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Recently we asked our reviewers to provide us with a list of some of their favorite books from 2009. Though it was difficult to narrow down, each reviewer chose up to 10 books that he or she enjoyed the most this year. Take a look and see if any of their selections match yours --- and which titles you may want to consider reading in the future. Please note that due to personal and professional commitments, some reviewers were not able to participate in this feature.
- Amy Alessio
- CATCHING FIRE by Suzanne Collins
- Benjamin Boche
- HEROES OF THE VALLEY by Jonathan Stroud
- WHEN YOU REACH ME by Rebecca Stead
- THE ASK AND THE ANSWER: Chaos Walking, Book Two by Patrick Ness
- MARCELO IN THE REAL WORLD by Francisco X. Stork
- IF I STAY by Gayle Forman
- CATCHING FIRE by Suzanne Collins
- THE MONSTRUMOLOGIST by Rick Yancey
- THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH by Carrie Ryan
- Chris Shanley-Dillman
- THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH by Carrie Ryan
Beware: THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH will suck you in and refuse to let go. Carrie Ryan has a wonderful gift for creating a world of suspense and fascination, which captures readers’ attention, making them think long after the last page has been turned. This book has a little something for almost everyone, including heart-stopping action, spine-tingling romance, thought-provoking ideas and a bit of stomach-turning gore.
- HUNGER: A Gone Novel by Michael Grant
Michael Grant challenges his readers with intense subject matter, like bigotry and war, and sometimes-violent confrontations, always giving them something to think about long after the book is finished.
- THE GEORGES AND THE JEWELS by Jane Smiley
Jane Smiley combines her vast writing talents with her massive love of horses, resulting in an incredible reading experience. The story leaps out of the starting gate with the first sentence (“Sometimes when you fall off your horse, you just don’t want to get back on.”), immediately capturing the attentions of any horse-crazed fan.
- DEEPER by Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams
Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams have created an amazing world of adventure, danger and the fight for survival. The story jump-starts right away into action of unexpected magnitude; there’s no way to predict the astonishing twists and surprises hiding around every darkened corner.
- JAKE RANSOM AND THE SKULL KING’S SHADOW by James Rollins
Prepare to join Jake on a fast-paced, mind-boggling, heart-pounding thrill ride filled with history, monsters, battles, evil bad guys and, most importantly, family and friends.
- MAXIMUM RIDE #5: MAX by James Patterson
MAX is James Patterson’s fifth adventure with Maximum Ride, and it never, ever gets boring. His feathered-kid series is stuffed full of nonstop action, high-flying thrills, hand-to-hand combat, and unexpected twists and turns.
- SECRET KEEPER by Mitali Perkins
This touching story pulls the audience in and doesn’t let go, as the pages slip away swiftly and easily. Readers will get a taste of the Indian culture --- some of its food, clothes and rules for society.
- Terry Miller Shannon
- HOW TO SAY GOODBYE IN ROBOT by Natalie Standiford
- THE MAZE RUNNER by James Dashner
- ALONG FOR THE RIDE by Sarah Dessen
- IF I STAY by Gayle Forman
- THE DEVIL’S PAINTBOX by Victoria McKernan
- Melanie Smith
- SOLACE OF THE ROAD by Siobhan Dowd
- CATCHING FIRE by Suzanne Collins
- BEAUTIFUL CREATURES by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
- PURPLE HEART by Patricia McCormick
- CLEOPATRA’S DAUGHTER by Michelle Moran
- ICE by Sarah Beth Durst
- THE DEMON KING by Cinda Williams Chima
- THE MAZE RUNNER by James Dashner
- RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT by Laurie Viera Rigler
- Donna Volkenannt
- 3 WILLOWS: The Sisterhood Wars by Ann Brashares
A wise and witty story about how friendships --- like willow trees --- sprout and grow and change, yet the strong ones endure.
- ALLIGATOR BAYOU by Donna Jo Napoli
Donna Jo Napoli’s crisp and graceful writing captures the essence of a historic time in America and gives voice to an immigrant story that needs to be told.
- THE CIRCLE OF GOLD: The Book of Time III by Guillaume Prevost
A fascinating time travel story.
- Sarah Wood
- TALES FROM OUTER SUBURBIA by Shaun Tan
Shaun Tan is an Australian writer and illustrator. This year, he followed up his marvelous wordless picture book about immigration, THE ARRIVAL, with TALES FROM OUTER SUBURBIA. Dreamlike and fantastical, this book contains the perfect balance between text and image. It allows for the fantastical to take place in the ordinary places we inhabit every day. A marvelous gift for an older reader who has forgotten how much he or she loves pictures.
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