Reading Rants! Out of the Ordinary Teen Booklists!

Dear teen peeps,

Reading Rants is taking a winter break until January 5. Andrew and I wish you all a lovely holiday season filled with happiness and hot chocolate. Come back in the new year for more reviews of poppin’ 2010 titles. Until then, if you’re looking for something to read over your school’s winter break, please check out my 2009 Top Ten or my list of the Ten Most Underappreciated Teen Books of the decade. And make sure to leave a comment so I know what you loved, were just “meh” about, or plain chucked back under the tree or menorah.

Happy reading, and I’ll see you next year!

Oh, I love lists! I love making my end of year book lists, and I love reading everyone else’s! But when a decade comes to a close, you have the opportunity of a lifetime to make an extra-special, super-significant (if only to me:) BIG book list. So I decided to compile a list of the 10 most under-the-radar, deserving-of-more-love-than-they-got YA books of the decade, IMHO.  (And if any of these look familiar, it’s because they were each plucked from the RR Top Ten list of their respective year.) I do hope this inspires you to go back and dig these lovelies up, and also to think about what books would end up not just on your end of year list, but on your fav books of the DECADE. Or even OF ALL TIME. (It’s just fun giving your list a name in ALL CAPS. That means it’s even MORE AWESOME:)

2000: Eight Seconds by Jean Ferris

2001: Every Time a Rainbow Diesby Rita Williams-Garcia

2002: Tribes by Arthur Slade

2003: Deep by Susanna Vance

2004: Rockstar, Superstar by Blake Nelson

2005: Lovesickby Jake Coburn

2006: The Love Curse of the Rumbaughs by Jack Gantos

2007: Bloodsong by Melvin Burgess

2008: Life Sucks by Jessica Abel

2009: Punkzilla by Adam Rapp

My teenage friends,

Reading Rants is taking a holiday break until January 5. Andrew and I wish you all a warm and wonderful holiday season filled with light, laughter and love. Come back in the new year for more reviews of exciting 2009 titles. If the 2009 books are anywhere near as awesome as the 2008 ones were, we’re in for a wild ride! Until then, if you’re looking for something to read over your winter school break, please check out my 2008 Top Ten. And make sure to come back and leave a comment so I know what you loved, loathed or what just left you cold.

Happy holidays, and I’ll see you next year! -Jen Hubert