2009 Teens’ Top Ten Nominations

Looking for a book to read this summer? Try one of these teen nominated books, then go to http://www.ala.org/teenstopten to vote for your favorites

Cashore, Kristin. Graceling. 2008

Lady Katsa is born with a Grace (super talent) of killing and her uncle, the king, makes
her his brute squad. When she meets Po, a rival kingdom's Graceling, she becomes more
powerful as a woman of justice, self knowledge, and romance.

Cast, Kristin & P.C. Untamed. 2008.
At finishing school for young vampyres, Zoey makes a shocking discovery about the
school's leader, but no one will listen to her as her undead friends and 3 boyfriends turn
against her. Loyalties are strained, truths are revealed, and an ancient evil is awakened in
Cast's fourth House of Night novel.

Clare, Cassandra. City of Ashes. 2008.
The second in the Mortal Instruments trilogy, this volume continues the saga of Clary and
her best friend Simon as they struggle to find their place in a magical world parallel to
their NYC home. Demon-fighting shadowhunters, vampires, warlocks, werewolves,
faeries, and a master villain named Valentine provide a heart-pounding backdrop as Clary
uncovers secrets about her past.

Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Games. 2008.
To save her young sister from competing, Katniss Everdeen takes her place in the annual
Hunger Games, a televised competition in which only one person, the winner, survives.
By turns an adventure, a love story, and a futuristic thriller, this is the first in a planned
trilogy.

Fukui , Isamu. Truancy. 2008.
In the totalitarian society that Tack lives in, a rebel group called the Truancy is fighting
for freedom. But Tack vows revenge on the Truancy when someone he loves is killed
accidentally during one of their attacks on the government.

Fukui , Isamu. Truancy: Origins. 2009.
Umasi and Zen, adopted and raised in a life of privilege, are horrified to discover that
their father is behind the restrictive policies of their city. One brother will be driven to
rebellion.

Gaiman, Neil. The Graveyard Book. 2008.
When a toddler wanders away from his home just before assassins slay his family, he
ends up in a graveyard. Named Nobody Owens, the ghosts and other denizens of the
cemetery adopt him and teach him important skills he will need to survive.

Green, John. Paper Towns. 2008.
When they were little, Margo Roth Spiegelman was Q’s best friend. Now, a month before
high school graduation, she disappears after taking Q on a night of pranks involving dead
fish and a depilatory, sending him on a quest to find her.

Harris, Joanne. Runemarks. 2008.
Maddie is shunned by the town because of the mysterious rune mark on her hand. This
same rune mark will shatter her dull existence as it propels her into the center of a war
between the new controlling religious government and the Norse gods of old.

Hopkins, Ellen. Identical. 2008.
Identical teenage twins, Raeanne and Kaeleigh, respond in totally opposite ways to the
abuse and abandonment from their parents. One twin finds bulimia and cutting eases the
pain and helps her to maintain her passivity, while the other, more rebellious twin sinks
into the world of drugs.

Lockhart, E. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks. 2008.
When Frankie's boyfriend joins a secret society that she isn't supposed to know anything
about, she surprises everyone—including herself—by trying to beat them and become the
biggest prankster of them all.

Marriott, Zoё. Daughter of the Flames. 2009.
Zira bears scars from the battle that left her orphaned and in the care of the Ruan people.
When a tyrant king threatens her home, Zira seeks help from an unlikely romantic
interest and uncovers the truth about her past.

McMann, Lisa. Wake. 2008.
Going to sleep isn't a big deal for most of us, but for Janie, falling asleep means getting
sucked into other people's dreams. The supernatural ability she's always considered a
nuisance quickly becomes a nightmare when she blunders into a dream and witnesses a
murder.

Meyer, Stephenie. Breaking Dawn. 2008.
In this, the fourth and final installment of the Twilight Saga, Bella’s new life as the wife
of vampire Edward Cullen is wrought with unexpected obstacles, difficult decisions, and
potentially overwhelming outcomes.

Moran, Katy. Bloodline. 2009.
In the brutal world of Dark Age Britain, Essa fights for his life, his identity, and the lives
of those he loves. Paolini and Tolkien fans will be drawn in.

Ness, Patrick. The Knife of Never Letting Go. 2008.
Dangerous secrets can even be hidden in a world where all men and animals hear each
others' thoughts. Because all women died shortly after he was born, Todd Hewitt is the
last boy left in his town. When he learns a dangerous secret, he runs for his life with his
dog and finds something even more surprising: a girl!

Noёl, Alyson. Evermore. 2009.
Her life ripped apart by a tragic accident that killed her family, Ever struggles with her
newfound ability to hear people’s thoughts. Enter Damen, the new boy who seems the
perfect distraction — except he doesn’t eat or drink, and soon Ever discovers a
supernatural new world of which she is now part.

Palmer, Robin. Geek Charming. 2009.
Dylan’s middle name is “crisis.” It seems to follow her wherever she goes. First she
catches her boyfriend staring at another girl. Then her beautiful designer bag takes a
swim in a fountain. However, along with crisis comes opportunity, and Dylan's Beverly
Hills world is about to be turned upside-down.

Pierce, Tamora. Melting Stones. 2008.
All life, both plant and animal, on the Battle Islands is mysteriously dying. Stone mage
Evvy responds to the islander’s call for help. They need her magic to solve the mystery.
Accompanied by her friend and mentor, Luvo, she uncovers the deep secret revealed by
the stones and the volcano. Will it be in time to rescue the children?

Scott, Elizabeth. Living Dead Girl. 2008.
Alice was kidnapped when she was young and is forced to pretend to be a little girl to
please Ray. She could never escape and wishes for death. Soon her wish will become
true, as she had become too old and now she must find Ray a replacement for her.

Smith, Cynthia Leitich. Eternal. 2009.
Zachary, a guardian angel has, against all rules, fallen in love with his charge. When he
sees Miranda sleeping in the shadow of death, his attempt to save her hurls her into life as
a vampire princess and exiles him from heaven.

Smith, Sherri L. Flygirl. 2009.
Because she wants to fly and to support her soldier brother, 18-year-old Ida May Jones
passes for white amidst obstacles of race and gender and joins the Women Airforce
Service Pilots (WASP) during World War II .

Weingarten, Lynn. Wherever Nina Lies. 2009.
Two years after 16-year-old Ellie's older sister, Nina, disappeared, Ellie pieces together
clues to her whereabouts and heads out on a road trip that leads to murder and mystery
with her hot new boyfriend, Sean.

Werlin, Nancy. Impossible. 2008.
This gentle story details young teen Lucy's rape and subsequent pregnancy, with an
amazingly supportive cast of a faithful boyfriend and loving parents. A fairy tale set in
the present, with flashes of realism and romance.

Yee, Lisa. Absolutely Maybe. 2009.
Maybe (short for Maybelline, her mother's favorite mascara) leaves home and heads to
California on a mission to find her biological father, and avoid her mother's planned
wedding number seven.