1. Shine
by Lauren Myracle~ If you read only one 2011 YA release, read this book! It was horrible and beautiful and raw. It will touch your very soul. This book will stay with me forever and I think everyone should read it. Read my review HERE.
2. Beauty Queens
by Libba Bray~ I think this is the funniest book I've ever read. So full of social commentary, but in the snarkiest way imaginable. I've said this before, and I won't ever stop saying it; if the writing thing doesn't work out for Libba, she could make millions as a comedian. Read my review HERE.
3. Hourglass
by Myra McEntire~ Daringly original, and intensely romantic. I could not put this down and enjoyed every moment I spent reading it. I can't express the must-read-ness of this book. Read my review HERE.
4. Wither
by Lauren DeStefano~ Another Fabulously original story. I love dystopias, but I was getting sick of every new release trying to be The Hunger Games. It was so refreshing to read a new dystopia that had a totally original idea. Beautifully written and immediately engaging. Read my review HERE.
5. The Dark and Hollow Places
by Carrie Ryan~ It doesn't even seem like this is a 2011 release. I was so anxiously awaiting this for most of 2010 and read it right away. I loved them all, but this was the best of the three books in the trilogy, which is one of my favorite series of all time. Read my review HERE.
6. Wolfsbane
by Andrea Cremer~ I just got around to reading Nightshade this year,and kicked myself for not reading it sooner. I didn't make the same mistake with this book,and I liked it even better. Read my review HERE. Loved it! (I did like the original cover better.)
7. Where She Went
by Gayle Forman~ It could be sentimentality, having loved If I Stay so much, but this book made me so very happy. It was just the closure I needed, and with so much emotion, good and bad. This pair of books will be with me for life. Read my review HERE.
8. Across the Universe
by Beth Revis~ I'm honestly not that huge on mushy-gushy romance. I'm 35, so I'm pretty jaded at this point. The fact that Beth Revis managed to write a wholly engaging YA Sci-fi novel that wasn't BASED on romance made me happy. I am currently hosting a giveaway of a signed copy of this book along with my review. Check both out HERE.
9. Sweetly
by Jackson Pearce~ I liked Sisters Red, I loved Sweetly. I hold a grudge against Disney for their rape of the original fairy tales, and it makes me happy to read a re-telling that captures what they were originally about (gore and fear)! Read my review HERE.
10. Divergent
by Veronica Roth~ Fast paced and action packed. Gritty and unputdownable. Extremely original. Liked the idea behind it, loved the characters. Cannot wait for Insurgent to come out. If you like a good dystopia,you MUST read this book. Read my review HERE.So, there you have my top ten 2011 releases. It was not easy to choose... In fact, below are a few runners-up, because it really was VERY close. In no particular order...
Awaken by KatieKacvinsky
City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare
Red Glove by Holly Black
Epic Fail by Claire LaZebnik
Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini
Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter
Everfound by Neal Shusterman
Hereafter by Tara Hudson
Bumped by Megan McCafferty
I am totally embarrassed that I haven't gotten to any of these yet! Seemed like there was a ton of hype for Across the Universe, I'll probably read it just out of curiosity. I've heard nothing but raves for Divergent, so that one's nearing the top of my TBR list!
ReplyDeleteHappy BBAW! :)
~~~~~
K.C. Neal
Author of Pyxis
Book bloggers, reserve an ARC at my blog! :) http://bit.ly/PyxisARC
Amazing top ten! I didnt know Shine was THAT good! holy cow! I have seen it so many times at the bookstore but never picked it up! Im such a sinner! Im gonna put it in my to read list right now!!
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing =)
Amazing list! I love so many these so now I have no choice but to check out the others.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for stopping by during IMM! :)
I haven't read any of these yet, though a couple are on my TBR. I'm going to refer back to this page when my pile shrinks a bit, because some of these look really good.
ReplyDeleteGlad to see Carrie Ryan on your list. I really enjoyed that trilogy. I still have to read Across the Universe. Heard alot of good things about that one.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful list! I have read half of them and completely agree that they should be in the top 10, I'm off to check out the other half now :)
ReplyDeleteI loved, loved, loved If I Stay by Gayle Forman. It's just a fun, beautiful, heartbreaking story. I'm going emotional just looking back to the story. And I should really read Where She Went before the film comes out, which I have no idea when. Do you know? Okay. Better get back to reading. Awesome Top Ten YA Books of 2011, by the way. I'm looking forward to reading all of them, especially Divergent.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. Had never heard of Lauren Myracle or Myra McEntire. But totally agree with the rest of the picks! You just about encapsulated my 2011 YA read list. Way to go!!
ReplyDelete