Thumbs Up Top 20 for 2009
From GRPLpedia
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Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
Isabel is a slave in Rhode Island at the beginning of the American Revolution. When her kindly mistress dies she and her sister get sold to a cruel woman in New York with ties to the British. Isabel makes decisions about where her loyalties lie based on which side is more likely to grant her freedom.
Compound by S.A. Bodeen
Fifteen-year-old Eli, his parents and sisters have spent six years in a lavish underground compound created by his wealthy father to protect them from a nuclear disaster. His grandmother and twin brother were left behind and presumed perished, until Eli discovers the awful truth.
Debbie Harry Sings in French by Meagan Brothers
After a stint in rehab where the music of Blondie becomes his recovery touchstone, 16-year-old former alcoholic Johnny is sent to live with his uncle to start anew. School bullies call him "faggot," but eyeliner-wearing Johnny knows he's not gay because he's smitten with Maria, a Goth chick who shares his love of '80s punk.
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Katniss lives in a future in which one boy and one girl from each of 12 districts must compete in a competition to the death for reality TV. Her younger sister is chosen to compete but Katniss, who has been hunting to survive, goes in herplace.
Waiting for Normal by Leslie Connor
Following the divorce of her mom and stepfather, Addie copes with a new school and missing her little sisters while trying to keep her mom under control.
Mexican Whiteboy by Matt de la Pena
No matter where he lives, half white, half Mexican 16-year-old Danny Lopez is an outsider. But baseball is the great equalizer.
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
When he ditches school one Friday morning, 17-year-old Marcus is hoping to get a head start on the Harajuku Fun Madness clue. But after a terrorist attack in San Francisco, he and his friends are swept up in the extralegal world of the Department of Homeland Security.
Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
An orphaned boy is raised by ghosts and other denizens of the graveyard.
Patron Saint of Butterflies by Cecilia Gallante
Secluded at the Mount Blessing compound under the rule of the manipulative Emmanuel, 14-year-old Agnes strives for sainthood. Her best friend, Honey, however, questions Emmanuel's tactics and authority, and secretly longs for a normal life with TV, fashionable clothes and fast food.
Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George
A girl travels east of the sun and west of the moon to free her beloved prince from a magic spell.
Two Parties, One Tux, and a Very Short Film about the Grapes of Wrath by Steven Goldman
It's junior year and Mitchell goes from having no dates to two dates to the prom, his best friend tells him he is gay, and his usually strong academic record is in jeopardy thanks to a rather inappropriate claymation film he submitted in lieu of an English paper.
Playing with Matches by Brian Katcher
Ten billion women in the world and the universe can't spare one for Leon Sanders, until he makes Melody laugh. Then the fun begins.
Venomous by Chris Krovatin
Locke is a teenager with a huge anger problem which he calls "Venom". While trying to get the better of his venom, Locke makes some friends, falls in love, beats somebody up, gets a tattoo, and basically lives his teenaged life.
Paper Towns by John Green
One month before graduating from his Central Florida high school, Quentin "Q" Jacobsen basks in the predictable boringness of his life until the beautiful and exciting Margo Roth Spiegelman, Q's neighbor and classmate, takes him on a midnight adventure and then mysteriously disappears.
Last Exit to Normal by Michael B. Harmon
Ben's father announces he's gay when Ben is 14 so his mom walks out. Three years and a whole lot of trouble later, Dad and his partner Edward take Ben to Rough Butte, Montana so Ben can grow up in a different environment.
Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
Frankie Landau-Banks at age 14: Debate Club. A mildly geeky girl attending a highly competitive boarding school. Frankie Landau-Banks at age 15: A knockout figure. A sharp tongue. A chip on her shoulder. And a gorgeous new senior boyfriend: the supremely goofy, word-obsessed Matthew Livingston. Frankie Landau-Banks. No longer the kind of girl to take "no" for an answer.
Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott
Kidnapped at 10 from a school field trip, and held captive by a psycho child molester until age 15, "Alice" has to choose her replacement, knowing she would rather be dead than alive.
Chanda's War by Allan Stratton
Chandra Kabelo, a teenaged African girl must save her younger siblings after they are kidnapped and forced to serve as child soldiers in General Mandiki's rebel army.
Sweethearts by Sara Zarr
After losing her soul mate, Cameron, when they were nine, Jennifer, now seventeen, transforms herself from the unpopular fat girl into the beautiful and popular Jenna, but Cameron's unexpected return dredges up memories that cause both social and emotional turmoil.
Stealing Heaven by Elizabeth Scott
In Heaven, Danielle decides she doesn't want to steal anymore even though it's all her mom has taught her to do well.
