Best of 2011 – The Books for the Younger Ones

I’ve read 100 books this year. I didn’t expect so many of them to be YA and MG, so I was so surprised when I pulled the titles out to see I read 54 YA/MG books! That’s over half what I read! And so many were fantastic. I am finding it very hard to pick a top ten! I have three who could easily tie for number 1. So I’m going to do this in no specific order, but here are my top favorites:

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness and Siobhan Dowd. (review)

I still can’t think about this book and not feel the tears well up. From my review:

Every so often, a book comes into my life that leaves me utterly speechless, speechless in wonder, in awe, in tears, and in stupidity. This one certainly went in directions I didn’t expect, it went in directions that moved me, that rattled me, that made me sit up and think and, yes, sob out-loud at the beauty, the pain, the very gravity of this powerful story. I just don’t know what to say, because what I want to say-I want to say it in a way that it to makes you run out and devour this book, and love it as much as I did.

Looking for Alaska by John Green (review)

John Green can do no wrong in my eyes. I have adored everything he’s written and am waiting with bated breath by for my copy of The Fault in Our Stars to arrive in January. John Green, in my opinion, completely captures what it is like to be a teenager and all the angst, pain, love, misery, perfect turmoil, and amazingness it is to be that age, what it’s like to grow up, to mature, to become an adult and he it does it with such a considerate, “I’ve been there myself my friend” feel that it somehow feels like it lessens the overwhelming fullness of it. He’s magic.

Shine by Lauren Myracle (review)

Such a great, wonderful, marble-less (that’s the boy speak for marvelous) book. From my review:

This is the first book I’ve read by Lauren Myracle but I know it won’t be my last. Her writing is tight, honest; she doesn’t pull punches with her characters. She’s not afraid to push them. And she has a great way with dialogue. Just hearing these characters “talk” I would have known they were from the South. She’s great with the little details (something I always appreciate), she paints a picture of a dying mountain town on the bring of combustion when something happens to one of their own, a something that many want to ignore. And she’s dealing with issues that are so important. Issues that people are ignoring just as hard as the people in this book and we need to stop ignoring them. People should NOT be hurt or persecuted or made to feel inferior for who. they. love. The characters are so wonderfully written. I dare you not to adore Cat by the end of the book. Months later, I still find myself thinking about this book and to me, that is some of the highest praise I can bestow.

Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor  (review)

There came a point sometime this year, where it felt like all YA was starting to read alike. Like they all had the same formula. Upon reading this book and Cinder however, I have hope that publishers are starting to take notice and are taking some new things. As I said in my review:

I’ll be the first to admit, I didn’t go down easily. I’ve read quite a bit of YA in the past few years and, like most genres that become super popular, formulas begin to pop up. There is the beautiful, unattainable yettotally attainable guy. Self-conscious, unbecoming-feeling, but totally capable girl (with the exception of Bella) who is actually quite beautiful, smart, etc. She just. doesn’t. know. it. She needs HIM to tell her. There is always some sort of paranormal element. And (all together now) it’s LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT. And Daughter of Smoke & Bone, when starting out? Feels a LOT like this.

But then DoS&B takes some unexpected twists and turns that had me on the edge of my seat by the end. I seriously cannot wait for the next in this series and Laini Taylor has, I’m pretty sure, found a fan for life.

Hate List by Jennifer Brown

I cannot believe I didn’t review this book. Bad, bad Heather. I read it during my beach trip this year and it was spectacularly good. Hate List is a in depth look at survivor’s guilt and how tragedy affects not only the families of those affected, but also those who (in this case, somewhat unwittingly) played a part in a high school shooting. Jennifer Brown wrote a tight, well written story about a a girl, Valerie, all the complex emotions she feels prior to, and after, the shooting. A very powerful book.

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs (review)

Geez, but I loved this book. From my review:

This book wrapped it’s sweet little Gothic arms around me and held me tight until the very last page. I could not put it down. I did not WANT to put it down. Something about Jacob, and the kids at the Home… they just spoke to me. They are all so extremely different, different in ways I can’t comprehend, but at the same time…I just know. I know what it’s like to feel different. And how it feels to find someone who is different too and the… just… homecoming of that.

What Momma Left Me by Renee Watson (review)

One of the books I had to read for Nerds Heart YA this year, the book I picked to go on in the tournament, and the book that eventually won.

Serenity Evans is a fantastic character. She is a strong African-American teen who is not only a great example for other African-Americans; she is a great example for all young teenage girls. She faces extraordinary challenges with an inner-strength that, while faltering in a typical way for her age, is enviable. She acts like a typical teenager in her struggle to do what’s right while staying true to herself. When her brother gets mixed up the wrong crowd, Serenity is torn between wanting to help and protect her brother or keep silent like he so desperately wants her to. Her story feels, sadly, true to life and I can see this book being a valuable resource to teens living through similar experiences.

The Tiffany Aching series by Terry Pratchett (Includes The Wee Free Men, A Hat Full of Sky, Wintersmith, and I Shall Wear Midnight), read by Stephen Briggs

I haven’t reviewed any of these books. Basically, I don’t know how to put my love into words. I say that a lot, I know, but this time it is completely true. I just don’t know how to say it. I fill up with love at the thought of Terry Pratchett and my brain goes dead. Stephen Briggs kills the audiobooks, I highly recommend.

If ever you need a laugh, a light hand with parody, and feeling of… there, see… I’m at a loss for words again. Just… love.

Geez, now I want to listen to them all again.

That brings me to 11, if I count all four Tiffany Aching books separate.  Gosh, I had a great reading year in the YA/MG section! Did you read any great YA or MG books? Do share, you know I love recommendations!

Here are all the YA/MG books I read in 2011, in reverse order, since I’m too lazy to type it all up backwards.

Cinder by Melissa Meyer (coming out in 2012)
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith, read by Kate Burton (review)
Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor  (review)
Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick (review)
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick (review)
Chime by Franny Billingsley
The Son of Neptune: The Heroes of Olympus Book 2 by Rick Riordan
All These Things I’ve Done by Gabrielle Zevin, read by Ilyana Kadushin (review)
The Dead of Night by John Marsden
Deadly Little Secret: A Touch Novel by Laurie Faria Stolarz
Wildwood by Colin Meloy, read by Amanda Plummer
Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves (review)
What Momma Left Me by Renee Watson (review)
Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson
Looking for Alaska by John Green (review)
Anya’s Ghost by Vera Brosgol
Hate List by Jennifer Brown
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs (review)
Tomorrow When the War Began by John Marsden (review)
Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi (review)
Graveminder by Melissa Marr
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness and Siobhan Dowd (review)
City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare
Hare Moon by Carrie Ryan
Bone: Tale Tales by Tom Sniegoski and Jeff Smith
where i live by Eileen Spinelli and Matt Phelan
Bone: Rose by Tom Sniegoski and Jeff Smith
I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett, performed by Stephen Briggs
The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan
Bumped by Megan McCafferty
Kat, Incorrigible by Stephanie Burgis (review)
Shine by Lauren Myracle (review)
Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett, read by Stephen Briggs
Darkest Mercy: Wicked Lovely #5 by Melissa Marr
The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness, read by Nick Podehl
Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan (review)
A Hat Full of Sky by Terry Pratchett, read by Stephen Briggs
The New World by Patrick Ness
The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett
Bone 1-9 by Jeff Smith (review)
Luka and the Fire of Life by Salman Rushdie (review)
Illyria by Elizabeth Hand (review)
The Lost Hero: The Heroes of Olympus Book 1 by Rick Riordan
Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie (review)