Best of 2021

 

2021 was a big read year for me = 100 books. I cannot do that in 2022, but I tried to take the 100 books and really hone down and figure out what my top 7 were.  As I look at the poster, I realize that all of these are BIPOC or AAPI authors writing about BIPOC or AAPI things. Thank you publishing companies for encouraging diverse authors to write diverse books such that they do not become outliers but just great YA stories. In no particular order but bottom row, left to right, then top row, left to right:

• Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yusuf Salaam of the Exonerated Five- novel in verse about a wrongfully incarcerated black boy. 
• (Me) Moth by Amber McBride novel in verse, OMG (period).
• Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Bouley, Indigenous mystery, science girl power
• Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay Filipino. "It's a sad thing when you map the borders of a friendship and find it's a narrow country than you expected."
• Home is Not a Country by Safia Elhillo - YES, I see the pattern. I am not stupid. But I am a poet in love with words and these novels in verse this year. I can't help it. One of two love letters to Sandra Cisneros and House on Mango Street
• When We Make It by Elisabet Velasquez novel in verse and the other love letter to Cisneros. This can be a ride along
• Crying in H Mart: a Memoir by Michelle Zauner Every big year needs a great adult memoir. This is it. I gave this one to my mom, who gave it to my sister and we pass it on. Pass it on. Pass it on.

Other noteworthy books that did not make it on the grid of 7 poster:

Middle grades top 3:

• Rez Dogs by Joseph Bruchac, novel in verse about a young girl taking care of her grandparents on the Wabanaki reservation. . .and a spiritual dog, of course.
• Pahua and the Soul Stealer by Lori M. Lee. This is a Rick Riordan presents book with Hmong mythology
• The Last Fallen Star by Graci Kim another Rick Riordan presents. These have been so well written, and I don't think they are getting enough air play. The most memorable literature from teaching 6th grade was my mythology unit. This one is Korean mythology. 

Adult books:

• There There by Tommy Orange. This is not a new book. But it is a national bestseller for good reason. It is a novel of 12 characters from Native communities who are all traveling to the Big Oakland Powwow in California.
• The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois: a novel - brilliant storytelling of an African American family similar to Joy Luck Club in scope and time (and secrets)

 

Best Non-YA 2019

There is just one, but the writing was beautiful.

Last words

It's not about being perfect. It's not about where you get yourself in the end. There's power in allowing yourself to be known and heard, in owning your unique story, in using your authentic voice. And there's grace in being willing to know and hear others. This, for me, is how we become.

Best of YA Fantasy Series 2019

I have a love hate relationship with series. I am more of a binge reader/watcher so although one series ended in 2019, for the other two series, I just read the first one or two books in the series, but I am going by potential and hoping that they don't fizzle and die by book 3.

1.  Throne of Glass series

Book 1: Throne of Glass (Linked above)

Book 2: Crown of Midnight

Book 3: Heir of Fire

Book 4: Queen of Shadows

Book 5: Empire of Storms

Book 6: Tower of Dawn

Book 7: Kingdom of Ash

Why:  The author, Ms. Maas uses enough novels and enough time in between to sell a full saga that includes more than just the main character, Aelin. The last book was disappointing, but the six that came before were too juicy to miss. 

2.  The Skybound Saga

Why

What makes this book one interesting is the concept of the raptor birds who almost take the place of "dragons" in this genre in that they are elusive, they are the key to winning and the best trainer is best because of some ancient and as yet untapped ability to connect and communicate with the animal (in this case, birds).

I also enjoyed the complicated relationship between the twins, mostly because I have twin grandkids. The dynamic between twins is always unique even over mere siblings and this book captured it well. Add to that adventure, love interests, betrayal and just the first leg in the journey (the hunt for the ghost eagle) and London has done a great job of reeling in and engaging the reader. 

Book 2 Red Skies Falling came out in 2019, just that I did not get a chance to access it. 

3.  Folk of the Air series

Why:

For book 1: Jude is a flawed protagonist who is both clever, stubborn, brave and unsure of herself. She watches her parents get murdered by her half sister's father (fey), is taken in by him (along with her half sister and her twin). This is enough to cause teen angst and rage. And yet Jude is complicated. She feels more comfortable in this world than the mortal world. She both hates her step father and craves his acceptance. Love, sisterhood, romance, familial love, friendship. . . everything is so juicily complicated. 

For book 2: The Wicked King  I think what makes this book so binge worthy is that it is so complicated. I know I said that in the first review, but as someone who reads a lot of this genre, I was still surprised at what happens in the story. The characters do not do what I think they will do. They also do not react the way I think they do. I am left questioning motives, emotions, schemes. . .all the best things. 

The last book Queen of Nothing also came out in 2019 but I still did not have a chance to read it. 

Best YA Contemporary 2019

I was looking forward to reading the sophomore book from Angie Thomas (The Hate U Give author) On The Come Up, but it did not have as much potential as the following three books. I chose them for their usefulness in the classroom (#1) or just because this is a story that is not shared.

1.  Dear Martin 

Why:

Teri Lesesne wrote a book called Reading Ladders  that basically talks about a way to start with what students are interested in and "rung by rung" connect students from their preference to more complex reading. I would like to say the Dear Martin is a rung to lead to The Hate U Give, however, I don't think it is a rung, I think it is a parallel scaffold to talk about social injustice, racism, finding a voice and literature as a catalyst for social activism.

2.  My Almost Flawless Tokyo Dream Life

Why

YA authors are doing a great job of highlighting often marginalized protagonists and making them the moral center of the very diverse and booming multicultural YA literature scene. I am enjoying how books like To All the Boys I've Loved Before and this book, My Flawless. . .  highlight multicultural characters who seek to embrace and normalize their different cultural backgrounds and values as part of their coming of age stories. They are not trying to abandon one culture for another, but seek to understand as well as respect each side of themselves. This is not about melting into a generic American pot, but embracing and owning what makes each character special. 

3.  Don't Date Rosa Santos 

Why

This is cute, cute, cute. I think the relationship with Rosa and Mimi, the complication of her mother and her very loyal friends are characters that you want to root for. Even Cuba is a magical character that pulls all of the characters in very interesting ways. 

Best of YA Girl Power Fantasy 2019

I only read 65 books in 2019 versus 123 books in 2018, so I have almost 50 less books to choose from for my best of list. Therefore, not every list will have 3 books.

For example, even in this category, which is my favorite kind of read, I am just going with two options. This is the girl power fantasy, non-series category.

1.  Warrior of the Wild

Why this is on the list:

• I am obsessed with the show Vikings on the History channel and although this story is about Ragnor Lothbrok and his sons and fellow warriors, I am most impressed by the shield maidens including ex wife Lagartha who is difficult to kill. 

This book is not original, but it is still entertaining in its familiarity. Like the Hunger Games' Primrose "Prim" Everdeen who is the healer to her older sister Katniss' warrior, Rasmira in this book has her older sister Irrenia who is the nurturer and healer of the family.  The landscape reminds me of the also fantasyish girl power book Sky in the Deep, and finally, like Kagawa's Iron Fey series, Rasmira, like Meghan, seems to be the main person to save the day for everyone else. If readers devoured any of these, they will devour this too. 

2.   The Deepest Blue

Why this is on the list:

Fantasy -- yaasss!

Girl power fantasy --- yaasss!

Standalone girl power fantasy --- yaassss!!!

But what is really great about this is that Mayara's power does not come from pain, betrayal, loss. Her power comes from love - love for her family, love for her husband, love for her community.  She has a keen sense of social justice that can only happen because she knows that her husband will support her, no matter what. He shows through his actions that he believes in her and knows that although he will help to protect her, she can protect him and many more so he just tries to make that happen, even to the point of being willing to let her go. How refreshing!

Anticipated YA list 2019

Things I want to read next year:

1.  On the Come Up by Angie Thomas

Description: Sixteen-year-old Bri wants to be one of the greatest rappers of all time. Or at least make it out of her neighborhood one day. As the daughter of an underground rap legend who died before he hit big, Bri’s got big shoes to fill. But now that her mom has unexpectedly lost her job, food banks and shutoff notices are as much a part of Bri’s life as beats and rhymes. With bills piling up and homelessness staring her family down, Bri no longer just wants to make it—she has to make it.
On the Come Up is Angie Thomas’s homage to hip-hop, the art that sparked her passion for storytelling and continues to inspire her to this day. It is the story of fighting for your dreams, even as the odds are stacked against you; of the struggle to become who you are and not who everyone expects you to be; and of the desperate realities of poor and working-class black families.

Why:

• Angie Thomas (The Hate U Give) was a former rapper so I'd like to know what she does with this character
• Thomas, along with Jason Reynolds (The Long Way Down) is the 30-something crop of African American writers who follow in the large footsteps of authors like Jacqueline Woodson, Kwame Alexander and before that, the  late Walter Dean Myers who write about the young African American experience

Publication date: February 5, 2019 Review here.

2.  Soul of the Sword by Julie Kagawa

Description:
One thousand years ago, a wish was made to the Harbinger of Change and a sword of rage and lightning was forged. Kamigoroshi. The Godslayer. It had one task: to seal away the powerful demon Hakaimono.

Now he has broken free.

Kitsune shapeshifter Yumeko has one task: to take her piece of the ancient and powerful scroll to the Steel Feather temple in order to prevent the summoning of the Harbinger of Change, the great Kami Dragon who will grant one wish to whomever holds the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers. But she has a new enemy now. The demon Hakaimono, who for centuries was trapped in a cursed sword, has escaped and possessed the boy she thought would protect her, Kage Tatsumi of the Shadow Clan.

Hakaimono has done the unthinkable and joined forces with the Master of Demons in order to break the curse of the sword and set himself free. To overthrow the empire and cover the land in darkness, they need one thing: the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers. As the paths of Yumeko and the possessed Tatsumi cross once again, the entire empire will be thrown into chaos.

Why:

•  Shadow of the Fox pulled me in. It is in my hashtag preference (girl power, minority, Asian, fantasy)
• Julie Kagawa is a proven YA fantasy writer

Published: June 18, 2019 Review here

3.  There's Something About Sweetie by Sandhya Menon

Description:

Ashish Patel didn’t know love could be so…sucky. After being dumped by his ex-girlfriend, his mojo goes AWOL. Even worse, his parents are annoyingly, smugly confident they could find him a better match. So, in a moment of weakness, Ash challenges them to set him up.

The Patels insist that Ashish date an Indian-American girl—under contract. Per subclause 1(a), he’ll be taking his date on “fun” excursions like visiting the Hindu temple and his eccentric Gita Auntie. Kill him now. How is this ever going to work?

Sweetie Nair is many things: a formidable track athlete who can outrun most people in California, a loyal friend, a shower-singing champion. Oh, and she’s also fat. To Sweetie’s traditional parents, this last detail is the kiss of death.

Sweetie loves her parents, but she’s so tired of being told she’s lacking because she’s fat. She decides it’s time to kick off the Sassy Sweetie Project, where she’ll show the world (and herself) what she’s really made of.

Ashish and Sweetie both have something to prove. But with each date they realize there’s an unexpected magic growing between them. Can they find their true selves without losing each other?

Why:

• This is a companion book to When Dimple Met Rishi -Ashish Patel is the brother of Rishi.
• Ms. Menon writes about YA Indian-American characters and she does a great job of representing that community and that culture. She is also a fast, entertaining read as her characters are very likeable. 

Publication date: May 14, 2019

Best NON-YA 2018

My husband teased me that I cannot boast about the number of books I read (122 this year) because they are just YA so they should count for less. However, I do read non YA books. Not many, so here are the best this year:

1.  Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
Along with the rest of the trilogy: China Rich Girlfriend and Rich People Problems. Maybe I devoured this because I'm Asian. It is probably not as funny in Asia, but add the dreamy cast of the movie and this was a really good month spent reading these three.

2.  Shadow of the Wind

It is a place-based (Barcelona), time-based mystery but it is so much more. What makes a good book and what YA does not always do is to trust that the reader is willing to embrace complexity and intrigue and a slower pace that immerses the reader further and further into the book.

This is not a god book to hashtag and it is difficult to summarize. In other words, read it more than once.

Best Fantasy/Sci Fi 2018

In honor of reading so many books this year, I decided to put together 4 2018 Best of Lists, just because I have options. Best YA Fantasy/Sci Fi Best YA Literature as Activism Best non YA and a Most Anticipated List

1.  Warcross     Wildcard

Why they are on this list:

• action, intrigue, mystery
• Tokyo as virtual setting for all things Blade Runner esque
• minority characters
• girl power, moral centers
• the author's dilemma of just because we can, should we. . .

For those readers who enjoyed Ready Player One, if you like virtual reality, this series makes you think about the dark web (a real thing) and the addiction of virtual reality gaming.

 

 2.  Binti, Binti: Home, Binti: Night Masquerade

Why they are on this list:

• Minority author
• Aboriginal-ish character in a science fiction
• Kickass girl character who holds tight to her culture and moves forward into the future
• Indigenous knowledge as (k)new knowledge

There will always be colonization, even in space. However, this book is about Indigenous knowledge really being the knowledge that saves the world(s). It reminds me that aloha can change the world and aloha has teeth. #manawahine

          

3.   Ink,Iron and Glass Mist, Metal and Ash Gwendolyn Clare

Why they are on the list:

• Precise, careful writing can save the world - what a fabulous premise!
• Adults sometimes rely too much on the systems they build and mess things up
• Betrayal is so engaging as a reader

I have not read it in a while, but it felt similar in concept as Inkheart.