Recommended Reading 2009

Updated to add Going Bovine 'cause I read it after I posted this list, but before the end of 2009.

For some reason, I have recently gotten a lot of requests for reading lists, people asking me what are some good books ("Other than yours") that they should dip into.

I always like that little parenthetical, BTW. First of all, because it assumes I would only recommend my own books. Second of all, because -- well, if you're asking my opinion on what you should read, then I assume you've already read my books! Why else would you care what I think?

In any event, here's a list of some terrific books I read over the past twelve months. These are not the only books I read this year -- they're just the ones that, for whatever reason, really jumped out at me and smacked me in the face. They include a lot of YA (of course), but also a graphic novel, a very cool chapter book, a collection of letters, a satire, an adult collection, and a terrific biography.

If you try any of them, I'm sure you'll enjoy the time spent.

• The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
• Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
• The Development by John Barth
• Ten Mile River by Paul Griffin
• Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott
• Dear Genius: The Letters of Ursula Nordstrom ed. by Leonard S. Marcus
• Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
• After the Moment by Garret Freymann-Weyr
• Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can't Have by Allen Zadoff
• King of Murder by Betsy Byars
• The Stone Child by Dan Poblocki
• The Vampire Just Is Not that Into You by Vlad Mezrich
• The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
• I'll Sleep When I'm Dead: The Dirty Life and Times of Warren Zevon by Crystal Zevon
• Blue Pills by Frederik Peeters
• The Patron Saint of Butterflies by Cecelia Galante
• Going Bovine by Libba Bray
  

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1

Re: Recommended Reading 2009
By: Justin B. (fantastyfreak) on Sat December 19, 2009, 14:23:04

I recently finished "The Forests of Hands and Teeth," and it possibly rivals your book and "Catching Fire," as this years best young adult release. Once I began reading the story, I found it to be increasingly difficult to divert my attention from the book. And surprisingly, as compared with other zombie stories, Carrie Ryan's story was an extremely emotional story that was driven by her characters and their reaction to the daily threat of death.

2

Re: Recommended Reading
By: Abbe on Sat December 19, 2009, 21:49:40

I thought Allen Zadoff's Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can't Have was funny, touching, and heart-warming. Some others that jumped out at me that aren't on your list...The Maze Runner by James Dashner was a great book. And I have been recommending When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead for the 9 to 12 age group. Actually there were a lot of amazing books in 2009. I'll have to check out some of the ones on your list that I missed.