Here is a big, whomping list of 2009 titles that I read and loved. They’re linked to my reviews, author interviews, or IndieBound, and sorted in ways that I hope will help you buy them for holiday gifts. Everyone needs books. Especially these…
For your dystopian fiction fan…
CATCHING FIRE by Suzanne Collins (but you already knew about that one, huh?)
CANDOR by Pam Bachorz
GENESIS by Bernard Beckett
GIRL IN THE ARENA by Lise Haines
For your supernatural romance fan…
NEED by Carrie Jones
HUSH, HUSH by Becca Fitzpatrick
PROPHECY OF THE SISTERS by Michelle Zink
SHIVER by Maggie Stiefvater
THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH by Carrie Ryan
WINGS by Aprilynne Pike
For your middle grade fantasy & fairy tale lover…
THE AMARANTH ENCHANTMENT by Julie Berry
FORTUNE’S FOLLY by Deva Fagan
ASH by Malinda Lo
THE DRAGON OF TRELIAN by Michelle Knudsen
For fans of historical fiction…
ALL THE BROKEN PIECES by Ann Burg
THE EVOLUTION OF CALPURNIA TATE by Jacqueline Kelley
RIOT by Walter Dean Myers
WINNIE’S WAR by Jenny Moss
DAY OF THE PELICAN by Katherine Paterson
THE STORM IN THE BARN by Matt Phelan (magical, historical graphic novel!)
(and these last two are for older HF fans…)
FLYGIRL by Sherri L. Smith
BUG BOY by Eric Luper
For YA readers who enjoy a good cry…
20 BOY SUMMER by Sarah Ockler
JUMPING OFF SWINGS by Jo Knowles
IF I STAY by Gayle Forman
For coffee-shop romance lovers… (How’s that for a distinctive category?)
COFFEEHOUSE ANGEL by Suzanne Selfors
THE ESPRESSOLOGIST by Kristina Springer
For fans of realistic YA fiction…
ONCE WAS LOST by Sara Zarr
WINTERGIRLS by Laurie Halse Anderson
FLASH BURNOUT by L.K. Madigan
HATE LIST by Jennifer Brown
MARCELO IN THE REAL WORLD by Francisco X. Stork
PURGE by Sarah Darer Littman
KING OF THE SCREWUPS by K.L. Going
HOW TO SAY GOODBYE IN ROBOT by Natalie Standiford
THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY by Jenny Han
ABSOLUTELY MAYBE by Lisa Yee
For tween readers…
SCAT by Carl Hiaassen
OPERATION YES by Sara Lewis Holmes
WHEN YOU REACH ME by Rebecca Stead
MODELS DON’T EAT CHOCOLATE COOKIES by Erin Dionne
ANYTHING BUT TYPICAL by Nora Raleigh Baskin
11 BIRTHDAYS by Wendy Mass
ESCAPE UNDER THE FOREVER SKY by Eve Yohalem
For fans of nonfiction…
MOONSHOT: THE FLIGHT OF APOLLO 11 by Brian Floca
ALMOST ASTRONAUTS by Tanya Lee Stone
MARCHING FOR FREEDOM by Elizabeth Partridge
For your older teen reader ready for adult books…
THE MAGICIANS by Lev Grossman
HOTEL ON THE CORNER OF BITTER AND SWEET by Jamie Ford
For the teacher in your life…
THE BOOK WHISPERER by Donalyn Miller
Are you still here? What are you waiting for? Go on… Get book-shopping!
Great list! I too loved 20 Boy Summer and If I Stay and cried during both! And I also was swept away in Michelle Zink’s Prophecy of the Sisters!
Love the categories — we’ve read many of the same books, but I still found a couple to try (like Genesis) 😀
Aw, thanks!
And actually, all the other books you mentioned are “on my list” … of the 2009 books I’m dying to read but haven’t had a chance to yet!
Thanks- Sooo many good books this year!
GENESIS is a quick read (I think it was actually published as an adult book here in the States) but with an amazing ending. You’ll love it!
Great list, Kate! I have so much reading to catch up on, oh my. Thanks for including SWINGS. You are the best.
xo
Love your list. It reminded me how many wonderful books came out this year.
And I’ll second the need for Gianna Z to be on that list.
Thanks, Kate. Oh, I have so, so, so much reading to do!
P.S. I bought Genesis on your recommendation, but I haven’t gotten to it yet.
Oh… mg… I am SO adding this to memories! Thank you hugely for posting this!
Catching Fire is the sequel to The Hunger Games right? Mr. D said not to read The Hunger games because I think it’s a book we’re going to read in class. (:
Shiver Was awesome.
I love Winter Girls.
I’m reading Scat right now; (so far really good.)
(sorry if you get this twice, I forgot to log in and I ended up with Anonymous)
Catching Fire is the sequel to The Hunger Games right? Mr. D said not to read The Hunger games because I think it’s a book we’re going to read in class. (:
Shiver Was awesome.
I love Winter Girls.
I’m reading Scat right now; (so far really good.)
Thanks for including CANDOR in your list!!!
I’m not even a teacher and I *love* THE BOOK WHISPERER. Gets me all excited about kids falling in love with books and reading!
You’re the best, too – and SWINGS is amazing. (even if it made my eyes red and puffy for a while!)
Thanks, Pat!
I still feel like I have so much reading to do, too! Even as I was making this list, I kept remembering all the books I still need to read!
Thanks! Glad you have a great reading list now!
I liked SCAT, too. You’ll love THE HUNGER GAMES – are you doing it all together or as a literature circles choice? All the lit circle choices are awesome for Mr. D’s class – you’d also love LOOKING FOR ALASKA or DIARY OF A PART TIME INDIAN. No way to lose there!
Thank YOU – It’s a great book!
Isn’t it wonderful? I met Donalyn Miller at the NCTE conference last month & was so excited to say hello and thank her for such an incredible book.
I’m not sure. I’ll have to ask him. It might be lit. circles. We are doing “When you Reach me” in class now and it’s a really good book. I have heard really great reviews about Diary of a Part Time Indian.
I’m only on page 20 in Scat. Scat so so funny.
I’m not sure. I’ll have to ask him. It might be lit. circles. We are doing “When you Reach me” in class now and it’s a really good book. I have heard really great reviews about Diary of a Part Time Indian.
I’m only on page 20 in Scat. Scat so so funny.