Hi from BFYA land

Alright, so I haven't posted in FOREVER... I know, I know. I've been frantically reading for BFYA cause I (as always) am SO behind... but I thought I'd give you a glipse of my favorites of the nominees so far:

Cause I just can't get enough of distopian novels.... this one is AMAZING! Fresh voice, strong characters, detailed and interesting setting... plus it really puts a whole new perspective on the Gulf oil catastrophe.




So this one isn't out until the middle of September, but worth the wait. Quiet, character driven examination of the relationship between brothers. Also an interesting look at the Iraq/Afghanistan war and PTSD. Another book to put in the hands of teens considering the military.









Cause I just can't get enough Rick Riordan.












Full disclosure- this was my first nominee this year... but scenes from this book still haunt me months later.










Definitely on the young side of YA, but my middle school book club girls LOVED this one too. Gives you a first hand look into the mind of a girl on the Autism spectrum.








Ok, more dystopia but OH SO GOOD!











This one comes out on Wednesday. The main character is a girl that so many typical average girls will relate to easily. She has a realistic voice and her concerns are standard girl concerns- the angst and drama is everyday type stuff.

Lost

I *loved* this book. It's on the same level as A Northern Light which is high praise in my book.

It's rare that I read an entire book and then devour the author's note, but I just couldn't get enough of this story and was completely mesmerized when I discovered that it was based on a true story!

This is historical fiction set in New York in 1911. Life was hard, especially if you worked in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. If you remember your history, you'll know what happened there. If not, I won't ruin it for you.

Davies weaves two stories together -- one is about a 16 year old Jewish factory worker with hazy memories of family loss and the other is about a 20-something mystery woman who appears in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory one day.

A stunning mystery. Read it.

HI-LARIOUS

I'm on a roll with the hilarious, laugh aloud books. Thank you, Alissa for getting me started with this little gem...

Swim the Fly! This one is full of fart and vomit jokes and is a genuinely hilarious read. Plus, I just love this kid's motivations for everything. He starts out swimming the fly to impress a girl and by the end... he has no idea why he's doing it. I love his posse of weirdo friends, too. Good stuff all around.
















Now I'm reading another gem of a book! Carter Finally Gets it. More fart and vomit jokes and a hilarious scene with ass-less jeans while running from the cops. There is also swimming. Everything is funnier in a Speedo. Especially when you're a 14 year old boy and your "mainframe" has short-circuited from staring at butts and boobs. :)