The YA author and recent National Book Award finalist describes what’s on her bedside table.

My nightstand has two permanent fixtures: The Norton Anthology of Poetry and The Really Short Poems of A.R. Ammons by (you guessed it) A.R. Ammons. I really love reading poetry, even though I’m truly terrible at writing it. Funnily enough, writing really bad poetry about unrequited love in college is what turned me into a writer. I read the Norton Anthology when I need to feel inspired and don’t feel like reading fiction. I also read the Ammons for inspiration, and for when I need a good laugh. These poems are, as the title says, really short. They’re also really clever and insightful.

Lately, I’ve been reading the Lonely Planet Amsterdam guide. My family and I are going later this year, and I’m the sort of traveler who likes to plan ahead. Visiting the Van Gogh Museum and drinking wine by the canals are definitely on the list of things I want to do.

In terms of fiction, I’m reading and loving American Gods by Neil Gaiman. I know, I know – it’s a classic. But I’m only just getting to it now.

After that I plan on reading The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro. I’m a huge fan of his – Never Let Me Go is one of my favorite books of all time. This is Ishiguro’s first foray into fantasy, and I’m totally intrigued. Also, my husband loves this book and wants to talk about it, so it’s my marital obligation to read it.

Next will be American Born Chinese by the wonderful Gene Luen Yang. Yes, another classic that I’ve somehow not read yet. But the time is nigh!

Finally, I’m really looking forward to Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnes. It’s the sequel to her fabulously creepy You. If you haven’t read that one, please pick it up. It has one of my favorite too-smart-for-his-own-good bad guys of all time.

So that’s it for me! Except to say: I believe all nightstands should feature built-in bookshelves. If you manage to invent one, please send me a prototype.

YA author Nicola Yoon was recently named a 2015 PW Flying Start for her first novel, Everything, Everything; her second novel, The Sun Is Also a Star, was named a National Book Award finalist.