The Best YA Books You Haven't Read (And One MG!)

There are many, many books that get published each year and not all of them can win a Newbery, a Caldecott, a Batchelder, a Morris or a Printz or any of the other book awards. But that doesn't mean they aren't good. This year, I read over 50 books that had at least one starred review. But what happens to all of those books that don't get an award? Unfortunately, they may fall by the wayside.

In order to bring some of those books to light, Kelly at YAnnabe has asked us to put together a list of 5 to 10 books that we think deserve the spotlight. We will then link to Kelly's post so you can find more books that should be read! So, without further ado

1. On Pointe by Lorie Ann Grover
I found this book on Readergirlz almost 3 years ago, when they were just starting out and I was preparing to do an all girls summer book club. It's a story of family and relationships and growth and change. It's also a verse novel which means the writing is spare. It's also beautiful. You get lost in the story.

2. I am The Wallpaper by Mark Peter Hughes
Floey decides she wants to be someone new. She decides to totally reinvent herself including her personality. She writes in her diary and it's posted on a website by her cousin. She doesn't find this out until boys start coming out of the woodwork. Hughes does a great job with a "female voice", very believable.

3. Lemonade Mouth by Mark Peter Hughes
Hughes second outing follows the band "Lemonade Mouth" from it's beginnings to it's almost debut. The book is told in alternating voices through a "reporter". Wen from I am The Wallpaper also appears in this book.

4. Scrambled Eggs at Midnight by Brad Barkley and Heather Hepler
Eliot's family runs the Christian fat camp and Calliope's mom travels with a Renaissance troupe. The odds were against them ever meeting but it happens. The closer Eliot and Calliope become the more she wants to settle down. How can she convince her mom to stay?

5. Love, Aubrey by Suzanne LaFleur
LaFleur weaves together the past, present, and possible future in this story of Aubrey left alone. Aubrey's family is split in half and her mom walks out on her. She goes to live with her grandmother and starts her life over. As she goes about her days certain things trigger memories of her family. She also writes letters to help her understand her life. Things start to become routine and then her mom shows up. Make sure you have plenty of tissue!

So, those are my 4 YA and 1 MG I encourage you to spend your budget on or support your local library! Read these books! Now, head over to YAnnabe and find some other books to read!