2010 Debut Author Challenge

I am extremely late to the party which isn't a surprise as I am not known for being a "joiner". I haven't ever been someone who's challenge-inclined. I wanted to be last year but it never really happened.

It's with great pleasure that I sign myself up for The Story Siren's 2010 Debut Author Challenge. It's a great way to spread the word about the fabulous new authors making their mark on YA.

What is the 2010 Debut Author Challenge?

• The objective is to read a set number of YA (Young Adult) or MG (Middle Grade) novels from debut authors published this year.You don’t have to list your choices right away, but if you do feel free to change them throughout the year.
• Anyone can join, you don’t need a blog to participate. If you don’t have a blog you can always share your views by posting a review on Amazon.com/BarnesandNoble.com/GoodReads/Shelfari, or any other bookish site.
• The challenge will run from January 1, 2010- December 31, 2010.
• You can join at anytime!

You can read the rest of Kristi's explanation post here.

To be really honest, I am not all that familiar with The Tenners. I have been concentrating on getting to know authors that I have always admired, newly met or tweeted with. Some of these are Tenners but I've been more interested in the person than their work most of the time...I make the worst YA blogger in the world! Even worse I had tweeted with someone for two months before realising they were an author and not a blogger - - yep, I'm quick on the uptake!

I am going to try and review twenty Tenners this year. Within that I will attempt to read and review at least five Australian debut authors. I have no idea who these authors are as they aren't publicised as much as their American counterparts but as Kate Welshman, Kirsty Eager and Charlotte McConaughy were great finds in 2009, I am eager to see what's ahead of the OZYA industry in 2010. I would also like to address the gender inequality in my reading material. So if five of my debut author reads are from male authors, I will be very happy.

These aren't all the titles I am interested in but it does reflect my preference for contemporary YA, though I am not opposed to other genres within YA. Also, some of the summaries aren't all that compelling at the moment, they need tweaking.

Here's my list which can be added to:

1. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
2. Everlasting by Angie Frazier
3. The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin by Josh Berk
4. The Red Umbrella by Christina Diaz Gonzalez
5. Sea by Heidi R. Kling
6. The Secret Year - Jennifer Hubbard
7. Faithful - Janet Fox
8. A Match Made in High School - Kristin Walker
9. Party - Tom Leveen
10. The Sky is Everywhere - Jandy Nelson
11. Guardian of the Dead - Karen Healey
12. Tell Me A Secret - Holly Cupala
13. The Duff by Kody Keplinger
14. Princess for Hire by Lindsey Leavitt
15. Anna and the Boy Masterpiece by Stephanie Perkins
16. Forget-Her-Nots by Amy Brecount-White
17. Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
18. The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney
19. Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
20. The Line - Teri Hall
21. All Unquiet Things by Anna Jarzab
22. A Love Story Starring My Dead Best Friend by Emily Horner
23. The Rise of Renegade X - Chelsea Campbell

Let the challenge begin!