Top Ten Tuesday: Covers/Titles with Things Found in Nature

Helena's picks

Top Ten Covers/Titles with Things Found in Nature: YA edition

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

Teenager Maddy has severe allergies and is quite literally allergic to everything in the outside world. She lives an unreal life with tight restrictions on everything she does - including relationships. When she is looking out her window one day, she notices a guy her age, Olly,  moving in next door. The cover of Everything, Everything features different things found in nature and bacteria. 

 

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

In the prequel to the viral Hunger Games series, Coriolanus Snow is a brilliant young man at the Academy in the Capitol. For his school project, he has to mentor a tribute to the Games. He begins to have feelings for his tribute, Lucy Gray Baird, and questions why the games exist. Through his time, he uncovers dirty secrets and things he would love to forget. The cover of this novel features a snake, a bird, and a few sticks, and the title contains “songbirds” and “snakes”.

 

Artifice by Sharon Cameron 

Isa de Smit’s art gallery was abundant with color and life until the Nazis occupied Amsterdam, her home. The gallery has a large debt and only one plausible solution- forgery. Her father creates a Rembrandt, and Isa sells it to Hitler himself. Isa cannot stop creating the art pieces, especially after her best friend, Truus, needs the money to save Jewish babies. 

 

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Melinda, a young high schooler, goes to a party and calls the cops. She is turned into an outcast and has become mute. She closely hides what truly happened that night and faces mental distress due to her silence. Speak is a highly challenged novel and is part of the Banned Books collection. On the cover of Speak, it has a small tree. 

 

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

This novel follows Charlie, a shy but brilliant teenager, through the rocky times in high school. He meets two older students, Patrick and Sam, and begins to step out of his comfort zone. The title contains the word “wallflower”, which is a beautiful orange-ish flower and is associated with being socially awkward or shy. 

 

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

Violet, a girl who lives only for the future, and Theodore, a suicidal teen, find each other on the edge of the bell tower, trying to take their own lives. They somehow convince each other to not jump and become close friends. They begin to live a real high school life because of their relationship. The cover features a purple flower and a bird. 

 

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

Belly goes to the summer house every year in Cousins with her brother, Steven, her mother, Jeremiah, Conrad, and their mother, Susannah. Belly has always loved Conrad, ever since she was young. But now, she meets new people and starts to change her opinions. The cover features the sun shining behind Belly and the title contains the word “summer”.

 

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

Shy Mateo and tough Rufus have their End Day on the same day. They meet on the Last Friend app, where they inspire each other to go have fun for their last day. You can probably guess the ending. The cover of the novel includes a moon and a body of water. 

 

Looking for Alaska by John Green

Miles Halter goes to his father’s old boarding school, Culver Creek, to seek the “Great Perhaps”. There, he meets Colonel, but more importantly mysterious, fun-loving Alaska. Alaska Youngs is captivating to Miles, to a destructive point. Looking for Alaska’s cover features smoke and the title contains the word “Alaska”. 

 

Little Women by Louis May Alcott

This dearly-loved and classic novel follows the four March sisters, Jo, Amy, Beth, and Meg. Each is unique in her way - Jo is strong-willed, Amy a young lady, Beth sweet and kind, and Meg caring. The story is set in the 1870s Massachusetts and offers a unique historical perspective. The cover features trees and ice.