For the past few weeks I’ve been in England while my husband teaches in the Oklahoma Summer Law Program at Brasenose College, Oxford University.  This is the third time we’ve participated in the program and we always enjoy our time in this historic city.  I’ve encountered some great books during these summers – often doing the bulk of my reading on trains.  So, for this entry I’ll suggest a few YA paperbacks guaranteed to make the hours pass quickly – even on public transportation!

The Bride’s Farewell, by Meg Rosoff (an American author based in the UK) is the story of headstrong Pell Ridley, who runs away the night before her wedding to escape the drudgery and sorrow suffered by her own mother.  This beautifully written novel, which often reads like a fairy tale (albeit a gritty one), will appeal to lovers of strong heroines, survival stories, and unconventional romances.  Those with a soft spot for horses and dogs will also find much to love!

(Interestingly enough, I was first introduced to Rosoff’s work five years ago during our last summer in Oxford when I read [mostly on a train] her multiple-award winning How I Live Now.  It’s a darker story, but even more gripping than The Bride’s Farewell – definitely near the top of my list of favorite YA novels.)

Beating Heart, by A.M. Jenkins (a Texas author), is a contemporary ghost story with a compelling teen boy protagonist.  Since he moved with his family into a recently-restored Victorian house, Evan has been having vividly passionate dreams about a girl he’s never seen before.  Eventually he learns that the dream girl visited his house long before he was born – and didn’t leave it alive.  Jenkins slowly builds suspense and emotional intensity rather than going for cheap scares, leaving the reader with a poignant and deeply satisfying conclusion.