s/o what are some pro-feminist YA fiction books--esp sci-fi/fantasy or romance (ie Twilight... - Page 2

[morganlefay]

I second Jean Craighead George and Jane Yolen. Cynthia Voigt and Katherine Patterson were also some of my favorites growing up.

[Pinoikoi]

hmm.. perhaps Dragonsblood? I just finished it, and the Dragon hero is a young girl, who is pretty much inspired by an aging female geneticist..

[Pinoikoi]

Originally Posted by ribbon

Never read Twilight, but Robin McKinley wrote a kick-ass vampire-themed novel called Sunshine that was outstanding. The heroine was no damsel in distress. However, I'd also say that it was more a solid YA/adult novel for some bits.

hmm.. Robin McKinley as in Hero and the Crown and The Blue Sword? Really? Linky?

[St. Margaret]

Originally Posted by alaskanteach

hmm.. Robin McKinley as in Hero and the Crown and The Blue Sword? Really? Linky?

Here it is!!! I have been telling everyone who asks me about Twilight that THIS is the teen vamp book to get your hands on!

[TEAK's Mom]

Originally Posted by Ms Apricot

I second this recommendation - terrific book.
Tam Lin by Pamela Dean.
I, Coriander by Sally Gardiner.
Archangel by Sharon Shinn (an angel and human girl fall in love in a mythical land with some resemblance to Old Testament lands - but it's not really religious/Biblical - the power imbalance is much better handled than in Twilight).
Someone else already mentioned Robin McKinley.
Jane Yolen has some terrific female protagonists too.

Wow, someone else has read Pamela Dean! I also loved her Secret Country books.

There are a lot of good books in this thread. Others I like are:
Fool's Run by Patricia McKillip
The Saga of Pliocene Exile (four books) by Julian May
Deerskin by Robin McKinley is often overlooked.
Juniper, Gentian, and Rosemary by Pamela Dean

[Penuche]

Patricia Wrede's Enchanted Forest series has a princess who runs away to live with the dragons rather than marry a prince.

http://www.amazon.com/Dealing-Dragon...2371308&sr=1-2

[psychethemuse]

Ooh! One of my favorite types of books!

Cassandra Clare should be a good match for fans of the Twilight books (not that I've read them, but I have a grasp of what their charm is). She writes The Mortal Instruments series (I am eagerly awaiting the third).

Also, Amelia Atwater-Rhodes writes some fun books that are mostly dark fantasy and targeted at teens (it helps that she wrote many of them while she was a teen).

I know she's been mentioned already, but I have to repeat Robin McKinley. She was my favorite author for at least ten years. All of her books are excellent (though you might want to watch out for Deerskin as it deals with sensitive subject material- girl is raped by father).

I also loved Cynthia Voight's Jackaroo books. The first one I read was On Fortune's Wheel and I have reread it at least twice.

Currently I'm enthralled by Isobelle Carmody's Obernewtyn Chronicles. The protagonist is a very strong female who is flawed but grows (of course). The writing is compelling and I'm irritated that I still can't get the last two books yet as they haven't been published here (the author is an Aussie).

Patricia McKillip's books are lovely. Her recent books seem to have a dream-like quality to them and the Riddle-Master trilogy is fantastic solid fantasy.

I enjoyed Anne McCaffrey's Crystal Singer books (sci-fi music fun) along with most of her other books (though the Pern books got a bit dull by the time she was having people cowrite them).

Pamela Dean is another one of my faves (Tam Lin is the best).

A very much overlooked book is Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis. It's a reworking of the myth Cupid and Psyche and is the sort of book that gets under your skin and permeates your spirit, if you know what I mean.

Honestly I could keep going but I better stop and get the little one to bed.

[Arwyn]

Not really a twilight alternative, but Pratchett's Bromiliad Trilogy is really great too. What I like about it from a feminist perspective is you see the challenge and eventual deconstruction of a very patriarchal society (two, really), and the growth and ambivalence of a strong female character, along with the counter growth of her male counter part. Plus ithas absolutely the most romantic moment ever at the end, in a very fabulous understated but touching way.

[TEAK's Mom]

This thread makes me happy! You all read some of my favorite books! :::::

[PiePie]

sarah beth durnst's into the wild and out of the wild

[Dahlea]

Try Robin McKinley and of course Tamora Pierce. Garth Nix has several that are good as well.