2008 Nominations Young Adult Fiction

You'll find no dragons or magic, robots or vampires here. Just real people, in the real world, in real situations. In a good YA novel teens will find themselves and discover their world. A great YA novel will do both of those while respecting and appealing to its audience.

We are looking for a handful of the greatest teen novels of 2008. Historical, humorous, or contemporary, they must have literary merit AND a lasting effect on their readers; something teens will press into their friends' hands with fervor in their eyes and say, "You HAVE to read this book."

--Jackie Parker, organizer

Please leave a nomination -- including author and title -- in the comments below. One nomination per person, per category, please. Avoid duplicate nominations--it only takes ONE nomination to add a book to the list.

Comments

[Stacy]

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks, by E. Lockhart. Hands down one of the best YA novels of the year. Frankie is smart, articulate and in many ways still typical. Every single teen who we have given this book to LOVES IT. So there you go...quality and appeal.

[Mitz Baldock]

I would like to highly recommend (nominate)Classical Comics Macbeth Original text.
The artwork is simply fantastic and the whole approach allows people who previously have not read Shakespeare to really get to grips with it in a creative and enjoyable way. My sister (teacher of English to foreign students aged 16 -18)is considering using the book too!
The book which uses the play with its full script is fab for both the traditionalist and the newcomer to Shakespeare!
All round winner!

[Libby]

John Green's Paper Towns--I think it's out by now, isn't it?

[Kate]

I nominate Sweethearts by Sara Zarr - a book that I loved and one that our older middle school girls and high school kids are keeping very busy in the library (five copies - all out right now!).

[Kate]

I nominate Sweethearts by Sara Zarr - a book that I loved and one that our older middle school girls and high school kids are keeping very busy in the library (five copies - all out right now!).

[ali bailey]

Can I recommend Jane Eyre please? This is one of the Graphic versions by classicalcomics. I'm having to break up 'arguments' amongst my year 8 girls over my two precious review copies of this one.Not sure where this should go, looks like art rather than a comic to me - but I'm probably out of touch!!
Thank you
Ali

[Melissa]

Suite Scarlett, by Maureen Johnson

[Kelia]

My Most Excellent Year by Steve Kluger. By far the best YA book I have read this year.

[Sarah Miller]

FEATHERED
by Laura Kasischke

[Charlotte]

The House of Dance, by Beth Kephart

[Emily]

I'd like to nominate The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson. It was amazing!

[Teen Troves]

We would like to nominate Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott

[Kim]

I'll nominate A Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth Bunce

[Cynthia Leitich Smith]

My Life as a Rhombus by Varian Johnson (Flux, 2008)--a sensitive, insightful view into the challenges of unwanted teen pregnancy.

[Cyn]

UNDONE by Brooke Taylor (Walker).

[Miss Erin]

Trouble by Gary D. Schmidt

[Andrea Vaughn]

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

[Cheryl Rainfield]

I nominate The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Scholastic, Oct 2008). This book was so well written, it gripped me and didn't let me go. Powerful and emotional, I loved it so much!

[Maddy]

My Most Excellent Year by Steve Kluger

[Cat]

Play Me, by Laura Ruby

HarperTeen

[Steven]

The Last of the High Kings by Kate Thompson. Lighthearted fantasy, but also a bit scary, with great characters.

[Deena]

Trouble by Gary Schmidt
Shift by Jennifer Bradbury
Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway
Identical by Ellen Hopkins

[ColoradoWriter]

Artichoke's Heart by Susan Supplee

[Lisa Schroeder]

THE COMEBACK SEASON by Jennifer E. Smith

[Nora Frala]

I'd like to nominate "Mousetraps" by Pat Schmatz in the YA-fiction category

[Melodye]

Girl, HERO, by Carrie Jones. I wish I could have heard John Wayne's (aka the author's) voice whispering in my ear when I was younger.

[Mona Vensky]

I would like to nominate my personal favorite YA book for 2008 -- The Shape of Water by Anne Spollen.

[kbookwoman]

Sunrise Over Fallujah by Walter Dean Myers Scholastic Press

[K-san]

The Hardy Boys by Franklin W. Dixon

[Becky]

I'd like to nominate Climbing the Stairs by Padma Venkatraman.

[Stephanie]

The Dreadful Revenge of Ernest Gallen by James Lincoln Collier

[Stephanie]

The Dreadful Revenge of Ernest Gallen by James Lincoln Collier

[Colleen]

"Season of Ice" by Diane Les Becquets. One of the best depictions of middle class in YA lit I've read this year - plus a whole lot more. It's a solid title that doesn't involve a lot of overwrought moments but should appeal to a wide range of kids who face the same questions in their own lives. (Which is the point, I think.)

I just made the cut off (release date of Jan 8, 2008).

[Nancy]

ALIVE AND WELL IN PRAGUE, NEW YORK by Daphne Grab

[Eva Mitnick]

Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan!!

[Matvick]

Angel by Cliff McNish!
This page-turner connects the everyday concerns of teenagers with fantasy, suspense, and the mystery of angels.

[Laura]

I second Mousetraps by Pat Schmatz!

[Jessica Burkhart]

HOW TO HOOK A HOTTIE by Tina Ferraro.

[Toreyy]

Patron Saint of Butterflies by Cecilia Galante

Great YA book on an in the news topic!

[Robin]

In case the triple nomination farther up eliminates this title, I'd say SHIFT, by Jennifer Bradbury.

P.S. If it doesn't eliminate it, then I'd say I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME, by Lisa Schroeder.

[Philip Pileggi]

Kindly cast my vote for Anne Spollen's Shape of Water as well. Thank you.

[KT Horning]

"The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing: Traitor to the Nation, Volume 2: Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson is the most amazing work of YA fiction I have read in ages. I found myself weeping because the British lost the Revolutionary War.

[amsamph]

I nominate Seaborn by Craig Moodie. This powerful story is a real page-turner. Each character has an authentic voice, and the descriptions are poetic. A great high-seas coming-of-age story

[Liv]

13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher

[Jill]

Madapple by Christina Meldrum

[Tez Miller]

For Young Adult Fiction, I'd like to nominate Rachel Cohn's You Know Where to Find Me.

Have a lovely day! :-)

[John Clark]

I would like to nominate The dragon heir by Cinda Williams Chima. It's a marvelous third entry in her Wizard series.

[Stephanie]

OH MY GODS by Tera Lynn Childs

[Kathleen]

TROUBLE by Gary D. Schmidt

[Shy]

I would like to recommend a "Dandelions of Uganda" by Shenaaz Nanji. It is a crime not to read this captivating, poignant historical fiction novel.