This is the time of year when everywhere you look is a 'Best of 2013' list- best techie gadgets, best pop albums, best blogs, best celebrity divorces. And it seems like every Tom, Dick 'n Harry has their own idea of what the Best Books were for 2013. We've looked at quite a few of these latter lists and some are spot on; but after checking out a few of the more obscure offerings (think Prospect Magazine) we decided maybe it was finally time to come up with our own! So, without further ado, we present

The front cover of this book dubs it the 'European Gone Girl' and it soon becomes apparent why Dutch author Koch earns the comparison. Two brothers are having dinner, with their wives, at an Amsterdam restaurant. At first their acrimonious relationship seems to be the major issue, then we learn about the trouble their 15 year old sons have gotten into. Then we find out that this trouble should be spelled with a capital T. About this time, the reader also discovers that the narrator is completely unreliable throwing everything in the book into question. Very suspenseful, great plot twist, touches on a lot of social issues- we should expect more on this side of the pond from Koch.   

 

Compelling concept- the dead start returning, same age as when they died, same shape- no gory zombie stuff- and unable to remember where they've been. What begins as a worldwide celebration of the return of everyone's dearly departed quickly becomes a governmental logistical nightmare and personal dilemma for many. For instance, how do 80 year old parents keep up with a returned 6 year old? An interesting look at 'be careful what you wish for'. Of note, Mott is a North Carolina writer.

 

The Aviator's Wife, Melanie Benjamin

One of those rare titles that came out so early in the year it was out in both hardback and paperback in 2013- and we never heard a bad review of it. This novel is a fictionalized account of the marriage of Anne Morrow Lindbergh and Charles Lindbergh. Anne's Gift from the Sea is a popular title around these parts, and this novel shared the shelf and best-seller status with that book. 

 

Another writer plucks a figure from history and fashions a book around them. In this case, bestselling southern writer Lee Smith focuses on Zelda Fitzgerald and her time (and demise) at Highland Hospital in Asheville,NC. Told from the viewpoint of a 13 year old patient, this novel stood out from all the other Zelda books this year.. and rightly so. Smith is a true master of her craft and proves it once again.

  

Chasing Utopia, Nikki Giovanni

What does Giovanni mean by the term 'hybrid'? Delve into this mix of poetry and essays and you'll soon figure it out. Giovanni's poetry has everyday appeal- whether she's talking about food,  relationships, or history- her words are so accessible and powerful you'll turn to them again and again. Her essays are humorous, poignant- sometimes both!

 

Twerp, Mark Goldblatt

This was a big hit with our tweens and dealt capably with the elephant in the middle school classroom- bullying. In an interesting twist, the bully is asked to atone for his deed by journaling throughout the year. Thus begins a journey of self-discovery and a new found love of writing for the protagonist, who the reader won't always like, but will eventually warm up to.

Jumped In, Patrick Flores-Scott

Great debut novel about the slackest of slackers who, paired with a gang  member in a slam poetry competition, has to choose between rising to the occasion or getting the crap beat out of him. Interesting mix of narrative and poetry will engage even the finickiest of teen readers.

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown, Holly Black

Great new entry in the YA vampire genre. In this version, predator and prey have learned to live together in 'cold towns'. When Tana wakes up one morning surrounded by corpses, her only option is to head for one of these walled cities and wait out the virus. The catch is once you enter, you can never leave. Or can you?

The 5th Wave, Rick Yancey

The action in this awesome dystopian novel begins with the 1st Wave, when the power grid for the entire earth is wiped out. With alien spacecraft hovering in the earth's orbit, if you've been lucky enough to survive until now, do you really consider yourself lucky?

Thousand Words, Jennifer Brown

This was my MUST READ for all tweens, teens AND their parents. Do you know what sexting is? Do you know how many kids are doing it? Do you know the consequences it can have on fragile young lives? Like I said, MUST READ.

Just One Year, Gayle Forman

Remember the movie Before Sunrise? Convert it to YA fiction and you've got Just One Day. Now Willem is back.. recovering from a concussion.. trying to remember the girl he spent that one incredible day with. Was her name Lulu? Where is she? WHO is she? Fantastic sequel.