One imperfect letter, one missing page

107. The Ask and the Answer: Chaos Walking by Patrick Ness
Almost better than The Knife of Letting Go, Ness' second book is an engaging read. Picking up right where the first left off, The Ask and the Answer is a much darker novel. Ness develops his characters further and does a good job of showing, rather than telling, us what Todd and Viola's world is like (or about to become). I can't wait to see where Ness decides to go next.

108. The Morgue and Me by John C. Ford
Not your typical boy book. It was the title that caught my attention and then it was the location, the writing, the characters, the plot ... that kept me reading. Ford's novel is fun, painful and above all, extremely interesting. Might be good for reluctant teens readers or those who like a good mystery.

109. Prism by Faye Kellerman
A short, interesting alternate universe fantasy novel. The Kellermans deliver a decent, if not great, story with moderately sympathetic characters. It was engaging enough that I had to finish because I needed to know what happened, but not deep enough that I thought long and hard about it. The premise is quite good and I'll be interested to see of the mother-daughter team writes more YA novels.

110. The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters
Though I tagged this as horror, it's not exactly the right genre. Waters' book is a ghost story at heart, but even more it's a tale about love and loss. What makes it so good is Waters' writing and her characters. Even when you know characters are making iffy and possibly bad decisions, you want things to work out. And by the end of the book, you realize that there's no other way for it to end -- no matter what you think of her characters. I will definitely have to read some of her other books.

110 / 100 words. 110% done!

98. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
Yet another classic book (both YA and SF) I've avoided reading. I don't know why, since I've read much of Card's other works. But I finally picked up and finished it in a relatively short period of time. Ender's Game is well written and engaging, but after finishing it, I never want to read another book in the series. I have it four and a half stars because it's very, very good. But, to be honest, I don't think I liked it. I don't regret for a second reading it, but I'm glad it's over.

99. Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith
I picked this book up because of the cover. What I found was a well writing, moving historical fiction novel. Flygirl is a fast paced novel that takes place before and during World War II in the Southern US. It's about a girl whose only dream is to fly, except that the world's against her, not only because she's a woman, but because she's black. What makes Smith's novel so good is that she embraces all the controversy, struggles and inner turmoil that Ida Mae goes through to be able to fly. The story was strong, the characters were lovable and I was attached to them in no time. Highly, highly recommended.

100. Truancy by Isamu Fukui
Judging this book solely based on the fact that it was written by a 15 year old boy, it's quite good. Comparing it to other YA literature, it's mediocre at best. The plot is mediocre, the characters waiver between being flat and three dimensional, and Fukui relies far too heavily on violence. That being said, he's an engaging enough writing that I wanted to know what happened, even though I found the end disappointing. I can definitely see Fukui's potential and hope that he continues to write. Because if he allows his writing to grow up as well, I think we'd be in for a treat.

101. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
A coworker suggested I read this, and then when I saw it might get made into a movie, I decided I probably should read it and so I did. Much to my surprise, I really liked this book. The writing was average, the plot was decent, but the characters were fun and engaging. From what I've heard about the new two books, Clare's writing improves greatly -- and that the third book is the best of the three. I'm shocked to say this, but I'm actually quite excited about reading the rest of this series. City of Bones wasn't great, but it was fun and sometimes that's all you want from a book.

102. Silverfin by Charlie Higson
I picked this up on a whim and in many ways, James is a similar type of character to Alex Rider. He's brave, but cautious and sometimes does things without thinking about the consequences. One of the things that made Silverfin interesting was that we're reading about what James Bond, the man we're all familiar with as an adult, might have been like as a child. I thought it was fascinating, especially his experiences at Eton. But the more interesting parts of the book were when he was trying to suss out what Silverfin really was. The book was a quick read, a bit gross in places, but that's part of it's charm (both for me and reluctant male readers). If you like the Alex Rider series, give Silverfin a go. I'll definitely pick up the second book in the series.

102 / 100 words. 102% done!

87. The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson
I was looking forward to this book from the moment I finished reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. And, just like Larsson's previous book, it did not disappoint. In fact, I actually liked this one much better. This is probably in part to the fact that we got to know Lisbeth and Mikael much better, but also because the plot was significantly more sinister. Larsson's characters are magnificent, from the police to the bad guys to the innocents who happen to get involved. I simply adore the book, not only because it's both well thought out and written, but because it is my type of mystery. In many ways, The Girl Who Played with Fire is everything I love about Scandinavian mysteries. My only complaint is that we only have three (maybe four) of Larsson's books in total. I would love to have been able to read the completed series.

88. The Pinhoe Egg by Diana Wynne Jones
I don't know exactly how to say this, but I completely and utterly adored this book. It was funny, clever and seriously a lot of fun. It ended exactly the way I'd hoped. I've been a fan of Jones since I was young, but hadn't read any of the Chrestomanci books in ages. This was the perfect book to pick up and read. It's quick, clever and fun -- even if you have no idea what the series is about. I do hope that Jones continues with Eric and Marianne's story. I definitely want to find out what happens to them.

89. Un Lun Dun by China Mieville
I've been a fan of Mieville's work since I discovered Perdido Street Station, but I somehow missed this YA book of his. I ended up just randomly grabbing it, completely on a whim and fell in love. It's a very clever mix of Mieville's steampunk-ish style mixed with young adult themes and real London. I completely loved the book and i hope he writes more YA.

90. The Alchemy of Stone by Ekaterina Sedia
I read this book because my sister lent it to me and I picked it up because I needed something to read. I had no idea what I was getting into, but that was fine because The Alchemy of Stone was one of the most beautiful and heart breaking books I have ever read. Sedia's character of Mattie was fantastic and instantly likable. I desperately wanted more to this story, but in the end, what happened was the only possible outcome. My only regret was that this novel wasn't published when I was doing my senior thesis in college, it would have perfectly into my theme of what it means to be human. The Alchemy of Stone is an extraordinary novel of what it means to be human, but even more, it's a story of love. Highly, highly recommended.

91. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
My sister sent me a copy of this book, and with the moving coming out, I was curious to see what all the hype was about. I don't usually read regular fiction and it was clear, aside from the title, this wasn't going to be science fiction. In the end, it was a mix of the two genres, that was completely gripping. The story, told from two different points of view, was unlike anything I'd ever read. I completely enjoyed it, though I doubt I'll see the film.

91 / 100 books. 91% read!

79. What They Always Tell Us by Martin Wilson
It's always a treat for me when I find a book like this one. What They Always Tell Us is a strong, moving story about growing up. James and Alex are brothers living in Alabama, James just wants to get out of the state, while Alex just wants his life to be normal again. The book begins in James' senior year and Alex's junior and we follow them throughout the school year. Martin Wilson splits his story between the two bothers by using alternating chapters with each brother's point of view. In many ways, Wilson's book reminded me of several other extremely well written and thought provoking gay YA books, especially Peter Cameron's Someday This Pain Will Be Useful To You. Wilson doesn't try to sugar coat his story, which follows James as he struggles with his high school friendships, girlfriends and fears about college; and Alex, who must come to terms with his own budding sexuality, a deep depression he tries to overcome and the fears that accompany him when he goes to school. Wilson draws his characters as vivid, real people and I found both James and Alex to be sympathetic people that I identified with. I think that all parents, and teenagers, should read books like Wilson’s because it’s easy to forget that everyone gets depressed, especially in high school. What They Always Tell Us embraces this fact in an uncompromising manner and is better for it. I look forward to reading more of Wilson’s works.

80. Let The Right One In by John Lindqvist
Lindqvist's striking novel takes the familiar vampire myth and twists it into something both romantic and horrific. Let The Right One In is the story of 12-year-old Oskar, social outcast with few friends and a seemingly 12-year-old girl, Eli. But, as Lindqvist proves time and again, things are not always what they seem and Eli's more than just a girl, she is, in fact, a vampire. The novel follows the stories of several different people, Oskar and Eli, but also students from Oskar's school, his friend Tommy, as well as strangers whose significance we only discover as the novel progresses. A friend of mine and I were reading this together and she found the different points of view to make the novel disjointed and would rather have just read about Eli and Oskar. I, on the other hand, liked the change of pace from each chapter to the next -- and as a reader of Scandinavian mysteries, I thought it fit quite well within that

While the main characters quite young, this book is not really middle school and high school readers, though young adult readers of horror (Stephen King, for example) might like this book. It's an excellent story, well written and equally as engaging.

81. The Center of the World by Andreas Steinhofel
In many ways, The Center of the World reads more like and adult book than a young adult one. The maturity level of the writing, the insight Steinhöfel brings to Phil's character, drives the novel more than the plot. Through slightly confusing flashbacks, we follow Phil as he struggles with his sexuality, his family relationships and his outcast status in the small German town where he lives. If you only read the back of the book (as I did) without learning anything else about the novel, you'd imagine you were going to read a grand love story, The Center of the World is much more than that. It is, at it's core, about love, but not just between two boys, it's about love between friends, between family and what it means to feel loved. Steinhöfel's novel is moving, emotional draining and well written (though the English translation could have been a bit better).

82. The Vast Fields of Ordinary by Nick Burd
The reviews for The Vast Fields of Ordinary compared it to several of my favorite books in the same genre, and it turned out to be just as good as they predicted. Burd does an excellent job of writing on a much more mature level (not unlike Peter Cameron's Someday This Pain Will Be Useful To You), as if he knows that the audience he's writing for is much more mature than people give them credit for. I wish more YA authors would take this chance. I felt that it took on all the issues associated with being gay in the midwest and embraced them in such a way that we felt what Dade was going through as much as he did.

83. Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison
A friend recommended this series to me and I quite enjoyed this first book. The style is a little odd and took some getting used to, but I immediately fell in love with Rennison's quirky characters. Georgia is hilarious and the book is a light, very cute and fun read.

83 / 100 books. 83% read!

71. Scribbler of Dreams by Mary E. Pearson
A modern retelling of Romeo & Juliet. Pearson's book was a quick read, though lack the real heartbreak found in the play that inspired her novel. It was all right, but nothing that I'd go out of my way to read again.

72. Freak Show by James St. James
Yet another quick YA read, but this one was excellent. James' writing style is quite unique and takes some getting used to, and I'm not sure I ever did get used to it. But don't let that put you off the book. Freak Show is a brilliant near stream-of-consciousness book about, simply put, what it means to be different. Obviously, it's more than just that. It's a brilliant examination of the horrors of high school, specifically one a young, cross dressing gay boy. He's truly adorable, someone I'd probably like to be friends with. While much of the book seems to be quite unrealistic, focusing on that aspect would completely miss the point. What matters is the interactions, the way Billy feels, beneath all the glamor he embraces. Freak Show is more than just a coming of age story, it's a story to all of us who were picked on in high school and what it means when we fight back (even if we never had the courage to).

73. Kiss of Life by Daniel Waters
A nice sequel to Generation Dead. One of the things Waters gives us is insight, quite literally, into what goes on inside a one of his zombie's brains. In this case it's Adam and it's always fascinating. Something else I liked about this book was the little tiny twists Waters introduced, from Tommy and Phoebe's relationship, to the changes in Adam and Phoebe's friendship, to all the new characters we meet. There's a rather harsh subplot that underlines several things going on between the zombies and the living. I think it makes a good set up for what will hopefully be a third book, while at the same time not really giving us a real cliff hanger, which I appreciate. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

74. My Most Excellent Year by Steve Kluger
I've read a lot of books in 2009, and a lot of them have been pretty awesome. But Steve Kluger's book has been among the best. My Most Excellent Year is, like the subtitle says, a novel of love, Mary Poppins and Fenway Park. Don't let that stop you because the baseball (and it's definitely not so much about the Red Sox as it is baseball as a method of connecting) is incidental. It could be any sport, but because the book's sent in Boston, baseball makes sense. Really, the novel is about four high school students, four parents, one bookstore clerk, one adviser, and one six year old kid and those characters, highly developed, make the book quite a brilliant read. Not only is the style (essays, letters, instant messages and emails) compelling, the plot is, too. My Most Excellent Year is, above all else, a book about love and Kluger holds nothing back. I cannot recommend this book enough. It doesn't matter who you are or what your feelings on sports might be, My Most Excellent Year has everything you could ever want in a book. As they say, A+++ would read again. In fact, I'll probably end up buying it. For me, it really was just that good and I'll be honest, I never wanted it to end. While some people seem to have a problem with the fact that it's unbelievable, I think that's the point. Like several of the characters say, sometimes you need a little magic in your life and Kluger more than provides it.

75. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Asher's book was a very quick read, but extremely intense. Thirteen Reasons Why is an extremely well written, fascinating book. The characters, the story and the format is very strong. It's an excellent book, but I don't know if liked it. Just like the two Gail Giles books I've read, it's more realistic than I'd like and deals with issues that no one wants to address. I do know that I'll never read this book again, but I don't think I'd have any problems recommending it. It's intense, emotionally draining and quite interesting. I'm not sure I understood what I was going to read before I picked it up, but I'm glad a read it. Suicide is a serious and heartbreaking topic and Asher treats it with respect and without glossing over the tragedy.

75 / 100 books. 75% read!

63. Surviving Antarctica: Reality TV 2083 by Andrea White
My sister recommended this book to me because we'd been discussing Hunger Games and other similarly themed books. In 2083, adults are picked to be part of reality tv shows relating to history and asked to reenact different moments in time. Usually very few survive. The newest show picks several kids and has them reenact Robert F. Scott's unsuccessful trip to Antarctica. The book is not only a thrilling read, it's also a fascinating study in teamwork and how adults underestimate the resilience of children. Plus, reading this is way better than actually watching reality tv.

64. Girl at Sea by Maureen Johnson
A friend of mine asked me to read this so she'd have someone to talk to about it and so I did. My second Maureen Johnson book was far from disappointing, unlike much of the story for Clio, our main character. Clio's parents are divorced and her mom goes to Kansas with her boyfriend, leaving Clio in the care of her father -- the last place she wants to be. Having just purchased a new yacht, Clio's father takes her on a journey she, as the cliche goes, won't soon forget. The story is cute, tense and focuses on, among other things, a mystery Clio's father won't discuss. Johnson's characters are fun, interesting and at times frustrating. But, all in all, I enjoyed the book.

65. Battle Royale by Koushun Takami
I first checked out the graphic novel version of this book, but returned it without reading when I realized that there was an actual novel. The copy I read is over 600 pages and was so engrossing that it took me just over a day to read the whole thing. Koushun Takami's book is completely brilliant. While the violence is unprecedented and quite explicit, Takami's characters are sympathetic, especially when you don't expect them to be. Battle Royale is set in a world unlike our own, where teenagers can be taken to remote places and forced to kill their own classmates to survive. All of this done in the name of keeping peace. What Takami's characters do is try to find a way to survive, to work together, and what they discover is much more interesting. I completely loved the book and was pleased with the way it ended. I will eventually watch the movie as well. Highly recommended, though not for the weak of heart.

65 / 100 words. 65% done!

56. David Inside Out by Lee Bantle
I read this book in just about three hours. It's a sweet, though sometimes sad, coming of age and coming out story. It's a very quick read, but it's by no means an easy read. David's a strong, if very conflicted, conflicted character. But at the same time, he's also very sympathetic. I was reminded of several other gay YA books I'd read, and in a good way. One of the best things about Bantle's book is how realistic David seems, with his conflicting feelings about being gay and not wanting to. The struggle is quite real and it's hard not to care about what happens to him.

57. School for Dangerous Girls by Eliot Schrefer
I'd read a good review of this book and was curious, as I'd seen the title on the shelf in passing. While having an interesting story and plot, the events of the book seem almost too convenient. Girl gets sent to a 'school for dangerous girls' and discovers all is not what it seems. Girl meets the only boy her age (the son of one of the teachers at the school), they fall in love and boy helps girl escape and bring down the school. It's an interesting plot, but ended up being far too predictable. That's not to say I didn't enjoy most of the book, I just wish that everything hadn't been tied up so neatly.

58. The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong
I was a big fan of Armstrong's first book in the 'Darkest Powers' series and the second one didn't disappoint. While it had more of a feel of a middle-of-a-series book, it was strong, probably stronger than The Summoning. We learned a lot more about the characters, their back stories, which then help explain who Chloe can trust. I like the characters Armstrong has created, they seem more aware and willing to do what it takes to be free. I have high hopes for the third book in the series.

59. Fragile Eternity by Melissa Marr
Marr's third book in her Wicked Lovely series and, I think, the best of the three. Fragile Eternity brings us back to the story of Aislinn and Seth, but unlike the first book, we get to spend a lot more time with Seth. I found that I didn't agree with some of the choices Aislinn and Seth made, regarding their futures and each other, but in the context of their world and the book itself, they made sense. One of the things I found fascinating is that Marr's writing is strong enough to convince me that I agree with whoever's point of view we're taking on, whether it be Aislinn or Seth. I really hope the next book in the series is just as good as Fragile Eternity.

59 / 100 books. 59% done!

49. Eternal by Cynthia Leitich Smith
I loved Tantalize and was excited to see that Smith had a new novel. But when I read the description, I wasn't so sure I was going to like it. Turns out I was wrong. Really, really wrong. Set in the same world as Tantalize, Eternal is the story of a girl (Miranda), her guardian angel (Zachary) and the underworld of vampires, werewolves and other creatures. Miranda is kidnapped in a graveyard one night, much to the chagrin of Zachary, who is supposed to look out for her, though not necessarily interfere. It's at this point that Smith could have done things different and created a mediocre novel about angels and vampires, but she doesn't. Instead, she draws us into the strange world she's created and takes us on a ride as now-fallen angel Zachary must try to find Miranda, who has changed in ways he'd never imagined. Highly, highly recommended.

50. Doctor Who: Revenge of the Judoon by Terrance Dicks
A short, cute Doctor Who book I got through LibraryThing's member giveaway. The Judoon, who we met in the series when Martha and the Doctor first go together, are back! Martha, the Doctor and a young man they meet along the way must find a way to stop the Judoon. For such a short book, the plot is decent and the story is quite fun. I read it in about an hour, and then passed the book on to another Doctor Who fan and friend of mine.

51. The Redbreast by Jo Nesbø
It didn't take me long to fall in love with detective Harry Hole. Even though Nesbø paints a less than flattering picture of our main character, Hole is no less than fantastic. Fighting against a drinking problem and enemies he doesn't even know exist, Hole must try to solve a mystery that's deeply connected to Norway's involvement in World War II and Norwegian Nazis. Nesbø's writing style, translated by Don Bartlett, is strong and intriguing. And though Hole is the main character, Nesbø doesn't shy away from creating strong secondary characters. I thoroughly enjoyed and loved this book. The only reason I gave it 4.5 stars is because there's a bit of character death that is vital to the plot, but upset me greatly.

51 / 100 books. 51% done!

43. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
Read this book on a recommendation of a friend of mine. I hadn't read any of Lockhart's other books before reading this one, which turns out to be a mistake. Why? Because this book is excellent and everything else pales in comparison. That's not to say I didn't like her other books, but I loved Frankie best. The character, writing and plot are strong. I'm not a big fan of prep school books, but the more YA ones I read, the more I like them. Frankie is no exception. Highly recommended and lots of fun.

44. Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin
I've read some criticism of this book, in that it focuses far too much on boy + girl = the goal. I do agree that that's probably the biggest fault and problem with this book. Unlike her previous novel, Elsewhere, there weren't as much holes in the plot. Naomi falls, hits her head and has (what her doctors, friends and family hopes) temporary amnesia. She remembers her past -- up to a point. She loses something like four years of her life, including her boyfriend, best friend and high school. She falls in something akin to love along the way, only to realize that things aren't quite what they seem. I found this book to be both moving and quite good, even while the focus of the book is centered far too much around girl + boy. Although, when you're in high school, often that's the only thing that really matters.

45. The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart
I fell in love with Lockhart with Frankie, but knew I'd keep reading her books after The Boyfriend List. I loved this book way more than I thought. I'd passed over it numerous times in the past, but when I finally picked it up, I scolded myself for not reading it before. Basically it's a high school story where everything goes wrong, but in a way that the reader can identify with. There's no drama car crash or alien abduction or whatever (not that I don't like those, I do), it's just normal teenage stuff. And I love Lockhart for both the frank way she deals with therapy and how really, absolutely hard it is for some of us in high school, even when we're just trying to do the right thing.

45 / 100 words. 45% done!

36. Impossible by Nancy Werlin
Werlin's book is another one of those engrossing page-turning YA fantasy novels that I cannot get enough of. I practically devoured this book over the weekend, falling completely for both of her main characters. Lucy, living with her caring foster parents, just wants to grow up and live a normal life. But her homeless (and crazy) mother, just won't leave her alone. When her best friend Zach comes home from college, Lucy thinks everything will be sorted our, but then prom happens. Werlin's story is strong, but even stronger is the character of Lucy. She's bright, clever and a tough main character. Impossible is a nice mix of teen pregnancy, romance and fantasy. While Werlin does tie up the story almost too neatly, by the time we get to that point, that's exactly what we (and the characters) want.

37. Forbidden Cargo by Rebecca K. Rowe
A friend recommended this book to me because he thought it was something I'd like, he was right. Rebecca Rowe's book is a fascinating trip into an alternate future where nothing is quite as it seems. Fear takes over and causes something akin to chaos when two Imagofas (advanced humans created via genetic engineering -- and against the law) are kidnapped from Mars and smuggled onto Earth. In some ways, the story is a simple detective story, but it's much more complex. Rowe's tale revolves around three different story lines, all intimately connected to the plight of the Imagofas. The three stories focus on the two Imagofas, the humans who help them and the scientist and his wife (the scientist who helped create them in the first place). Rowe ties these stories seamlessly together, while at the same time gently infusing the book with the importance of sacrifice, freedom and love. The book started off slowly, but I found it finished quite strong and gave me the ended I'd hoped for, instead of the one I feared.

38. The Black Sheep by Yvonne Collins
When it comes to watching reality tv, I tend to avoid it at all costs, so I was a bit suspicious when my sister recommended this book to me. But it turns out I had no reason to worry. Yvonne Collins' book is brilliant. It tells the story of Kendra, only child and daughter of two rule-obsessed bankers. When something changes in her life, she gets fed up and writes a letter to a reality tv show called The Black Sheep. Eventually things get better and she forgets about the letter, so when The Black Sheep producers show up at her door, it's a shock. Kendra, per the rules of the game, is sent to live with another family, while their daughter is sent to live with Kendra's parents. What happens is a fascinating look at both the reality tv world and the life of a 15 year old girl, coming of age. Collins' mixes things up with a bit of drama, a bit of love, some angst, and of course, drama. The Black Sheep is a wonderful book about growth, love and what really matters.

39. Envy by Anna Godbersen
I keep telling people that I don't really like these books, but that's a lie. I love the Luxe novels. Not for any exciting or deep reasons, but because, no matter how frustrating they are, they're really fun. And I cannot not read them -- I need to know what happens. Evny is the third of four (or more) Luxe novels by Anna Godbersen and to me, it was the best of the three. While nothing was quite resolved, and things got seriously out of hand, the character development of Elizabeth, Diana, Penelope, Henry and Teddy has expanded exponentially. Without going into too many spoilers, the end of Envy is probably one of the most surprising aspects of all three novels, and probably the most interesting. I'm pleased with the path Godbersen chose for Henry and Diana, and I cannot wait to see what happens next.

39 / 100 words. 39% done!