Friday, 31 December 2010

TEN Best Reads of 2010

Thanks to everyone who have been reading and taking part in the FIVE challenge.  It has been fantastic seeing how similar and divergent our picks for our reading material throughout the year.  Thanks again and I look forward to seeing which titles are lucky enough to grace your own lists :)

2010 has been a year where I have read less content but reviewed more positively. This has been due to the fact that I have been purchasing more books that interest me and receiving less review copies.  My top ten are from the books that I have written a review of and have been released in 2010.

Anna and The French Kiss - Stephanie Perkins


If you respond to quality characterisation, authentic and well built individual conflict and a gradual, evolving romance (based on friendship and attraction, rather than the love pow) then this is the book for you!  What I love most about Perkins' debut is that while the romance is lovely, so is the personal journey of the protagonist.  Should St Clair not have existed this book would still have been a fascinating examination of being a stranger in a foreign land and problems that plague a teen in boarding school.

Review

The Sky is Everywhere - Jandy Nelson

Nelson's debut shows of her exquisite turns of phrase while depicting the push and pull of grief.  It is a story that explores the muddiness of mind and emotions that come with grief and the need to hold onto the familiar, the known.  The poetry that is sprinkled throughout strikes a chord drawing the reader in closer to the heart of the matter.

Review

A Match Made in High School - Kristin Walker

This somewhat overlooked title was riotously fun demonstrating how one jaded principal's perspective can turn a senior class upside down.  What is lovely here is that two friendships are born between the protagonist and two diametrically opposed boys as a result of the Marriage Education program.  I love Todd Harding (one of the boys) too much considering how much he would have annoyed me during high school.  His way with dirty jokes and innuendo is a credit to the author.  Worth checking out for the shenanigans and the deeper implications of a hilarious educational implementation.

Review *My favourite opening line of any review I have ever posted.

The Piper's Son - Melina Marchetta

Tom Mackee was the larrikan in Marchetta's sophomoric Saving Francesca but in this title we see another side of the jokester.  The audience is reintroduced to several characters we are already familiar and news ones as well as the perspective alternates between Tom and Georgie.  Despite the cloud of grief that shadows TPS there is laughter, love and lots of music.  It is the only title on this list that represents the older years of the young adult category and does a wonderful job of reflecting that aimlessness of change and self doubt.

Review

Grace - Elizabeth Scott


Scott is an author (along with Marchetta) who is always changing it up.  It is such an admirable trait, especially when accomplished to the degree that this title is.  Grace is unlike anything I have read in YA. Detailing a barren dystopian world only slightly removed from our own, we join a girl ready to sacrifice herself for another's cause.  It's sparse, tense and political and also highly personal.  Affecting and thought provoking.

Review

Graffiti Moon - Cath Crowley

Sometimes there are books that come along where the characters speak directly to your own experiences and those that populate your own lives and Graffiti Moon is that.  Highly relatable, introspective, funny and a lovely representative of those that chase artistic ideals.  I particularly love that it is a story encapsulated within one Melbourne night with multiple perspectives presented.  Love it.

Review
Six Impossible Things - Fiona Wood

Sadly this is the only title that graces the list told exclusively from a teen male perspective.  And yet, I have a lot in common with this character having shared several of the same situations that he encounters....though I never stalked my cute neighbour.  Wood has shared with us a kid dealing with a world upside down with an enormous reservoir of humour and sensitivity.  There are also heapings of quirk - always a good thing!

Review

Some Girls Are - Courtney Summers

Unflinching in it is portrayal of the heinous nature of high school girls, Summers' sophomoric novel is powerful, nasty and slightly wicked.  But deep down under the underhanded power plays and evil wrongdoings there is a truthful look at redemption, forgiveness and how far is too far.

Kinetic.  Fast.  Charismatic.

Review

A Little Wanting Song - Cath Crowley

Another duel perspective Australian tale for the list, A Little Wanting Song is the lyrical telling of two girls finding friendship despite their differences and one hurtful untruth.  It's gentle and strong like Charlie's song lyrics and while quiet it resonates.

The two girls are diametrically posed in upbringing, interests and geography but their burgeoning relationship is beautifully grown.  Just lovely.

Review


Not That Kind of Girl - Siobhan Vivian


Feminism and femininity aren't themes that are often told hand in hand in YA but I am ecstatic that they are so truthfully told here.  Never have I read a book that seemed to so accurately depict my high school experience (sans hot boy).  Vivian has told a story about a girl striving to be her best version of herself to a degree that is frightening.  The rigidity of Natalie's existence, her pursuit of perfection and the pressure placed upon her are at direct contrast to that of the errant upstart who uses her sexuality to seek her goals.  Fantastic.

Review

December 21 - 5 Great Debuts
December 22 - 5 Great Covers
December 23 - 5 Great Series
December 24 - 5 Great Re-Reads (books you've LOVED so much you went back for more)
December 25 - 5 Most Anticipated (2011 titles)
December 26 - 5 Hopes for YA in 2011
December 27 - 5 Great YA Movie Deals
December 29 - 5 Great YA Bloggers
December 30 -
December 31 - 5 Best Titles for 2010 (which I double because 5 was too hard)

18 comments:

kate.o.d said...

i already did my faves for this year. we have a couple of overlaps!

you can see mine here: http://www.beantherereadthat.com/2010/12/some-of-my-favourites-for.html

Missie, The Unread Reader said...

oops, for this challenge, I prepared my post all wrong. When you said Best Titles, I thought you meant the best names of books.

Love your list of favorites. Many are on my TBR

lanna-lovely said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Even though I didn't participate in the Five Challenge, I've really loved reading everyone's lists. It's been so great. Thanks for doing this. I love your Top 10 list here too - some great books o nit.

Megan @ Read It, See It

A Canadian Girl said...

I've only read I think two of your favourites although there's a few on my wishlist. I'll have to check the others out though.

Jim said...

I've only actually read one of them (The Sky Is Everywhere, which is my book of the year!) but the rest look great and will add those that weren't already on my TBR list to it.

Great post, thanks!

Nic @ Irresistible Reads said...

Love your list. Especially since it included Cath Crowley twice (love her books) and Melina Marchetta.

Thank you for posting this challenge :)

Michelle said...

Adele, thanks for hosting this awesome challenge. I've enjoyed participating! Hope 2011 is as wonderful for you as 2010 was.

Jim said...

Thanks for hosting this challenge!

Great list, I loved The Sky Is Everywhere myself and want to read most of the others on it.

Loretta Nyhan said...

I've really enjoyed reading all of your FIVEs! Thanks so much--this was fun!

Super Librarian said...

Thanks for hosting such a fun challenge!

Fourth Musketeer said...

Here's the link for my 10 favorites from this year:

http://fourthmusketeer.blogspot.com/2010/12/raindrops-on-roses-and-whiskers-on.html

Literature for Lunch said...

Thanks for hosting this challenge, Adele! I was a bit late to the party but loved reading all of your posts and definitely wanted to participate in this last part.

I don't comment often (I am going to make it a resolution to do so more often) but I wanted to tell you that you are a blogging inspiration. I absolutely love your reviews and your writing voice. One day I actually sat down and read almost everyone of your reviews - we like a lot of the same books. I also share your love of Melina Marchetta - she is simply an amazing author.

Thanks for all you do for the blogging community, and again, for hosting this challenge. :) Happy New Year!

Unknown said...

Ok, you have finally convinced me to read A Match Made in High School. Thanks for all of the book tips throughout the year!

Blueicegal ♥ said...

Yay for the sky is everywhere!! everyone is talking about Anna and the French kiss, I must read it!

Martina said...

I did love doing the Challenge.

Liviania said...

I've only read one of these! I feel so out of it.

Elisa said...

Loved Anna and the French Kiss and The Sky is Everywhere! Two of my favs from this year as well.