I thought, since Betsy at Fuse #8‘s Top 100 Children’s Fiction book poll was over, and since Persnickety Snark‘s putting together a Top 100 YA book poll, that I’d share with you the top 10 lists I submitted for each of those.
My top 10 Children’s Fiction books (I’m not going to include the little quotes I sent about these since most of them made the final list.)
And my top 10 YA books (with little explanations this time):
1. Beauty, by Robin McKinley: I’m not sure it’s the “best” by any means, but it’s my personal best for sentimental reasons. I loved McKinley’s world building, but mostly this book showed me that the quality of writing in YA books is phenomenal. I couldn’t believe I missed this book as a teen.
2. Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson: Powerful. Simply and utterly powerful. Completely blew me away.
3. My Most Excellent Year: A novel of Love, Mary Poppins and Fenway Park, by Steve Kluger: This book made me utterly and completely happy. It’s one I can see rereading as a comfort read over and over again, and never growing tired of the characters or the story. Even though it’s relatively new, it has all the hallmarks of a classic.
4. Thirteen Reasons Why, by Jay Asher: Very seldom do I read a book that makes me reflect on my life, makes me want to change the way I interact with people. This book did that. I give it to as many people as I can.
5. The Goose Girl, by Shannon Hale: Fairy-tale retelling at its finest. Hale is a master-storyteller, and this is one of her best.
6. Paper Towns, John Green: It made me laugh, it made me think, it made me want to read Walt Whitman. And it’s stuck with me.
7. Uglies, Scott Westerfield: If science fiction is more about the present than the future, then this book is spot on. An excellent commentary on beauty and society. A rocking good story, too.
8. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie: Not for everyone, yet is one of those books that everyone should read. Funny, painful, fascinating, enjoyable, tough. Classic.
9. Jackaroo, by Cynthia Voight: Contrary to what the publisher will tell you, this is not an action adventure book. It’s much more thoughtful and introspective, full of vivid characters making tough decisions.
10. Summer of My German Soldier, by Bette Green: It took me too long to get around to this book, but it has absolutely stayed with me.
So, this begs the question: what are your top ten? (Either one or both.)
The Book Nut 
I think you're the first person I've met that *liked* Jacob Have I Loved!
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Excellent list, I have to admit that my love of YA literature hasn't extended back too far so my list was comprised mainly of recent favorites. Of course I had Hunger Games (huge shock!) on there among others.
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I remember that I liked Jacob Have I Loved back in middle school, but I haven't read it since then. I couldn't even summarize the book at this point! Yet another book I need to re-read…
As for my YA top 10:
1. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
2. Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks
3. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld (coincidentally, my senior thesis was essentially your reason for citing this one! Yes, I wrote a collegiate paper on Uglies)
4. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
5. Empress of the World by Sara Ryan
6. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
7. Annie on my Mind by Nancy Garden
8. Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore
9. Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith
10. Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause
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I did think of the Hunger Games, Michelle, but while I really liked it, I'm not sure it's one that will stay with me.
Amanada… maybe I'm just weird. I loved it both times I read it.
Angela: great list. Many that I've not heard of, and need to read!
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Great lists! While I was reading over it, I kept nodding emphatically.
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I do like ur article~!!!..................................................
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What, no Twilight books? 😉 I've read–and loved–about half of these, including Jacob Have I Loved. I must hang my head in shame and declare that I have yet to read Beauty.
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