Recently, I was looking for the name of a book I read as a kid about racism and prejudice in South Africa. That was the backdrop to the main story which in turn was about the friendship between two young girls of different races. It was a well-written, rather touching story and yes, I still don't know the name of that book. However, my quest to find its name led me to explore various lists of recommended reading for young adults. This lead to a starting discovery. Now, tell me something ... is it just me or has the number of books about princesses and ponies increased in number since I left school? Or has it always been like that?

Don't get me wrong, there's nothing bad about indulging in princess stories once in a while. Like for example, when you get it as a present from an aunt or if there's no other book to read on your lengthy road trip. But surely that genre of books shouldn't be the most prolific one on a must-read list? What about the charming little books with great plot-lines and tear-jerking endings? And so I compiled a short list of books containing in-depth story-lines and good moral messages, books that I still treasure to this day.

Underground to Canada by Barbara Smucker

Anyone else remember this one? I must have started with the abridged version in the children's section and I must admit, I was enthralled by the story. It tells the tale of two young girls who flee a life of servitude in the Southern areas. A lot of the sub-content revolves around the treatment of slaves during that time period and thus, paints a harsh, grim reality about their lives. It'll make you cry at many points but it will also give provide many feel-good moments as you come to respect the girls' valiance and willpower throughout their journey.

Would you recommend this to a young adult? Well, the librarian in our area recommended it to me when I was ten and I've been a fan of the book ever since. Admittedly, some parents might not too happy about giving such topical books to their children. Most will be squeamish about providing material with harsher realities at a tender age. Well, that's up to the parents. All I can say is that reading books like this at a young age makes you more sensitive to relations between people and and more aware of the workings of the world. So give it a shot.

Z for Zachariah by Robert C. O'Brien

Confessions are in order. At first, I started reading this book in hopes of coming across a zombie-infested scenario. After all, it had  the whole nuclear apocalypse backdrop going on. Well, after my initial disappointment, I did enjoy this book quite a bit. Years later, I still consider this to be one of the best young adults around.

As I mentioned earlier, the story is set in a world suffering from a  nuclear holocaust. There is one survivor, Ann Burden, who thinks she is the only one left in this world. Then she comes across John Loomis, a man who trots into the radiation-free valley in an artificial protective suit. From there on, the plot follows Ann's thoughts and feelings as she ponders her future. Will it be a future with the conflicted and manipulative Loomis in the valley? Or should she venture out of the comfort zone, onto the wide world beyond the small alcove that she has called home (Note: I did mention there is one radiation protection suit in this scenario, didn't I?)?

As you probably guessed, this book is a coming-of-age novel. It is about Ann growing up to face whatever the world has to offer her. It is about stepping out of the safety of the known world and discovering what is beyond the horizon. Of course, you don't know what or if she makes any such discoveries. The entire story revolves around her coming to this important decision. It is a thrilling story which is beautifully written. Some aspects (like Loomis attacking Ann) might be a bit disturbing for slightly younger readers but, overall, the book is well suited for teenage readers.

Iggie's House by Judy Blume

I am surprised that this book has waned in popularity. Well, it is less talked about than when I was in school. This is one of those timeless stories which continues to be topical and relevant in modern times.

What's the gist of the story? A young girl, Winnie, befriends three new kids on the block. They are good kids and she gets along well with them. All good and well, right? Not really. Winnie discovers a lot of her neighbors are uncomfortable with the presence of the new neighbors, the Garbers. And this is solely due to their race. You can see where this story is headed. The overall story deals with issue of racism with a major section covering how Winnie's parents and other folks deal with multi-racial interactions. It is interesting to watch how Blume covers various aspects of racism. For instance, she points out how complacency can be help or at least enable discrimination to fester.

This was another one of those books that left a lasting impression on my mind. I did start reading it because I was - and still am - a fan of Blume's work. For me, this book is a great way to initiate a discussion about passive attitudes and unwillingness to confront people's prejudices towards other people. It certainly got me thinking.