It seems like every couple of years, the internet gets to hem and haw over a new set of Harry Potter book covers. The most recent iterations are nice, but their release only served to remind me of how terrible — that is, cheap, cheesy and/or trashy-looking — most YA book jackets are these days. In the past things were different — check out classics A Wrinkle in Time or A Wizard of Earthsea. Today, though, publishers often slap down a stock image of a girl in a fancy dress, cut off her head, slide that under some new exciting bubble font and call it a day. So, in an effort to beautify your world, here is a selection of excellent — that is, beautiful, interesting, and/or cool — contemporary YA book covers that should set the standard for the rest of them.
Cover design by Lizzy Bromley.
Cover design by Amy Achaibou.
Cover art by Jillian Tamaki.
Cover art by Leo and Diane Dillon.
Cover art by Josh Cochran. Cover design by Neil Swaab.
Cover art by Fernando Juarez.
Cover by Doogie Horner.
Cover design by Hugh D’Andrade.
Artist unknown.
Cover illustration by Ana Juan. Cover design by Rich Deas.
Artist unknown.
Cover art by Andrea Offerman.
Cover design by Tad Carpenter.
Cover photograph by Elena Kalis. Art direction & design by Linda McCarthy.
Cover art by Adam Abernathy.
Artist unknown.
Cover art by Evan B. Harris.
Cover art by Beth White and April Ward.
Cover design by jdrift designs.
Cover design by strawberryluna.