Tuesday, 17 August 2010

Top 100 YA Novels (#1)

Voting began in May of this year, well over 700 people volunteered their choices and we finally have the book deemed to be the best YA novel.

Voila...


#1 The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (2008)

[1257 points - 23 #1s, 36 #2s, 25 #3s, 29 #4s, 23 #5s, 8 #6s, 16 #7s, 11 #8s, 7 #9s, 11 #10s]

"I have not felt this excited about a book in such a long time, it is one of the most amazing books I have ever read." Amber Reed, Librarian

"I recently read this, but it has become one of the best dystopian books I have ever read in a young adult manner. In my opinion, it is anything but young adult. A MUST read for anyone who likes a little adventure." Kelcie Pegher, reader.

"This book gives new meaning to gripping. Katniss's struggles are almost tangible in their portrayal and the stark paucity of the Capitol's grip on Panem is unparalleled. The best YA dystopia ever." Jacob, reader.

"It is epic! It keeps you guessing, and is so intelligently written. It was the first book to move me to tears in a while. Simply amazing. It will be a standard that all YA books will try to match for the next 10 years." Melanie Shoemake, reader.

"I was skeptical about this because I'm not really into sci-fi, but I don't think I've ever read a book as fast as I did this one. I literally could not stop reading it. I've recommended it to many friends and family members; each one that has read it enjoyed it just as much as I did! The story was so different and usual that it kept me going. I was so sad to reach the end of a great book but then I was excited to see there would be a sequel!" Susan, reader.

"Collins has the ability to write a story that keeps you intensely interested the entire way through. I didn't believe that I would like this book, but as soon as I was ten pages in I was hooked. It's frightening to think about the possibility that the world could turn into this place called Panem. The heroine of this story and her plight makes you root for her every step of the way." Liz, reader.

"Gore! The end of society! The female protagonist who can totally look after herself! God, I would have loved to have read this growing up." Francesca, reader.

"What an exciting take on dystopian futures. A little bit of Battle Royale and The Truman Show all at once." Kristal LeMaistre, reader.

Katniss is a 16-year-old girl living with her mother and younger sister in the poorest district of Panem, the remains of what used be the United States. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The Hunger Games." The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed. When her sister is chosen by lottery, Katniss steps up to go in her place. SuzanneCollinsBooks.com

Seven hundred and thirty five people volunteered their ten favourite YA novel titles of all time. Only one could be the winner and it was The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Not only did this novel win, but it won convincingly by well over 300 points. A popular and critical success, this novel was chosen as a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year (2008), Cybils Award for Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction (2008), Amelia Bloomer List (2009), An ALA Notable Children's Book for Older Readers (2009), Horn Book Fanfare Best Book (2008), Red House Children's Book Award for Older Readers & Overall (2010), New York Times Notable Children's Book of (2008), Publishers Weekly's Best Books of The Year and ALA's Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults (2009).

The first in a three title trilogy, this dystopian story traced the adventures of the rebellious Katniss Everdeen from District 12. In entering the Hunger Games on her sister's behalf she fought for survival, her family, Peeta, her district and all the disenfranchised within Panem. In becoming a focal point of the rebellion she has the chance to make a better life for all...if she can survive.

  • To visit the author's website click here.
Please return tomorrow as I present the list in its entirety (including a copy you can save as your own) as well as a break down of the results. In 2011 I will be conducting this poll again to see how our choice evolve (or don't) so please keep an eye on Persnickety Snark so you can have your say in the future.

Thank you for following the results so carefully. It's been an interesting list of both popular and critical favourites but more importantly it brings forgotten novels to the fore and brings new light to titles we might have dismissed. Thank you.

11 comments:

Carla said...

Ahhhh, I don't really know what to say other than i'm sad to see this list to come to an end. And eff man, if this woman kills Gale i'm seriously going to go ape crazy.

And it won by over 300 votes? wow, just wow. The Hunger Games mania seems to have consumed us all.

Tina said...

I'm not surprised this won. :) Great job Adele, for starting this list. :)

Anonymous said...

Wow! Finally at #1! Crazy! Thanks for doing this list and hosting it - it was a great series.

Colleen said...

Great list and a well deserved number 1 for The Hunger Games!

Steph Su said...

Oh, deserved, deserved. I just reread this the other night, and it was just as fantastic as I remembered. Maybe even more. I LOVE when that happens. It's been a fun journey!

PastaSauce said...

Disappointed with the choice number 1, the Hunger Games is a good book but not that good. I guess it was inevitable in a people's choice, sort of, poll like this.

A thought on the list overall.

Too many spots were taken up by sequels, which could have been taken up original works. The Twilight and Harry Potter series should have been counted as single entities and then placed wherever the lowest placed book in the respective series placed. For example, this would mean that HP: The series would come in at number two, Twilight: the Series, even though it is undeserving of placing at all, at number 9.

Sorry if I sound ungrateful. You did a great job putting this together, Well done.

I'd also like to see a list of books that almost, but didn't quite make it.

Marg said...

Awesome! Thanks so much for putting this together.

I look forward to participating next year.

Mrs. DeRaps said...

I concur. Definitely my favorite YA of all time.


And, I linked this in my Mockingjay Madness post. Here's the link:

http://derapsreads.blogspot.com/2010/08/mockingjay-madness.html

little_stranger said...

“Too many spots were taken up by sequels, which could have been taken up original works. The Twilight and Harry Potter series should have been counted as single entities and then placed wherever the lowest placed book in the respective series placed. For example, this would mean that HP: The series would come in at number two, Twilight: the Series, even though it is undeserving of placing at all, at number 9.
Sorry if I sound ungrateful.”

@PastaSauce: No, that doesn’t sound ungrateful (to me anyway).

I tallied the votes for the poll, and would like to comment on the above. Note that these are only my views, and I don’t presume to speak for Adele - she was the final arbiter.

I presume you meant to say “wherever the highest book in the respective series placed”, not the “lowest”. If it were the latter, then the Twilight and Harry Potter series would be placed outside the Top 100, since neither New Moon nor Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (the lowest placed books in their respective series) finished in the Top 100.

The treatment of series was an interesting issue. IMHO a series should not be counted as a single entity. Many voters had a favourite book in a series (which was not the first book in the series), hence the poll results should reflect this fully, even if it does lead to a prevalence of books belonging to a series in the poll.

As a general observation, it will be interesting in a 2011 poll to see whether The Hunger Games will still be #1. Given the imminent release of Mockingjay, that might divide people’s votes. More fun and games!

Pens said...

What a wonderful countdown, loved checking daily to see it. Great job Adele!!

Michelle said...

I love me some Hunger Games but have to admit I'm surprised it's number one! I thought for sure something a bit more classic would have been the ultimate choice. Kudos to all of those selected, it's a fantastic list!