Favorite Books of 2009

A few of these came out prior to 2009 but I read them this year so they are on the list.


1. WILLOW by Julia Hoban    This was my favorite book this year. A beautifully written story about a girl trying to cope with grief and guilt, who ultimately finds self acceptance and love. It's a very powerful and uplifting story.

2. WICKED GAME by Jeri Smith-Ready  Vampires, rock & roll, action packed, sexy, funny! What's not to love?? A great twist on the UF, vampire genre. I can't even remember how many times I've read this book!

3. ASPECT OF CROW TRILIOGY by Jeri Smith-Ready  The most original series I've read in a long time. This series has it all - romance, heroes, villains, battles, parallels to religion, politics. I was on an emotional roller coaster for three days!

4. BUTTERFLY TATTOO by Deidra Knight  This book took me by surprise. Story of people overcoming fear, loss and guilt to find love and become a family. A twist on the traditional love story. These characters stayed with me for a long time after I finished the book.

5. CATCHING FIRE by Suzzane Collins  The second book in the Hunger Games trilogy. One of the few sequels that stands up to the first book.

6. START ME UP by Victoria Dahl  Sexy with a little bit of a mystery and lots of funny!

7. MERLE'S DOOR LESSONS FROM A FREE THINKING DOG by Ted Kerasote  Yes, it's funny like Marley and Me, but it's so much more than just a compilation of funny dog stories. It's about a true relationship between man and dog formed out of respect.

8.  THE OMNIVORE'S DILEMMA by Michael Pollan  Do you eat? Then read this book.

9. VISION IN WHITE by Nora Roberts  Romance with lots of laughs.

10. GOING TOO FAR by Jennifer Echols YA books really hit their stride this year and this book is one of the reasons why. The YA books out now have great writing, believable characters that you can relate to and don't rely on many of the gimmicks that a lot of the adult books do these days.

I read over 100 books this year so it was hard to narrow it down to just 10......so here are a few more that I loved but there just wasn't room:

The Night Huntress Series by Jeaniene Frost

Playing With Fire by Gena Showalter

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Ballads of Suburbia by Stephanie Kuehnert

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

The Choice by Nicholas Sparks

The Morningstar Strain Series by Z.A. Recht

One Bullet Away: The Making of a Marine Officer by Nathaniel C. Fick

REVIEW: Plucker by BROM

Toy Story on acid.
The Underbed is a place where Thomas's toys go once he has moved on to newer, more exciting toys. Jack (in the box) has just been added to this group.
As Thomas sleeps at night the toys come to life dancing and playing in the moonlight. They are brought to life by Thomas's love and imagination and without it they fade.  Jack is shunned by all his former friends when he tries to leave the Underbed to join them as he used to. Only the Snow Angel befriends him when she sneaks away from the ever watchful eyes of the Red Night.
One day Thomas's father brings him a Spirit Doll from Africa. Thomas is weary of it but his father hangs it over his bed. Shortly after it crashes to the floor - letting out The Plucker - a spirit that sucks the souls of children by killing their toys. He hopes to collect enough souls to make himself human and create havoc on earth.
During the night The Plucker's creations, "Foulthings", torture and kill the toys. One of them has Angel and Jack fights to rescue her.
Mabelle (Thomas's caretaker-who knows a thing or two about the dark spirits) finds Jack and the other toys in the aftermath of the battle and knows what she has to do. She repairs Jack giving him all he needs to beat the Plucker. She tells him, "It's done. You's no longer a toy, but a weapon of the Lord. A viper. A devil slayer.

REVIEW:
This is a story about simple toys that must band together to save the boy they love and each other. This is a very dark tale and not for the kiddies. The artwork takes center stage and is absolutly stunning. While the story is good, it's the artwork the brings it to life. Every detail from the story shows up in the drawings.
I know it's about toys but I did find myself getting upset when they got hurt. It is quite graphic.
The book is sick, twisted, beautiful and imaginative. I really enjoyed it. I happen to like twisted so it was ok with me but don't say you weren't warned :-) This would make a great coffee table book as long as you don't mind potentially freaking out your friends and family!
Loved: The artwork. Amazing!
Nitpick: none really

Rating:
Overall a 3.5 out of 4.
3 out of 4 for story, & 4 out of 4 for the artwork.

To read more about Brom and his other books/artwork http://www.bromart.com/

REVIEW: Of All The Stupid Things by Alexandra Diaz

When a rumor starts circulating that Tara’s boyfriend has been with one of the guy cheerleaders, the innuendo doesn’t just hurt Tara. It marks the beginning of the end for three lifelong friends.

 Tara’s training for a marathon, but also running from her fear of abandonment from her father.

Whitney Blaire seems to have everything, but an empty mansion and absentee parents leave her looking for her own value in the wrong places.


And Pinkie has a compulsive need to mother everyone to make up for the mama she’s never stopped missing.


Then the new girl arrives in school and Tara starts to feel things she’s never felt for before for a girl. Can the girls’ friendship survive when all the rules have changed? YA Fiction

REVIEW:
I was lucky enough to win an ARC of this book a few months ago during Jeri Smith-Ready's Blogtoberfest.

The book is told from the alternating points of view of three best friends.

It started strong from Tara's POV. I was drawn into her relationship with Brent and with her friends Whitney Blaire and Pinkie. So I found it a little jarring that just when Tara's world is coming down around her we shifted to Whitney Blaire's POV, then Pinkie's.

Having said that ...once I got used to the three girls' very different personalities I enjoyed going back and forth between them. At one point in the book an event occurs and is told from Tara and then Whitney Blair's POV. It was interesting that they could see the same event so differently.

Although Tara's is the main story, Whitney Blaire and Pinkie each have story lines that help explain their actions and reactions to Tara's growing relationship with Riley, the new girl at school.

The girls personalities and experiences are different enough that I think that everyone will be able to have someone to relate to.

There are sexual situations in the book but they are not exploitive and are handled honestly.

Loved: Tara's inner strength and ability to accept herself and her choices even if it meant losing her friends. All three girls had well developed story lines that intersected nicely at the end.
The Cover is beautiful!

Nitpick: It takes a little while to get used to the very different personalties of the 3 girls. I wanted to know more about David (a friend of the girls and potential love interest for Whitney Blaire) and even Brent. I can't blame Alexandra Diaz for that one though - I don't think there would be room for anymore perspectives!

I give it a rating of 3.5 out 4. Definitely read it!

Alexandra Diaz is Part of the Class of 2K10. A group of debut authors of Middle Grade and YA fiction. Check out the rest of the group and release dates here: http://www.classof2k10.com/

Alexandra's website: http://www.alexandra-diaz.com/
Buy the book: Of All the Stupid Things