Best I've Read 2010

Best I've Read 2010 (BIR2010) December 6-14
A group of nine bloggers got together for the first annual Best I've Read 2010 event. I've been entering book giveaways all week, and got inspired to do my own Best I've Read 2010 list. This is a bit of a departure for me, because I usually do Heise's Hot List based on the school year calendar and the dozen favorite books I read that year. I've decided to try it this way to share my list of favorite YA books I read in the calendar year of 2010 (in no particular order - I have a hard enough time narrowing the list down, no way am I going to rank order it!). These are the books that have stuck with me the most for varying reasons related to the writing, the story, or the message.


Best Books I've Read 2010
NIGHTSHADE by Andrea Cremer*
THE MOCKINGBIRDS by Daisy Whitney
THE LOST HERO by Rick Riordan*
MATCHED by Ally Condie*
MOCKINGJAY by Suzanne Collins*
THIRTEEN REASONS WHY by Jay Asher
HEIST SOCIETY by Ally Carter*
LINGER by Maggie Stiefvater*
THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN by Sherman Alexie
DASH & LILY'S BOOK OF DARES by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan
MY MOST EXCELLENT YEAR by Steve Kluger
IF I STAY by Gayle Forman


Honorable Mentions
NOT THAT KIND OF GIRL by Siobhan Vivian
THE LONELY HEARTS CLUB by Elizabeth Eulberg
THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS series by Cassandra Clare*
LEAVING PARADISE and RETURN TO PARADISE by Simone Elkeles
ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS by Stephanie Perkins
*series books

RETURN TO PARADISE by Simone Elkeles

I need to start this review of RETURN TO PARADISE, the sequel to Leaving Paradise by talking about the author - Simone Elkeles - because she is the reason I read the first book in this series. Ever since I read Perfect Chemistry (my first Simone Elkeles book) I have loved her as an author - she writes emotional, edgy, real, romance books with deep characters. They are realistic fiction stories about girls and boys in high school, but go beyond just the typical cliched looks at high school that some young adult books in this genre stick to.  They also go beyond just the girl's story and drama - we get to hear from both the boy and the girl who are the main characters in the story. By switching points of view for each chapter, we get characters who are more fully developed and go beyond shallow feelings, to understanding why the conflict happens in these relationships. While they are romance stories, they go beyond that with deeply-flawed characters who have to find their way through their own issues before they can be part of a couple, and discover more about themselves and the how to get by in the world around them by their journeys through these stories.  Simone writes in a direct style with a voice that seems true to life for teenagers. Her books are not overly complicated, they are to-the-point delving into the emotions, hardships, struggles, inner-battles, and love of the characters she writes. There are a few more mature situations in her books, but nothing too graphic, and always handled well with the thoughts and emotions that the characters go through in relation to those situations.

Now that you know how much I love Simone Elkeles as an author, I need to tell you about the first book in the series. I first read Leaving Paradise when one of my students gave me her copy to borrow after I read Perfect Chemistry and talked about how much I loved it.  I devoured Leaving Paradise in one day. It is the story of Maggie, whose leg was severely injured when hit by a drunk driver and a year later is still struggling with getting her life and spirit back to being able to live her life. Caleb is the boy who went to jail for hitting her - and also her neighbor and twin brother of Maggie's best friend. The story starts when Caleb comes home from juvie and Maggie is heading back to school.  In all of their emotional struggles that ensue with their life changes, Maggie and Caleb realize that the one person they're most afraid of - each other - might be the only person who can help them get through to the other side.  I loved the first book, but felt a little let down by the ending, mostly because I felt it left Maggie and Caleb's story a bit unfinished.  


Flash forward to a year and a half later when I heard Simone had written a sequel - RETURN TO PARADISE - to complete Maggie and Caleb's story and let us know what happened after Leaving Paradise.  Simone was running a facebook contest and I commented about her books and she thanked me for being a teacher who reads what her students read and then offered to send me a free copy of the book. I was really excited to read this book, and was not disappointed. The thing that I really loved about this book is that it wasn't just an easy path for either of them when after eight months, Caleb shows back up in Maggie's life. They are on a summer trip to tell other teens about the dangers of reckless driving with four other teens who have also been affected in some way. Both of them have their reasons for having their guard up and fighting against the feelings they have for each other, while each of them has to travel their own path to self-acceptance and realizing that the other one is the best person for them.  


Without giving away too much of the story, I will say that when the realization is made that accidents affect far more than just the perpetrator and the victim, but the entire families around them, it is a moment of healing, acceptance, and moving forward that was much needed for their stories. The other thing I really like is that neither one of them has to give up who they are or what is important to them to be better with each other. Simone has left this book with a satisfying ending for Maggie, Caleb, their families, friends, and the reader. Now, with both books combined, this feels like a complete story and journey of discovery, acceptance, and healing for these characters who I was began to care about.


5 STARS for RETURN TO PARADISE
Simone Elkeles' Books:
Perfect Chemistry - Rules of Attraction - Chain Reaction (early 2011)
Leaving Paradise - Return to Paradise
How to Ruin a Summer Vacation - How to Ruin My Teenage Life - How to Ruin Your Boyfriend's Reputation

RULES OF ATTRACTION by Simone Elkeles

RULES OF ATTRACTION is the sequel to Perfect Chemistry (which was one of my favorite books I read last year - of course I'm a sucker for a good romance story), and continues with some of Alex and Brittany's story while showcasing Alex's younger brother, Carlos, who unwillingly moves from Mexico to Colorado where Alex is in college. Carlos is not happy about moving because he still feels like Alex betrayed him when they all had to move from Chicago; however, since Carlos got caught up in the gang's in Mexico, his mom sends him to live with his brother. Although he acts tough, he doesn't really do anything wrong, but still gets into some trouble and can't live with his brother anymore. Alex arranges for Carlos to move in with one of Alex's professors (who has his own reasons for wanting to help out), who has a daughter who Carlos met at his high school. Carlos was not impressed with her at first, but she seems to be the only one who can break through his tough exterior and see the decent person he is inside. As Carlos works through his issues and they get to know each other, they realize there is a deeper connection there.  As this develops, Carlos gets deeper into trouble and has to learn to rely on others to help him get out of a sticky situation.

It is again a good romance and coming-of-age story. The thing about this book, though, is that it does stick to the tried-and-true formula of the first book and as such at times seems a little familiar/too similar. It doesn't seem quite as new (although, of course, the first was essentially an updated Romeo and Juliet wrong side of the tracks type love story) in the second book because Carlos' story is similar to Alex's from the first book. However, it was still a really enjoyable escape to read. If you loved Perfect Chemistry, you will like reading Rules of Attraction and getting to spend more time in this world with these characters.
4 Stars for RULES OF ATTRACTION