Sunday, 25 July 2010

Top 100 YA Novels (#75-71)

Here's another list of five titles to make their way into the top 100 YA novels of all time. Today we have an author hitting us with two of their titles, an exploration of an eating disorder and a setting where the external becomes the internal.

#75 Feed by MT Anderson (2001)
[100 points - 2 #1s, 2 #2s, 3 #4s, 4 #5s, 2 #6s, 1 #7s, 1 #8]

"The language, the world, the characters were all amazing. It's set in the future, when most humans have a ""feed"" implanted in their brains. The book really makes you think about the path we're on with ultra-consumerism." Kelly, Yannabe

In a future world where internet connections feed directly into the consumer’s brain, thought is supplemented by advertising banners, and language has gone into a steep decline, a little love story unfolds. Titus, an average kid on a weekend trip to the moon, meets Violet, a brainy girl who has decided to try to fight the feed. Assaulted by a hacker who interrupts their connection, they struggle to understand what has happened to them - and to everyone around them. MT-Anderson.com

Anderson’s second title to find itself on this list, Feed was also a multi-award winning title. Feedis a National Book Award Finalist, Los Angeles Times Book Prize Winner ,New York Times Book Review Notable Books of the Year, Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards - Honor Book and hailed as one of the ALA’s Best Books for YA.



#74 The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley (1983)
[101 points - 4 #1s, 4 #2s, 2 #4s, 1 #5, 2 #10s]

"I reread this novel every few years and even now, in my thirties, I find it inspirational: the story of a young woman thrust into difficult circumstances and her eventual triumph." Saraide, reader.

This is the story of Corlath, golden-eyed king of the Free Hillfok, son of the sons of the Lady Aerin.

And this is the story of Harry Crewe, the Outlander orphan girl who became Harimad-sol, King's Rider, and bearer of the Blue Sword, Gonturan, the sword Lady Aerin carried, the sword only a woman may wield, for it will turn in the hand of a man. RobinMcKinley.com

McKinley’s The Blue Sword is her second title to make the Top 100 YA Novel list and for good reason. Recipient of a Newbery Honor in 1983, this book presented a strong heroine in a fantasy setting that many readers have read time and time again since its release.

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#73 Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast by Robin McKinley (1978)
[101 points - 2 #1s, 1 #2, 2 #3s, 1 #4, 1 #5, 6 #6s, 1 #7, 1 #8, 2 #9s, 2 #10s]

"Any McKinley book is a joyous adventure, but this is one of her early works, and is a great introduction to her style. (Rose Daughter must be read soon afterwards, as well.) For anyone who loves fairy tales, fractured fairy tales, and spellbinding stories." Laura, reader

Beauty has never liked her nickname. She is thin and awkward; it is her two sisters who are beautiful. But what she lacks in looks she can perhaps make up for in courage.

When her father comes home with the tale of an enchanted castle in the forest and the terrible promise he had to make to the Beast who lives there, Beauty declares she must go to the castle, a prisoner of her own free will. RobinMcKinley.com


Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast is the third title by American author Robin McKinley to grace the list. Just like the title suggests, the author took the classic story of the beauty and the beast and rewrote it for a YA audience. After all, fairytales aren't just for children.

  • To visit the author’s website click here.
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#72 Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson (2009)
[101 points - 1 #2, 3 #3s, 2 #4s, 4 #5s, 2 #6s, 2 #7s, 2 #8s, 2 #9s, 2 #10s]

"A haunting beauty of a book. Knowing that it was about a girl dealing with an eating disorder, I didn’t want to read it. But I saw it in a bookstore, read the first 15 pages, and was hooked." Kelly, Yannabe

Lia and Cassie are best friends, wintergirls frozen in fragile bodies, competitors in a deadly contest to see who can be the thinnest. But then Cassie suffers the ultimate loss-her life-and Lia is left behind, haunted by her friend's memory and racked with guilt for not being able to help save her. In her most powerfully moving novel since Speak, award-winning author Laurie Halse Anderson explores Lia's struggle, her painful path to recovery, and her desperate attempts to hold on to the most important thing of all-hope. Penguin

One of the newer releases on the list, Anderson’s Wintergirls has already won a plethora of awards - British Fantasy Award, ALA/YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant YA Readers, 2009 CYBIL nominee for YA Fiction and the Milwaukee County Teen Book Award . An intense exploration into the affect an eating disorder has upon a teen, Wintergirls is about guilt, acceptance and deception.



#71 The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner (2006)
[104 points - 3 #1s, 3 #2s, 2 #3s, 2 #4s, 2 #5s, 1 #6]

"Her third book is where she proves she's a genius, striking gold three times in her alternate-historical-fantasies." Martha Hage, librarian

By scheming and theft, the Thief of Eddis has become King of Attolia. Eugenides (yoo-JEN-ə-deez) wanted the queen, not the crown, but he finds himself trapped in a web of his own making.

Then he drags a naive young guard into the center of the political maelstrom. Poor Costis knows he is the victim of the king's caprice, but his contempt for Eugenides slowly turns to grudging respect. Though struggling against his fate, the newly crowned king is much more than he appears. Soon the corrupt Attolian court will learn that its subtle and dangerous intrigue is no match for Eugenides. Goodreads

Third title in the Queen’s Thief series, The King of Attolia is the first appearance of American novelist, Megan Whalen Turner. A shock for the followers of the series, Whalen changed up the narrative to be from a new addition’s perspective.

8 comments:

Chachic said...

Yes! I've been waiting for one of Megan Whalen Turner's books to appear on this list. And it appeared with two other favorites - the two McKinleys. :)

Helen's Book Blog said...

My brother just recommended Feed to me and Wintergirls is wonderful!

Abby said...

Ohhh, I loved FEED. The audio recording is wonderful - great effects that bring the story to life. And I really liked WINTERGIRLS, too!

a flight of minds said...

That two Robin McKinly books are in this one post - and another on the list elsewhere - just reinforces the fact that I really should read some of her. And Feed, which has been on my to-read list forever.

- Alex

A said...

YES YES YES Megan Whalen Turner! Although I'm disappointed that she isn't higher on the list. And Robin McKinley! These poll results are really great so far!

Adele, do you think that you can post what the demographic of the voters are? I'd love to know what ages voted in this.

Also, I just need to get this out: Jellicoe Road had better be in the top ten, and Twilight had better not be.

I feel better now, thanks :)
Awesome job, Adele!

Sincerely, a long-time lurker, also named Adele

R Williams said...

This is a comment to show I am reading. I like comments on my site, and I bet you do too!

For the record, I first read the Queen of Attolia in 6th grade, and did not realize it was a sequel. I have no desire to read The Thief or the King of Attolia, but I did think Queen was well written, if not really my kind of thing.

Anonymous said...

做好事,不需要給人知道,雖然只是一件微不足道的事,但我相信,這會帶給我快樂。..................................................

Sarah said...

MWT. ROBIN McKINLEY. YEEEESSSS. I like that people voted for good books, even if I didn't vote.