Five notable YA novels

L.J.R. Kelly, who happens to be Roald Dahl’s grandson, is the author of the new children's book, Blanket and Bear, A Remarkable Pair, illustrated by Yoko Tanaka.

One of Kelly's favorite young adult novels, as told to The Daily Beast:

Refugee Boy
by Benjamin Zephaniah

This beautifully composed book by the British poet Benjamin Zephaniah follows the half Ethiopian and half Eritrean Alem through the horrors of events in a war between those two countries. On a visit to England, Alem’s father sneaks away, trusting the government to look after him and protect him from the hatred his mixed race parentage inspires at home. Alem navigates the oppressive world of U.K. children’s homes, before eventually finding the support of a caring foster family. He has to fight a court battle to stay in the UK and deal with the death of his parents from afar, but throughout we are taught fundamental lessons about acceptance with a lyrical, flowing simplicity that is highly natural and digestible.

Read about the other entries on the list.

Learn about Benjamin Zephaniah's six best books.

--Marshal Zeringue