Speaking of good books...

In your opinion, what 2007 YA books didn't get enough love?

(I have my reasons for asking, by the way...)

Comments

[R.J. Anderson]

Catherine Fisher's Incarceron can never have enough love in my opinion; neither can Meg Burden's Northlander (which I've decided I will just keep mentioning randomly everywhere until it takes over the world). I adored Laini Taylor's Faeries of Dreamdark: Blackbringer but I guess that's MG and not YA? It's a good meaty MG, in any case.

[Leila]

I'm with you on the first two, but I still haven't read Dreamdark. (Please don't tell Fuse. She'll probably stomp up to Maine and bonk me with a copy of it.)

[Patti]

I wish Red Glass by Laura Resau had gotten more attention.

[Elizabeth]

I'd have to say Brent Hartinger's Split Screen: Attack of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies/Bride of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies--which was ten kinds of cool and brilliant, besides, and didn't get talked about nearly enough, IMO--and Missing You, the conclusion to Meg Cabot's 1-800-Where-R-U series. Meg Cabot usually gets all the press anyone could ask for, but this book kinda got lost in the release of Princess on the Brink, and the 1-800 series should not be missed. Rob. So. Hot.

Also liked Nick Hornby's Slam although I'm having a hard time endorsing Tony Hawk worship since I saw him lose on Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader. Who doesn't know what an omnivore is?!

[Renay]

Hero, by Perry Moore. I so expected it to get more play, even with its weaknesses. Sad times!

[Angie]

I adored Song of the Sparrow by Lisa Ann Sandell--a beautiful retelling of the Lady of Shallott, also in verse.

[E. L. Weinstein]

I think BIG SLICK by Eric Luper was overlooked. Although at first glance it looks like a "poker novel," it's really a touching story about a teen's relationship with his family, particularly his father, as he moves through those most difficult of years. I found the characters engaging, gritty and realistic in an Elmore Leonard sort of way but without the guns and the ending quite poignant. Luper also manages to sprinkle humor throughout to keep things from getting too intense. It is coming-of-age at its best, recalling many memories in a new way and one of my favorites of 2007.

[Colleen]

I second Angie on Song of the Sparrow. I really think that book was brilliant and is perfect for bored students in English class. It works for both guys and girls which I don't think was publicized enough.

I also liked Tanith Lee's novella, Indigara - we don't see nearly enough SF for girls (and it wasn't depressing) and this was really fun. Pat Murphy's Wild Girls got some love on the blogs but deserves more - this is a book that would be very significant for a lot of MG girls and deserves a huge readership. Catherine Andronik's Wildly Romantic is an excellent collection of literary biographies that I heard basically nothing about. She did such a good job of making Byron, Shelley and the others relevant to modern teens; again this one belongs in English classes for sure. And Kirstopher Reisz took some serious risks with Tripping to Somewhere, another book that will be very important to its audience of teenage girls, but I don't think enough of them will know it is out there.

And on the adult side, someone needs to explain why Jo Walton is still not the Queen of the World (or the alt history world anyway). Ha' Penny was a dazzling sequel to Farthing but the books are not being wildly read and I just don't get it. Plus Nicola Griffith's Always and Nicholas Christopher's The Bestiary. Loved loved loved thost books. And don't even get me started on Cherie Priest..she should be crossing genres left and right with her Eden series and isn't. Cherie is such a dark delight to read; I wish more folks knew about Not Flesh Nor Feathers and her novella from last year, Dreadful Skin.

Okay, I'm done now....promise!

[Colleen]

Oops- probaby should not have thrown those adult books in there but I couldn't resist!

[Trisha]

Guyaholic by Carolyn Mackler.

And I agree with Elizabeth about Cabot's Missing You.

[Brian F.]

I second the motions for SLAM and HERO. Both wonderfully written and rich with honesty.

And OR NOT by Brian Mandabach. DISCLAIMER: I am the publicist for this book... HOWEVER, I still recognize fantastic writing and can say it was one of the best books I read last year. I would put it on this list even if I wasn't the publicist.

[Lisa]

THIRTEEN REASONS WHY by Jay Asher. One of the most compelling books I read last year that has really stayed with me, long past finishing it.

[Em]

Undercover by Beth Kephart. One of the most beautifully written books that I've ever read.