Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Today’s topic is my Top Ten Things On My Reading Wishlist (if you could make authors write about these things you would. Could be a specific type of character, an issue tackled, a time period, a certain plot, etc.)
Seeing as I do write, while compiling this list I wondered: Why aren’t I writing these stories? And the answer is, I haven’t been so particularly inspired to yet. But who knows, maybe one day I will! But in the meantime, if someone else wants to write on of these stories, that’s be great because I would love to read them! This week’s list is in no particular order, and all these are YA story ideas unless otherwise specified.
1. WWII Historical Fiction Set in America
There’s been a fair share of WWII historical fiction lately, set in other countries: The Book Thief, Between Shades of Gray, Code Name Verity, etc. And I’m grateful for these, because for those of us who do live in America, sometimes we need to get outside of our USA bubble and see how the rest of the world sees things. But remember Molly from American Girl?
I’ve been interested in WWII history for a long time, so even as a girl I was fascinated by the story of a girl my age and how she coped with the war at home in America. I would absolutely love to see a YA story like this!
2. Story Set in Monaco
Once upon a time, I saw something about the country of Monaco on TV, and since then, I’ve been mildly curious about it. We see books set in France, Italy, Australia, etc., but what about Monaco? How’s life look like there? I actually wrote a short story about a teen American girl visiting Monaco when I was in high school, but I haven’t been able to find it and quite frankly, I knew very little about the country. I’d love to read the story from someone who knew what they were talking about.
3. A Little Women Retelling
It’s no secret that I love Little Women. Because of this, I have attempted a couple different retellings, but neither of them have stuck for me yet, but we’ll see… maybe one day something will. I love this story and want to see a truly justifiable retelling of it, either in a contemporary or futuristic setting. Also, bonus points if Jo and Laurie hook up this time. 🙂
4. Jane Austen Contemporary Retellings, a la Lizzie Bennet and Emma Approved
Basically, I want to see stories very similar to The Lizzie Bennet Diaries and Emma Approved as novels, and obviously more suited for that than the video format. I suppose they would be more New Adult, but I would want them to not be too focused on sexytimes, but rather stay true to the nature of Jane Austen’s stories. And I know there are Jane Austen retellings out there, but I would love for the same author to write six books based on Jane Austen’s six books and that would be in the same universe, and be as awesome as these Pemberley Digital videos. I would DEVOUR these books, so someone give them to me!
5. Retelling of Alice in Wonderland that Involves Traveling to Other Worlds/Dimensions
I came up with this one very randomly. I have nothing else to add, but I think it sounds awesome.
6. Set in Well-Known Cities That Aren’t LA/NYC/Chicago
I love big cities, but it seems the same ones get all the love. Why not more books in Seattle, Houston, Phoenix, Nashville (though I think this one is rising in popularity… I just wish we could see more Nashville stories NOT involving country music), etc.? I’ll admit I don’t think much about where the story is set when I seek out a book, probably largely because I’m usually reading things set in the future, but if a book was set in Houston or Nashville (the two areas where I have spent the vast majority of my life) my interest would be at least piqued.
7. Teens Who Work in a Comic Book Store and Go on Geeky Adventures
I think this one is self-explanatory, and would be so fun!
8. Teen Science Geniuses a la Fitz-Simmons
Fitz and Simmons are the two scientists on the show Agents of SHIELD, and they’re also my favorite characters from the show. They totally play off each other with their science facts and geeky quips and I want a book with a duo like them! But since I fail at science, I will not be writing it.
9. Teen Olympian Athlete
As someone who has never been particularly good at sports, I have long been fascinated by the ability of Olympian athletes, and would love to read a YA book about a teen playing in the games, particularly a gymnast, a swimmer, or an ice skater. I would love to read a realistic look of what it takes to train for, qualify for, and be in the Olympics as a teen athlete.
10. Teens/Young Adults Flying in Space, a la the Red Squad from Star Trek
In the Star Trek franchise, there are references to an elite group of cadets from Starfleet Academy called Red Squad who receive special and advanced training flying in space. In an episode of Deep Space Nine called “Valiant,” the Red Squad cadets were aboard the U.S.S. Valiant with an adult crew, when all the adult crew were killed in enemy fire and the cadets were forced to step up and take charge of the ship. It was a very interesting look on how a spaceship run by young people would work, how they would respond to having to answer to one another as officers, etc. Basically, I would love to see some of the ideas from this episode expounded on and explored in a book (something other than a Star Trek book). And I would love to hear the perspective of the specially trained teens about flying in space and their hopes for their future in a space career.
So what’s on your reading wishlist?
I AM IN LOVE WITH YOUR LIST. I think my heart kinda broke because I was reading it all and realized that there aren’t any books like this and I want one in my hand NOW. America in WWII would be amazing because it would be a different perspective. A Little Women retelling would be GREAT. I read Little Women and Me and it was so-so, I think a retelling can be better and YES to Laurie and Jo. Greatest upset ever. Austen retellings like the LBD would make my whole life as well as teen olympians. I’m so fascinated with that. LISTEN UP, AUTHORS.
I’ve never heard of Little Women and Me but it’s too bad it wasn’t so great. I hope someone will hear our pleas!
Ooh, I love so many of these! Now I really want to read books about a teen athlete, a retelling of Alice in Wonderland with other worlds/dimensions, and a book set in Monaco! In Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter, the characters were in Monaco for a bit, and I remember thinking how much I’d love a whole book set there with more cultural aspects!
Thanks for stopping by my blog!
Alice @ Alice in Readerland
That’s neat about Uncommon Criminals!
Great list 🙂 I’d love to read more about Monaco. I’d love a Little Women retelling too. I love that book.
I love Little Women too; it’s one of my favorites!
I totally agree with you on the Jane Austen retellings “Pemberley Digital” style or a “Little Women” retelling and the historical fiction that is set in America (or Canada).
Oh, Canada! (No pun intended.) I don’t know if I’ve read any books set in Canada. That could be interesting.
The Alice and Wonderland retelling sounds awesome. I would love a good Little Women update, too. I would love to travel to Morocco. That picture makes my heart hurt a little. Great list!
That Alice in Wonderland retelling idea literally just popped into my head while I was doing this list. I think I need to develop this idea further and write it myself…
That is one great wishlist!
Check our TTT of this week.
Leydy @ OUaT & Redcarpetendings
Thanks! Will check it out!
Retellings are really hard to get right. A good retelling is much needed.
I agree about some US well known cities. I love Chicago, L.A. and New York, but let’s mix it up a bit.
That is true that they are hard to get right, but thankfully there have been a few good ones!
Molly was awesome. American Girl used to be so awesome. It’s so sad they threw the educational/historical part under the bus when Mattel bought Pleasant Company. Anyway, nice list!
I think that was probably happened after I got too old for the dolls and products. That really is too bad!
Yeah, they bought them out near the end of my AG years and the quality dip started about the time when my friend’s little sister stopped playing with them, but when I heard they had retired half of the historical dolls I checked out their website again. So disappointed. Wikipatia also did an article about how the books went from being pretty radical to playing it totally safe and only featuring middle class white girls.
That’s a shame!
Such a shame indeed. I will hoard my childhood collection so my daughters can play with them.
I really love this list! I really enjoy books set in WWII, and I loved reading about “Molly” growing up. I need to start collecting those books again. (=
I’m sure they’re still available somewhere, but they’ve “retired” several of the girls now! I can’t remember if Molly is among them. But how rude, right?
Wow, Amy! I don’t think I would ever put the terms “my wishlist” and “World War II” in a sentence together, lol! I guess I’m just not a big fan of war stories. Although, two of my favorite reads last year WERE fro mWWII. Sigh!
Also, I’m totally with you on item #10 and this is why you need to read The Planet Thieves like YESTERDAY! DO IIIIIIT! 😀
Well it sounds bad when you put it that way! But I just love WWII history/stories so much!
Oh, sounds like I really do need to read it then! 😀
LOL I didn’t mean it like that, I just meant that WWII — or ANY war story, really — is just not something that really interests me. Like, I would never be wishing or pining for a war story. I guess, unless it’s a really interesting, different one.
And yes, please read The Planet Thieves! I know you will love it. 😀
I totally agree with the other commenters, awesome list, Amy! I would especially love to see #8 happen–I heart Fitz & Simmons!
Yay Fitz-Simmons! They’re awesome!
What a cool list! I agree about the Little Women and Jane Austen re-tellings. I’d never heard of Emma Approved or The Lizzie Bennet Diaries and just looked them up — how fun! I will definitely be checking those out. Also, I get the feeling we like all the same Olympic sports… 🙂
Have fun getting addicted to The Lizzie Bennet Diaries and Emma Approved now that you’ve discovered them! 🙂 Are those your favorite Olympic sports too?! At first it was just the ice skating and gymnastics for me, but then I got into the swimming while watching Michael Phelps be a total man beast in the water.
Great list! I would love any one of these, but especially the teen comic book shop workers one…sounds like it could be so fun!
It could definitely be fun!
I love all your ideas! As for the Alice in Wonderland retelling, have your read Splintered by A.G. Howard? It’s a ridiculous amount of amazing about Alice’s ancestor who has to go back into Wonderland and undo everything Alice did to remove a curse off her family. I highly recommend!
I’ve never read it or heard of it! Sounds interesting!
Actually, I have heard of it (I just looked it up on Goodreads), I just didn’t realize what it was about!
I like a lot of these ideas! Particularly the one about having more US-based WWII stories and the one where the same author does all 6 Jane Austen retellings in the same world. If it were done really well, I could totally see myself loving that!
I would probably explode of happiness if we could get 6 awesome JA retellings!