2009 Favorite Books – Part 1 of 3

I read a lot books this year and although when one throws out a list of “best” it can all be relative. It depends on how the book resonates with the reader.

So I’m going to share my favorites—the books for kids or teens that resonated with me. Some of these books were published this year, while others I discovered this year. Plus I’ll also share from a writer’s perspective what I learned craft-wise from reading these books.

As I started collecting my favorites, I noticed the list was getting sort of long for one post so I’ve decided to split the list (in alphabetical order) into three parts with the first part today and the others following later this week.

Here are the first batch of favorites:

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
I fell in love with the Hunger Games trilogy when I read the first book in 2008. The second book in the trilogy continues the with the aftermath of the Games and the emerging rebellion against the Capitol. Collins set up a helluva cliff-hanger and leaves a lot to ponder for Book 3. As for craft, anyone who wants to learn concise writing and scene transitions can benefit a lot from this book.

Graceling by Kristen Cashore
I discovered this book just a few weeks ago and I adored how the author created the Seven Kingdoms. Especially Po’s beautiful island kingdom of Lienid. I also loved the strong female characters of this book and how the main character Katsa is her own person. As a writer, you can learn a lot by the way Cashore blends world-building into her prose.

Jumping Off Swings by Jo Knowles
I first fell in love with this author with her first book, Lessons from a Dead Girl. And although the subject matter is well-known in YA fiction, Knowles creates multi-layered characters in a story that shows the impact beyond the primary parties. In this book, writers can learn how to create multiple POVs with distinct voices.

Liar by Justine Larabalestier
Despite the cover controversy for this book, I was riveted with this tale of Micah, who tells you from the start that she’s a liar. And what a weave of lies she tells—or are they? This is what I love about this book—the layers of different meanings. And just when you think you have it figured out—Justine L. puts a monkey wench in the program. A classic case study of the Unreliable Narrator.

Lips Touch Three Times by Laini Taylor
I also read this book recently and was captivated by the lush voice and imagination of the three short stories that revolve around a kiss. Taylor weaves fantasy and contemporary elements for a unique mix. Plus her technique for suspenseful storytelling is something for writers to emulate.