This Tuesday's theme is...
Top Ten Authors Who Deserve More Recognition
This topic is hard because there are so many authors who deserve a lot of recognition, and who am I say that they should get more, and who? So here are ten authors on my shelves that I think people should know about for certain reasons.
Jodi Lynn Anderson
Tiger Lily was my favorite book of 2012 (have you read it yet? WHY NOT?), which is just one reason why Anderson deserves more recognition. And she doesn't just write stories--she's a storyteller. And she rips out your heart and shatters it to pieces while simultaneously keeping it beat beat beating in place.
Lucy Christopher
Stolen: A Letter to My Captor is a fantastic book written in 2nd Person POV--not very common in YA, as far as I know. Christopher pulled it off extremely well, and knows how to make readers fall for someone you wouldn't you would fall for.
Holly Cupala
Bonus points for being a local author, but I don't think enough people read her books. They're gritty contemporaries that are just so, so good. Tell Me a Secret deals with tragedy and teen pregnancy, while Don't Breathe a Word centers on a girl in abusive relationship who runs away to the streets of Seattle.
Kimberly Derting
Another local author whose books deal with a dark subject--murder--but are written in a way that doesn't make you feel dark yourself, like in The Body Finder. Plus, she writes a great cast of characters and a fabulous story.
Simone Elkeles
We bookish people talk about swoon a lot, and Elkeles definitely brings it. Her books have the sexy factor, and she's not afraid to test the borderlines on YA. So, so good, and if you like romance you'll want to read her books. I'd recommend starting with Perfect Chemistry.
Michael Grant
Dude can write. I wouldn't say his writing is fantastic or anything (and I don't mean that in a rude way), but he can tell a story--and twisted, messed up one at that. His ideas are crazy and you never know what's going to happen next. Have you read his Gone series? Crazy awesome.
Eliot Schrefer
I've only read one of his books so far--Endangered--and it was great. It's different than most YA, about a girl traveling through a war-ridden Congo with a bonobo (basically, a chimpanzee). It's not non-fiction, but it raises awareness and tells a great story. I can't wait for more books like this from Schrefer, and I appreciate him for writing it.
Lisa Schroeder
She writes most of her novels in verse, and they're just lovely. Contemporary with a touch of paranormal in some, they deal with grief and love and all sorts of feely subjects. And since they're written in verse, they kind of poetic, which I like. My favorite is probably Chasing Brooklyn.
Megan Shepherd
The Madman's Daughter is her only book out so far, but boy, is it mad. The writing is beautiful, and the story--wow. Oh, and she's great at making you want to throw a book because of the ending.
Hilary T. Smith
Her debut Wild Awake recently came out, and I really liked it. It is, as the title says, wild, and her writing is so lovely. I love all the metaphors, and that book is so, so quotable. Even if gritty contemporaries aren't your thing, just read this one for the writing.
Jodi Lynn Anderson
Tiger Lily was my favorite book of 2012 (have you read it yet? WHY NOT?), which is just one reason why Anderson deserves more recognition. And she doesn't just write stories--she's a storyteller. And she rips out your heart and shatters it to pieces while simultaneously keeping it beat beat beating in place.
Lucy Christopher
Stolen: A Letter to My Captor is a fantastic book written in 2nd Person POV--not very common in YA, as far as I know. Christopher pulled it off extremely well, and knows how to make readers fall for someone you wouldn't you would fall for.
Holly Cupala
Bonus points for being a local author, but I don't think enough people read her books. They're gritty contemporaries that are just so, so good. Tell Me a Secret deals with tragedy and teen pregnancy, while Don't Breathe a Word centers on a girl in abusive relationship who runs away to the streets of Seattle.
Kimberly Derting
Another local author whose books deal with a dark subject--murder--but are written in a way that doesn't make you feel dark yourself, like in The Body Finder. Plus, she writes a great cast of characters and a fabulous story.
Simone Elkeles
We bookish people talk about swoon a lot, and Elkeles definitely brings it. Her books have the sexy factor, and she's not afraid to test the borderlines on YA. So, so good, and if you like romance you'll want to read her books. I'd recommend starting with Perfect Chemistry.
Michael Grant
Dude can write. I wouldn't say his writing is fantastic or anything (and I don't mean that in a rude way), but he can tell a story--and twisted, messed up one at that. His ideas are crazy and you never know what's going to happen next. Have you read his Gone series? Crazy awesome.
Eliot Schrefer
I've only read one of his books so far--Endangered--and it was great. It's different than most YA, about a girl traveling through a war-ridden Congo with a bonobo (basically, a chimpanzee). It's not non-fiction, but it raises awareness and tells a great story. I can't wait for more books like this from Schrefer, and I appreciate him for writing it.
Lisa Schroeder
She writes most of her novels in verse, and they're just lovely. Contemporary with a touch of paranormal in some, they deal with grief and love and all sorts of feely subjects. And since they're written in verse, they kind of poetic, which I like. My favorite is probably Chasing Brooklyn.
Megan Shepherd
The Madman's Daughter is her only book out so far, but boy, is it mad. The writing is beautiful, and the story--wow. Oh, and she's great at making you want to throw a book because of the ending.
Hilary T. Smith
Her debut Wild Awake recently came out, and I really liked it. It is, as the title says, wild, and her writing is so lovely. I love all the metaphors, and that book is so, so quotable. Even if gritty contemporaries aren't your thing, just read this one for the writing.
I haven't come across any of these unfortunately. Will definitely have to put them on my to-read!
ReplyDeleteMy TTT :)
Good list, I've been meaning to read the Gone series for quite some time now.
ReplyDeleteI got to meet Simone Elkeles briefly at ALA, and she is so fun! Very dynamic and excited about books and writing. I actually haven't read any of her books yet, but she's great. :)
ReplyDeleteI have heard amazing things about Endangered by Eliot Schrefer and am looking forward to reading that one. A lot of your authors I have heard of, but haven't read yet. I probably own their books too.. so bad at catching up!
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I just read Wild Cards by Simone Elkeles and really enjoyed it. Great list!
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Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know
Michael Grant is one of my favorite authors! I really love Gone. I've only read up to Lies though!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with Holly Cupala and Kimberly Derting.
ReplyDeleteOkay, so admittedly, I haven't read books by any of these authors, but some, like Holly Cupala, are definitely on my TBR list!
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ReplyDeleteMegan Shepherd is on my list too! :) I love her and am so excited for the next book in the series to come out in January. Glad to see someone else represent her! :) Following you on GFC and Bloglovin now.
ReplyDeleteMy TTT:
http://diamondinroughcoal.blogspot.com/2013/07/top-ten-tuesday-1.html