Now I have a nice little pile to work through.

[Christy Posts: 712 Status: Offline Luck= preparation + opportunity WWW]

PRINCESS FOR HIRE and IT'S RAINING CUPCAKES -and SCONES AND SENSABILITY