Glad to see a nonfiction novel making the Teens' Top Ten nominees

We Should Hang Out Sometime

By: John Sunderquist

Genre: YA autobiography

Pages: 336

Published: 2014

Read: July

4 out of 5

I don’t understand why authors of  nonfiction books feel the need to constantly repeat themselves. Sunderquist mentions how is prosthetic leg works in almost every other chapter…I heard him the first time. Whenever authors repeat something numerous times I feel they are using it as a page filler to make story longer. However (and this is a big however), Sunderquist’s story is hilarious and very entertaining. I was glad to see a nonfiction book make the Teens’ Top Ten nominations and believe it was well deserved. As a person with a disability I completely understand the embarrassing, but sometimes even funny to me moments that can happen. I also felt for Josh on how his disability can affect all his relationships even if unwilling to see it himself. 

A 2015 Teens' Top Ten nominee - A mystery

Don’t Look Back

By: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Genre: YA fiction/mystery

Pages: 384

Published: 2014

Read: July

4 out of 5

It is a complete coincidence, which made it a completely confusing time, when I choose to read this book and listen to We were Liars by E. Lockhart at the same time. They are so similar – an accident, memory loss, discovery of what happened after accident and why no one wants the protagonist to regain her memory. AND they were both published in 2014. However, Don’t Look Back is much better written and more entertaining. It well deserves a place in the 2015 Teens’ Top Ten nominees. I definitely felt Sam’s disorientation and cheered for her’s and Carter’s relationship. Whereas in, We were Liars, I don’t feel as connected to the characters, relationships and therefore story itself.  Armentrout has a way of writing that makes all the characters look guilty and still not have story be unbelievable. When you think you figured it out, there is another twist and turn. I’m looking forward to reading more of the nominees and seeing how they compare to this one.