First review for the 2017 Teens' Top Ten nominees

Heartless

By: Marissa Meyer

Genre: YA Fantasy Retellings

Pages: 453

Published: 2016

Read: February

4 out of 5

I am not a huge fantasy novel fan, however if I had to choose my favorite subgenre it would definitely be the fairy tale retelling stories. I love comparing the original story with the modern version I am reading at the time. And within that grouping, Meyer is my favorite author. This is the second novel of hers I have read. Teens do still love them more than me, but I highly recommend Meyer to anyone wanting to try a fantasy retelling story.  I am surprised that Heartless wasn’t made a part of the Lunar Chronicles series – Catherine could have fit right in with those characters and their adventures. Meyer is a great author and knows how to keep a teen’s interest. She is a great storyteller and well deserving of this nomination. 

Short Stories of the unwound teens

Unbound     

By: Neal Shusterman

Genre: YA Dystopian/ Short Stories

Pages: 320

Published: 2015

Read: March

3 out of 5

I was very excited to read this book. The Unwind Dystology was one of my favorite dystopian series. The short stories in this book are on the lives of the teens before they were unwound.  It was interesting to read their thoughts, actions and tricks before they were unwound or escaped the process.  Some of the stories weren't written by Shusterman, but by family members and friends. I was able to tell the difference and enjoyed the ones written by Shusterman much more. I was able to connect with the characters more in those stories and felt they were better written. Although this book wasn't up to the standards of the dystology, it is a must read if you loved the Unwind books as much as I did.      

An historical fantasy book...

Grave Mercy

By: Robin LaFevers

Genre: YA historical fiction/fantasy

Pages: 549

Published: 2012

Read: February

4 out of 5

Ismae’s story is captivating from the very beginning, but did lose me as it continued. Lafevers includes WAY too many characters in the story, which is probably why she starts with a list of characters. I felt I would have been able to grasp and enjoy the story more if there were only half the number of characters. It’s not that all those characters were meaningless, but they weren’t so essential that without them I would have found the story more enjoyable. I am looking forward to the rest of the trilogy, which is the stories of Sybella and Annith, both fellow covent sisters of Ismae. However, I still found the story VERY captivating and intriguing, so 4 stars it is. 

Where are the chapter headings?

The Infinite Sea (The Fifth Wave #2)

By: Rick Yancy

Genre: YA Sci-fi

Pages: 320

Published: 2014

Read: February

3 out of 5

I was not looking forward to reading this book (as my stepson says, “It’s a work book”), however overall I enjoyed this one more than the first in the series. I listened to the first one on audio, which I LOVED because there were 2 narrators making voice distinguish clear. In both books, the chapters alternate between characters.  I had expected, in the print version, it to be just as clear. That is not the case for this trilogy. There were even a few chapters I didn’t know which character was narrating until the last page of chapter. Often I cheated, otherwise, I had a hard time focusing on the words or would need to reread a paragraph after the narrator was identified. It was annoying and I would love to know the author’s purpose for this. Normally I love stories that alternate storytellers. I feel it makes a well-rounded story.  

Trilogy starts as a romance dystopian, second book leans towards sci-fi

Crossed (Matched #2)

By: Ally Condie

Genre: YA Dystopian

Pages: 367

Published: 2011

Audiobook: 9 hours and 51 mins

Read: February

2 out of 5

Although I would classify Matched as a romance dystopian novel, I found Crossed to be more sci-fi in nature, but similar to Matched it is not very unique from other YA novels in this genre. The romance triangle between Cassia, Ky and Xander continues, but the plot has more of a sci-fi twist regarding the rebellion against the Rising. Futhermore, I felt that Crossed could be marketed to teen boys that enjoy sci-fi, but will never be read by them because Crossed, doesn’t portray that angle.  Readers that read everything in the dystopian genre will definitely enjoy this trilogy. I only wish there was a creative way to get the trilogy into the boys’ hands.

The finale of Alona and Will

Body & Soul

By: Stacey Kade

Genre: YA Paranormal

Pages: 316

Published: 2012

Read: February

3.5 out of 5

I imagine it being very difficult to write the last book of a trilogy. Like the many readers, the author has invested a lot of time and energy into their characters. The author then needs to say goodbye and leave the readers satisfied. Satisfying the readers must be a difficult, but rewarding challenge.  For me, it doesn’t have to be a “Happily Ever After” ending. I enjoy the hopeful endings, but most of all I want closure. I felt Kade did a great job writing a book that had adventures throughout, but ended with closure I needed. I can say goodbye to Alona and Will and happily greet the new characters in the rest of Kade’s books.

No Originality, nothing special

Matched

By: Ally Condie

Genre YA Paranormal

Pages: 369

Published: 2010

Audiobook: 9 hours 40 mins

Read: January

3 out of 5

I read this book after all the hype was over with the teens. I do agree that fans of paranormal fiction will definitely enjoy it. For me though, there was nothing original from the other similar trilogies – Divergent, Delirium, The Giver, etc.   The communities are divided by skill, personalities, or other characteristic then either work together or compete against each other. In each trilogy, there is always a governmental department that controls the communities and eventually one person or group fight back. Guess who wins in the end?? In my opinion, for an authors to succeed in this genre they need to develop more original ideas. However, the books still seem to be very popular with the teens and I’m glad they are reading. I do plan on listening to the rest of trilogy, if for nothing else but see if there ends up being an originality.

Another mean cheerleader book..LOVE IT

Queen of the Dead

By: Stacey Kade

Genre:  YA paranormal

Pages: 266

Published: 2011

Read: January

3.5 out of 5

Honestly, I had a hard time following the story at the beginning. I think it was primarily because it didn’t seem to pick up where the previous one left off. This book could almost be a stand-alone because it fills you in on Alona’s past without repeating the entire book. The aspect that I enjoyed most was Alona’s not very nice personality. YES, I have always had something against cheerleaders and it my opinion she is a typical one even in death. I did miss all the encounters with other ghosts. They added humor to the book. Ironically, every time the Order of the Guardians was mentioned I couldn’t help think of Order of the Phoenix and Galaxy of the Guardians. Overall, I look forward to reading the conclusion and will be doing so soon. 

Book needed more research

The Age of Miracles

By: Karen Thompson Walker

Genre:  Adult/YA Fiction

Pages: 294

Published: 2012

Read: December

1.5 out of 5

I really don't understand why this book is considered adult fiction. First of all, the protagonist and narrator throughout the book is a 11 year old girl. It is a coming-of-age dystopian novel that to me seems only teens would enjoy. There were two plots - the world coming to an end and then  Julia being more concerned about Seth liking her. I felt the two storylines didn't connect well in this particular novel. Lastly, I felt Walker should have researched more on what would happen if the earth rotation did begin to slow - it didn't go anyway and didn't seem necessary to the overall story Walker was attempting to write. 

Young Adult paranormal romance

The Ghost and the Goth

By: Stacey Kade

Genre:  YA Paranormal

Pages: 304

Published: 2011

Read: November

4 out of 5

I love the way Kade is able to write on paranormal topics, yet make it all so realistic. She stretches her stories just enough without going overboard. I enjoy how she adds little bits of humor (and makes fun of cheerleaders) in this story and even has the characters “talk” to the readers. I love the connection between Will, the teen who speaks to ghosts, and Alona, the ghost. I would have liked to have seen more of Joonie (maybe the next book?), but overall the characters were well developed. I felt the book ended with closure and could be a stand-alone novel. I wonder if she knew it was going to be a trilogy when beginning to write it.  I will be reading the rest soon, so stay tuned.  This book is great for teens into paranormal love stories.

The 14 kids from Monument...

Monument 14: Sky on Fire

By: Emmy Laybourne

Genre:  YA Science Fiction

Pages: 212

Published: 2013

Read: November

4 out of 5

This is the sequel to Monument 14, but now some of the kids have left the safety of Greenway. This story is told in the alternating voices of two brothers – Alex, who has left for Denver International Airport and Dean, who stayed in Greenway. Both books are jammed packed with action and adventure, so prepare to do nothing but sit and read once you pick them up. This series definitely deserves the praise it is receiving from teens everywhere. I was happy to learn that I started the trilogy after all three were released. Therefore, I can jump right into the exciting and suspenseful (I hope) conclusion of the 14 kids from Monument, Colorado.  This trilogy would also make a fantastic movie or teen TV series. 

A great new YA trilogy - year 2024

Monument 14

By: Emmy Laybourne

Genre:  YA Dystopian

Pages: 294

Published: 2012

Read: November

4 out of 5

I read this book because the second book of the trilogy is a Teens’ Top Ten winner for 2014 (I have to read them in order). If this book is any indication of what is to come, I can’t wait to read Sky of Fire and Savage Drift.  I can honestly say I believe the teens do a phenomenal job choosing the top 10 of each year (in fact, better than some other organizations). For me, Monument 14 comes in as a close second, in the YA dystopian genre, to the Unwind trilogy by Neal Shusterman. This book offers a little bit of everything – action, excitement, love, danger and suspense. I recommend it to all fans of dystopian. Recently, I even had a teen who is a huge fan of realistic fiction tell me she was surprised at how much she enjoyed Sky on Fire; so I say everyone should give this trilogy a try.

Life after death??

Elsewhere

By: Gabrielle Zevin

Genre:  YA fantasy

Pages: 277

Published: 2007

Read: November

3.5 out of 5

What happens after you die? Zevin writes of Elsewhere. A place where you live, work, and play – only after you die. It’s a story of 15 year old, Liz, who ends up in Elsewhere after a tragic accident.  The story is cute, sometimes funny (want to learn Canine or Catus? Go to Elsewhere), heart-breaking and even peacefully. It's not groundbreaking writing, but I felt Zevin wrote in a way that will have teens thinking…what it’s like, who should I be, where do I want to go, do my actions now matter?  It's a nonthreatening view of life and death and life after death. This would be a great selection for teen book groups.

The ending of a great Dystopian series

Undivided

By: Neal Shusterman

Genre:  YA Dystopian

Pages: 372

Published: 2014

Read: November

4 out of 5

This was the final book of a fantastic series that I discovered by accident. The series follows three main protagonists on an adventure to save themselves from being unwound – taken apart and having their body parts donated to adults that need them. This final one is just as action packed and full of twists and turns as the other three books. I highly recommend this series to ANYONE because I thought I was through with dystopian novels when I picked it up and this entire series, as a whole, enthralled me. The third one was a slight let down for me. I felt there was not enough of an advancement for the teens from book two to four. With that being said, book four was great and the ending of the series was satisfactory. 

Another great by Cat Winters

The Cure for Dreaming

By: Cat Winters

Genre:  YA Historical Fiction

Pages: 368

Published: 2014

Read: October

4.5 out of 5

Another outstanding novel by Cat Winters. Honestly, I can’t decide if I enjoyed this one or In the Shadow of Blackbirds better. They both shed light on true historical events and included photographs while adding a haunting and paranormal flare. Simply put, Winters is an amazing writer and I feel her books should be read by both teens and adults. I was disappointed when In the Shadow of Blackbirds did not make the Teens’ Top Ten for 2014 (although it was a nominee). I hope this one has the honor in 2015 among other awards. I believe Winters is my favorite author in the historical fiction genre. I now have to wait until sometime in 2015 for her third novel. 

Better than Twilight

The Silver Kiss

By: Annette Curtis Krause

Genre:  YA Paranormal

Pages: 198

Published: 1992

Read: October

3.5 out of 5

Krause is one of my favorite paranormal authors. In fact, I don't understand how the Twilight series was the series that made vampires and werewolves such a popular read with all ages. By far, both this novel and Blood and Chocolate were better written and more interesting. She also wrote a short story, Kissing Dead Boys that I highly recommend.  I still find the concept of humans falling in love with vampires/werewolves so quickly and the females being so vulnerable unbelievable. However, I didn't feel the humans in Krause's novels were quite as ditzy as Bella in the Twilight series. If a fan of Twilight, I recommend Krause and dare you to compare. 

A great paranormal YA novel

 In the Shadow of Blackbirds

By: Cat Winters

Genre:  YA historical fiction/paranormal

Pages: 387

Published: 2013

Read: September

4 0ut of 5

I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I typically do not enjoy paranormal/spirits novels, but this is definitely an exception. Even though it is considered a fictional novel, parts of her story are based on facts from 1918. There is great evidence that she is knowledgeable and applied her research to the plot. I also read her author’s note and recommend everyone to read it; just adds some insight.  I loved reading the development of the mystery and Mary Shelley’s determination not to give up. This novel reminded me of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs, but BETTER. After reading this one, I feel I rated Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children too high. I would change it from a 4 to a 3 star book. This book definitely deserves to be a Teens’ Top Ten in 2014.

Local author Stacey Kade...

The Rules

By: Stacey Kade

Genre:  YA Sci-Fi

Pages: 432

Published: 2014

Read: August

3 out of 5

This book started out very intriguing - a teen girl who is half human and half alien attempting to live in the human world and not be discovered. However, it quickly turns to a teen romance novel more than Sci-Fi. There are some YA novels that don't necessarily appeal to the adult audience and I believe this is one.  The teen romance was too cliché for me and I wanted more of the alien side. I do believe that teen girls that are fans of dystopian and sci-fi will love this book. The ending does wrap back around to focus on the Sci-Fi aspects and definitely leaves you wanting more.  I will finish the trilogy because I need to know how it ends, but I am more anxious to try one of Kade's adult novels.   

I can't believe this book is a nominee for Teens' Top Ten of 2014

Love in the Time of Global Warming

By: Francesca Lia Block

Genre:  YA Sci-Fi

Pages: 240

Published: 2013

Audiobook: 5 discs (5 hrs and 27 mins)

Read: June

1 out of 5

OH, MY! I hated this book. Maybe it was because I never read Homer’s Odyssey, but I struggled sticking with it.  I felt the story was more about Pen complaining (AKA – harsher word) about how she was a horrible (AKA – typical) teenager to her parents and now after the Apocalyptic she regrets it instead of a story of her survival after the Apocalyptic. For most of story, she was just a whiny teenager. Then you add the fact that I listened to the audio, which although very distinct voices didn’t seem to fit the characters. One of the characters she befriends sounds like a creepy, old man trying to having a sexy voice versus someone only a couple years older then Pen. What shocks me most is that this book is one of the 25 nominees for Teens’ Top Ten of 2014. I don’t get it and I hope one of my teens reads it this summer so I can discuss the attraction.

Yet, another Dystopian...

The 5^th Wave

By: Rick Yancy

Genre:  YA Dystopian

Pages: 480

Published: 2013

Audiobook: 10 discs (12 hours and 42 minutes)

Read: June

3 out of 5

I am very glad that I listened to the audio version versus reading the book.  This is for several reasons – I am so over dystopian, but had never listened to one so it was a good change of pace; the story was read by two narrators which I love because it distinguishes between the characters and enhances the story; and I have been driving for long periods of time lately so I was able to focus on the story. I don’t know if it is because I am female, but I definitely enjoyed Cassie’s version and narration better than the male characters. I believe the high popularity of this particular dystopian novel is because of the alternating perspectives between the female and male characters, so it held the interest of both teen boys and girls. Curious as to way, Yancy started and ended with Cassie’s perspective though.  I would probably have given the book a higher rating myself IF I read this before reading so many other similar dystopian novels since I didn’t find too much unique about it.