epis·to·lary \i-ˈpis-tə-ˌler-ē/ adjective: relating to or denoting the writing of letters or literary works in the form of letters.

Do people still write letters? The answer is a bit of yes and no. We really don’t mail letters anymore but we send a near constant stream of emails and text messages. Epistolary novels can also take the form of journals, newspaper clippings, blog posts, Twitter and Facebook posts...the possibilities are endless. The following are my absolute favorite young adult  epistolary novels. 

1. Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
   Have you ever wondered about those people who screen office emails? Lincoln is one of those people. More specifically, he reads the wacky and sometimes inappropriate conversations between Jennifer and Beth. Of course, he ends up falling for one of them. What kind of story would it be if he didn't? 
2. Love, Rosie by Cecelia Ahern
   Tells the story of Rosie and Alex, two best friends who are separated because Alex had to move to Dublin. The novels consists of their emails and letters and they fight to maintain their friendship in spite of the distance.
3. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
   Follows wallflower Charlie as he walks the line between childhood and adulthood. The Perks of Being a Wallflower was made into a movie starring Harry Potter's Emma Watson.
4. ttyl by Lauren Myracle
   The first book in the Internet Girls series.  Told in a series of instant messages, texts and emails, ttyl follows a group of friends as they experience life in high school. The rest of the books in the series (ttfn, l8r,g8r, and yolo) are just as good,  too. 
5. World War Z by Max Brooks
   The Zombie War has happened and Max Brooks travels the world recording the firsthand accounts of survivors. If you like The Walking Dead, you'll love World War Z.

1. Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty
   Sloppy Firsts if the first book of the Jessica Darling series. Told in a journal form, the series follows Jessica Darling as she experiences everything from the loss of her best friend to a crush on a mysterious bad boy (of course).
2. Feeling Sorry For Cecilia by Jaclyn Moriarty
   Consisting of notes, letters and messages written to and from Elizabeth Clarry, Feeling Sorry For Cecilia tells the story of Elizabeth who has to deal with her crazy best friend, Celia, her errant parents and an English assignment that requires her to have a penpal.
3. Letters From Inside by John Marsden
   Letters From Inside is also about penpals but it is much darker than Feeling Sorry For Cecilia. Letters From Inside is a psychological drama about penpals Mandy and Tracey. The question is, can they really trust each other in spite of the anonymity? Is everyone who they say they are?
4. Monster by Walter Dean Myers
   Monster is one of my absolute favorites. It tells the story, in the form of a screenplay, of Steve Harmon, a teenager in juvenile detention and on trial. Of all the books I have read in my life, Steve is one of the characters that has stayed with me.
5. Dracula by Bram Stoker
   I couldn't resist including a classic because I love them and Dracula is one of my favorites. Dracula is so much more than a vampire novel. It is psychological horror, a thriller, a bit of a romance and, most importantly for us, an epistolary novel.  After you've finished Dracula, give Bloodline by Kate Cary a try.