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Crazy House Series (YA) Reading Order.

Expert Guideby James Patterson
2 Entries
Ongoing
Quick Answer

Start Crazy House Series (YA) by James Patterson with "Crazy House", then follow the publication sequence. This order preserves the intended narrative twists and world-building progression.

A dystopian series where two sisters are imprisoned in a reformatory known as Crazy House.

Official Verdict

Short Answer:
Start with "Crazy House"

To experience the narrative as intended, read the main sequence in Publication Order.Ignore novellas and side stories until you finish the first 3 core novels. This resolves all timeline confusion and preserves every major twist.

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Community Consensus

Low Debate

"The first book of the series (Red Rising) is consistently identified as the weakest entry, characterized by a more 'YA' feel and a contained 'battle royale' plot that many readers find mediocre compared to the rest of the series. The strong consensus is that the series dramatically improves, the scope expands into a mature space opera/political thriller, and the writing quality significantly increases starting with the second book, Golden Son."

Key Reddit Advice

Start with the first book (Red Rising) to establish context, but be prepared for it to be the least favorite. Readers are strongly advised to continue immediately to the second book, Golden Son, as this is where the series 'goes from 10 to 1847462675969438 real quick,' and to have Morning Star (Book 3) ready to read immediately after Golden Son.

Why This Order Is Confusing

Many reading lists for Crazy House Series (YA) conflict because early publishers often labeled short story collections as standalone novels, or rearranged internal chronologies for marketing. This guide follows original author intent and narrative continuity to settle the debate for good.

Can I skip the short stories?

Technically yes, but we strongly advise against it for Crazy House Series (YA). The shorter volumes often establish the core character motivations and world-building that the main saga assumes you already know.

I watched the show/movie first — where should I start?

Ignore the screen adaptations' timeline. Start with "Crazy House" to see the original depth of the world. The books offer a significantly different (and usually more complete) experience than the on-screen versions.

Why do people disagree on the order?

Disagreement usually stems from the conflict between purely chronological order and publication order. Most long-term fans recommend publication order to preserve the emotional arc and mystery reveals.

Curator's Strategy

Recommended Reading Order Strategy

The authoritative way to read the "Crazy House Series (YA)" series is in Publication Order. Start with the first published book. It's the way the author intended the world to be revealed.This ensures you experience character reveals and plot twists exactly as the author intended.

Start with "Crazy House"Explore all by James Patterson

Complete Series Reading Order

Publication Order

Preserves character reveals and plot twists exactly as the author intended. Compare →

Chronological Order

May spoil surprises but improves timeline clarity for fans. Compare →

Publication Reading Order2 Titles

Why Publication Order?We recommend reading in Publication Order (default). This follows the author's release schedule, ensuring you experience plot twists, character growth, and world-building exactly as intended without spoilers.
Best Start Here
1

Crazy House

Pub: 2018

Seventeen-year-old Becca Greenfield was snatched from her small hometown. She was thrown into a maximum-security prison and put on Death Row with other kids her age. Until her execution, Becca's told to fit in and shut her mouth ... but Becca's never been very good at either. Her sister Cassie was always the perfect twin.Becca's only hope is that her twin sister will find her. That perfect little priss Cassie will stop following the rules and start breaking them, before it's too late. Because her jailers made a mistake that could get them both killed.

2

The Fall Of Crazy House

Pub: 2019

Plot details hidden until you finish "Crazy House".

The best series since The Hunger Games just got better: Escape is just the beginning in this dystopian story of two fearless sisters who must defeat a powerful regime -- or risk becoming what they despise. Twin sisters Becca and Cassie barely got out of the Crazy House alive. Now they're trained, skilled fighters who fear nothing -- not even the all-powerful United regime. Together, the sisters hold the key to defeating the despotic government and freeing the people of the former United States. But to win this war, will the girls have to become the very thing they hate? In this gripping sequel to James Patterson's New York Times bestselling YA blockbuster Crazy House, the world is about to get even crazier.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it okay to skip books in the Crazy House Series (YA) series?

We recommend ignoring novellas and short stories until you finish the core sequence. However, main sequence novels should never be skipped as they contain critical character development and plot progression.

What is the best order to read Crazy House Series (YA)?

The final answer for the best experience is to start with "Crazy House" and proceed in publication order. This sequence preserves character developments and plot reveals exactly as James Patterson intended.

Can I read Crazy House Series (YA) books in any order?

No. The main narrative is strictly sequential. Skipping volumes or reading out of order will lead to significant plot spoilers and confusion regarding character arcs.

Are there spin-offs or companion books?

Yes, the Crazy House Series (YA) universe includes several companion works. These are marked as 'Optional' in our guide and can be read at any time without disrupting the main storyline.