If you were on YouTube in the mid-2010s, you probably remember the flower crowns, the crystalline aesthetics, and the sheer dominance of the "British Invasion" and its American counterparts. Joey Graceffa wasn't just another vlogger in that era. He was building something. While everyone else was doing "What’s in my bag?" videos, Joey was basically pivoting into a full-scale multimedia mogul. It’s wild to look back at how books by Joey Graceffa actually managed to bridge the gap between "YouTuber merch" and legitimate YA literature.
Most people think creator books are just ghostwritten cash grabs. Honestly, some are. But Joey’s bibliography is weirdly ambitious. He didn't just write a memoir and call it a day; he built a dystopian universe and a high-fantasy world that actually felt like they had stakes.
The Real Story Behind Children of Eden
Let's talk about Children of Eden. When this dropped in 2016, the dystopian YA craze was arguably on its last legs. The Hunger Games had peaked, and Divergent was sputtering out. Yet, Joey’s debut novel hit #1 on the New York Times Best Seller list.
The premise is actually pretty dark. You’ve got Eden, this supposedly perfect circular city—the last refuge of humanity after the world goes to hell. The catch? You’re only allowed one child. If you’re a second child, you’re an "illegal" human. Rowan, the protagonist, is a second child who has spent sixteen years hiding in a basement.
It’s claustrophobic. It’s tense.
What’s interesting is that the book feels like a reflection of Joey’s own persona at the time—the idea of hiding a "true self" from a world that might reject you. He’s been vocal about how his upbringing and his journey with his sexuality influenced the themes of isolation in his writing. The sequels, Elites of Eden and Rebels of Eden, expanded the scope significantly, moving from that tight, internal family drama to a full-blown societal revolution.
Breaking Down the Eden Trilogy
- Children of Eden (2016): Introduces Rowan and the bioluminescent world of the Eco-City. It’s heavy on world-building.
- Elites of Eden (2017): This one takes a sharp turn. It follows Yarrow, an elite who seems to have nothing in common with Rowan, until their lives collide. It explores the class divide within the "utopia."
- Rebels of Eden (2018): The finale. It’s messy, fast-paced, and deals with the actual cost of tearing down a system.
The prose in these isn't Shakespeare, sure. But it’s cinematic. You can tell Joey thinks in frames and visuals—likely a byproduct of his years editing high-production music videos and the Escape the Night series.
Rebels, Elites, and the Ghostwriter Conversation
Look, we have to be real. In the world of celebrity publishing, "co-writers" are a standard part of the process. For the Eden series, Joey worked with Laura L. Sullivan.
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Does that make them less "his" books?
Not necessarily. In the industry, this is often a collaborative effort where the creator provides the "world bible," the character beats, and the overarching plot, while a seasoned novelist helps with the structural heavy lifting. It’s a bit like a director working with a screenwriter. The vision is clearly Joey’s—the aesthetic of Eden matches his visual brand almost perfectly—but the professional polish is what helped these books survive beyond the initial hype of his subscriber base.
The Most Personal Work: In Real Life
Before the fiction, there was In Real Life: My Journey to a Pixelated World. This was 2015.
This book was a massive turning point for his career. Up until its release, Joey hadn't officially "come out" to his massive audience, though there was plenty of speculation. He used the book—and the accompanying music video "Don't Wait"—to finally share his story.
It’s a heavy read. He talks about growing up with a mother who struggled with alcoholism and a brother with autism. It’s not the sparkly, filtered version of life people saw on his channel. It’s gritty. Honestly, it’s probably the most "human-quality" thing he’s ever put out because it lacks the artifice of his later fantasy work. It’s just a kid from Marlborough, Massachusetts, trying to find a way out through a webcam.
Rebels of Ishu: A New Direction
After Eden wrapped up, Joey didn't stop. He pivoted to Rebels of Ishu, which moved away from the sci-fi dystopia and into high fantasy. Think magic, ancient civilizations, and elemental powers.
This series felt like a natural evolution for someone who spent years obsessed with The Legend of Zelda and Sailor Moon. It’s more colorful, more "extra," and definitely leans into the tropes of the genre. While it didn't perhaps have the same cultural "moment" as the Eden trilogy—partly because the YA market shifted toward more contemporary and "romantasy" stories—it showed that he wasn't just a one-trick pony in the publishing world.
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Why Do These Books Still Sell?
You’d think that as the "golden age" of YouTube fades into nostalgia, these books would gather dust. They don't.
There’s a specific kind of escapism in books by Joey Graceffa that appeals to a younger demographic. They deal with "the other." Whether it’s an illegal second child or a kid with magic he can't control, the core is always about being an outsider. That’s a timeless hook.
Also, the physical books themselves are objects of art. The cover designs for the Eden series—with the striking silhouettes and the neon-on-black color schemes—are basically made for Instagram and bookshelves. Aesthetic matters more than we like to admit in publishing.
Common Misconceptions About Joey's Writing
- "They're just for kids." While they are categorized as Young Adult, the themes of Children of Eden get surprisingly dark. We’re talking about state-mandated death and extreme social engineering. It’s not exactly The Cat in the Hat.
- "He didn't actually write them." As mentioned, he uses co-authors, but the creative direction is his. He’s been transparent about the collaboration process in various "behind the scenes" videos.
- "You have to watch his channel to understand them." This is the big one. Surprisingly, the Eden trilogy stands on its own. You don't need to know who Joey is to follow Rowan’s journey through the Eco-City.
What to Read First?
If you’re new to this corner of the literary world, don't start with the fantasy stuff. Start with In Real Life.
Understanding where the author came from makes the fictional worlds he built later feel much more grounded. You start to see the parallels. The "Eco-City" isn't just a sci-fi trope; it’s a metaphor for the gilded cage of internet fame. The struggle to be "seen" as a second child is a direct echo of his own childhood struggles for attention and stability.
Once you’ve got that context, dive into Children of Eden. It’s the tightest of his fiction work.
The Actionable Roadmap for Collectors
If you are looking to actually get into these books now, there are a few things to keep in mind.
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First, check for the signed editions. Because Joey did massive tours, there are thousands of signed copies floating around on the secondary market (eBay, Depop, etc.) for basically the same price as a new copy. If you're a fan, it’s worth the extra five minutes of searching.
Second, pay attention to the graphic novels. Joey expanded the Eden universe into the visual medium, which honestly suits his style even better than prose. If you're a visual learner or just prefer a faster pace, the Children of Eden graphic novel is a solid alternative.
Lastly, keep an eye on his independent ventures. Like many creators, Joey has moved toward more direct-to-consumer models. Whether it’s through Crystal Wolf or special limited editions, the way he releases content is changing.
The era of the "celebrity book deal" with major houses like Atria (Simon & Schuster) is shifting, and creators are taking more control. Joey was one of the first to prove that a YouTuber could actually sustain a multi-book career without it feeling like a gimmick. He paved the way for the "author-tuber" phenomenon we see today.
If you're hunting for a new YA series that feels like a throwback to the mid-2010s but still holds up in terms of world-building, you could do a lot worse than the Eden trilogy. It’s a neon-soaked, high-stakes ride that’s better than it has any right to be.
Next Steps for Readers:
Check your local used bookstore for the hardcover editions of the Eden trilogy—the jacket art is significantly better than the paperbacks. If you’re interested in the "how-to" of his career, track down his older videos where he discusses the editing process for the books; it’s a masterclass in how modern creators juggle multiple industries at once.