And just like that, 2008 is pushing 2007 out the door! This month on Teenreads.com, we’re taking a look back at some of the noteworthy books that have been published this year, along with the author interviews we posted in 2007. If you have procrastinated about holiday gifts and need some last-minute ideas (or if you know somebody who needs an idea for what to get YOU), then check out our What to Give/What to Get Guide.

Speaking of the holidays, we would like to congratulate the five winners of our Second Annual Basket of Holiday Reading and Fun Contest. Thanks to all who entered! We had such a terrific response from you that we’ll definitely do contests like this in the future, so keep your eyes peeled...the next prize could be headed your way! See our winners below.

This month, we’re featuring the first book in what is bound to be the next huge series for teens. THE LUXE by Anna Godbersen combines all the drama of Gossip Girl with the glitz of the Victorian era. Brilliant, right? Follow five teens as they navigate dating, friendship and infuriating families...doesn’t sound so different from teens today. At least you don’t have to wear a corset or cravat!

Another book you should put on your list is SLAM by Nick Hornby. Sam, the main character, finds out that his girlfriend is pregnant. If that’s not enough of a problem, his poster of Tony Hawk talks to him. Could life get any more complicated? It’s hilarious and heartbreaking --- and you’ll love it.

Those are just two of our favorite books of the year. Weigh in with YOUR thoughts about best books of 2007 in this month’s poll and question. You can even win a copy of THE SWEET FAR THING by Libba Bray in our Word of Mouth giveaway! For more suggestions, see our latest reviews, along with our Cool New Books and New in Paperback roundups.

It’s been an amazing year, but I’m just as excited about what’s around the bend. Just look at our list of Coming Attractions in 2008!

Here’s wishing you a fantastic end to 2007...and happy reading in 2008!

Putting a 19th-century twist on popular series like Gossip Girl and The Clique, Anna Godbersen's novel THE LUXE follows the secrets and scandals, the drama and the debauchery of a group of upper-crust socialite teenagers in 1899 Manhattan. In this interview with Teenreads.com's Sarah Wood, Godbersen explains why she chose to set her book in New York during the turn of the century and describes the kind of research required for her to portray the intricate details of the time period so accurately. She also reveals which characters she identifies with the most, discusses what's in store for them in future installments of the series and shares her favorite "modern convenience" of the 20th and 21st centuries.

THE LUXE by Anna Godbersen (Historical Romance)
In 1899 beautiful sisters Elizabeth and Diana Holland rule Manhattan’s social scene. Or so it appears. When the girls discover their status among New York City’s elite is far from secure, suddenly everyone --- from the backstabbing socialite Penelope Hayes, to the debonair bachelor Henry Schoonmaker, to the spiteful maid Lina Broud --- threatens Elizabeth’s and Diana’s golden future.

In a world of luxury and deception, where appearance matters above everything and breaking the social code means running the risk of being ostracized forever, five teenagers lead dangerously scandalous lives. This thrilling trip to the age of innocence is anything but innocent.

-Click here to read an excerpt from THE LUXE.
-Click here to read our interview with Anna Godbersen.
-Click here to read Anna Godbersen’s bio.
-Visit www.harperteen-theluxe.com and enter for a chance to win a $1,000 gift certificate to shop for a Luxe-worthy wardrobe!

As 2007 comes to a close, we at Teenreads.com have compiled some of our favorite books of the year for teens. Along with HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS, we spotlight THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN, Sherman Alexie’s first novel for young adults and a finalist for the National Book Award; GUYAHOLIC, a funny and poignant follow-up to VEGAN VIRGIN VALENTINE by Carolyn Mackler; and FOREVER IN BLUE, the final installment in Ann Brashares's Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series

Additional standouts include Gabrielle Zevin’s MEMOIRS OF A TEENAGE AMNESIAC, a deeply moving novel about a young girl who loses her memory in an accident and must find a way to regain her bearings; LILY DALE: AWAKENING, the start of a paranormal suspense series written by Wendy Corsi Staub, the award-winning author of more than 60 books for adults and teens; and Alyson Noel’s SAVING ZOE, in which one sister's secrets save the other's life --- in more ways than one.

As 2007 comes to a close, we invite you to take a look at the author interviews that were featured throughout the year on Teenreads.com. This is a great way to catch up on the discussions you may have missed --- and to re-read what some of your favorite authors had to say about their books.

Our Holiday Basket of Cheer Contest has ended. Thanks to all who entered, and congratulations to our five winners!

Amy from Chesapeake Beach, MD; Emily from St. Louis, MO; Jessica from Allen, TX; Katie from Indio, CA; and Kelly from Reedsville, PA.

From November 20th through December 17th, readers had the opportunity to win one of five holiday baskets stocked with the hottest holiday goodies, in addition to 12 books --- THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN by Sherman Alexie; GUYAHOLIC by Carolyn Mackler; HERO by Perry Moore; I’D TELL YOU I LOVE YOU, BUT THEN I’D HAVE TO KILL YOU by Ally Carter; INCANTATION by Alice Hoffman; THE LUXE by Anna Godbersen; MEMOIRS OF A TEENAGE AMNESIAC by Gabrielle Zevin; PERFECT: Pretty Little Liars #3 by Sara Shepard; THE RED QUEEN’S DAUGHTER by Jacqueline Kolosov; RETURN TO ATLANTIS by R.A. Montgomery; SAVING ZOE by Alyson Noel; and WICKED LOVELY by Melissa Marr.

TROUBLE FOLLOWS is available in 3 formats: Book, Digital Audio and eBook.

WYVERNHAIL: The Kiesha’ra, Volume Five by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes (Fantasy)
In the fifth and final installment of Amelia Atwater-Rhodes’s The Kiesha’ra series, find out what happens after Princess Oliza abdicates the throne of Wyvern’s Court. The story is told from the point of view of Hai, the relative rescued from the Ecl prison who has scary visions of the future. Her visions urged Oliza to abdicate in the first place. But the visions are continuing… Reviewed by Amy Alessio.

-Click here to read a review of WYVERNHAIL.
-Click here to read an excerpt from WYVERNHAIL.

November and December’s roundup of New in Paperback titles includes PRINCESS ON THE BRINK, the eighth installment in Meg Cabot’s Princess Diaries series; HATTIE BIG SKY by Kirby Larson, a work of historical fiction that was selected as a Newbery Honor book in 2007; SLAWTER, a continuation of Darren Shan’s Demonata horror saga; CRISS CROSS by Lynne Rae Perkins, a coming-of-age novel that was awarded the Newbery Medal in 2006; FLY ON THE WALL, E. Lockhart’s story of how a girl’s wish to become a fly on the wall in the boys’ locker room comes true; and BLIND FAITH, in which Ellen Wittlinger explores questions of belief, the mother-daughter bond and how death affects those who are left behind.

POWERS by Ursula K. Le Guin (Fantasy)
Young Gav can remember the page of a book after seeing it once and can even foresee things that will happen in the future. As a loyal slave, he must keep these powers secret. But when a terrible tragedy occurs, he flees the only world he has ever known. Reviewed by Patsy Side.

-Click here to read an excerpt from POWERS.

BLOOD BEAST: The Demonata, Book 5 by Darren Shan (Horror/Supernatural)
When Grubbs Grady begins to experience alarming symptoms at the onset of the full moon, he is scared that the jaws of fate are opening and about to swallow him whole. He has cheated death, defeated demons and moved on with his life. But Grubbs is torn between the world of magic and his wolfen genes. Can he fight the beast inside, or will he fall victim to his tainted blood? Reviewed by Sally M. Tibbetts.

WHAT THEY FOUND: Love on 145th Street by Walter Dean Myers (Fiction/Short Stories)
Walter Dean Myers returns to the world of 145th Street to show how love can be found, and thrive, in the most unlikely places. Among the stories here: Curtis finds love in Iraq as he struggles to stay alive in a war he doesn't want to fight, and Letha discovers her own beauty in the love of her child. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.

HUSH: An Irish Princess’ Tale by Donna Jo Napoli (Historical Fiction)
Award-winning author Donna Jo Napoli has crafted a touching and memorable novel. Based on an Icelandic folktale and written in the haunting voice of a kidnapped Irish princess, HUSH is a spellbinding story about self-discovery, self-reliance and finding courage in a world that offers little hope. Reviewed by Donna Volkenannt.

BREATHE MY NAME by R. A. Nelson (Fiction)
Frances Robinson is in high school now. She lives a quiet, suburban life, far from her horrifying past. When she was a child, her birthmother smothered her three sisters. Through pure luck, Frances survived. Now her mother has just been released from prison and would like to see her. Reviewed by Carlie Webber.

REMEMBERING RAQUEL by Vivian Vande Velde (Fiction)
What would happen if the least visible person in your high school class slipped out of sight forever? Following the death of unpopular, frequently unlikable Raquel, the teen’s friends, family, acquaintances and even total strangers reflect on their connections to the dead girl --- and to each other. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

THE OPPOSITE OF LOVE by Helen Benedict (Fiction)
Madge, a biracial teen, lives in a small, all-white town in Pennsylvania. Her family life is haphazard at best. While visiting her cousin in New York City, Madge comes across a neglected young Hispanic boy with whom she identifies. She decides to rescue him, and from that point on, her life becomes very complicated. Reviewed by Carole Turner.

THIRTEEN REASONS WHY by Jay Asher (Fiction)
Clay Jenkins returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it. Inside he discovers 13 cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, his classmate and crush, who committed suicide two weeks earlier. She explains that there are 13 reasons why she decided to end her life --- and Clay is one of them. Reviewed by Kristi Olson.

ANOTHER KIND OF COWBOY by Susan Juby (Fiction)
Ever since he can remember, Alex Ford has loved horses. When his father provides him with a horse won from a card game and offers to pay for western lessons, he lives every minute for his horse passion. However, Alex hordes a few deeply buried secrets that would devastate his father if discovered. Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman.

THE OUTCASTS by L.S. Matthews (Fiction/Action & Adventure)
Four of the Outcasts don't really participate in class, and all five could care less about a group activity. So the fact that all of them actually go on the field trip is something of a miracle. When reality splits, and they end up in another dimension, you can imagine how badly they'll all wish they'd stayed home. Reviewed by Sarah A. Wood.

THE CHICKEN DANCE by Jacques Couvillon (Fiction)
Don Schmidt is ecstatic when he finally gets the chance to take over caring for the family chickens --- for those clucking creatures are the only friends he has. However, when he enters and wins the local chicken judging contest, a whole new world opens up for Don. Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman.

Poll:

How many books did you read this year?
None
1-10
11-20
21-30
31-40
41-50
51-74
75-100
More than 100

-Click here to answer our poll.

Question:

Name up to five of your favorite books that were released for the first time in 2007.

-Click here to answer our question.