On the Look for YA Books

This is my yearly update of "YA Books for the Beach" (see last year's post for more titles). First, a quick review of the best YA books that I read last year:

• Feed by Anderson is just as quirky and thought-provoking as other reviews have said. If you like moral dilemmas and futuristic challenges, this one's for you.
  
• The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Selznick is a strange and wonderful book in which the narrative is carried as much by the illustrations as by the prose. An intensely illustrated coming-of-age story...magical!
• A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly may have been my favorite YA read of the year. Set in the early 1900s, this is the story of a young woman caught up in the story of an actual historical murder mystery. Interestingly, amazon customers who view the book are highly likely to buy one of the Twilight series novels.

And now for this summer's "must reads":

• Nation by Terry Pratchett (reviewed in "Great Reads"). The description sounds a bit like Lord of the Flies (island survival and cultural conflicts), but I love Pratchett for his wry and off-beat sense of humor, and readers verify that this is a roller-coaster ride of satirically probing fun. Plus, the cover of this novel just looks like a beach book.
  
• Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher (reviewed in "Bullying"). It's the second time I've had this book on my list, because I couldn't get a copy at the library last year (all copies were reserved by other avid readers!). Picked by Gallo as "one of the best of the year," this is loved by amazon reviewers. One teen writes, "If you have the chance to only read one novel this year, THIRTEEN REASONS WHY should be that book." This is the story of a young woman who leaves thirteen people with recorded messages telling why she committed suicide.
• Evolution, Me, and Other Freaks of Nature by Robin Brande (reviewed in "Catch a Rising Star"). Although the idea of a novel that explores the "been-there-done-that" controversy between faith and religion sounds dull and predictable, readers really like this book, largely due to strong characters and a message that is more universal than the title or blurb might suggest.
  
• Paper Towns by Green (reviewed in "Great Reads"). I loved Green's novel Waiting for Alaska, and this story about a night of elaborate pranks and a girl who appears and then goes missing sounds right up my alley. I'm also intrigued by a review that says this book explores "the beautiful and terrifying ways we can and cannot know those we love."
  
• The Calling by Clinton (reviewed in "Issues of Faith"). A novel set in the South with colorful characters and dialogue, this reminds me of something Mark Twain may have written. When I read "the climax includes a slapstick burial," I knew I had to find a copy of this book.

Other books that seem worth a look include The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau by Banks, Chains by Laurie H. Anderson, and The Absolutely True Story of a Part-time Indian.