The blogger knows as Jongleuse chooses her Top 10 books.
1) Siobhan Dowd A Swift Pure Cry
Simply one of the most beautiful, heartbreaking books in any genre I’ve ever read.
2) Julie Bertagna Exodus and sequels
Julie Bertagna has deservedly cropped up on many best of YA lists. Her post-global warming trilogy spanning generations and continents, as well as being exquisitely written, is a great adventure story.
3) David Almond, My Name is Mina
Prequel to Skellig, but not like any other prequel you’ve read. Anything and everything by David Almond is worth reading.
4) Meg Rosoff, There is No Dog
How I live Now is Meg’s best-known book, but I loved this quirky tale of a teenage boy playing God, delivered, as usual, in Meg’s precise, beautiful prose.
5) Terry Pratchett, The Wee Free Men and sequels
What to say about Sir Terry? If you’re a fan of fantasy, humour and metaphysics in equal quantities, the Tiffany Aching series is a brilliant place to start, although most of his output is eminently YA suitable anyway.
6) Anthony McGowan, Henry Tumour
Funny, sad and outrageous.
7) Celia Rees, Witch Child
This one really pushed the boundaries of historical fiction, away from bodice-rippers to something darker and more thought provoking.
8) Kevin Brooks, Naked
Brooks’ writing is taut and clever. Being (only just) old enough to remember punk first time round I loved this book about a teen punk rock star and her involvement with a young man who has a troubled past. Anything by Brooks is worth reading, however.
9) Jan Mark, They do things differently there
Jan Mark is not much read these days (sadly I think this one’s out of print) but she was outrageously talented. This story of two girls who invent an alternative world (Stalemate) in their boring New Town is brilliantly original.
10) Scarlett Thomas, The End of Mr. Y
Not marketed a YA but older teens would adore this weird, heady fantasy with heavy literary pretensions. I love the idea of the Alex awards in the USA where non-YA books are rewarded for being great teen reads.
UKYA 