Author Kate Kelly’s UKYA Top 10

It was hard to choose a top ten – there are so many great UKYA books that I would have loved to include – but here, in no particular order, are my favourites.

1. Arabesque – Colin Mulhern
Gangsters and criminals – and one girl caught in the middle – this is the sort of down to earth gritty crime that I love.

2. Firebrand – Gillian Philip
A wonderful fantasy – a book that draws you in and doesn’t let you go.

3. The Universe Versus Alex Woods – Gavin Extense
This is a really brilliant book, moving and profound. You’ll think about things differently after reading this!

4. Harry Potter series – JK Rowling
No list would be complete without including these. What more can I say.

5. The Dreamwalker’s Child – Steve Voake
An all time favourite of mine – powerful fantasy with a wonderfully imagined world.

6. Looking for JJ – Anne Cassidy
Cleverly structured – moving between past and present- a past life that is being kept hidden. Gripping stuff!

7. Blood Ties – Sophie McKenzie
A superb fast paced thriller with a real ethical issue at its core

8. Noughts and Crosses – Malorie Blackman
Dystopia at its best – thought provoking. A classic for its time.

9. His Dark Materials series – Philip Pullman
There is so much depth to these books – wonderful characters, fantastic settings and quite simply a brilliant story and concept.

10. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time – Mark Haddon
Sheer brilliance. This is a book that fully deserved all the accolades it has received.

Kate Kelly is a marine scientist by day but by night she writes SF thrillers for kids. Her love of the sea inspires many of the themes in her writing. Kate’s debut novel Red Rock is published by Curious Fox in September 2013.

Arabesque by Colin Mulhern

Amy May is the best at everything she does. But how do you know you’re really the best until you’re tested? Until you’re pushed to the limit?

A botched kidnapping drags Amy and her best friend, Mia, into the depths of a criminal underworld, a world where the players think with bullets and blackmail. But the kidnappers are small-time: it’s when the big players come in that this really kicks off, and Amy’s friendship is put to the test as her friend Mia is used as leverage.

Arms dealer, porn mogul and blackmarket art dealer, Galloway needs an exceptional thief to steal a lost Picasso – the Arabesque and who better than lithe, strong, unexpectedly talented Amy? But talent isn’t enough, Galloway needs someone he can trust and he knows Amy won’t put a foot wrong if he uses her friend Mia as leverage. But Galloway has underestimated what teenage girls are capable of…

Serendipity Viv’s UKYA Books of the Year

When Keris asked me to pick my favourite UKYA books for 2012, I thought it would be a complete doddle…until I realised how many blooming excellent books I had read in this category. So I’ve written and rewritten my list, lost sleep over it, scribbled out names only to replace them five minutes later and finally I think I can name my top ten. In fact, I might even do a Ross Geller from Friends and laminate it, just so I can flash it around at author events. If you’re on my list, I can talk to you, right?

Anyway my list is in no particular order but I do have one book shining like a star at the top of the list.

My number one UKYA book of the year is Heart-Shaped Bruise by Tanya Byrne. Seriously I loved this book so much. Full of emotion that grated my feelings to the bone. Judging by the awards that this book has been nominated for I guess I ‘m not the only one feeling this way about this book.

Now here is the rest of my list which is in no particular order.

15 Days Without A Head by Dave Cousins is an amazing gritty debut, which makes you laugh in some places and cry in others.

What’s Up with Jody Barton? by Hayley Long should get an award for the biggest best kept secret ever. Half way through the book I was completely blown away.

Saving Daisy by Phil Earle – another book to rip me to shreds.  Phil writes from the heart and you can tell as you weep buckets, always desperate for a brighter outcome for his main characters.

Arabesque by Colin Mulhern– If Martina Cole wrote YA then this would be the type of book she would write. Compelling and shocking at times to read but one hell of a thriller.

Skin Deep by Laura Jarrett – a beautiful love story where a young couple defy everyone that goes against their relationship. Just simply gorgeous.

Unrest by Michelle Harrison – this lovely lady seems to be able to turn her hand to any subject matter. She has swiftly moved from fairies to ghosts and scared the beejeesus out of me in the process.

FrostFire by Zoe Marriott – I just adore the way Zoe writes. Her imagination amazes me; her creative mind just wows me.

Emma Hearts LA  by Keris Stainton – I loved being swept away to California! Keris has a way of writing that makes me feel like I really am the main character.

The Glimpse by Claire Merle – I had to check this one was valid because Clare no longer lives in the UK, but thank fully it does. Raise your glasses to a UK based dystopian novel. We can do it too my lovely American friends!

I was just about to write three more that need to go on my list when I realised I’d run out of room on my laminated card. So I’m going to stick a bright pink post it note on the side mentioning that Hollow Pike by James Dawson, Torn by Cat Clarke and Night School by C.J Daugherty also rocked my socks off, but mean Keris Stainton told me I could only choose ten!* Harrumph!

* I actually asked her to pick just one – Mean Keris Stainton 🙂

Malaika Rose Stanley’s favourite YA books

Malaika Rose Stanley shares her Top 10 UKYA reads.

I mainly write for younger children and pre-teens, but young adult fiction is what I often choose to read.

Choosing my favourites is difficult, but here is my Top 10 from the books I read over the past year.

There is nothing that particularly links them together by theme, except most notably that they are all UK publications and possibly that they were all written – or recommended – by my social network contacts. Does that mean I am entitled to bask in their reflected glory?

Even under the Young Adult banner, I think the ages for which these books are most suited probably varies – but they are all great reads!

Killing Honour – Bali Rai

You Against Me – Jenny Downham

Trash – Andy Mulligan

When I Was Joe – Keren David

Life, An Exploded Diagram – Mal Peet

Boys Don’t Cry – Malorie Blackman

Shadows on the Moon – Zoe Marriott

Dark Ride – Caroline Green

Clash – Colin Mulhern

15 Days Without a Head – Dave Cousins

Clash by Colin Mulhern

Alex: school psycho and under-ground cage-fighting champion.

Kyle: talented artist, smart school-boy and funny man.

When Alex witnesses a brutal murder at the club he can’t go back to The Cage, but without fighting, he starts to lose control. He soon sets his sights on Kyle, a boy he thinks can help. But Kyle has his own problems and he’s convinced Alex is one of them.

Boys can play dangerous games when they’re scared and this one will haunt everyone involved. What will it take for each boy to confront the truth?

Visit Colin’s website