As the New Year is quickly approaching, Kid Lit Frenzy will go through some of their favorite picks from 2014. You can check out Alyson's best nonfiction for Kids: Part I and Part II. Today, Carolyn is taking this opportunity to list some of her favorite YA books from this year.
Here are Carolyn's top YA Picks for 2014, in no particular order:
Let the Storm Break by Shannon Messenger (Simon Pulse, March 2014)
This fantasy novel is the perfect sequel, thrusting Vane (the main character deeper) into the secret world of sylphs and captivating the reader more and more as the book goes on.
Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson (Simon & Schuster, May 2014)
At first appearing nothing more than a simple but enjoyable summer read, Since You've Been Gone surprised me with its interesting plot and covertly-stirring thematic ideas. The book chronicles the summer of one teenage girl as she attempts to navigate her life without the presence of her seemingly-constant best friend.
To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han (Simon & Schuster, April 2014)
A poignantly hilarious book, To All the Boys I've Loved Before explores the life of a teenager forced to confront the boys she's ever secretly fallen in love with when her private letters are suddenly mailed to every single one. I'm usually not a huge fan of realistic fiction, but this novel was simultaneously funny and touching; overall, a deeply satisfying read.
The Falconer by Elizabeth May (Chronicle Books, May 2014)
The Falconer is the thrilling tale of the young Lady Aileana Kameron, a Victorian debutant by day and a faerie-killer at night. An excellent read for those who enjoy both fantasy and historical fiction.
Midnight Thief by Livia Blackburne (Disney-Hyperion, July 2014)
Livia Blackburne's debut novel is an intriguing book filled with assassins, mysterious barbarians, and the troubling politics the protagonist must navigate while dealing with all the different groups; Midnight Thief is a complex and worthwhile read.
Cress by Marissa Meyer (Feiwel & Friends, February 2014)
As a huge fan of the Lunar Chronicles, I had been looking forward to Cress for quite some time. Marissa Meyer managed to create an even more complex plot in this third book, as the book artfully weaves together the story of several different characters in the futuristic world of the Lunar Chronicles.
A Girl Called Fearless by Catherine Linka (St. Martin's Griffin, May 2014)
Definitely one of my favorite books this entire year, Catherine Linka's debut novel A Girl Called Fearless is a brilliant and thought-provoking book that uses the backdrop of an alternate history (in which massive amounts of women were tragically killed) to explore ideas of patriarchy and oppressive societies.
Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo (Henry Holt & Co. June 2014)
Ruin and Rising is the perfect end to the Grisha Trilogy and a superb read (which eases the too-familiar pain that comes when any great series ends).
The Spiritglass Charade by Colleen Gleason (Chronicle Books, October 2014)
This year was full of great fantasy releases, and the second installment in the Stoker and Holmes novels does not disappoint. Exploring the more supernatural elements of the alternate Victorian world that serves as the setting, the Spiritglass Charade is a thrilling mystery that's sure to please.
I hope you enjoy this holiday season and have a lovely year (full of books) to come.
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Carolyn has been posting on Fridays since the summer. She is an avid consumer of BBC programming, a self-proclaimed nerd, and amateur foodie. She is a competitive archer, and one day hopes to be a book editor. Carolyn is currently a honors student in high school. You can follow her on twitter @yalitfrenzy