Like a good book blogger, I’ve been reading a lot of year-end lists, and I started to notice a few repeats. Those always catch my attention. I thought I’d share with you the results of my very unscientific cross-reference of the lists—for the best of the “best of” for 2012.
Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore. This is the third book in the Graceling series. I reviewed Graceling earlier this year. It is fabulous. If you haven’t read it already, do it now!
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The Raven Boys, by Maggie Steifvater. This book about a daughter of a psychic destined to kill off her true love with a kiss was #1 on the Atlantic Wire’s list and appeared on others. I read it recently. The review is coming soon!
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The Mortal Instruments: City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare. The fifth (!) book in the series, and it’s appeared on several best of lists this year. I haven’t read even the first one (City of Bones) because I’m a little tired of angels and demons, but with such high recommendations, I am curious. . .
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Seraphina, by Rachel Hartman. A bestseller about dragons who can turn into human form and live peacefully next to humans until a member of the royal family is murdered in a very dragon-like way.
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Son. By Lois Lowry. This is the third of Lowry’s ground-breaking dystopian Giver series. Reviewed here. I better catch up and read the second. Son has made almost every best of list I’ve come across.
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Some of my sources:
Atlantic Wire: Best Young Adult Books 2012
Goodreads Best YA Fantasy and Sci Fi 2012
New York Times Notable Children’s Books of 2012
NPR Young Adult Books that You ll never Outgrow
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Sara Zaske 
I didn’t realize there were two sequels to The Giver! I’ll have to check them out. And I just read Graceling over the holidays — fantastic! I loved how it constantly subverted my expectations. I read so many young adult books where I can guess exactly what will happen next, so it was a lovely breath of fresh air 🙂 And Katsa just kicks ass.
The sequels of both of these have been on my list for some time. I’ve been hesitant about Fire (#2 in Graceling series) bc it’s a prequel and got mediocre reviews. But they are raving about Bitterblue – and Son which is also a #3. Perhaps the third time is a charm?
Wait, so the second book in the Graceling series is a prequel? That’s … weird. Lol. Yeah, I’ve heard great things about Bitterblue. I figure I’ll just hit up ye olde library, borrow the books, and give them a shot. If I only get a few chapters in and don’t like them, no harm, no foul, right?
I have read all three books of “The Giver.” I thought they were great. It’s fun to look at books from 2012, but I am excited about 2013 books! Check out this website http://www.stelladaur.com/. The book is called, “Stelladaur: Finding Tir Na Nog” by author S. L. Whyte. The story is a young adult fantasy novel with romance. The main character, a sixteen year-old boy, discovers he has unusual powers, which takes him on a journey of discovery. The video clip on the website is AWESOME!!!!
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