With the boom in diary fiction in children’s fiction (Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Dork Diaries), I thought it was time to highlight some of the Diary Fiction in our teen collection.
Diary fiction can be especially intimate and emotional, making it a great fit for certain YA novels. I created a 3D diary sign using construction paper, tape, and scrap paper that reads “Dear Diary… books written from the heart.” I also created and taped up 4 mini diaries with actual writing in them for teens to explore. One lists my favourite YA books, one has a top secret opinion on who Harry Potter should’ve ended up with, and one confesses an undying love for Noah from The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. “Yes I know he’s a fictional character. No I don’t care.”
Of course I wrote “TOP SECRET DO NOT READ” on the covers. And of course teens loved reading it anyway.
I’ve never seen a display draw teens in more quickly and completely than these secret journals. It’s a great, fun way to start a discussion.
Book Suggestions
- The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
- Pretenders by Lisi Harrison
- Princess Diaries series by Meg Cabot
- Chopsticks by Jessica Anthony
- The Bunker Diary by Kevin Brooks
- How to Keep a Boy as a Pet by Diane Messidoro
- The Here and Now by Ann Brashares
- Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
- Frankenstein’s Daughters by Suzanne Weyn
- Gabi, A Girl In Pieces by by Isabel Quintero
- Happyface by Stephen Emond
- Homeroom Diaries by James Patterson & Lisa Papademetriou
- Letting Ana Go by Anonymous
- Belzhar by Meg Wolitzer (not written as a diary but a diary is heavily featured)
Free Downloadable Resources
- Dear Diary Sign PDF (print and staple onto a pile of blank pages and construction paper to make it look like an open book. Tape pages from behind to make it “pop”)
- Book List YA Novels Written As Diaries
Other resources for YA novels written as diaries:
- U-High Library Pintrest Board: YA Novels Written as Diaries
- Goodreads YA Diary novels list
- Wikipedia’s List of Fictional Diaries
- Barnes and Noble reviews of 10 YA diary novels
- Search your library catalogue using the terms “Diary fiction” or “Epistolary fiction”
What are your favourite YA Diary Fiction books? Have you made a diary display before? I’d love to hear about it.
Ontarian Librarian 