Making Out Books In Order

Publication Order of Making Out Books

The American writer Katherine ‘K.A.’ Applegate was born in Michigan in the United States and, throughout her life, has managed to build a highly reputable brand of fiction that is both distinctive and unique in its approach to the format. Largely focusing on the field of children’s literature, she has managed to make a name for herself writing in a style that is easy to relate to for her young audience, as she has amassed a loyal following of fans from all across the world. This is something that’s expected to grow, as she creates characters and stories that provide a sense of escapism and fun for her readers, whilst imbuing them with the joy of reading, something that will stay within them throughout much of their lives to follow. Knowing her audience on a most fundamental level, she really speaks to them, writing in a style that is both direct and straight-to-the-point, allowing them to really immerse themselves deeply within the literature itself. Creating a style and tone that is entirely unique to herself, she is able to convey a deeper meaning within her work as well, speaking on another level that readers really come to respect over the course of her many books.

Building highly reputable series as well, she has written a number of franchises and series too, all of which have gone towards ensuring that her career is one of the most versatile to date. A great example of this would be that of her ongoing and much loved ‘Making Out’ series of books which, whilst not primarily aimed at younger children, but more younger adults, as it deals with relationships, is an ideal look at what she has to offer as an author. Dealing with real people and how they interact with one another, the series manages to capture all the heartbreaks, trials and tribulations of what it takes to maintain a relationship in the modern world. Taking an in-depth look at the love lives of a group of young people living on a small island, it sees them making sense of themselves as they grow older and find out who they really are as people. Not afraid to shy away from some of the grittier aspects of modern relationships, Applegate really works at making this an accessible and engaging series. With a different relationship to focus upon with each book, it works at building the world of island as the series progresses, giving it a very real sense of grounding throughout.

Whilst there’s no complete over-arcing narrative running through the series as a whole, it really manages to make the world feel as if it’s a real one. The characters themselves are also fully three-dimensional as they interact with one another throughout, making them come alive off the page, allowing the reader to feel as if they really know them as people and friends. This is done through elements such as her expert use of dialogue, as she has a real ear for how people actually speak to one another.

Running for a total of twenty-eight books throughout its entire run, the series itself started out in 1994 running till 1998, lasting for a total of four years. This would then see a large amount of books coming out in a relatively short amount of time, something which came from Applegate’s clear realization of the world that she was writing about, along with all its various characters interspersed throughout. Dealing with a whole range of different personalities, the sense of scope and scale is somewhat breathtaking, as it incorporates a whole range of different elements into its narrative, all of which was collected together in four compendium editions which were released in 2015. It was also known under the alternative titles of ‘Boyfriends/Girlfriends’ as well as ‘The Islanders’, which was the name for its later respective omnibus editions.

Zoey Fools Around

Published through the ‘HarperTeen’ publishing outlet, this was originally released in 1994, as it would set the overall series up. Creating the style and tone it would go about establishing the world of Chatham Island off the coast of Maine for the first time. Working as an enclosed world in of itself, it really allows the characters to have their own space as they all play off one another throughout the series.

All growing up together on a tiny island, the young teenage cast of characters feel as if they know each other, but they are soon to find out that there’s a lot more to each other than initially meets the eye. Focusing on the relationship between Zoey and Lucas for this particular title, it sees them overcoming a series of difficulties and infidelities with each other. Taking place off the coast of Maine, this introduces Chatham Island for the very first time, as all the characters find secrets about each other that they may rather not have learned. Can Zoey and Lucas overcome their difficulties? Who will each of them end up with? What will they all learn as Zoey fools around?

Jake Finds Out

Brought out through ‘Avon Books’ publishing label this time, this continues on from the last, it being the second in the series. Coming out in 1994 as well, it was released not long after the first, as it continued in a similar vein just as before. Giving further insight into the relationships and the people, it really manages to develop the series and world as a whole.

Having only just recently been betrayed by his previous girlfriend Zoey, Jake is dismayed to discover that his new girlfriend Claire has also hurt him. Dealing with further tensions between them all, Jake feels he must now make someone pay having suffered further heartache. Each with their own respective personalities and characteristics, they must further learn who they really are and what they want from life. Will they overcome their difficulties? Can they all remain friends? What happens when Jake finds out?

The Making Out Series

Not only is this a great example of Katherine Applegate’s prowess as a writer, but it’s also an extremely impressively realized world, with a whole range of different elements interjected into it. Creating a vast and colorful cast of characters it definitely manages to bring its landscape to life, giving it a sense of vitality and realism in the process. Leaving behind an impressive legacy which still stands the test of time to this very day, this is one series that will continue to garner fans on into the foreseeable future for some time yet.