I have decided to interpret this week’s Top Ten Tuesday
(which is a meme sponsored by The Broke and the Bookish) as my top book from each
YA genre rather than from my favorite genre. Because I couldn’t pick a favorite genre. I am also just doing YA books because widening it to all books ever was overwhelming.
One for the Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
This book. This is a
a gentle realist story of a 12 year old girl who is being put into foster care
for the first time. A simple story about
the way that we are influenced by the people that touch our lives.
What Can’t Wait by Ashley Hope Perez
I just wrote an review of this but I think that it deserves
its place here. It is one of the most
realistic depiction of life that I have read recently but it didn’t focus on an
“issue” which is why I chose it over the also excellent All American Boys. I don’t think that I have ever been pulling
for a main character the way that I am still pulling for Marisa.
 |
| goodereads |
My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitxpatrick
This book ticked all the boxes. Funny, touching, likeable and relatable main
character, and a love interest that is worth her time. I love Sam and Jace together. They make one another happy and treat each
other well and yet are realistically drawn characters. This is a surprisingly difficult combination
to find.
A happy book about with a gay main character. Shocking, I know. High school isn’t a place of torment for
Simon and he is able to brush off most of the unpleasant actions. Aside
from the book being great in and of itself (Simon is adorable beyond all
reason) I appreciated the message that being LGBTQ does not necessarily lead to
a life of strife and that you should expect to be treated like a human being
even while in high school. Also, SO.
MUCH. CUTE.
Code Name Verity and Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein
I couldn’t choose. I
don’t even care that I am cheating. *Terrible feelings of guilt. These books are sob fest and the sobbing is
made all the worse by the fact that they are plausible and realistic representation
of things that real people have gone through.
They were meticulously researched, action packed, and fully of heart. They will also rip your heart out. If the words, “I have told the truth” don’t
choke you up after reading this book then you are a much less weepy person than
I.
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
I know that I just talked about this book last week but it
was just THAT GOOD. I know that there is
a lot to choose from in the YA but this is the one that I actually enjoyed
reading the most. It has a love
triangle. No, a love quadrilateral. And I still loved it. That, my friends, says it all.
 |
| goodreads |
Otherwise known as “The Future is Bleak.” Seriously, is any vision of the future with the possible exception of Star Trek show a future that isn’t horrifying?
Wither by Lauren DeStefano
I chose this one because although I enjoyed other books in
this genre more this is the one that managed to latch onto my personal internal
insecurities and then exploit them so that I end up having nightmare that world
ends up like the one portrayed in this book.
I haven’t read the other books because I can’t bring myself to revisit
that world
Rebel Mechanics by Shanna Swendson
A steampunk alternate history story where the British win the revolutionary war. It is both better and weirder than you would think.
A steampunk alternate history story where the British win the revolutionary war. It is both better and weirder than you would think.
If I Fall by Lauren Oliver
I gave this novel as a gift to a sixteen-year old student of
mine once as a reminder that our choices matter. It is the kind of book that you think about
on and off for months after you read it.
The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
I am not sure what the hell was going on for most of this
book but it definitely creeped me out.
Just the concept of thoughts not being private is enough to give me
shivers.
Et voile. There are some books that I love more than reason that are not on this list simply because I wan't quite able to figure out what genre to put them in.
A very clever twist on this week's meme, Tara. :) Wither is one I've looked at a few times but never actually bought a copy. I do like the intriguing premise though..
ReplyDeleteI read it five year ago and it still disturbs me. I wouldn't call it a pleasant read and I was less than impress with the romantic subplot but the premise alone put it on this list.
DeleteI've loved so many of these books you've mentioned! :-) Simon is one of my favourites.
ReplyDeleteI love so many of the books on your list! Code Name Verity and Rose Under Fire are two of my favorite YA historicals. I also really love Before I Fall. I need to read Ember and Simon asap! Great list.
ReplyDeleteMy Top Ten
Have you read Black Dove, White Raven? I have had it since it came out but haven't read it yet because I am afraid that I won't like it. I am ridiculous.
DeleteBefore I Fall is a great book! Can't wait to see how the movie turns out! :D My Top Ten Tuesday!
ReplyDeleteWait, what...? There is a movie coming out? *sets expectations unreasonably high
DeleteYES I loved your thoughts on Simon Vs.the Homo Sapiens Agenda - that's exactly what we need more of in LGBTQ lit - books that recognize that not every LGBTQ youth goes through identical experiences, and that your sexual identity doesn't have to condemn you to a life of misery. You can have happy stories, too!
ReplyDeleteI really hope that happy LGBTQ are the next big trend!
DeleteThe Knife of Never Letting Go was also on my TTT (but I was focusing on Aliens, aha)! Chaos Walking trilogy was just brilliant, did you read the short stories? Also, Simon vs. gives me so much hope for future books like it. The world needs more cute books just like it.
ReplyDeleteMy TTT ft. Aliens.