Best Young Adult Books: Top Picks from YA Bloggers in the Know, #3
By Nicki Richesin, The Children’s Book Review
Published: June 9, 2012
Michelle and Andi, the masterminds behind Galleysmith, kindly agreed to choose not 5, but their 10(!) most swoon-worthy and gripping new summer reads. We’re ready to grab a beach blanket, a pina colada, and dive into these books. Thanks to Michelle and Andi for making our summer reading list even better.
The Ten Most Anticipated YA Summer Reads
When The Children’s Book Review asked that I stop by and tell you all about my five most anticipated summer reads I thought to myself, “only five?!?” You see, on my blog Galleysmith my colleague Andi and I have The List of Ten. The purpose of this list is to plot out our next ten reads to avoid the indecision that sometimes accompanies book selection. Moreover, it’s intended to help us keep our reading varied by being comprised of various formats, genres and ages. Have no fear, readers! The list below doesn’t follow our usual rules of formation nor does it come with any of the usual selection indecision. We’re thrilled to share with you some of our most anticipated forthcoming summer releases and we couldn’t just stop at five!
Zombies! Need I say more? ZOMBIES. And not just the flesh eating terrifying kind. The kind that have heart and soul despite their undeadliness. Oh, and it’s Courtney Summers one of the all-time best writers I’ve read.
Ages 13-17 | Publisher: St. Martin’s Press | June 19, 2012
by Jenny Han and Siobahn Vivian
Jenny Han wrote one of my favorite series ever (the amazing Summer series which I encourage you to pick up) and Siobahn Vivian is equally amazing at writing empowered and independent female characters. Together I have no doubt they will work magic with their story about girls seeking revenge on those that have wronged them.
Ages 14 and up | Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers | September 18, 2012
The queen of contemporary drama, Echols has yet to disappoint me with any of her work. She writes romance like nobody’s business! When she announces a new book I’m all about pressing that “pre-order” button without even seeing the description of the book. Such a Rush is sure to be an angsty drama-filled story when a girl pilot falls for two brothers. I have a feeling I’m not going to be able to pick a “team” easily in this one.
Ages 14 and up | Publisher: MTV Books | July 10, 2012
If you haven’t read Kenneally’s debut Catching Jordan, run out and pick it up. It’s fantastical. I’ve never been a sporty girl, but Kenneally makes the girl athlete so accessible and fun. I can’t even describe the amazingness of the romance that comes in the package. I’m eagerly awaiting Stealing Parker in which a softball player abruptly changes her life after a small town scandal involving her mother. I’m thinking there will be loads of push and pull from both the romantic and family perspective. Yipee!!
Ages 13 and up | Publisher: Sourcebooks | October 1, 2012
I’m a huge fan of dystopian fiction. When the world is built flawlessly enough to both terrify and compel me I’m all about it. Not to mention when there are strong and powerful female lead characters to follow through interesting plots. This is what draws me to O’Brien’s Birthmarked trilogy. Promised is the last in the series and promises to end with a bang as Leon and Gaia make their way back to where their story began.
Ages 12-17 | Publisher: Roaring Brook Press | October 2, 2012
Boys next door. Yup, you heard me. It’s about a girl and the boy next door. Yes, please!! Debut author Huntley Fitzpatrick writes a story about first love, family, and friendship. Seriously, there is a balcony climbing scene. I’m thinking that homage to Romeo and Juliet right there makes it worth our while.
Ages 12 and up | Publisher: Penguin Group | June 14, 2012
A sci-fi book with contemporary relationships and drama is what makes Through to You so appealing. When a young man’s girlfriend is lost to a tragic accident, he is thrust into a relationship with a similar girl from a parallel world. A relationship that provides him a very Christmas Carol-like experience as he sees how he and his girlfriend relate and interact in a different world.
Ages 14 and up | Publisher: HarperCollins | October 2, 2012
When done well, adaptations and retellings can be a wonderful way to understand and experience classic literature. I’ve never been good at getting into the classics themselves so I’m always ready to jump into these books. Peterfreund is also grabbing on to another one of my favorite things, dystopian fiction. In this re-imagined version of Jane Austen’s Persuasion there are genetic experiments, outlawed technology, class warfare and oppression. Good times!
Ages 13 and up | Publisher: HarperCollins | June 12, 2012
High fantasy has not always been my friend, but Marchetta has created such a beautifully amazing world in her Lumatere Chronicles that it’s nearly impossible not to fall in love with it. Add to that some of the most complex characters and plots and you have a winner. In the fourth installment of the series, Marchetta is focusing on Quintana, a princess who has had a less than comfortable life up to now. Though she is loved by few she is loved fiercely and protected with equal vigor. Though not much has been revealed about the focus of the story, I’m 100% on board based on my adoration of the previous books alone.
Ages 14 and up | Publisher: Candlewick Press | March 13, 2012
Ryan’s first in the Sky Chaser’s series (Glow) was one of those reads that left me wondering how I felt about it. In a good way. Filled with thought-provoking and discussable elements (religion, politics, etc.) there was no shortage of controversy and troublesome issues to discuss. That is what made it so wonderful. One minute it was a story I wasn’t sure I could get through and then suddenly I couldn’t put it down. Now the second book, Spark, is upon us and I’m eager to get a look at how things have progressed. Where do main character Waverly’s affections lie now? Are the leaderships of The Empyrean and The New Horizon peacefully co-existing? So many questions will hopefully be answered.
Ages 12-17 | Publisher: St. Martin’s Press | July 17, 2012
Thank you to The Children’s Book Review for having me. It was a pleasure to share these titles with you. I hope you are as excited about these upcoming releases as I am. Or maybe you’ve just been turned on to something new to add to your list. Either way it’s shaping up to be a good summer on the shelves!
Nicki Richesin is the editor of four anthologies The May Queen, Because I Love Her, What I Would Tell Her, and Crush. She is a regular contributor to Huffington Post, Daily Candy, 7×7, Red Tricycle, and San Francisco Book Review. Nicki has been reading to her daughter every day since she was born. For more information, visit: https://nickirichesin.com/.