2009 Book Lists, Pt. 7

Smart Reads
Hey, NPR, smart teens can read YA too. Here are some books that will exercise your brain/wit, make you think, keep you reading, and show naysayers the power and talent that exists in YA today.

Sprout by Dale Peck
A smart(ass) gay teen attempts to figure out his acceptance of himself in his extremely conservative community. (also on: Humor, GLBTQ/Gender)

The Sky Always Hears Me, and the Hills Don’t Mind by Kirstin Cronn-Mills
The irreverent protagonist, Morgan, deals with issues regarding family secrets, homosexuality, and love as she snarks her way through the novel. Very funny, yet touching! (also on: Best Books By a Debut YA Author, Great Protagonists, Most Overlooked)

Genesis by Bernard Beckett
This dystopian novel is written in transcription format and deals with questions of artificial intelligence and more, with an incredible ending you'll never see coming. (also on: Thought-Provoking Reads, Dystopian/Apocalyptic/Steampunk, For Boys, Use in Classrooms, For Older Teens, Something Different)

Fire by Kristin Cashore
Gorgeous writing expertly weaves questions of feminism and beauty into an already engaging high fantasy tale. (also on: Best Books I Read in 2009, Best Books Published in 2009, For Fantasy/Magic Lovers, Best Sequels of 2009, Use in Classrooms)

The Ivy League novels by Diana Peterfreund
I love me some witty banter, laugh-out-loud thought processes, smoking romances, and cloak-and-dagger workings. This series has them all! (also on: For Older Teens)

Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves
Dia basically unapologetically dumps readers right into Hanna's jarring world and her thought process. If you're still hanging on after the first couple of chapters, you'll enjoy this immensely. (also on: If You Can't Get Enough of Vampire Academy, Great Protagonists, Something Different)

Fat Cat by Robin Brande
Cat is no dumb, math-and-science-hating teenager. She's good at science, and strikes the perfect balance between being confident enough to be her own person and self-conscious enough to do something to change what she doesn't like about herself. (also on: Best Books Published in 2009, Feel-Good Contemporary Realism, If You Like Sarah Dessen, Most Crush-Worthy Love Interests, Most Overlooked)

Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead
When you want a Harry Potter-like form of literary entertainment, look to this series. Well-developed characters; a variety of winding, interesting, yet all interconnected subplots; a bigger story of good vs. evil. (also on: Best Books I Read in 2009, For Paranormal Lovers, If You Can't Get Enough of Vampire Academy, Great Protagonists, Use in Classrooms, Tearjerkers)

Poison Study by Maria Snyder
I love when protagonists think of things I wouldn't have been able to had I been in their situation. Yelena is one such character. She's like a role model, the girl I'd want to be if I were in such a world. (also on: Best Books I Read in 2009, For Fantasy/Magic Lovers, Romance, Night-In Reads, If You Can't Get Enough of Vampire Academy, Best Bids for Canonicity, Most Crush-Worthy Love Interests, Give this To Your Parents Too)

Cycler by Lauren McLaughlin
Bends what we know of gender boundaries, wrapped up in a crazy story with hilarious dialogue. (also on: GLBTQ/Gender, Most Overlooked, Something Different)

And Then Everything Unraveled by Jennifer Sturman
Delia's mom disappears on her trip to Antarctica, but Delia suspects there's something shadier going on. The political conspiracy element of this story will blow you right out of the water. (also on: If You Like Sarah Dessen, Something Different)

The Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp
Every once in a while you really want a novel that breaks all conventions and expectations. The Spectacular Now is such a novel. Everything from its protagonist to its ending is unexpected, original, and welcomed. (also on: Humor, For Boys, Great Protagonists, Most Overlooked, Something Different)

Ice by Sarah Beth Durst
Magical yet modern. (also on: Best Books I Read in 2009, Best Books Published in 2009, For Fantasy/Magic Lovers, Retellings, Romance, Night-In Reads, Beautiful Writing, Great Protagonists, Most Crush-Worthy Love Interests, So You Want to Start Reading YA)

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
This is guaranteed to make your jaw drop as you frantically read it through the last time, then reread it and savor the uniqueness--all with a great big grin on your face at the whole sci-fi mystery of it all! :) (also on: Best Books I Read in 2009, Best Books Published in 2009, Best Bids for Canonicity, Most Crush-Worthy Love Interests, Give This To Your Parents Too, So You Want to Start Reading YA)


Tearjerkers
Granted, I cry pretty easily, but these are the ones I read this year that I distinctly remember myself crying while reading. Sometimes you just want to experience the power of words to bring you to torrents of tears, you know?

If I Stay by Gayle Forman
This should require very little explanation. Mia's entire family is killed in a car accident, and only she remains in a coma. The story is told from "ghost Mia's" point of view as she struggles to decide whether she should just give up and join her family, or whether she should live with the pain and experience life. Keep a box of tissues handy nearby while you're reading this. (also on: Best Books I Read in 2009, Best Books Published in 2009, Best Covers)

The Actor and the Housewife by Shannon Hale
The emotions I experience when reading this book stand up to multiple rereads. I know what's coming, and yet I still can't help but bawl incessantly for the last third of the book. Really, I almost feel entirely ridiculous for crying nonstop, but I can't help it! That's the power of this book for me. (also on: Best Books I Read in 2009, Humor, Night-In Reads, Branching Out: Adult Fiction & Classics)

Vampire Academy, Book 3: Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead
Oh, the heartbreak. Enough said. I knew what was coming and still screamed and wept in horror. (also on: Best Books I Read in 2009, For Paranormal Lovers, Romance, Use in Classrooms, Smart Reads)

As You Wish by Jackson Pearce
I will admit it freely that I cried at the end of this book when things looked bad. You can get effortlessly involved in the welfares of Jackson's characters, thus provoking that sort of response at the end. (also on: Best Books Published in 2009, Best Books By a Debut YA Author, Feel-Good Contemporary Realism, Romance, Night-In Reads)

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
Maggie's writing, combined with that utterly heartbreaking moment near the end, lends itself to tears. There's something about the starkness of the writing at that moment that can break hearts. It really shows the power of writing and brevity. (also on: Beautiful Books, For Twilight Lovers)


Most Crush-Worthy Love Interests
Because sometimes, that makes a great difference. And yes, I'm aware that this list is sadly heteronormative, but you can also check out my "Great Protagonists" list because I would crush on a lot of those characters if I were queer! :)

Nate from Psych Major Syndrome by Alicia Thompson
Nate is SO swoon-worthy. I really can't tell you anymore without spoiling it, so I won't. But suffice it to say that he's a sweetie--even if he doesn't act like it initially. (also on: Best Books By a Debut YA Author, Feel-Good Contemporary Realism, Romance, For Older Teens, Most Overlooked)

Valek from Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
How many times can I extol the virtues of Valek? If you know me on Twitter and Goodreads, the answer is "nonstop." Dude: he he's a master spy, has ninja-like abilities, and can climb walls with his bare hands *cue sounds of awe* (also on: Best Books I Read in 2009, For Fantasy/Magic Lovers, Romance, Night-In Reads, If You Can't Get Enough of Vampire Academy, Best Bids for Canonicity, Great Protagonists, Smart Reads, Give This To Your Parents Too)

Matt from Fat Cat by Robin Brande
There is just something utterly appealing about Matt McKinney, even if Cat doesn't like him. (also on: Best Books Published in 2009, If You Like Sarah Dessen, Smart Reads, Most Overlooked)

Brian from Front and Center by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
I've always been a fan of Brian Nelson, even when he was being an immature jerk. I really like the extent to which he grows in this book, though. (also on: Best Sequels of 2009, Night-In Reads, Great Protagonists)

Bear from Ice by Sarah Beth Durst
You know it's a good story when you fall in love with the animal love interest. But Bear really is the most steadfast, loyal, subtly romantic, and kind love interest. (also on: Best Books I Read in 2009, Best Books Published in 2009, For Fantasy/Magic Lovers, Retellings, Romance, Night-In Reads, Beautiful Writing, Great Protagonists, Smart Reads, So You Want to Start Reading YA)

Casey from Evolution, Me, and Other Freaks of Nature by Robin Brande
For those who like their crushes outspoken and unashamedly geeky, there's Casey Connor, science genius extraordinaire. Also, I'm spotting a trend with my like of Robin's male characters... (also on: Thought-Provoking Reads, Something Different)

Eli from Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
Eli is a classic Dessen boy, and, while it makes him a little unoriginal, he's still utterly sweet, and might even make it into my Top 3 Dessen boys. (also on: Summery Friendship Reads, If You Like Sarah Dessen, So You Want to Start Reading YA)

Po from Graceling by Kristin Cashore
I LOVE the romance between Katsa and Po. I love how Katsa goes from being incapable of love to being able to love. Po is just the right guy for that task: always patient, yet determined, and yet also vulnerable. (also on: Best Books I Read in 2009, For Fantasy/Magic Lovers)

Marcus from When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
This is really subtle and probably unintentional on the author's part, but I really liked Marcus. First of all, it's the name. (Marcus Flutie as the epitome of enigmatic love interests, anyone?) But he's also an interesting, slightly geeky character in and of himself. (also on: Best Books I Read in 2009, Best Books Published in 2009, Best Bids for Canonicity, Smart Reads, Give This To Your Parents Too,So You Want to Start Reading YA)


For Older Teens
The news this year is that a new genre, "New Adult," is forming, which deals with college-age characters and related issues. These are a few that I think would fit into that category, or that would appeal to "older" teens or college-age students who still love YA and would never want to give it up.

The Ivy League novels by Diana Peterfreund
Secret societies in college, with all the romantic entanglements, intrigue, and useless wit of college life. (also on: Smart Reads)

Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers
Brutal, uncomfortable, and haunting. (also on: Thought-Provoking Reads, Best Covers)

Psych Major Syndrome by Alicia Thompson
A girl's first semester in college. It has less to do with college life and psychology than it has to do with a simple "girl realizes her love mistakes and finds true romance" story, but it is enjoyable nonetheless, and well written. (also on: Best Books By a Debut YA Author, Feel-Good Contemporary Realism, Romance, Most Crush-Worthy Love Interests, Most Overlooked)

Sunshine by Robin McKinley
This unusual vampire tale boasts sometimes excessive descriptions, but a great voice and wonderful main characters. (also on: For Paranormal Lovers, If You Can't Get Enough of Vampire Academy)

Genesis by Bernard Beckett
A curious and unique dystopian novel that will leave you with many questions but delight the well-read dystopian reader. (also on: Thought-Provoking Reads, Dystopian/Apocalyptic/Steampunk, For Boys, Use in Classrooms, Smart Reads, Something Different)


Give This to Your Parents Too
If you want to give them a sample of what you're reading, these are sure to make them happy!

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly
(also on: Best Books By a Debut YA Author, Middle Grade, Historical Fiction, So You Want to Start Reading YA)

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
(also on: Best Books I Read in 2009, Best Books Published in 2009, Best Bids for Canonicity, Smart Reads, Most Crush-Worthy Love Interests, So You Want to Start Reading YA)

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
(also on: Beautiful Books, Best Bids for Canonicity, Dystopian/Apocalyptic/Steampunk, For Boys, So You Want to Start Reading YA)

When the Whistle Blows by Fran Cannon Slayton
(also on: Historical Fiction, Most Overlooked)

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Well, DON'T give it to them if they're easily sensitive to, you know, violence and dying and stuff. (also on: Best Books I Read in 2009, Best Bids for Canonicity, Dystopian/Apocalyptic/Steampunk, For Boys, Use in Classrooms, So You Want to Start Reading YA)

Undercover by Beth Kephart
(also on: Beautiful Writing)

Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
(also on: Dystopian/Apocalyptic/Steampunk, So You Want to Start Reading YA)

Poison Study by Maria Snyder
(also on: Best Books I Read in 2009, For Fantasy/Magic Lovers, Romance, Night-In Reads, If You Can't Get Enough of Vampire Academy, Best Bids for Canonicity, Great Protagonists, Smart Reads, Most Crush-Worthy Love Interests)

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2009 Book Lists, Pt. 1 // Pt. 2 // Pt. 3 // Pt. 4 // Pt. 5 // Pt. 6 // Pt. 8

Back to the Master List of 2009 Book Lists!