I know lots of people think the end-of-year booklists are lame, but I love 'em.
Chapter Books/Teen Fiction:
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, by M.T. Anderson -- The most impressive book I've read this year. While it won't be everyone's cuppa, it's an achievement-and-a-half on M. T. Anderson's part.
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, by Kate DiCamillo, illus. by Bagram Ibatoulline -- Ah, yes. The Bunny Book, as some have taken to calling it. Personally, I liked it a whole lot, but I very much understand why others did not.
Saint Iggy, by K.L. Going -- Yeah. I don't really understand why this is on the list. Or the starred reviews. Someone who really really liked it, please explain. Because I felt "eh" at best.
Fly by Night, by Frances Hardinge -- Fab. Fabbity-fab. Super. Pure enjoyment.
Incantation, by Alice Hoffman -- Liked it enough that I'm planning on giving her other YA books a try.
Firestorm, by David Klass -- What I said about Saint Iggy, but quadrupled. Someone who liked this book, please pipe up. Because, wow. I was not a fan.
Keturah and Lord Death, by Martine Leavitt -- Super. Romantic and sad and thoughtful and, again, romantic.
Fairest, by Gail Carson Levine -- Haven't read it yet, but planning on it.
Sold, by Patricia McCormick -- Haven't read it yet because I'm scared. I have it at home, though. Baby steps.
Clementine, by Sara Pennypacker, illus. by Marla Frazee -- Haven't even read ABOUT it. Oh, wait. I recognize the cover. Still haven't read it, though.
The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak -- Must. Read. Soon. Or. Be. Branded. The. Most. Losery. Loser. In. The. World.
My comments, obvs, not PW's -- you can read theirs (and look at the rest of the lists) here.
(via Big A little a, via Bookslut)
I LOVED Hoffman's Green Angel, but am only so-so on the rest of her teen stuff. Haven't read Incantation yet. Hoping it will magically appear before me soon. Fairest was wonderful.
Posted by: Jackie | 06 November 2006 at 05:01 PM
I've started Green Angel at LEAST four times. Never made it through, despite the fact that the book is, like, fourteen pages long. I'll dig it out and give it another try.
Posted by: Leila | 06 November 2006 at 05:07 PM
Losery.Loser? I've seen this book in the library but I always end up making an excuse not to read it.Why? Don't know. In fact all I know is I should probably pick it up...eventually. All the offline people I know are so clueless about books, they just follow all the major fads(Artemis Fowl, Unfortunate Events, Travelling Pants) and think they know what they're talking about which explains why I only had a faint idea that I should read this. Yah.
Posted by: Shrieky | 06 November 2006 at 06:10 PM
Hey, I've actually read 3 1/2 of those! I agree about ON - most impressive by all means.
Posted by: jess | 06 November 2006 at 06:51 PM
I'm so glad to have this list. Just started blogging a young adult fantasy novel I co-wrote, and need to read some current successes. Thanks!
http://tandariltree.blogspot.com
Posted by: mindy toomay | 07 November 2006 at 01:07 AM
Ella Enchanted was better then Fairest which I feel will only appeal to girls desperately looking for something in the same world. It felt a little week.
Posted by: Anna Marie | 11 November 2006 at 12:09 AM
CLEMENTINE will rock your socks. A wonderful contemporary of Ramona and the perfect answer to that God-awful snotty, whiney, back-talking brat Junie B. Jones, Clementine is smart, funny, and endearing. Illustrations are perfection. The cover IS great, hey? Sequel "The Talented Clementine" to follow in the spring. So excited.
Posted by: Chloe | 28 November 2006 at 11:05 AM