[BonnieJoy Posts: 65 Status: Offline]

Hi All -- Any recommendations for great love stories for young teens? (not too racy, not too tragic)

[Darcy Miller Posts: 37 Status: Offline This looks like a zombie pen, Sammy.]

It's a pretty common feature in YA. Is there something specific you're looking for?

[Marissa Doyle Posts: 3,006 Status: Offline Charles Bewitched: out now! WWW]

Also--when you say "young teens", what age range did you have in mind?

[HDWestlund Posts: 993 Status: Offline writer and bookseller]

Also, fantasy or realistic?

[BonnieJoy Posts: 65 Status: Offline]

Thanks for helping and asking for clarification. I want to look at how authors convey the power of love in a context not dependent on racy elements, and I want to see if a love story can have sufficient depth without great tragedy. I hate to cry, which is largely why I’ve avoided love stories and stick to PBs (but I cry at some of them too!) and need your help. Also, my 13-year-old daughter would like to read a love story; I don’t want her to be exposed to anything too racy, and now is not a good time for her to be mired in grief either, so an uplifting story with an ending that is more happy than bittersweet would be good. Thanks for weighing in!

[BonnieJoy Posts: 65 Status: Offline]

HD, I forgot to say that both fantasy and realism are fine. Thanks.

[andracill Posts: 5,579 Status: Offline Worlds within...screaming to get out! WWW]

The love story in MATCHED is very sweet (and not racy) -- though it does involve a love triangle. The love story in THE TESTING trilogy is also very sweet, but the trilogy is dystopic (so there's some fighting with accompanying violence). Both my kiddos have read them, however (my daughter read it when she was 11; my son when he was 12). Ally Carter's books (the Gallagher Girls series and THE HEIST series) both have sweet love stories without much (if any) graphic aspects. Again, there is some violence because of the plot.

[olmue Posts: 3,463 Status: Offline WWW]

Flipped, by Wendelin van Draanan is funny and has a sweet romance. I think the characters are in 8th grade by the end? It's a contemporary he-said, she-said.

Poison, by Bridget Zinn, is a fantasy with a clean romance.

[Vijaya Posts: 6,775 Status: Offline Encourage WWW]

The Hired Girl has a romantic element. I love how the main character is always thinking about Jane Eyre, so that as well.
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. Any of the Jane Austen books. Gosh, these are all old but the romantic tension is exquisite.
For something modern, let's see: If I Stay.

Happy reading. Vijaya

[BonnieJoy Posts: 65 Status: Offline]

I really appreciate the suggestions and can't wait to dive in. Thank you so much!!! 
Bonnie

[HDWestlund Posts: 993 Status: Offline writer and bookseller]

A couple of my favorites have already been mentioned (POISON and FLIPPED). I'll add:

SHUG by Jenny Han
PRINCESS OF THE MIDNIGHT BALL (and its companions) by Jessica Day George
GOOSE GIRL and PRINCESS ACADEMY by Shannon Hale
THEORY OF EVERYTHING by Kari Luna (also deals with a missing dad, so love of all kinds)
ENTWINED by Heather Dixon
PRINCESS FOR HIRE trio, SEAN GRISWOLD'S HEAD, GOING VINTAGE by Lindsey Leavitt
WILDWING by Emily Whitman
WILDWOOD DANCING by Juliet Marillier

[AnneB Posts: 3,537 Status: Offline]

Bonnie Joy, she probably didn't mention this above so as not to self-promote, but Robin Prehn (andracill) has two ebooks out that rate teen books in this and other areas.

The title of the series is Teen Books: a Guide for Families and it's available for both Kindle and Nook platforms.

[BonnieJoy Posts: 65 Status: Offline]

Thank you all so much!! You are all so wonderful and helpful.    I will definitely get Robin's Teen Books: A Guide for Families -- such a need for that type of resource!

[Barbara Etlin Posts: 2,225 Status: Offline WWW]

THE ESPRESSOLOGIST by Kristina Springer is light and fun. 

[BonnieJoy Posts: 65 Status: Offline]

You guys are awesome! What a wealth of help and information.