5 Island Magic YA Books | Overly Specific Book Recommendations

[@_Symmachus]

09:53 "Her father is a lobster..." Wait, what? "...fisherman" Oh. Right. 😅

[@tessreadstoomuch]

I would read the shit out of that book

[@Pearlxox]

Please recommend books set in cults!!

[@christineivey4840]

I love this! My favourite YA island fantasy is the Scorpio Races by Maggie Stievfater, loved the atmosphere and main character

[@mybirthwrite]

I had *no* clue that Sawkill Girls was an island setting or that it had a monster. I honestly thought it was a straight-up murder mystery and now I'm even MORE interested

[@bump0005]

It's My Birth Write it’s so so good you should definitely read it! I haven’t even finished it yet (my scribd subscription ran out before I could finish the audiobook) and I still can’t stop thinking about it :’)

[@missslaurennicole]

Wilder Girls is set on an island! I think you’re going to love it if you haven’t picked it up yet!

[@Louise_E]

Gray Wolf Island by Tracy Neithercott would totally fit in this specific category! It’s about a girl whose sister’s dying wish is for her to find the treasure on Gray Wolf Island which is just off the coast from where they live. The group of teens that end up going with her plus the island itself have magical things going on with them. It’s a great book.

[@helenatieck7911]

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater fit in that category and I absolutely adore that book! And nor I'm very intrigued by The Rattled Bones!

[@Juliannaskindlee]

love this series 😻 so many good recommendations, though i love everything you suggest

[@AinsleeEllen]

You should give The Wicked Deep a try, it fits this overly specific category!

[@Snowflake8147]

This almost could have been "island magic YA books with queer female protagonists"

[@katiebennion1914]

The way you explain books is the best! It seriously makes me want to read them all at this very moment.

[@taliw7736]

oooh hoping to find some specific book recs! Going to my library today to read some different stories. These sound cool I enjoy magical realism / contemporary magic too Lala

[@marcyreads]

Writing these down and headed to the library to check them out! I love island centered books! Great great video as always!!!

[@halliehurst4847]

Teeth by Hannah Moskowitz is another that fits this category! It’s about a lonely boy who is stuck on an island to cure his sick brother. While there he meets a merman called Teeth. My God it’s a beautiful book, quite dark at times but so beautiful. It feels like what fairytales would feel like if we wrote them today.

[@Gesa1991]

I started Sawkill Girls yesterday and I really love it! What a coincidence 😄 I kinda feel that Neverworld Wake would fit into a similar category - it's not specifically on an island but in a secluded location if you will so the characters felt very isolated from the world which is something islands can do as well

[@michelleshackle2733]

GiaWu I loved neveworld wake

[@Ohsheadults]

Reasons why I need to read Hurricane Child 1. I was also born in the middle of a hurricane 2. I am also from the Caribbean 3. I am also queer 4. I'm also a poc

[@Yagiselys]

Winki im from Puerto Rico 🥰

[@Ohsheadults]

@@Yagiselys Wepa! Me too!

[@mikaylak.b.6974]

I love these videos so much. I feel like this topic, in particular, was something I was thinking I wanted to read more of (maybe not *consciously* but in the back of my mind). I feel like I used to see "island fantasies" more when I was younger, but haven't that much recently. So, I also can't think of any adult books, but one middle-grade book I really loved that has this theme is "Orphan Island" by Lauren Snyder. It has a Peter-Pan type vibe to it, but I think it did a better job at contemplating the fear of growing up and leaving your comfort zone (and the magic is still really great too).

[@issianne7552]

YOUR HAIR!! It looks so cute 😫

[@renee_3364]

This overly specific recommendation is basically my brand! I've read and loved 3/5 and have immediately added the other two to my TBR. Thank you for the recommendations: I love these videos, and hope you'll make more in the future.

[@LovelessDegrees]

Another recommendation: Gray Wolf Island by Tracey Neithercott. The ladies of Owlcrate have said it has similar vibes to The Raven Boys :)

[@heathersbooks816]

I’m currently reading Gray Wolf Island, which definitely fits this category. It has a fantastic friend group, flowery writing, magical realism, and an island adventure.

[@carriebrackett6143]

Thanks for the recommendations. The only one I’ve read is Sawkill Girls. I’m so happy you enjoyed it, I just couldn’t get into it. I would recommend the Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw! Absolutely loved it!!!

[@kayceek7]

My favorite island fantasy book is The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw I read it almost in one day and just loved the vibe of the book and the writing is beautiful. If you love the sea, spooky stuff then you’ll love this one.

[@alisongoforth6594]

I loveeee this overly specific book category as well, it’s one of my favorites. I would also add The Wicked Deep by Shea Earnshaw to this, it has some very similar vibes to these stories. And I will be picking up The Rattled Bones ASAP. Thanks, Lala!

[@OwlCrateTV]

You gotta check out Orphan Island! One of the best middle grade books the OwlCrate team has ever read, but we found it slightly too mature for OwlCrate Jr...and it’s set on an island!

[@alexandraroselyn]

Hurricane Child has been on my TBR for such a long time. I've been saving it for summer and this just got me so excited for it. Great list Lala!

[@booksbyandby5985]

Oh my gosh, your hair like this! I love it!

[@gabbyreads]

Love Summer of Salt and the Astonishing Color of After! I'm definitely going to need to read Sawkill Girls soon, I own it I just haven't gotten around to it.

[@windflower5226]

Summer of Salt is absolutely gorgeous! I‘ve read it for the first time 2 months ago and it is definitely one of my favorite books this year 😍

[@GwendolynKensinger]

Loved that Sawkill Girls was on this list because it's been sitting on my TBR and now I am re-excited about reading it.

[@antonellazinniparis9742]

I would recommend The Scorpio Races. I love that book!

[@Jordan-dv6tw]

"Touch blue" by cynthia lord is for a younger audience but you'd like it because it's on an island in maine where the families who live there take in foster kids so the state won't close their schoolhouse. You could probably read it with your son. I havent read it in years but I loved it back when I read it lol

[@kerisbookishcorner2864]

I already had Sawkill Girls and Summer of Salt on my TBR but knew very little about them. Now I’m Re-interested in picking them up soon!

[@aless.andra9620]

Hey, Lala! Can you do Overly Specific Rec on books with queer characters? I've really been interested in such stories lately and would love to hear you thoughts!

[@saschaadrianaillustrates]

Viktoriia Green the love & lies of Rukhsana Ali is really good! It was thrilling, realistic, contemporary & the queer character was really nice (the story is surrounded around her)

[@brynncampbell2007]

You should do one about bookstores/libraries like Escape from Mr. Limoncello’s Library and Mr. Penumbra’s 24 hour book store

[@confuzzledbev3862]

Have you read Why The Whales Came by Michael Morpugo? That's set on an island and I feel like you would like it. There's a maybe supernatural element but it's unclear whether anything supernatural actually is happening. The Visitors by Simon Sylvester is also set on an island and features a mystery/magical element.

[@theresed3639]

Great list🌺 On The Island by Tracy Garvis Graves is not YA or magical but is worth trying. A bit taboo in a sense but the Island atmosphere is front and center. 🌴

[@ginnybair2533]

Have you ever read Shot-blue by Jesse Ruddock? It's a different sort of book. Not YA or magical, but it does take place on an island and have that sort of feel about it. It's been a few years since I read the book, but I do remember really enjoying the story.

[@mouse8656]

I really like to read books that are set in different places, but I don't think that I've ever read one that's on an island...this is a great list for me to get started on! :)

[@TinyNDangerous]

Ever since reading (and loving) Summer of Salt I've needed more like it in my life and now you've given me a list :) thank you!

[@aliciamccudden2581]

The wicked deep! Amazing book with a little sceptical fiction thrown in. Totally your style! You would love it!

[@PhysiqueQuantique]

Super intrigued by Sawkill Girls and Summer of Salt, woah. I've also heard awesome things about The Astonishing Colour of After so I think I really need to get my hands on that. Idk if this would count, but Michael Crummey's Galore is an adult weird magical family saga that takes place in Newfoundland, which....... is an island hehe. I really liked it, it was REALLY weird and might not be your style (it's also historical fiction), but I thought I'd mention it just in case!

[@ceebeegeegies]

Circe is an enjoyable island magic book!

[@biblioobscura]

I love this overly specific rec! I highly recommend Teeth by Hannah Moskowitz (island, magic fish, a possible merperson, dark "fairytale")

[@TuckerTheReader]

People always ask me what book(s) I what take with me to a desert island. Now, I know

[@opheliabalou2652]

The storm keepers island! It’s middle grade though but the narrator of the audiobook has an Irish accent and it just makes everything a little more whimsical! I absolutely loved it

[@Jennheartsqs]

I love this series on your channel! Fun fact, I just finished meeting Claire Legrand at an author signing event tonight. How serendipitous! Definitely going to check out Sawkill Girls.

[@j.n.cahill1086]

I love island books for the same reason of isolation and forcing characters to either work together or be pitted against one another. You may like Lost Girls, it's a YA female version of Lord of the Flies. I think all of these are on my list.

[@CloverRose]

The Rift by Rachael Craw is set on an island. It's urban fantasy. I've only just started reading it but it's got really good reviews on Goodreads

[@morganhutchins4848]

My favorite ~spooky/magical-ish~ island book is We Were Liars! I can’t remember if you liked it or not but I love it and it perfectly fits this list!

[@melreadsmysteries]

I’d recommend I Know My Name by C.J. Cooke! It’s an adult mystery/thriller; and one of the perspectives in the story takes place on a Greek island. It’s so good!!

[@blackwoolholiday]

I just finished reading Swamplandia, which seems like it would fit very very well with these! Tiny island, teenage main characters, ghosts, grief/death of a parent, birds.

[@tiffanymccall5338]

Definitely Island Of The Blue Dolphins! As I remember it doesn't have magic but it's a good book! I read it years ago. Its middle grade. I can't wait for more videos like this!

[@lynnharr2268]

So I'm super late with this but check out Summer Island by Kristin Hannah. It came out waaay back in 2001 byt it's great! And it features a pretty awesome mother daughter relationship too ❤

[@heatherrutkowski5056]

I believe Maggie Stiefvater’s Scorpio Races perfectly fits what you love about magical, isolated, small cast of characters, incredible writing books. And it is a stand alone!

[@Liiviiss]

You should read Teeth by Hannah Moskowitz! It’s one of my favorite books of all time, and it fits this theme perfectly!

[@krysandryman]

You need to do an overly specific recommendation on books set in boarding schools/ colleges, that kinda thing. Like Neverworld Wake!

[@jedibookmasterivy]

You’ve made me bump The Astonishing Color of After up on my TBR! The Rattled Bones sounds interesting!!

[@xyhanx]

Not related but I just realized that you have theme color for the thumbnails for every month!! I just find it aesthetically pleasing 😀

[@fairygoblinleoness8156]

This is my favorite series on booktube❤️💛

[@arielreads]

i actually skipped your review on “sawkill girls” because, while i’ve been somewhat interested in it, i had no idea it had to do with an island! i don’t want to be spoiled about it anymore than that so - it’s now high on my tbr!!

[@softtay]

Could you do an Overly Specific book recommendation about a group of friends? Or something like that?? Similar to Secret History by Donna Tartt? I've been trying to find more books like this and am struggling

[@TheSunriseInside]

T have you read ‘if we were villains’ by M. L. Rio? :) it has that kind of vibe.

[@LovelessDegrees]

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara fits this!

[@booksbtsme4958]

Love love love as always.Lala can you please tell what is this picture/painting on your back wall?

[@renee_3364]

As far as my recommendations go: an extremely underrated one that fits these criteria is The Gloaming by Kirsty Logan, which was my favorite book of last year.

[@starry_worlds]

I love this series. Thanks for the recommendations. I'll check them out. They all sound really interesting.

[@mikaelalafave2532]

On the adult end, Mama Day by Gloria Naylor is a classic -- magical realism on the Georgia border islands, with influences of The Tempest.

[@Jordan-dv6tw]

Also "Island of the Blue Dolphins" is a survival story about a girl living alone on an island

[@tiffanymccall5338]

I love that book so much!

[@lane4539]

Love that book

[@AReaderinTime]

I really love this overly specific book recommendations! Can't wait to check out some of these books that I haven't heard much about or have heard a new element of thanks to this video

[@jordispencer]

i’ve read four of these and rated them all five stars so i guess you could say YA slightly fantastical and set on an island is one of my favorite genres as well lol

[@lady18S]

Lala your hair 😍!!!

[@lukewilkinson1470]

I would recommend The Girl of Ink and Stars by Kiran Millwood, it's more middle grade than YA but I don't think it's too childish. It's got a Moana kind of feel to it and I think it's based on similar native mythology. It's such a good read! And it fits well with this overly specific recommendation :)

[@AllthatWisconsin14]

Can you please do the overly specific list of survival/apocalypse books

[@JLToddTheDictionPuppeteer]

There is a book called Nil, by Lynne Matson, that takes place on a magical island. To me, it wasn't written the best, but the idea and lore is really interesting. I think it's worth checking out

[@morganmeadowes6861]

I would like to add The House by the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune to this overly specific list. I just read it two weeks ago and it was spectacular and wonderful and heart-warming.

[@rach799]

Definitely pick up The Wicked Deep, great island book 👍🏻

[@StoneBubbles]

Thanks for the great recommendations. Loved this video and I will definitely order some.

[@beepboop9976]

One of my fav island books is the sandcastle empire. I flew through it! Also, would we were liars count as an island book?

[@jamiemaillette6049]

I loved summer of salt so so much. Gahhhh. Just perfect. One of my all time faves

[@amullins2013]

I definitely need to pick these up soon, especially Summer of Salt!

[@MatthewSciarappa]

V intrigued by The Rattled Bones ✌🏻

[@bicho6313]

u might like orphan island by laurel snyder. it's a mg/ya magical contemporary/coming of age about kids stuck in an island and every year a boat comes and drops off a new kid and takes the oldest. it's really cute and weird

[@elizabethsaunders9640]

Good recommendations! I loved the super specific category!

[@AKookieForYou]

Out of these, I've only read Summer of Salt (for Lalathon lol), and it was ok. I liked parts of it, but overall it felt like something was missing. I also didn't really connect with any of the characters.

[@keelinover5584]

Would Neverworld Wake count for this? I thought it took place on an island but now I have no idea. It could also be too Other elementy than these ones. Also, isn't it just a shame that there isn't a more robust catalog of books like these? Because this is such an aesthetic and I need more of it.

[@BooksandLala]

That's so funny! It popped into my head while thinking of books to recommend but I wasn't positive of its setting. If it's not an island book, it definitely has the vibes of one.

[@thedeedoubleyou]

Hi Kayla! Love your channel! Can you (or anyone reading this) recommend a book with... 1...a main character that is really struggling with money / finances? 2...conspiracy theories / a main character that loves conspiracy theories?

[@rachelstiehm899]

One of my favorite island books is Nil by Lynne Matteson! Highly suggest since it fits in this magic/contemporary category!

[@BooksandLala]

I've never heard of this!

[@rachelstiehm899]

@@BooksandLala Teens get magically transported to the island of Nil and they have 365 days to find a way to get off or they die. It's a fun read trying to figure out how the portals work while the characters figure it out too!

[@alliramsay1328]

Are you taking part in the Queer Lit Readathon in June?

[@april5300]

Beauty Queens was hilarious and satirical, and The Price Guide to the Occult is perfect for this!

[@hannawesterberg4664]

I listened to the audiobook of Hurricane Child right after you read it and said how much you liked it and I would HIGHLY recommend the audiobook as it gave the characters true voices and it felt a lot more real. I would also NOT recommend The Island by Olivia Levez. It had an interesting premiss and is very Robinspn Crouse esque but it just did not work for me and was my least favourite book of 2017

[@pandareads]

I added all these books to my tbr :)

[@brookemercer2886]

I definitely need to pick up Hurricane Child.

[@murakamireads]

I totally thought you’d talk about WILDER GIRLS in this video! That’s the first book I thought of when you were introducing this lol

[@BooksandLala]

Haha I likely would have included it if I'd read it!

[@iamjohnlocked3783]

My recommendation doesn't really count....but I'm going to put it down here anyway. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Stewart. It's a series with three books (fourth one this year) and a prequel. Each book has scenes on an island so it doesn't really take place on an island.....but it has islands in it. And also it's just really good and extremely underappreciated.

[@aGirlWithBookss]

The Water Cure by Sophie Mackintosh. Not YA, no magical element. Set in a dystopian society where women fear men, three sisters have to deal with the disappearance of their parents and the arrival of three men on their island. Very atmospheric, eerie, and chilling. Highly recommend. The lightkeepers by Abby Geni, again, not YA, no magical element. Its a slow paced atmospheric murder mystery set on the Farallon Islands involving marine biologist, ornithologist, and a photographer. Also highly recommend.

[@rasaslase]

Love this.

[@TogebeaTv]

Your videos are amazing!!! I just love you!!!

[@deanie3824]

Sawkill Girls has such evocative writing and so often creepy imagery. The scene that starts with one of the girls pulling at a hair in her throat had me cringing by the end of the scene from the horror it. There are several scenes where I could perfectly imagine how disturbing they would look in real life.

[@elizabethdevido2081]

If you're into classics, The Tempest by Shakespeare is an original magical island story.

[@charityslibrary]

Emma in the Night is a mystery with parts set on an island!

[@BooksandLala]

Yes! When I was gathering my list this one was going to be mentioned; before I switched it to fantasy specific. Great book, great rec!

[@Jasmine-oy4hn]

Hi Kayla! I’m really curious about what camera you use