I am so excited to participate in the YA Superlative Blogfest again this year! It's hosted by some of my favorite ladies: Jessica Love, Tracey Neithercott, Alison Miller, and Katy Upperman. I'm trying to bust my recent reading and blogging slumps, and I have a hunch this just might do it! Here are some of my favorites from 2013:
Favorite Dystopian
Sever by Lauren DeStefano
This trilogy stood out in a crowded field; while the premise (all women die at 20 and men at 25, due to a plague) is similar to others I've seen, the execution feels very different and I got sucked into the world.
Favorite Science Fiction
Starglass by Phoebe North
This is one of my very favorites of the whole year. A generation ship, centuries removed from Earth, guided by principles and traditions that have evolved from contemporary Judaism. Fiddler on the Roof meets Across the Universe: I'm in love.
Favorite Contemporary
The Lucy Variations by Sara Zarr
This could also easily have gone under favorite family drama. Sara Zarr creates amazing, complex families for her characters, and they are as well-drawn and central as ever in this novel. Lucy struggles to determine what she wants over the deafening roar of what her family wants, and I couldn't put the book down.
Favorite Action/Adventure
False Sight by Dan Krokos
This is not my usual genre, but Krokos does a great job of grabbing the reader's attention and not letting it go. (Plus, he was really nice to my students when we met him at the Rochester Teen Book Festival last year, so I'll always give his books a try. I hope they stay this awesome!)
Favorite Historical Fiction
Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein
One of my overall favorites of the year. This was a very different read from Code Name Verity but just as riveting.
Favorite Mystery
17 & Gone by Nova Ren Suma
This is also a genre-bender, but I think it qualifies as a mystery (among other things.) And I was certainly in suspense and wondering what was actually happening (in a good way!) most of the time I was reading.
Favorite Romance
This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith
Just the most fun. So much fun. A fabulous summer read but I'm tempted to revisit it now to bring some sun back into my snowy, snowy life.
Favorite Paranormal
The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater
This could go in half-a-dozen different categories, but paranormal certainly fits. I love Blue, and I remain incapable of picking a favorite Raven Boy.
Favorite Family Drama
Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers
Ok, this genre is a bit of a stretch, but this book turns family drama up to 11. And by drama, I mean worst possible family amounts of drama.
Favorite Genre Bender
Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
Fairy-tale? Sci-fi? Adventure? Romance? Comedy? Yup. In a year when I was TERRIBLE at reading sequels to things I loved, this was one of the few that I made time for--and I will be making more time when the next installment comes out!
Oooh, great list! You have a lot of different books on here, which is awesome!
ReplyDeleteI tried to do it without repeating--I was surprised by how many I actually did have something for, when I feel like this was not a huge reading year for me.
DeleteI wasn't wrong. So many of the books on this list are already on my shelf (unread) or on my TBR list. Thanks for the reminder! I really need to whittle down the physical stack of unread books on my bookshelves, so that might be something I'll be looking to challenge myself to. STARGLASS and DARK TRIUMPH are two that I really need to get to ASAP.
ReplyDeleteAck, I tried to reply before and my iPad ate it. Anyway, I'm thinking of trying to read one book off my shelf at the beginning of each new month (which really means anywhere from 1-4 books off the shelf, since so many of the ones I'm behind on are sequels that I need to re-read the earlier books for.) I know I need room for impulse reads so I think that will help me catch up while letting me read things I'm really excited for.
DeleteWow, you have so many books that I haven't read yet. (Many of them have been on my TBR list too long.) I didn't place Scarlet anywhere today, but I loved that book!
ReplyDeleteThat's how I feel reading everyone else's list! Maybe we need to start doing something like this mid-year, too--I kind of wish I had put some of these on my Christmas list!
DeleteThis is a great list. And so many I need to read!
ReplyDeleteIt's impossible to ever keep up--what a great problem to have!
DeleteAhh, I've only read two of these: THIS IS WHAT HAPPY LOOKS LIKE and SCARLET. I didn't love the latter, but ohmygosh, CRESS is amazing. A bunch of these are on my TBR!
ReplyDeleteWow, I haven't read any of the books on this list! But several are on my TBR, like THIS IS WHAT HAPPY LOOKS LIKE, THE LUCY VARIATIONS and 17 AND GONE. Looking forward to reading them!
ReplyDeleteYou've further convinced me that I need to read something my Sara Zarr, and soon!
ReplyDelete