VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates) rates their reviews in two categories: quality and popularity.  Only 2% of the books for teens that they review get a perfect 5 in both categories, meaning that it would be “hard to imagine it better written” and “every young adult who reads was dying to read it yesterday.”  Here are those amazing few reads that VOYA gave a perfect ten:

  

As Dead as It Gets by Katie Alender

Ashen Winter by Mike Mullin

Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer

  

Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

Bomb: The Race to Build – and Steal – the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon by Steven Sheinkin

Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

  

Burning Blue by Paul Griffin

Camp by Elaine Wolf

Carnival of Souls by Melissa Marr

  

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

Don’t Turn Around by Michelle Gagnon

The Drowned Cities by Paolo Bacigalupi

  

Endlessly by Kiersten White

Everbound by Brodi Ashton

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

  

Hysteria by Megan Miranda

Issues in the Digital Age Reference Series

Origin by Jessica Khoury

  

Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter

Princess Academy: Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale

The Secret Prophecy by Herbie Brennan

  

The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan

Sons of the 613 by Michael Rubens

This Is So Not Happening by Kieran Scott

  

Through to You by Emily Hainsworth

What Came from the Stars by Gary D. Schmidt

Who Could That Be at This Hour? by Lemony Snicket

 

Winter Town by Stephen Emond

The Yawning Rabbit River Chronicle by J. L. Kimmel and David Ceccarelli

Each year the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association, selects the best children’s books. Here are the selected lists for Older Readers, grades 6-8, ages 11-14, and All Ages:

OLDER READERS

  

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

Beyond Courage: The Untold Story of Jewish Resistance during the Holocaust by Doreen Rappaport

Drama by Raina Telgemeier

  

A Game for Swallows: To Die, to Leave, to Return by Zeina Abirached

Invincible Microbe: Tuberculosis and the Never-Ending Search for a Cure by Jim Murphy and Alison Blank

My Family for the War by Anne C. Voorhoeve

  

My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece by Annabel Pitcher

The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano by Sonia Manzano

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

  

Son by Lois Lowry

Son of a Gun by Anne de Graaf

Steve Jobs: The Man Who Thought Different by Karen Blumenthal

 

Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World by Sy Montgomery

We’ve Got a Job: The 1963 Birmingham Children’s March by Cynthia Levinson

 

ALL AGES

 

Little Bird by Germano Zullo

National Geographic Book of Animal Poetry by J. Patrick Lewis

 

Step Gently Out by Helen Frost, illustrated by Rick Lieder

Water Sings Blue: Ocean Poems by Kate Coombs, illustrated by Meilo So

The Year Comes Round: Haiku through the Seasons by Sid Farrar, illustrated by Ilse Plume

Each year the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association, selects the best children’s books. Here is the selected list for Middle Readers, grades 3-5, ages 8-10:

  

Abraham Lincoln & Frederick Douglass: The Story Behind an American Friendship by Russell Freedman

Bear Has a Story to Tell by Philip Christian Stead, illustrated by Erin E. Stead

The Beetle Book by Steve Jenkins

  

A Black Hole Is Not a Hole by Carolyn Cinami DeCristofano, illustrated by Michael Carroll

Bomb: The Race to Build – and Steal – the Worlds’ Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin

Brothers at Bat: The True Story of an Amazing All-Brother Baseball Team by Audrey Vernick, illustrated by Steven Salerno

  

Chuck Close: Face Book by Chuck Close

Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by E. B. Lewis

Electric Ben: The Amazing Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin by Robert Byrd

 

George Bellows: Painter with a Punch! by Robert Burleigh

Helen’s Big World by Doreen Rappaport, illustrated by Matt Tavares

  

Iceberg Right Ahead!: The Tragedy of the Titanic by Stephanie Sammartino McPherson

In a Glass Grimmly by Adam Gidwitz

Island: A Story of the Galapagos by Jason Chin

  

Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead

Lulu and the Duck in the Park by Hilary McKay, illustrated by Priscilla Lamont

May B. by Caroline Starr Rose

 

Mighty Mars Rovers: The Incredible Adventures of Spirit and Opportunity by Elizabeth Rusch

Moonbird: A Year on the Wind with the Great Survivor B95 by Phillip M. Hoose

  

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate, illustrated by Patricia Castelao

See You at Harry’s by Jo Knowles

Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz

  

Starry River of the Sky by Grace Lin

Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage

Titanic: Voices from the Disaster by Deborah Hopkinson

 

Twelve Kinds of Ice by Ellen Bryan Obed, illustrated by Barbara McClintock

Unspoken: A Story from the Underground Railroad by Henry Cole

 

Wonder by R. J. Palacio

Zombie Makers: True Stories of Nature’s Undead by Rebecca L. Johnson

One of my favorite title lists each year is the Quick Picks list that selects book specifically to get reluctant teen readers actually reading.  Therefore these are books that are really those that are sure to get picked up off the shelves.  The 2013 list has 65 titles and three series.  The first books listed below are the top ten picks and then the rest of the list follows:

TOP TEN

   

Beneath a Meth Moon by Jacqueline Woodson

I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga

The Night She Disappeared by April Henry

The Pregnancy Project: A Memoir by Gaby Rodriguez and Jenna Glatzer

  

Ten by Gretchen McNeil

This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summer

Unchained by L. B. Tillit

  

Vietnam #1: I Pledge Allegiance by Chris Lynch

Vietnam #2: Sharpshooter by Chris Lynch

Vietnam #3: Free-Fire Zone by Chris Lynch

 

FICTION QUICK PICKS

   

All My Friends Are Still Dead by Avery Monsen and Jory John

Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick

Bad Boy by Dream Jordan

Cardboard by Doug TenNapel

   

Carter’s Unfocused, One-Track Mind by Brent Crawford

The Catch by Rick Jasper

Croak by Gina Damico

Darth Vader and Son by Jeffrey Brown

   

Dawn Patrol by Jeff Ross

Dead to You by Lisa McMann

Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel by Jeff Kinney

   

The Final Four by Paul Volponi

Forced Out by Gene Fehler

Girl of Nighmares by Kendare Blake

Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan

   

Guilty by Norah McClintock

High Heat by Andrew Karre

The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda

Island of Thieves by John Lacey

   

Johnny Delgado: Private Detective by Kevin Brooks

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews

A Midsummer’s Nightmare by Kody Keplinger

Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne

  

My Sister’s Stalker by Nancy Springer

No Safety in Numbers by Dayna Lorentz

Olympians: Hades: Lord of the Dead by George O’Connor

   

Out of Control by Rick Jasper

The Paranormalist series by Megan Atwood

Power Hitter by M. G. Higgins

The Prospect by Jason Glaser

   

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

The Raft by S. A. Bodeen

Red Heart Tattoo by Lurlene McDaniel

Revived by Cat Patrick

   

Shallow Grave by Alex Van Tol

Social Suicide by Gemma Halliday

Something Like Normal by Trish Doller

Starters by Lissa Price

   

Survive by Alex Morel

Tap Out by Eric Devine

This Is Not a Drill by Beck McDowell

Tilt by Ellen Hopkins

  

Waiting by Carol Lynch Williams

Way to Go by Tom Ryan

Zom-B by Darren Shan

Zombies Hate Stuff by Greg Stones

 

NONFICTION QUICK PICKS

  

Alien Investigation: Searching for the Truth about UFOs and Aliens by Kelly Milner Halls

Angry Birds Space: A Furious Flight to the Final Frontier by Amy Briggs

Awkward Family Pet Photos by Mike Bender and Doug Chernack

 

Diary of a Creepy-Ass Doll by Stacey Leigh Brooks

Fail Harder: Ridiculous Illustrations of Epic Fails by failblog.org

  

Halo: The Essential Visual Guide by Jeremy Patenaude

I Am a SEAL Team Six Warrior: Memoirs of an American Soldier by Howard E. Wasdin and Stephen Templin

I Could Pee on This and Other Poems by Cats by Francesco Marciuliano

  

Juvenile in Justice by Richard Ross

K Is for Knifeball: An Alphabet of Terrible Advice by Jory John and Avery Monsen

My Friend Dahmer by Derf Backderf

  

Photobombed!: Making Bad Pictures Great and Good Pictures Awesomely Bad by Beverly Jenkins

The Science of Soldiers by Lucia Raatma

Seeing Red: The True Story of Blood by Tanya Lloyd Kyi

  

Seventeen Ultimate Guide to Beauty: The Best Hair, Skin, Nails and Makeup Ideas for You by Ann Shoket

The Ultimate Survival Manual: 333 Skills That Will Get You Out Alive by Rich Johnson

Weird But True! Stupid Criminals: 150 Brainless Baddies Busted, plus Wacky Facts by National Geographic

What Do You Want to Do Before You Die? by Ben Nimtin, Dave Lingwood, Duncan Penn and Jonnie Penn

Each year the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association, selects the best children’s books.  Here is the selected list for Younger Readers, preschool through 2nd grade that includes easy reader books:

  

And Then It’s Spring by Julie Fogliano. Illus. by Erin E. Stead.

Black Dog by Levi Pinfold.

Charley’s First Night by Amy Hest. Illus. by Helen Oxenbury.

  

Creepy Carrots! by Aaron Reynolds. Illus. by Peter Brown. 

Demolition. By Sally Sutton. Illus. by Brian  Lovelock. 

 

Dogs on Duty. By Dorothy Hinshaw Patent.

Dreaming Up. By Christy Hale.

 

Extra Yarn. By Mac Barnett . Illus. by Jon Klassen.

Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns: A Muslim Book of Colors. By Hena Khan. Illus. by Mehrdokht Amini.

  

Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs. By Mo Willems.

Green. By Laura Vaccaro Seeger.

Hippopposites. By Janik Coat.

  

Infinity and Me. By Kate Hosford. Illus. by Gabi Swiatkowska.

Just Ducks. By Nicola Davies. Illus. by Salvatore  Rubbino.

Let’s Go for a Drive!  By Mo Willems.

  

Machines Go to Work in the City. By William Low.

Magritte’s Marvelous Hat : A Picture Book. By D. B. (Donald B.) Johnson.

Martin de Porres: The Rose in the Desert.  By Gary D. Schmidt, Illus. by David Diaz.

 

More. By I. C. Springman. Illus. by Brian Lies.

Nighttime Ninja. By Barbara DaCosta. Illus. by Ed Young.

 

Oh, No! By Candace Fleming. Illus. by Eric Rohmann.

One Cool Friend. By Toni Buzzeo. Illus. by David Small.

  

One Special Day. By Lola M. Schaefer. Illus. by Jessica Meserve.

Penny and Her Doll. By Kevin Henkes.

Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons. By Eric Litwin. Illus. by Dean, James.

 

Rabbit and Robot: The Sleepover. By Cece Bell.

Sleep Like a Tiger. By Mary Logue. Illus. by Pamela Zagarenski.

 

This Is Not My Hat. By Jon Klassen.

This Moose Belongs to Me. By Oliver Jeffers.

 

Up, Tall, and High! By Ethan Long.

Z Is for Moose. By Kelly Bingham. Illus. by Paul O. Zelinsky.

YALSA has announced the books selected for this year’s Best Fiction for Young Adults list.  There are 102 books on the list selected from 200 official nominations.  The books are specifically for ages 12-18 and are both high quality literature and appealing to teens.

The full list can be found on the YALSA website.  Here are the top ten:

  

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Saenz

Boy 21 by Matthew Quick

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

  

The Diviners by Libba Bray

Enchanted by Alethea Kontis

Every Day by David Levithan

  

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews

Never Fall Down by Patricia McCormick

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

The Amelia Bloomer Project recommends feminist literature for children and teens aged birth through 18 years old.  It is part of the Feminist Task Force of the American Library Association’s Social Responsibility Round Table.  You can see the entire list on their website.  Here are their selections for the top ten:

TOP TEN

  

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Dolores Huerta: A Hero to Migrant Workers by Sarah E. Warren, illustrated by Robert Casilla

Grace and Grit: My Fight for Equal Pay and Fairness at Goodyear and Beyond by Lilly Ledbetter with Lanier Scott Isom

  

Heart on Fire: Susan B. Anthony Votes for President by Ann Malaspina, illustrated by Steve James

In the Bag! Margaret Knight Wraps It Up by Monica Kulling, illustrated by David Parkins

King Peggy: An American Secretary, Her Royal Destiny, and the Inspiring Story of How She Changed an African Village by Peggielene Bartels and Eleanor Herman

  

A Little F’d Up: Why Feminism Is Not a Dirty Word by Julie Zeilinger

Rookie Yearbook One edited by Tavi Gevinson

Summer of the Mariposas by Guadalupe Garcia McCall

Womanthology: Heroic