a middle schooler lists the BEST YA BOOKS OUT THERE!

I'm really excited about this post! I have with me the awesome Kirby W who is about to be a freshman. I asked him to think about the best books he read in middle school and recommend 10 here on my blog. He's got 11 recommendations (I asked him to recommend 10, but I got 11) and it was really cool to hear the perspective of a 14-year-old (former) middle school reader. I may 'yea' or 'nay' a YA book, but I'm 21 years old and in college; what are the kids in actual target audience saying? So let me introduce Kirby the almost-freshman, and he's going to give his recommendations for the best YA books out there!
Just keep in mind that these are the thoughts of a 14-year-old dude: they have not been edited or altered!

1. The Looking Glass Wars, Frank Beddor
SERIES: followed by Seeing Redd, ArchEnemy
Kirby says: This is probably my new favorite series. The last book came out last year. The take on Alice in Wonderland was awesome. I really liked the series villain, Queen Redd. She was evil and funny, which yeah is a weird combo, but she was really entertaining. And this story’s version of the white rabbit is pretty cool, too. I didn’t mind that the main character’s a girl, cause she’s cool and smart and not whiny like girls I know. And I liked the battle scenes. Battle scenes are cool.

2. The Warrior Heir, Cinda Williams Chima
SERIES: followed by The Wizard Heir, The Dragon Heir
Kirby says: This was a really cool take on magic. The second book has more to do with magic and wizards and all that stuff, and the first one was more action-packed and battles and whatnot. I did like that even though the book was about magic and wizards and stuff like that, it didn't feel like I was reading the same story over and over. There were enough cool concepts. And the main character was likable, like he was a real kid. These were both quick reads: not too long and wordy. I get bored if books are too long. And hungry.

3. The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins
SERIES: followed by Catching Fire, Mockingjay (not released)
Kirby says: BEST SERIES EVER! Better than Harry Potter! For real, Harry’s got that wand and all, but he wouldn’t make it five feet past that cornucopia. I’d like to see him “expelliarmus!” those Careers.I loved reading about that futuristic society, but it was kind of scary too, because I got the feeling that maybe this stuff could happen. Dude. Anyway, this series was cool. I don’t care about those “teams” though. That’s girl stuff. I totally think Peeta’s going to die.

4. The Maze Runner, James Dashner
SERIES: followed by The Scorch Trials (not released), The Death Cure (not released)
Kirby says: Really awesome story idea. Most of my friends read this one too. I’d definitely recommend this to all the guys. Lots of action and suspense. The ending was a little weird, but the next book in the series is coming out soon. TMR reminded me of Percy Jackson for some reason – the characters were funny, cool, and easy to relate to, like the characters from that series. I’d definitely recommend TMR to any PJ fans.

5. Artemis Fowl, Eoin Colfer
SERIES: followed by The Arctic Incident, The Eternity Code, The Opal Deception, The Lost Colony, The Time Paradox, The Atlantis Complex
Kirby says: One of my all-time favorite series. Elves here aren’t all old and naturey and all Lord of the Ringsy – they’re really advanced and high-tech. The cool story and many details made reading AF a fun experience. The rest of the books in the series are cool, too, and I’d recommend reading all of them. Plus it’s cool to have a main character like Artemis. He’s like a child-criminal genius, but he’s not like really bad or anything.

6. Skulduggery Pleasant, Derek Landy
SERIES: followed by Playing with Fire, The Faceless Ones, Dark Days, Mortal Coin (not released)
Kirby says: Oh my freaking gosh this book is incredible. You MUST read this. Skulduggery is the awesomest character in fiction. He's a wizard, but a wizard with a twist: not old and not a schoolboy either. When I was reading the first book, I kept thinking of a comic book or a graphic novel for some reason. It just reads that way, which is really cool, cause it's visual in this graphic-novel sense. I don't know how many books will be in the series, but I will read every single one of them.

7. The Alchemyst, Michael Scott (not the boss from 'The Office')
SERIES: followed by The Magician, The Sorceress, The Necromancer, The Warlock (not published), The Enchantress (not published)
Kirby says: I like this book a lot, but it’s kind of advanced. Like, I probably would have understood it better if I’d been in high school. But I like history so it was really cool to have historical people and events blended together with fantasy magic. It was our school's Recommended Book of the Year a few years ago. I think grownups like it because they think all that historical stuff is educational. It is, but it's cool too.

8. Gone, Michael Grant
SERIES: followed by Hunger, Lies, Plague (not published), Darkness (not published), Light (not published)
Kirby says: It sounds like a cheesy idea, right? All the adults are gone, and a bunch of kids and teenagers are left? Party time, right? Actually, Gone showed how crappy and horrible that situation would really be. I liked this book because it was interesting and fun, but also because it had this realistic feel to it too, like this is actually how kids would behave if something like this really happened. I liked how the author seemed to know about how kids really act and how they really feel. This is one of the best series I’ve ever read. It’s got lots of action, and I like action.

9. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone , JK Rowling
SERIES: followed by Chamber of Secrets, Prisoner of Azkaban, The Goblet of Fire, The Order of the Phoenix, The Half Blood Prince, The Deathly Hallows
Kirby says: I’m not even going to say anything. It’s Harry freaking Potter. Ya know.

10. The Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan
SERIES: followed by The Sea of Monsters, The Titan's Curse, The Battle of the Labyrinth, The Last Olympian
Kirby says: Harry Potter may be a classic, but Percy Jackson's going to take over. I would definitely recommend the Percy Jackson series to everyone. Adults will like it, because they’ll get a kick out of the way the myths are incorporated into the story. And teachers will find Mr. D really funny, and probably a little autobiographical. Percy's pretty cool, Grover's hilarious, and Annabeth is hot.

11. Eragon, Christopher Paolini
SERIES: Eldest, Brisingr, untitled 4th book (not released)
Kirby says: Dragons and swords and fighting and not a lot of that romance stuff. Really cool story and pretty exciting all the way through. I didn’t mind that it’s so freaking long. The rest of the books are cool, but the first is the best. Galbatorix is one of the best villains I've ever read.

Teaser Tuesday: THE REPLACEMENT

As always, Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by MizB @ Should be Reading. Here's how it works: Grab the current book you're reading- Open up to a random page- share a little "teaser" from somewhere on that page.***Make sure your section is spoiler free!!
I finished this book last week, but just in the spirit of getting folks pumped for its 9/21 release, I'm going to do The Replacement for my teaser. This will be a little longer than usual teasers, but hey, it's to get you really hooked!

"What do you mean, 'need you'? I don't need anything."
"Oh, darling," she said, smiling and reaching for my hand. "Don't be silly. Of course you need us. You're becoming so frail, and it's only going to get worse. This really is the best solution for all of us. You'll help me, and in return, I'll make sure you're supplied with all the remedies you need and you won't have to live out the rest of your days..in agony."
I watched her, trying to see the reason behind why I was even here.
"What do you want?" I said, sounding more nervous than I would have liked."
- The Replacement, (ARC) page 108

I hope to have my non-spoiler review of The Replacement up by Thursday or Friday.

this is SO cool!

Maybe I shouldn't post this, but I am so giddy and crazy-happy!
I'm still pretty new to the world of ARC-reviewing, and last week I wrote my review of Kiersten White's Paranormalcy. Well, she and her agent really liked my review, and said so on twitter! I just about fainted when I saw these tweets:

kierstenwhite

I don't usually link reviews (I DO read and appreciate every one), but I won't be sad if you read @alwaysamelia's: http://bit.ly/aPEdwL 9:49 AM Aug 10th via web

WolfsonLiterary

Now *that's* what I call an awesome review! RT @alwaysamelia: Review of PARANORMALCY by @kierstenwhite. http://bit.ly/aPEdwL 11:47 AM Aug 10th via TweetDeck Retweeted by you

WolfsonLiterary

Can you please RT this amazing review?? Read it too. RT @alwaysamelia: Review of PARANORMALCY by @kierstenwhite. http://bit.ly/aPEdwL 12:24 PM Aug 10th via TweetDeck

and then earlier today I saw this!
harperteen

Paranormalcy is the newest Must Have book for the fall. ~@alwaysamelia http://bit.ly/99mqa6 A spoiler free review! about 8 hours ago via HootSuite


I think one of the most rewarding things about being a book reviewer is getting great feedback. It's incredible to know that for a few minutes, major publisher Harper Teen was thinking of me and my review. Wow. Insanely awesome. This is the first time this has happened for me. Thank you, Harper Teen and Wolfson Literary! You made a girl in a humid Texas town smile!

Oh, and please pre-order Paranormalcy by Kiersten White. Or buy it on August 31. Please! You won't regret it. If you're a student, it's just the thing you need to ease those back-to-school blues.

How do you like your characters?

A strong spirit. A desire to do right. A sense of humor.
- Juju, Tales of Whimsy

What are the qualities you look for in a main character? Do words like "strong," "funny," "relatable," "sweet," "smart," "sexy" and "well-developed" come to mind?
A word that I use a lot in my reviews is well-rounded. That's not to say that well-rounded characters go from one end of the spectrum to the other behaviorally, but it does mean that the characters seem to have enough development to make them real. Likewise, characters that are predominantly good and sweet are not necessarily flat. I was just thinking about it right now, that in all 5 books, I do not remember one time that titular character Percy Jackson did or said anything intentionally mean, hurtful, or selfish. Does that make him a flat, Gary-Stu character? NO FREAKING WAY! But he has enough personality to make him jump off the pages, to make him seem like he could be real. And that's what a well-rounded character is to me. They don't always have to undergo a character change, but they do have enough personality to allow them a wide range of emotional depth.

Who likes to laugh? It's my thought that humor is not only a great quality, it's necessary to a story. Not every character needs to be a clown, but the best books or series employ clowns. Although they are supporting characters, I am glad that Rowling created Fred and George Weasley. The HP stories just wouldn't be the same without them. And to those who have read the Mortal Instruments - I think that as entertaining as the series is, it would be missing something without Magnus Bane. This reviewer just loves to laugh - how about you?

When it comes to love interests (uh-oh, here we go!) I prefer the sweet, "gentle-warrior" guys who can be both sweet and affectionate and tough as nails if called to be. I'm glad there is a place in young adult literature for kindhearted, sweet boys as the love interest. Perhaps this is why Peeta is so lovable and has legions of devoted fans? You just don't get much more adorable than Peeta.
Wait, I'm being unfair! You know, while Gale gives off somewhat more of a tough-guy vibe, he too is kindhearted. Yay, Gale! AND YAY FOR EIGHT DAYS LEFT!

Here's what some of you said about characters:

Jillian from Reading Labyrinth:
"If I don’t like the main character/narrator, I will almost always be disengaged from the story" - I agree with this wholeheartedly because I have disliked novels because of the main character/narrator before. One good example: Tally from the Uglies trilogy. While I liked her in the first book, she went downhill in the second and third books where I felt she wasn't learning enough from her mistakes (and her personality went downhill as well).

Like Jillian, I love it when characters seem to grow, either over the course of the single book or over the course of the series (if there is one). The protagonist of a story may not be real, but he or she still has the power to influence and inspire, and I love being inspired.

Jillian continued:
Also, there are times when I don't know why I like a character. I think, though, that we're all inherently drawn to things we see in ourselves -- such as humor/wit, intelligence, compassion, etc. -- and our favorite characters lists somehow reflect that (even if *we ourselves* may not always see 'the why')

Shy from The Bibliophile's Journal:
I totally need to be able to relate to the main character (especially) in the book and I'd totally feel not satisfied with the book if I feel like the character is too foreign to me.

It's cute and fun to read about characters who are different from ourselves, but if the character is too over-the-top or too bad or too good or too anything, those differences start working against them. Relatability is a necessity in reading, or at least that's the message I'm getting. Great point, Shy!

Darlyn from Darlyn & Books:
I find that relatable and smart characters always work for me.

Jenny from Jenny Loves to Read:
For me a great character depends on the story as well as the characters qualities. The character could be great but if the story is a stinker, I don't care how much I like the character, I'm outta there. So my "ideal" character would be brave, funny, sarcastic, thoughtful of others....someone I would have a cup of coffee or a beer with. I think that answers the question :)

In My Mailbox [16] & What Am I Reading?

No books this week, still sticking to my book ban!

Just finished
and now on
AND THEN AFTER THAT...

ohhh, y'betcha! It'll be 1 week on Tuesday. I know you all are just PUMPED.

Okay everyone please help me out: I just finished The Replacement, but the book isn't scheduled to be released until September 21, which is over a month away. Should I go ahead and post a review this week or wait until closer to the release date?

Here's what some of you said about Gone:

"Gone is good, not AMAZING but good, there's A LOT of gore though, let me warn you. and there's twice as much gore in Hunger."
- The Critic

"A fast-paced thriller with intriguing characters and some kick ass fight sequences."
- Cara, Chasing Words

"A modern take on Lord of the Flies. At turns it creeped me out, made me tense and even made me angry but definitely kept me intrigued."
- Lesa, Cozy Book Nook

something's rotten in Gentry

Currently reading The Replacement and found some pictures that remind me of the story.
Hope you enjoy -



The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff will be published September 21, 2010

i would like to know...

...what in the world it is about YA literature that cannot handle a male protagonist.

I would also like to know when it was decided that well-rounded, developed boys as MCs or narrators became a literary endangered species.

Or why every female character must be able to kick...that large extremity on your lower back.

Hmmm. Now call me stupid, and it's fine if you do, but if something is unattractive and unacceptable for some characters, shouldn't it be unattractive/unacceptable for all characters?
When did we come to the point where we allowed girls the right to walk all over people - parents, friends, and most importantly the love interest - but gasp and hiss when boys do it?

Reading fiction - and especially fantasy - requires the suspension of disbelief, but sometimes that becomes hard to do, even for a fantasy lover like me. When a girl character is written as a physically stronger and a more able-bodied fighter than the boy, my reason-and-logic radar goes off.

I've never been one to defend cliches and stereotypes, but I would like to know exactly where these books are that supposedly have weak, girl-needs-to-be-saved characters. And where these "knight in shining armor" books are as well. Because maybe BORDERS (store of choice) doesn't stock those anymore. I certainly haven't run into them lately. Seriously. And please, do not refer me to the Twilight series. Bella is accident-prone and in need of "attention" (or protection, whichever word you prefer) because it's in character, not because she's a girl. But that's just one example. You know, having every single stinking girl MC in YA be an Ultimate Cage fighter or a snappy sass-machine is indeed a STEREOTYPE and a new cliche. I do not understand the argument that girls need to be this way in order to overcome a cliche, because in actuality a new one is being created.

Perhaps my tastes (in love stories especially) are backward and not up to code for the 21st century reading/reviewing world. That's alright. I truly do not understand what is so offensive about having a strong and supportive share-the-burden love interest. Notice I said "share the burden" and not "take the lead." Because to be frank (and I'm sorry if this is graphic, too) I do not care what kinds of parts you have, no one should take the lead all the time in a relationship. There should be times when the boy becomes the beacon of strength. There should be times when the girl becomes the beacon of strength (but not always physical strength - remember, suspension of disbelief). And to speak honestly, nothing makes me roll my eyes than to see the world "STRONG" attached to a character, especially a girl. That's just an overused word - let's get a little more specific with what we're talking about, please. I do it, too. I try not to use the word "strong" when describing characters unless I'm actually talking about physical strength, because of the fact that the word is used a little too easily. And I don't really think that "strength" is really what a lot of characters have - I think it's a "macho, bad attitude bordering on self-preservation."

So when people say in their reviews or in their discussions "it's so awesome to have strong, kick-a--- girl characters for a change" (and that is NOT a direct quote from somebody's review, don't worry) I get a little puzzled by that. What books have you been reading - YA ones? Because the trend is killing off well-rounded, supportive and substantial guys. Maybe I'd like to trade, 'cause nothing gives me a headache more than amazon-y angry chicks with a chip on their shoulder and something to prove. Apparently YA books aren't supposed to send messages or teach anything anymore, but I still think that it sends the wrong message. Everybody - regardless of gender - should be treated with respect indicative of their worth.

Here at Imagination in Focus, knights in shining armor are welcome to seek refuge here. Vain, arrogant misogynists will be escorted to the door, though. And endangered species-labeled boy MCs are welcome anytime, barring the Holden Caulfield complex.

So to close, I disagree strongly with the complaint that "strong" "smart" "insert-empowering-word-here" female characters are lacking in YA. I'd like to know - where have all the dudes gone? Maybe if we had more well-rounded guys in true teen fiction in addition to MG literature. (and shout-out to the authors of the younger side of YA - ya'll are doing a GREAT job!), maybe more teenage boys would be reading. But that's another post for another day. REGARDLESS of the absence of guy MCs, the ladies of Young Adult literature need to be examined. Or given estrogen pills, whichever.
Does anybody else have any thoughts on this? I'd love to hear what you think, if for no other reason that to know that you do read these posts. I have to post something in between reviews...

(PS the pictures are from the awesome and incredibly hysterical A VERY POTTER SEQUEL. I used pics of Dolores Umbridge because if we're talking about strong, sassy chicks in YA...nobody does it better than Mama Umbridge. Watch AVPS on youtube now!)