The Top 9 Young Adult Books of 2009

The Top 9 Young Adult Books of 2009
(According to Janna)

I am thrilled to report that more and more great YA books keep coming out and that just excites me since I have 6 children and I want quality, excellent books available for them when they are reading age! Some of these books are in a series and the previous books may have shown up in lists before, but there are also new books that I just got exposed to this year - great stuff - check out all 9 on the list. And then check for the giveaways at the bottom...


#1 in 2009 - So Not Happening & I'm So Sure by Jenny B. Jones...
Well, well, well! The Charmed Life Series has beaten out all the other YA books and series' for the coveted #1 spot in the Top 9 YA Books of 2009! And it is well deserved. Jenny has come up with a wonderful heroine put in the most unusual of situations and filled to the brim with Jenny's most unique and hilarious humor. It is a win/win combination that makes these books gems!

What do you get when you take Paris Hilton, marry her mom to a small town Oklahoma farmer with a secret regarding spandex, one step brother that is a brilliant, 6 year old, wannabe super hero and another step brother who drives a hearse to school. Mix in some mysterious deaths, some friend issues and the downside of blogging and what do you have? You have Bella Kirkwood, Jenny B. Jones' newest heroine and you have a hit!



I can't say enough good things about this series and recommend it to anyone, teen or adult that loves a good laugh, a great story, hilarious characters and unlikely events - PERFECTION! And now we have "So Over My Head" to look forward to in April!








#2 in 2009 - Gatekeepers, Timescape & Whirlwind by Robert Liparulo...
Books #3, #4 and #5 in Robert's Young Adult series continue to blow my mind. A family living in a house where there is a secret 3rd level that has portals to different times and places... where good and bad can happen. Xander and his brother David are trying to save their mom who got kidnapped by someone from long ago and took her back with him. Their dad and younger sister are determined to help but can they save Mom without losing their own lives? And what about Taksidian, who is out to get them because he wants the house and all the secrets it holds? Everything is getting more and more dangerous - and now I have to wait until March for "Frenzy" to come out!



















#3 in 2009 - Be Strong & Curvaceous, Who Made You A Princess & Tidings of Great Boys by Shelley Adina...
Books #3, #4 and #5 in this series made my list because they are fantastic additions to this great series by Shelley. Following the lives of 5 girls that become friends at a private school. Each book is from the perspective of a different girl and here we get to see through the eyes of Carly, then Shani, then Lady Mac. I loved getting to know these girls and their escapades. I actually just finished reviewing the #6 book in this series and it wrapped everything up beautifully. I am actually having a huge giveaway right now on that review and I will link it to this because I want everyone to have a chance to win this great series!













#4 in 2009 - A Little Help From My Friends by Anne Dayton & May Vanderbilt...
Surprise, surprise - this is actually book #3 in this series, and somehow I missed it up until this point, definitely my loss! What a great series about 4 girls that meet in detention as freshmen in high school and the teacher has them each write a paper telling about an important event in their lives. Each of the 4 shares an instance where they were saved when they could have died and the teacher dubbed them "The Miracle Girls". After that these 4 girls from different backgrounds and situations became unlikely friends. Each book is told from the eyes of one of the girls and each one is a different year of high school. This book deals with Zoe and her junior year - along with some help from Christine, Riley and Ana. Wonderful series!!!


#5 in 2009 - All That Glitters / Truth or Dare by Nicole O'Dell...
Does anyone remember those books, "Choose Your Own Adventure"? You know, you'd read a little story and then there would be a point where you would make a choice... do you go through the forest or take the boat down the river, and the choices you make impact the outcome of the book? I loved those books when I was younger but they don't make them anymore... until now that is!
Now Nicole O'Dell has come along with something even better for my daughters! She is developing this series of books called "Scenarios" where she has a wonderful storyline in each book with great characters and then about 9 chapters into the book the main character is presented with a dilemma and they have to make a choice. You are then instructed to make your choice and then turn to the corresponding page. You then read the next three chapters where the consequences are played out accordingly. Then there are 3 more chapters with the alternate ending. It is such a great start to a new series and my 13 year old loved them! More are coming out this Spring.


#6 in 2009 - It's NOT About Him by Michelle Sutton...
Can we say "Book #2"? Of course! It's NOT About Him is the follow-up to Michelle's breakout novel "It's NOT About Me". Many of the same characters are in it but we focus on Jeff and Susie this time. Susie is pregnant and trying to decide about adoption. She is pretty sure that is what she wants to do, but Jeff is her good friend and he is adopted himself and is trying to convince her to marry him and keep the baby. What is best for Susie? What is best for the baby? Do Susie and Jeff really love each other? Michelle's writing isn't called Edgy Inspiration for nothing... her writing is not for young teens but it is important for teens that are exposed to the kind of issues she deals with (drinking, pre-marital sex, relationships, etc...). Well written and great for high schoolers and college age.


#7 in 2009 - Sir Bentley and Holbrook Court by Chuck Black...
Here again we have a book #2 that is just the start of a phenomenal series that will impact families for a long time to come. Sir Kendrick & the Castle of Bel Lione was just the beginning and Sir Bentley comes along and makes a striking 2nd book. Now Sir Dalton and the Shadow Heart and Lady Carliss and the Waters of Moorue are books #3 and #4 in the series (Lady Carliss releases in March) and I'll be ordering those myself now. And if you haven't read Chuck's Kingdom Series then you need to add those to your wish list as well.









#8 in 2009 - Ryann Watters and the Shield of Faith by Eric Reinhold...
This is book #2 in the series and Eric is off to a great start with these books that will delight boys maybe even more than girls (but girls will love them too!). Ryann is a 12 year old boy who loves hanging out with his best friends Terrell and Liddy. One day he has a visit from Gabriel which leads him on an adventure to a world called Aeliana where the animals talk and humans are few. It has a very Narnia-esque feel and is captivating. The beauty of this book to me is the way Eric shows spiritual warfare in such a way that it is easy for kids to understand. Searching the scriptures for answers, praying for wisdom, leaning not unto his own understanding... these are the ways Ryann finds answers on his quest against darkness. It starts with book #1 Ryann Watters and the King's Sword and this is only book #2. I can't wait to see what Eric has in store for his readers next!












#9 in 2009 - Spring of Candy Apples by Debbie Viguie...
This is the final book in a wonderful series for teen girls. Not only did I love this series, but my 13 year old daughter loved it so much she has had 4 of her friends read it as well. A wonderful girl named Candace goes through all 4 seasons (the Sweet Seasons series) starting with The Summer of Cotton Candy, The Fall of Candy Corn, The Winter of Candy Cane and ending with The Spring of Candy Apple. In each book she has a seasonal job at an amusement park where she lives and she has to learn how to blend her family, friends and faith with her new job and all the characters she meets at work. It is just a fun series that follows Candace through a year of her life and this final installment wraps things up beautifully. I'm just sad that there won't be anymore!


























So there we have it! All 9 winners in the YA category! I strongly encourage you to add these books to your wish lists and to-be-read lists if you have not already had the pleasure of reading them! To start some of you off I have some great giveaways though...
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I have to offer -

"It's NOT About Me" by Michelle Sutton from the #6 winners spot! It's book #1 so you can start the series off if you haven't already.

"Timescape" by Robert Liparulo from the #2 winners spot! This is book #4 and you definitely want to read them in order so if you don't have them already and you win, you will have to get the first 3 before you dive into this one - trust me!

Shelley Adina's publisher (#3 winners spot) has graciously offered to giveaway 3 copies of her newest release, #6 "The Chic Shall Inherit The Earth" alone with an entire set of all 6 books to one lucky winner! Isn't that amazing!!! Go to my review of "The Chic Shall Inherit The Earth" and post a comment there to be entered for those 4 chances to win.

Leave a comment on this post telling me which of these books you have read or what might've caught your eye and be sure to have your email address on there too and you will be entered for Timescape and It's Not About Me. Good luck! The drawings for all 6 chances to win will be January 31st!
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