It’s once again the time of year where I look back over my reading list and think about my favorite reading experiences from the past twelve months.
I didn’t read as many novels this year as I have in recent years. Partly, this was because I began reading plays for one of the local theater companies, which took up a bit of my reading time. But mostly it was because, for the first time, life events took so much of my focus that I didn’t have much left over for reading. Let’s hope this changes in 2014!
Today I’m going to talk about the YA novels I enjoyed the most this year and follow up with a list of titles that I’m looking forward to reading in upcoming months.
Honorable Mentions:
When We Wake, by Karen Healey
Science fiction about a teenager who dies during a protest and then is woken up a hundred years later, after being cryogenically frozen. As many Amazon reviewers mention, there are a lot of political ideas in this novel; I personally did not find them too heavy-handed, but your mileage may vary. I really enjoyed the world building and the setting of a future Australia. The actual story did remind me a bit of The Long Sleep, though.
The Originals, by Cat Patrick
Light science fiction about three teenage sister clones. They divide each day into three: high school morning classes, high school afternoon classes, and extracurricular activities after school, while the other two clones are homeschooled. What makes this novel is the family dynamics, both between the three sisters and the relationship they have with their mother.
My Favorite YA Novels of the Year:
The Coldest Girl in Coldtown, by Holly Black
Holly Black makes vampires fresh and creepy (no small feat!). Her protagonist has a strong voice that pulled me right through.
The Bitter Kingdom, by Rae Carson
The finale of the trilogy begun with The Girl of Fire and Thorns and The Crown of Embers, this novel had a big job to tie everything up in a satisfying conclusion for our heroine, and it did not disappoint. A very strong YA epic fantasy trilogy.
Aren’t they beautiful?
The Lucy Variations, by Sara Zarr
This YA contemporary novel follows the life of Lucy, a concert pianist prodigy who, in reaction to family pressure, retired during her teens. The reader gets to watch as she explores her family dynamics and decides what place to give music in her life. Complex characters, character relationships, and family dynamics combined with a passion for classical music? This is novel written for me.
The Different Girl, by Gordon Dalquist
I don’t want to say much about this one for fear of spoiling it, but I can assure you that it is definitely science fiction. We see the world from the perspective of our young protagonist, who is sheltered and often ignorant, and we learn about how the world actually works as she does. I found this story to be compelling and beautiful as it gradually unfolds.
YA Novels I’m Looking Forward to Reading in the Future:
The Summer Prince, by Alaya Dawn Johnson
We Were Liars, by E. Lockhart (comes out in May 2014)
Reality Boy, by A.S. King
She Is Not Invisible, by Marcus Sedgwick (comes out in April 2014)
Allegiant, by Veronica Roth (I’m in the middle of this one right now)
The Diviners, by Libba Bray (It’s already on my Kindle, hooray!)
Roomies, by Tara Altebrando and Sara Zarr (comes out December 24, 2013)
Which YA novels did you read and enjoy this year? Which ones are you looking forward to?
The Practical Free Spirit 
Nice post, Amy. My big takeaway is that I need to read more YA. =)
My seven-year-old is working his way through the second Harry Potter book right now. We read the first one together last winter and he’s reading the second on his own. I’m going to have him take a break on those before he reads the third, though. They start to get pretty dark for a seven-year-old.
The book that I’m looking at reading with him next is the first of John Flanagan’s Ranger’s Apprentice books.
I’m not sure if those count as middle grade or YA or something else entirely. Regardless, I’m hoping he enjoys them and can appreciate the themes and stories. I’ve heard good things.
I read Brandon Sanderson’s Steelheart about a month ago. He’d never done science fiction or dystopia before, and I think he pulled off both quite well.
Hey Amy – these are great, I’ve heard of several, haven’t heard of more, excellent fodder for the to-read pile!
I have loved several YA books this year. First of all, we finally (my kids and I listen to audiobooks constantly) listened to Tamora Pierce books. I suppose we started last year as we’re up to at least 10 or so of her books on audio. We highly recommend all of them. Wild Magic has been our favorite by far, but the series that starts with Page is great, as is the one that follows Alanna’s daughter.
We also finally listened to Graceling – which was great, but fair warning for other parents reading/listening with their kids – no veiled sex in this book, instead it’s just there actually full-out. I had to explain some things I thought I might hold off explaining for a while (can’t wait once it comes up in a book!) lol.
I recently finished The Testing by Joelle Charboneau. I highly recommend it. It’s very similar to Hunger Games in thematic material and content, but there’s a different feel to the book. I found HG oppressive, particularly after a while w/the domineering government and the like. The Testing plays with similar themes but uses a lighter touch. I’m sure we’ll learn all the horrid underbelly of the government in the next book but for now I’m a fan. It kept me turning pages.
Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson (and The Rithmatist by him as well) were so so so very great. I loved them so much I threw caution to the wind (after reading some online reviews) and started listening to The Mistborn trilogy with the kids. It’s working out great (more to explain but more veiled stuff, and more related to crime/oppression.) Kids love it, we’re on book 2. But Steelheart and The Rithmatist are both written for children and are great YA reads. The Rithmatist is written for a younger audience (say 4th grade and up) but I found the magic system confusing enough that it may not be right for all readers – perhaps those who are already committed to fantasy. I thought the magic system was fascinating and as a writer it’s got me convinced I need to write more magic stories.
Eye of Minds by James Dashner (who wrote The Maze Runner series) was good – felt a little like a Gibson/Stephenson novel, but on a much more approachable/understandable scale. I hand-sold it to a number of kids at our school’s book fair and told them if they loved it to come back to me for more ideas (I plan to then suggest they try Ready Player One by Ernest Cline or possibly even Neuromancer or Snowcrash…)
I read it last year, but I really loved Maggie Stiefvater’s book The Raven Boys. Hard to describe other than it’s contemporary-set fantasy, and she’s really funny. Such a great setup, the main character’s family cracks me up. Loved this one, just started the sequel, The Dream Thieves.
I’m sure there’s more, but those are the ones that stand out for the moment.
Oh and Andy (Hi Andy! I didn’t know you knew Amy…! 🙂 — Ranger’s Apprentice falls into the “JH” category in most libraries, which is the “Middle Grade” section of a bookstore. There’s rules for how these things are figured out, but a lot of it falls to each individual librarian’s discretion, too. The first book, at least (i’ve only read the first) is pretty clean and my son loves the series with a passion I’ve only seen a few times before – has read and re-read most of the books at least a dozen times. The main intensity in the first book is violence/scary beast related. And some creepy stones that make certain sounds when the wind blows through them. Good luck with that one!
Some ones I’m looking forward to: Moonkind, the last book in the Summerkin series by Sarah Prineas. Love her work. The next book in The Testing series. My son is eager for the sequel to The Paladin Prophecy. He’s also excited about the fourth in the Adventurer’s Wanted series (which starts with Slathbog’s Gold.) I loved the first book in this series, didn’t love the second and third so I’m not sure I’ll read the fourth, but my son just ADORES the series. He’s read Adventurer’s Wanted books almost as much as Ranger’s Apprentice (And Andy – would make a great read-aloud. also anything by Diana Wynn Jones, her stuff is so much fun to read aloud for some reason.)
I could totally talk books all day so I’ll go now, but there you have it! 🙂
Great list, Amy! I’m always mortified that I haven’t started Rae Carson’s trilogy yet. I’ve heard so many good things about it.