January 24, 2010

Sunday Salon: Unsung YA Books

I'm a little late to this party, but since Kelly at YAnnabe made the suggestion that I throw my hat into the ring, I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. So, my two cents about the best YA books you've probably never read.

The Order of the Odd-Fish, James Kennedy: I keep plugging James's book, but you aren't reading it. Why? Seriously, people, read this book.

Nothing But Ghosts or House of Dance, Beth Kephart: if you haven't experienced the lyricism that is Kephart's writing, you really ought to.

Flygirl, Sherri L. Smith: a quietly feminist book, one that makes you want to stand up and cheer!

Secret Keeper, Mitali Perkins: a book about love, a book about India, a book about sisters. Almost perfect.

Two Parties, One Tux, and a Very Short Film about the Grapes of Wrath, Steven Goldman: Clever, snarky, and geeky extraordinaire. Can't go wrong with that.

Saving Juliet, Suzanne Selfors: Yeah, it's fluff. But it's fun fluff, and it's fun to see how it works with the Shakespeare.

Fly By Night, Frances Hardinge: Fuse #8 loves Hardinge, and for good reason: she's a fabulous writer.

There you have it: my thoughts. What's the best unsung YA book that you've read recently?

10 observations:

Corinne said...

Wahoo! Thanks for adding all kinds of fun stuff to my obscene list :)

Angela Craft said...

I loved Flygirl! Such an excellent book all around.

The book I was championing this year was Rage: A Love Story by Julie Anne Peters, and I was disappointed to see it end up on only one year end list (that I've found so far, anyway): the Rainbow List from the GLBT Round Table at ALA.

nanscorner said...

Those sound like some good books! I've added many to my TBR list.

Amanda said...

I'm late to the game, too, but the only one of these I've read is Nothing But Ghosts and I was just meh about that one, probably because I read it on the Kindle and have discovered that format doesn't work too well for me unless I also have a physical copy to look at.

Kailana said...

I don't think I will lack for young adult book suggestions this year. There are so many good-looking books on all these lists. :)

Kelly said...

I'm so happy you posted a list!

I haven't read any of these. That cover for Saving Juliet is super-cute and enticing. :)

Anastasia said...

I LOVE Frances Hardinge! Everyone needs to read more of her books ASAP.

Melissa Walker said...

Great list! We overlap on Beth Kephart--love her.

Miss K said...

I recently read Whirligig by Paul Fleischman, which did win the ALA Best Book award, but looks so sad and tattered on our library's shelf. I really ended up enjoying it! Thanks for the recommendations.

James Kennedy said...

Thanks for singing the unsung "Order of Odd-Fish," Melissa! I appreciate it!