Obviously the first challenge of a Top Ten Tuesday (hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl) post like this is to narrow down to only ten favorite authors. That took a lot more time than I thought it would. Because there are SO MANY great authors out there, especially in the young adult and middle grade market. But I soldiered through and made my list of ten authors and from there, picking the books to share was pretty easy. Here’s my list.
I LOVED Not If I See You First, and I can’t believe I haven’t read this book yet. Buried secrets, unresolved friendship issues, and a main character with bipolar disorder. I’m in.
Okay, I’m granting myself a teeny bit of a pass on this one, since I just finished reading (actually, listening to) Scythe a couple weeks ago. I LOVED it– thought it married the creativity of Unwind with the powerful writing of Challenger Deep. But this one is on my “please read this before December” list!
My favorite Marchetta books are the Lumatere Chronicles, which are fantasy, but I also loved Jellicoe Road, so this one has been on my list for a long time. The descriptions of wacky students and family troubles packed into a private school setting sounds like it will make for a great read.
Someone recently told me this is better than Walled City, which I totally adored. I’ve been wanting to read more of Graudin’s books, and now that I keep hearing such great things about this one, I kind of have to do it. I mean, time-traveling pirates? Sounds pretty incredible.
Funny in Farsi by Firoozeh Dumas
I fell in love with Dumas’s writing in It Ain’t So Awful, Falafel – the story of an Iranian-American girl who lives in California during the Iranian Hostage Crisis. This is Dumas’s memoir of her life growing up in America. I don’t read tons of nonfiction, but I’ve been really interested to read this one because I loved the voice and writing in the other book so much.
I have no excuse for not having read this book yet. I’ve had a gorgeous hard cover copy since Valentine’s Day, and the two other books by Emma Mills that I’ve read both had me laughing and bawling my eyes out. They’re so fantastic. Plus, it’s a book about a high school production of Midsummer Night’s Dream – two more things I LOVE! So obviously totally going to be a win once I crack the cover.
I’ve read every other book by Markus Zusak except this one. Why? Because back during my big Zusak reading binge (after I devoured The Book Thief), I couldn’t get a copy of this one from the library. It’s about two brothers who get roped into boxing each other and the internal conflicts one faces through being forced to fight his brother.
I think this is the only book by Cypess that I haven’t read yet, either. I was once in a writer’s group with her and read an early version of her debut, Mistwood, which quickly became a favorite! I love the way she marries these deep, serious fantasy worlds with lots of political intrigue and a few super sassy characters to shake things up.
I’ve been hooked on this author since first reading Code Name Verity and Rose Under Fire. I’ve heard great things about this book, too. I’m super intrigued by the 1930s setting first in America and then Ethiopia. This is another I’m really hoping I can squeeze in before the end of the year.
I love The Star-Touched Queen series, so I’ve had my eye on this book since I first heard it was under contract. I wasn’t able to get an ARC, and I haven’t managed to read a finished copy yet, either. I love how Chokshi pulls Indian mythology and legend into her stories.
Who’s your favorite author?
Do you have a list of favorite authors? Have you read all their books, or do you have a catch-up list, like I do?
I can’t believe I still haven’t read a book by Neil Schusterman or Melina Marchetta!! I own both Scythe and Jellicoe Road so I don’t know why I haven’t gotten to them yet since everyone I know adores them! They’re both on my TBR to read by the end of the year so fingers crossed 🙂
It’s soooooo hard to keep up with all the authors we want to. I hope you get to read both those books before the end of the year! 🙂
I’ve seen Foolish Hearts on a lot of lists today. I have it and still haven’t read it! Great book list though! 🙂
Thanks! Isn’t it funny when that happens? I saw Strange the Dreamer on a ton of lists, too! 🙂
Thunderhead was on my list this week too! I actually didn’t realise Markus Zusak had another book, I thought The Book Thief and I Am The Messenger were the only ones. Black Dove, White Raven is the last Elizabeth Wein book I haven’t read as well.
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2018/09/25/top-ten-tuesday-178/
He has several – Fighting Ruben Wolfe is part of a duology (I think). Yay for Thunderhead! I hope we both get to read it soon. It looks so good, and I’ve heard great things.
I had trouble with this one! I didn’t even pick all fave authors (although some are), I just went with authors who had at least one book I really liked lol. I remember seeing some good reviews for Invictus, and I kinda wanted to read it, but I never picked it up. I may have to rectify that.
Hey, that makes sense! I found it tough to narrow down, too. Hope we get to read Invictus soon! 🙂
I loved THE WALLED CITY, too! I didn’t love WOLF BY WOLF, though, and I’ve seen a lot of negative reviews of INVICTUS, so … I’ve yet to give it a go. Not sure if I ever will. It’s interesting that someone said it was better than THE WALLED CITY. Hmmm. Maybe I might pick it up after all 🙂
Happy TTT!
Hmmmm….. I wonder if I’ll like Invictus. I found that comment interesting because it seems like Invictus is SUPER different than The Walled City. I hope it’s great, though. Definitely going to try to read it. 🙂 Thanks, Susan!
I have been wanting to read something from Marchetta for ages. My eLibrary finally has her books, and I hope to start reading them soon. Foolish Hearts was a solid 5-stars for me. It is sweet and adorable and heartwarming and just perfect.
Yay! I can’t wait to read it now. I hope you enjoy Melina Marchetta’s books and get to read them soon!
Ooh I have yet to read Thunderhead and Invictus!
Awesome picks, by the way!
Thanks! I hope they’re as great as people say. 🙂
Funny in Farsi looks super cute and I feel like I just read about it somewhere recently? I think I’m going to add it to my own TBR as well 🙂
I’m so glad you’re adding it to your TBR. Hope we both have a chance to read it soon!
I really like the look of A Tragic Kind Of Wonderful. Enjoy these!
Thanks, Chrissi!
oops I meant #127
Great list. I have not read any of Dumas books but Funny in Farsi has been on my TBR forever. I actually forgot about it until I read your post. So I must bump it up the list. I also have been wanting to read Elizabeth Wein books. I own Code Name Verity and must be the last person on earth to read it. I know I am going to like it. Thanks for sharing! Happy reading!
Belinda #27
Yay! I’m glad Dumas is on your list. 🙂 Awww – I hear you on feeling like the last person. I feel that way about A Court of Thorns and Roses. Thanks, Belinda!