Teen Top Ten of 2012

Every year, YALSA gathers nominations for books that comprise the list of finalists for the  Teens Top Ten. This year's list of 24 nominees has been released. Check out the voting site at http://www.ala.org/yalsa/teenstopten. Any reader between the ages of 12 - 18 may vote on their favorites when the voting site is open in August and September. For the next two weeks, we'll be featuring books on the nomination list. All you have to do is read!

Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen (Teen Top 10)

There have been many riffs on the Robin Hood story - even the "original" version is up for dispute. Scarlet is filled with all the action you might expect, but with a decidedly sexy twist. No spoilers here! Pick this one up and see how it stacks up.

Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen
Will Scarlet shadows Robin Hood, with an unerring eye for finding treasures to steal and throwing daggers with deadly accuracy, but when Gisbourne, a ruthless bounty hunter, is hired by the sheriff to capture Robin and his band of thieves, Robin must become Will's protector risking his own life in the process.

Rowan Hood by Nancy Springer

In her quest to connect with Robin Hood, the father she has never met, Rosemary disguises herself as a boy, befriends a half-wolf, half-dog, a runaway princess, and an overgrown boy whose singing is hypnotic, and makes peace with her elfin heritage.

In a Dark Wood by Michael Cadnum

On orders from the King, the Sheriff of Nottingham seeks to capture the outlaw Robin Hood, but he finds him to be a tricky and elusive foe.

Forbidden Forest: The Story of Little John and Robin Hood by Michael Cadnum Profiles Little John, from his quiet life before joining Robin Hood through his adventures protecting a beautiful lady when she is wrongfully accused of murdering her husband. 

Sherwood: Original Stories from the World of Robin Hood

The Adventures of Robin Hood and his Merry Men by Howard Pyle

Wither by Lauren De Stefano (Teen Top 10)

Wither is the first book of the Chemical Garden Trilogy. Check the library for the second book, Fever.

This Dark Endeavor (Teen Top 10)

In this prequel to Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein is on a dark quest to save his twin’s life. With help from his best friend Henry and his lovely cousin Elizabeth, the three go on a quest to concoct the mythical Elixir of Life. How far is he willing to go to save his twin?

Reading Frankenstein by Mary Shelley this summer? Let us know if this prequel actually relates to the original story!

Shine (Teen Top 10)

Lauren Myracle - One of the most banned authors of young people's literature, explains why.

Legend (Teen Top 10)

June, a fifteen-year-old military prodigy, is hunting Day, the outlaw she believes is responsible for her brother’s death. What will happen when the two meet and discover the government is corrupt?

Click here to read an excerpt.

Ashes (Teen Top 10)

Alex, Tom, and Ellie join forces after an electromagnetic pulse sweeps through the sky. The pulse kills most of the world’s population and destroys all computer devices, but it also turns some who remain into zombies or gives them superhuman senses.

This is a gritty, post-apocalyptic story that will not appeal to everyone. But if you do like to occasionally read about a future-gone-bad (yes, like Hunger Games) then Ashes may be for you.

Below are some other novels with a dystopic setting.

Paige by Paige (Teen Top 10)

When Paige Turner and her family move to Brooklyn from rural Virginia, she tries to make sense of her new life through her sketchbook, which exposes her true personality and helps her find herself.

This is Laura Lee Gulledge's first graphic novel. Check out her blog at http://whoispaigeturner.blogspot.com/ to find out more about this talented artist and author.

What Happened to Goodbye (Teen Top 10)

Ever since Mclean’s parents divorced, she has lived in four towns in two years – each time taking on a new persona. Mclean expects to leave Lakeview in six months, but soon finds that she doesn’t want to – she just wants to be herself.

If you like What Happened to Goodbye, there are a lot of other Sarah Dessen books for you to check out. All of them can be found in the Teen Room under YA Dessen.

The Fault in Our Stars (Teen Top 10)

Hazel and Augustus meet and forge a relationship at a support group for kids battling cancer. As Hazel and Augustus struggle with the “side-effects of dying,” they come to learn the strength of wishes, the complexities of long human lives, and the wondrous ways of the universe.

“Saying 'I notice you're a nerd' is like saying, 'Hey, I notice that you'd rather be intelligent than be stupid, that you'd rather be thoughtful than be vapid, that you believe that there are things that matter more than the arrest record of Lindsay Lohan. Why is that?' In fact, it seems to me that most contemporary insults are pretty lame. Even 'lame' is kind of lame. Saying 'You're lame' is like saying 'You walk with a limp.' Yeah, whatever, so does 50 Cent, and he's done all right for himself.”
― John Green

Tempest by Julie Cross (Teen Top 10)

Jackson is a typical college kid until the day his girlfriend, Holly, is shot. Jackson decides he must use his one incredible gift, the ability to time travel. He goes back in time two years, trying to discover a way to alter the future so that Holly lives. The future is full of uncertainty and the past is full of betrayal- is there anyone Jackson can trust?

The Tempest

YA Cross

Nominated for Teen Top 10 2012