It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year…
When we round up all our bloggers, librarians and teen reviewers, and ask them to share the best YA books they read this year.
Share your top 10 YA of 2013 in the comments, and we’ll add your list to the TATAL Blog too!
Relish: My Life in the Kitchen
by Lucy Knisley
Karen says, “I was hesitant at first. Don’t get me wrong; I love food but I’m no foodie! I kept getting gushing reviews of this graphic novel, which only increased my hesitancy. Because, really? We all know that books with gushing reviews never live up to the hype. I was proved wrong. ”Relish“ is fun and the illustrations are AMAZING! If you love food and graphic novels this is a book you can curl up with and devour.”
Far Far Away
by Tom McNeal
Librarian M says, “If you miss reading creepy fairy tales, this book is for you.”
Pat says, “This is not the sort of book that usually appeals to me. The ghost of Jacob Grimm whispering in some kid’s head? Uh uh. But wow! I started the first page and got immediately sucked into this dark and gripping story. So many twists and turns it boggled my brain. All that and Ginger Boultinghouse–my new favorite female character and one I’ll wager you won’t soon forget either. In my top 3 for the year.”
Eleanor & Park
by Rainbow Rowell
Kady says, “Oh hey Rainbow, nice to see you again. Rainbow’s first YA novel of the year holds a really dear place in my heart. You’ve read the reviews, the interviews and seen everyone else’s take on this book in their Top 10 list so I’ll just leave you with a personal anecdote: I grew up in a house where profanity was THE WORST THING EVER. My mom still sighs and says “Don’t say that dear” when I say something sucks. So when she finished Eleanor and Park (she listened to the FANTASTIC audio version) and had a few choice words for Eleanor’s stepfather, it reconfirmed for me just how powerful the story, and especially the writing, of this slim tale of first love truly is.”
Hate List
by Jennifer Brown
Our teen-reviewer Neeka says, “Jennifer Brown’s Hate List speaks to its readers through the accessible mind of Valerie Leftman, who is stunned after her dark, unreadable boyfriend goes on a shooting rampage at their high school. The stakes are life-and-death in this book for the characters contemplating belonging and acceptance. I almost cried at the end.”
Quintana of Charyn
by Melina Marchetta
Lisa says, “The Lumatere Chronicles are some of my favorite, favorite books. They’re all complexly plotted and
thought-provoking with characters you come to love, and hate to leave. Dealing with genocide, revenge, love and hope, they’re not light reads, but they’re the best reads ever!”
Paper Valentine
by Brenna Yovanoff
Karen says, “Elegant writing brings authenticity to the very real issue of body image that teens face while entwining a chilling murder mystery. Hannah is haunted by the ghost of her best friend Lillian who self-destructed six months ago. When the insufferable heat of July brings a series of grisly murders to town, Lillian won’t stop until Hannah investigates. But Hannah’s more interested in Finny Boone, the bad boy and moving on; it’s time to let Lillian go. Will Lillian let Hannah move on or will she be entangled in a murder investigation?”
Boxers / Saints
by Gene Luen Yang; color by Lark Pien
Lisa says, “These two separate graphic novels should have been published as one back-to-back book, in my opinion. Don’t read one without the other. They’re a brilliant portrayal of China’s Boxer Rebellion from opposite points of view. Should be required reading for all students of Chinese history!”
Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock: a Novel
by Matthew Quick
Pat says, “Yet another book about an angry, lonely, hurt boy who intends to take down the person who hurt him before he kills himself. Sounds bleak, but listen to author Matthew Quick talk about his book and you will hear more about hope. A powerful book by the author of “The Silver Linings Playbook“.”
Click here to view the embedded video.
More Than This
by Patrick Ness
Librarian M says, “A thrilling allegory about processing trauma. I totally heart Patrick Ness.”
Pat says, “OK, this one is strange, and creepy, and makes you think. Is there “more than this?” Did I say it was creepy?”
Gorgeous
by Paul Rudnick
Pat says, “After the death of her 400-pound mother, 18-year-old Becky is presented with an offer she can’t refuse–one that takes her from a trailer park to the cover of Vogue. And beyond. A wickedly funny take on our cultural obsession with body image, beauty, brand names, status, and fame. Fans of Libba Bray’s “Beauty Queens” should grab this one.”
Courage Has No Color: the True Story of the Triple Nickles, America’s First Black Paratroopers
by Tanya Lee Stone
Maria says, “The story of the Triple Nickles, an African American paratroopers who found success in spite of all the obstacles in front of them. Photographs, interviews, and letters make these guys real and we see their determination to become a cohesive unit become a reality.”
OCD, the Dude and Me: a Novel
by Lauren Roedy Vaughn
Lisa says, “Journal entries, letters to her therapist, and emails tell the humorous story of Danielle’s senior year as she copes with OCD, a social skills class, and her love/less life. I found it funny and eye-opening.”
The Dream Thieves
by Maggie Stiefvater
Rachel says, “The sequel to “The Raven Boys“ is sultry and twisted, and delves even deeper into the mysterious thread linking Ronan, Gansey, Adam, Noah, and Blue to the magic of Cabeswater.”
These are just the 13 books that we agreed on – you can read all of our Top 10 lists for 2013 on the TATAL blog.