Favorite Books of 2009

These aren't necessarily the books that I think were the best - as if it's that easy to decide, right? - but they were certainly my favorites.  I'm looking only at the books that were first published in the United States in 2009.  Also, some of them are not YA!  But, I don't think that they are so not YA that teenagers didn't read them or wouldn't be interested in reading them.  Okay, no more rambling.

Oh yeah, and I think I'm also going to rank 'em.

10.The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet by Reif Larsen

9.  Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork

8.  Charles and Emma by Deborah Heligman

7.  When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

6.  Vast Fields of Ordinary by Nick Burd

5.  If I Stay by Gayle Forman

4.  The Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore

3.  Columbine by Dave Cullen

2.  The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelley

1.  Zeitoun by Dave Eggers

Honorable mentions

Little Bee by Chris Cleave, After by Amy Efaw, Claudette Colvin: Twice Towards Justice by Philip Hoose, Stitches by David Small

FYI, in 2009 I read exactly 130 books!  A good mix of adult, YA, and juvenile literature, though not so good a mix of fiction and non-fiction.  I read 32 adult titles, 60 YA, and 38 juvenile titles (I only count juvenile chapter books and up because counting picture books is just ridiculous); likewise, 111 fiction books, 14 non-fic, and 5 graphic novels/manga.  Just a few more than last year, about a dozen more than the year before that, and well, before that I wasn't keeping track.  Let's just say that prior to officially becoming a full-time librarian, I never read 100 books for pleasure in a year.  Because I was always a student.  Doing homework.  Yeah, don't miss that so much!

I think my list reflects the diversity of my taste and how much some of the things I do to torture myself (like making sure I've read the National Book award nominees for Young People's lit before the award is announced) actually pay off.  I truly loved reading Charles and Emma and the book gave me such an appreciation for who Charles Darwin and his wife Emma were, in their own time.  It was also really sad!  I'm glad to have finally read a Lorrie Moore book so that I'm clued into her genius, and I'm glad that I managed to squeeze Zeitoun in this year, reading the book in one long sitting a few days ago.  With a sub-zero windchill outside, I found myself completely and utterly lost in this one man named Zeitoun's true story, and will be recommending this book to everyone.  It was not only my favorite book of the year, but one that I think captures all the qualities of what makes a book truly remarkable and a "best book" kind of books.  It's not only that Dave Eggers chose to tell this story, but the truth in the way that he chooses to tell is that makes it so remarkable.  Never mind that it's so heartpoundingly (okay, not a word, but I don't have time to edit now!) real that you just can't put it down.

Looking back over what I read this year, I have to say that 2009 was another really good year for fiction, particularly children's and adults.  For some reason, when I look over what I read in '09 for YA, I feel kind of lackluster.  I wonder if it's one of those years where I somehow missed the amazing books because I was so intent on reading those written by my favorite authors.  

Anyway, as usual, I can't wait for the Printz and Newbery announcements.  Which reminds me... I have some work to do on reading the Morris Award nominees before January 18.

Yeah, I think I've got my work cut out for me... again.