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February 4, 2008
My Favorite Books of 2007 - A Dozen
This is my second annual list of favorite books, those published in 2007. This year I've also read books published in prior years, but I want to concentrate on 2007 books. As it was last year, this is a pretty diverse list. So, here it is. I'd love to know your favorites of the past year.
Freak Show by James St. James
My favorite book of 2007 is Freak Show. It's like nothing I've read before. Billy Bloom is gay, but it’s mostly theoretical, as he hasn’t had much experience. When he has to move to Florida, he can’t believe his bad luck. His new school is a mix of Bible Belles, Aberzombies, and Football Heroes, none of whom are exactly his type. Billy’s efforts to fit in and stand out at the same time are both hilarious and heartrending. He is flamboyant..out there. Readers are in for a wild ride as Billy’s story of bravado, pain, and unexpected love is revealed. Funny and heartbreaking at the same time.
Derby Girl by Shauna Cross
A close second is Derby Girl. Meet Bliss Cavendar, a blue haired, indie-rock loving misfit stuck in the tiny town of Bodeen, Texas. Her pageant-addicted mother expects her to compete for the coveted Miss Blue Bonnet crown, but Bliss would rather die than be subjected to such rhinestone tyranny. Her escape? Roller Derby!! When she discovers a league in nearby Austin, Bliss embarks on a journey full of hilarious tattooed girls, delicious boys in bands, and a few not-so-awesome realities even the most bad-assed derby chick has to learn. A story with action and issues. A great read.
Beastly by Alex Flinn
“I am a beast…Not quite wolf or bear, gorilla or dog but a horrible new creature who walks upright—a creature with fangs and claws and hair springing from every pore…You think I'm talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now…I'll stay this way forever—ruined—unless I can break the spell.” This updated unique retelling of Beauty and the Beast is sure to keep you reading until the end.
Boy Toy by Barry Lyga
Josh has a secret. Five years ago, his life changed. Drastically. And everyone thinks they understand. But they don't—they can't. About to graduate from high school, Josh is still trying to sort through the pieces. There's Rachel, the girl he thought he'd lost years ago, back and determined to be part of his life. There are college decisions, the toughest baseball game of his life, and a coach who won't stop pushing Josh to the brink. Finally there's Eve, whose return brings back all the memories of Josh's past. It's time for Josh to face the truth about what happened...if only he knew what the truth was. An absorbing story for older teens.
Deadline by Chris Crutcher
Ben has big things planned for his senior year. Had big things planned. Leukemia has a way of changing things. Now he has one year left to make his mark on the world. How can a pint-sized, smart-ass seventeen-year-old do anything significant in the nowheresville of Trout, Idaho? First, Ben makes sure that no one else knows what is going on. Living with a secret isn't easy, though, and Ben's resolve begins to crumble...especially when he realizes that he isn't the only person in Trout with secrets. Chris Crutcher writes like no one else. You won't be able to put this book down.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
It's a new school year and Greg Heffley finds himself thrust into middle school, where undersized weaklings share the hallways with kids who are taller, meaner, and already shaving. The hazards of growing up before you're ready are uniquely revealed through words and drawings as Greg records them in his diary--journal, not diary. Greg is happy to have his sidekick, Rowley. But when Rowley's star starts to rise, Greg tries to use his best friend's newfound popularity to his own advantage, kicking off a chain of events that will test their friendship. The perfect combination of words and drawings.
Lemonade Mouth by Mark Peter Hughes
Ninth grade outcasts Wen, Olivia, Mo, Charlie and Stella are in detention together. They don't know each other. When a commercial jingle comes on the radio, each one starts doing something--Charlie starts tapping, Olivia sings softly, Mo plays a rubber band, etc. Thus, the genesis of the band Lemonade Mouth. But how did they get the name? Are they better than Mudslide Crush, Opequonsett High School's favorite band or are they horrendous? Each chapter is told by a different band member or student. This is an all around fun read. Give it a try.
London Calling by Edward Bloor
During the summer after 7th grade, Martin meets a boy who will change his life forever. Jimmy Harker appears one night with a deceptively simple question: Will you help? Where did this boy come from, with his strange accent and urgent request? Is he a dream? Martin follows him to a strange place--seemingly war torn London during World War II. This can't be...or can it? Great blend of history and fantasy.
Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Naomi loves and is in love with Ely, and Ely loves Naomi, but prefers to be in love with boys. So they create their "No Kiss List" of people neither of them is allowed to kiss. And this works fine - until Bruce. Bruce is Naomi's boyfriend, so there's no reason to put him on the List. But Ely kissed Bruce. The result: a rift of universal proportions and the potential end of "Naomi and Ely: the institution." Can these best friends come back together again? A great follow up to Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (which was on my favorite list of 2006).
Rucker Park Setup by Paul Volponi
Best friends Mackey and J.R. have waited their whole lives to win the basketball tournament at Rucker Park, where their favorite pro ballers squared off against street legends. But the day of their big game, J.R. is fatally stabbed—and it’s Mackey’s fault, even though he didn’t wield the knife. Now Mackey has a score to settle, but the killer is watching his every move. Action packed. Fast paced. For sports fans and non-fans alike.
The Off Season by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
Life is looking up for D.J. In eleventh grade, after a rocky summer, she's reconnecting with her best friend, Amber. She's got kind of a thing going with Brian. And she's starting for the Red Bend High School football team—the first girl linebacker in northern Wisconsin, probably. However, as autumn progresses, D.J. struggles to understand Amber, Schwenk Farm, her relationship with Brian, and most of all her family. As a whole herd of trouble comes her way, she discovers she's a lot stronger than she—or anyone—ever thought. A super sequel to Dairy Queen (which was on my favorite list of 2006) and a must read.
Traitor's Gate by Avi
This is an action-packed tale of secret identities, double-dealing and betrayal, set in Charles Dickens', mid-19th-century London. John Huffam is 14 when his father is sent to debtor's prison. His mother does nothing but complain of her husband's fecklessness, and his sister's sole concern is how this family crisis impacts her marital prospects. It's left to John to unravel a mystery involving a military invention that his father, a naval clerk, has information about and a web of foreign spies willing to pay for specifics. When John meets Sary the Sneak, a girl who sells information she gleans on the street, he thinks he's found a friend at last. But is there anyone he can trust? Mystery and history. Excellent.
Ed Goldberg
Teen Services Librarian
Posted by egoldberg at February 4, 2008 7:36 PM