Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I Loved the First Year I Started My Blog

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by the Broke and the Bookish blog. If you want to participate, click here. This week's theme is a throwback freebie, and this was one of the options.

I started my blog back in June 2015. I am very proud of what I have been able to accomplish in only two years. Below are some of my favorite books I read in 2015, with number one being my favorite.

1. Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger

This is easily my favorite book of all time, and I love everything about the series. I own all the books and have read them more times than I can possibly count! 

2. Gone by Micheal Grant

This is the first book of six, and this YA series was thrilling and suspenseful! The prospect of having no adults around makes this my favorite dystopian series! The powers that they gain are an amazing twist.

3. Losing It by Erin Fry
This realistic fiction book shows that you can do anything when you put your mind to it, and shows the difficulties in losing weight and being healthy. It also shows examples of how to handle bullying.

4. Numbers by Rachel Ward
I have never read a book like this, and it must have been really hard to write! I loved the internal conflict and I thought that the topic was brilliant. I was able to easily connect to Jem. Her optimism and bravery made up for the fact that the series is a little sadder than what I normally read.

5. Nothing But the Truth by Avi
This was one of the options on my school summer reading list, and I never imagined I would love it as much as I did! This funny book about patriotism is for everyone of all ages!

6. The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen

This is the first book I reviewed on this blog! The Running Dream calls attention to a lot of real life problems and concerns that most of us fail to notice, even when they are right before our eyes. The book showcases struggles that everyone can relate to. It is powerful and inspiring!

7. Rule of Three by Eric Walters
What I really liked was that even though it is dystopian, it seemed a little more realistic, seeing that the communities did not completely fall apart, and there was still some order. This made it easier to believe and allowed the story to really come alive. I own the trilogy, and re-read them all the time!

8. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
The prospect of not being able to ever touch anyone is heartbreaking, and Juliet is incredible! Throughout the series, her character development exceeds expectations. The imagery is crystal clear, and the environmental catastrophe was well illustrated.

9. Where I Belong by Mary Downing Hahn
This is a great inspirational read for younger students adjusting to middle school! Where I Belong teaches lessons in friendships and acceptance. It also shows the power of imagination and positivity!

10. Frozen In Time by Ali Sparkes
Frozen In Time is a funny science fiction read for all ages!  Polly and Freddy's reactions to present day things are hysterical. Freddy's solutions to problems are quite odd, but they work, and they're very funny! The general idea of the book is a great idea, and fun to imagine. 

The You I've Never Known by Ellen Hopkins

The You I've Never Known is a YA realistic fiction book about learning who you are. Arial lives with her dad, and her mom disappeared when she was two. She has never stayed in one place for more than a school year, mostly less. With her dad who is an alcoholic with a fiery temper, Arial feels as though she is walking on glass. Life gets more complicated when she has feelings for both her friends, Monica and Gabe. The task of figuring out who she is becomes more difficult when a lady shows up claiming to be Arial's mother stating that her father kidnapped her. Arial tries to figure out what to believe and who to trust, and confront her dad once and for all. 

The You I've Never Known is written in a combination of verse and prose. More often than not, I find that books written in poetry are underdeveloped. I was pleasantly surprised! Somehow the author managed to take regular text and dialogue and turn it into poetry, while still containing full sentences. I was stunned because the writing felt really strong, and even better than other books!

The part about Arial's mother did not really come up until towards the end, which I honestly did not mind. While in the description it sounds like the whole book is about the mother, most of it is about Arial and who she is, and her already chaotic life. Personally, I loved how the author built up Arial's life before her mother walked in. I think that Arial handled the situation as best as she could, and she is lucky to have such great friends to support her. All the secondary characters were completely developed and play a huge role in who Arial is. Hillary is a character that I was really interested in, and enjoyed getting to know her. I would definitely want to be her friend in real life! 

A lot of teenagers experience the daunting question of "Who am I?" This book clearly shows all of the factors that change who we are. While I would not categorize The You I've Never Known as inspirational, it does teach a lesson loud and clear to live in the moment, and to make everything you do count. The pacing was smooth and flowed like water. It is so easy to get lost in this book, and I could not put it down! I hope I have time to read it again before I have to return it to the library.

Hopkins is not afraid to bring up those heavy topics. 99% of the time Arial's dad is around, he is drunk. He spends more time with other women than his own daughter, and his humor is borderline inappropriate. Abuse is in there as well. A lot of hearts will be touched by Arial's story. (Note: Because this book heavily involves alcohol, child abuse, and contains a few imitate scenes, I would recommend it only for older YA readers.)

I highly recommend this book!

Title: The You I've Never Known

Author: Ellen Hopkins
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Pages: 608 Pages

Series: No 

Rating: 5 Stars

Goodreads

Nobody by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Nobody is a YA science fiction book about literally being nobody. A lot of people feel like they are nobody, or complain that nobody ever listens to them, but what if you actually were? Seventeen-year-old Nix is a Nobody. He has so little energy in his body that people don't notice him or remember him. Harnessing his lack of energy, he can also become transparent and fly. The Institute managed to find him when he was little, and with great difficulty, raised him to do their dirty work. Essentially, he is assassinating "bad" people. Nix goes along with what they say, until they tell him to get rid of Claire.

Nix always thought he was the only Nobody, until he meets Claire. Nix finds himself falling head over heals for Claire, and teaching her how to use her powers. Along the way, Nix realizes the real reason he was told to get rid of her. One Nobody is powerful enough, but when Claire and Nix put their powers together, they are unstoppable. As Nix discovers the truth about what the Institute's motives really are (basically world domination), the only way to survive is to take them down together.  

I would have liked Nobody more if there was less romance and more action. 80% of the book is all about them in love, which took away from the other storyline about the evil Institute. I feel like the love is situational love, not real. There is literally nobody else in the world who would look at them, so they kind of have to be together. Despite the situation of the fact that they are Nobodies, this is a prime example of instalove. (Instalove is a more extreme version of love at first sight.) This is made worse when the two characters act and talk like 10-year-olds instead of 17. The amount of romantic thoughts and dialogue threw me off track and lost my interest. However, this is also personal taste. All those Romeo and Juliet fans would probably like this more than me.

The Institute, the corruption, and their powers were underdeveloped. If I could change this book, it would be to cut half the lovey dovey. I would replace it with more about the Nobody's abilities and their mission to take down the Institute. All the information about Nulls and energy amounts are fascinating, and I think that the author focused too much on the wrong thing.

Other than all the romance, I did enjoy the book. The plot was so imaginative and thought out! I loved the immense detail and creativity. The suspense and drama was compelling, and I was anxious to untangle the mystery of The Institute and their world. The development of the setting and its imagery was well done. A lot of people can relate to the feelings these characters experience with not being noticed. I am very conflicted about Nobody.

While I enjoyed reading some of Nobody, I can't say that I like it or would read it again because of my personal taste in books. If you are a person who enjoys a lot of romance, I recommend this for you. Although I was not a huge fan of this particular book, I do want to read another book of the author's, The Naturals.

Title: Nobody
Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Pages: 393 Pages
Series: No
Rating: 2 Stars
Goodreads

As Easy as Falling Off the Face of the Earth by Lynne Rae Perkins

As Easy as Falling Off the Face of the Earth is a middle grade realistic fiction book. Ry is supposed to take a train to summer camp while his parents go to the Caribbean. During the trip, the train stops for repairs. Ry gets off the train for phone reception, and the train takes off when it wasn't supposed to for another 40 minutes. Now Ry is all alone in the middle of nowhere in Montana, with no way to get in contact with anyone. He walks a couple miles to a small town, where he meets Dell, a man who loves adventure and spontaneous thinking. Dell decides to go across the country with Ry to find his way back to his parents and missing grandfather. They meet many people along the way, and embark on the adventure of a lifetime.

The story really doesn't make much sense. Common sense fell off the face of the Earth. Seriously, trust a random stranger who wants to go across the world? Drive with no map and no idea where you're going. Fly an airplane that's definitely built wrong and falling apart. Sail across the ocean just to go find your parents! Call the police, for heaven's sakes! I get it, they're in the middle of nowhere, but you don't just place your life in the hands of a random stranger. With all the people they stopped to talk to, surely one of them would have the common sense to get in touch with the FBI or something.

Aside from the suspending-your-disbelief thing, the book was pretty enjoyable. It is a relaxing book and good for leisure reading. I also really liked that every 5-10 pages or so, there is an illustration or a cartoon. There is even some images about what the dogs are doing, which was strange, but actually relevant. It also has a ton of figurative language. Practically half the book is all imagery. It was cool to visualize a town and lifestyle in the middle of nowhere. I felt like I was watching TV in some parts of As Easy as Falling Off the Face of the Earth.

It's a very weird story, but it was still fun to read. I know a lot of people would really love this book, but I just couldn't get over the missing puzzle pieces and how unrealistic the book is. I recommend that people really good at suspending their disbelief read this book!

Title: As Easy as Falling Off the Face of the Earth

Author: Lynne Rae Perkins

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Pages: 368

Series: No

Rating: 3 Stars

Goodreads

The Secrets of Islayne by Kari Lynn West

The Secrets of Islayne is a unique mix of YA fantasy and mystery, which was sent to me by the author. The island of Islayne gives some of its residents the special ability to see memories, and help people remember them clearer. These people are called Luminators. 16-year-old Ronan desperately seeks to become one and join their ranks.

Just when it looks like he has the world on his fingertips, Ronan and his friends discover a shocking secret that would turn the island upside down. Ronan, Cassie, and Eli try to understand what is happening, and question everything they thought they knew about their society. Little do they know, their hunt for answers is sending them in deep waters.

I really enjoyed this book! I loved how much detail the author put into this world. I felt like this island really was real. The "power" in this book is sharpening memories and seeing them more clearly. None of the scenes in The Secrets of Islayne need to be brightened; I could see straight into the book like a piece of glass.

There were six different points of view in this story. I think that this was a very wise choice and made their world more realistic. I especially loved the few sections towards the end from the "enemy." Regardless of how the characters see the actions, readers can make their own judgments. I personally love it in books when the antagonist shares their thoughts, providing a little window into another world.

I loved that I could not guess at least half of what was going to happen. Every turn was important and surprising. The only thing that I did not enjoy so much was the romance. It felt like Disney, if you know what I mean. That is not necessarily a bad thing, but in my opinion it felt forced. Otherwise, I enjoyed reading this.

I highly recommend that everyone read The Secrets of Islayne!

Title: The Secrets of Islayne
Author:  Kari Lynn West
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Pages: 240 Pages
Series: No
Rating: 5 Stars
Goodreads

Article 5 by Kristen Simmons

Article 5 is the first book in a YA dystopian trilogy that I bought. In the future United States, there was another war. Most cities are down to rubble, and almost everybody lives off of food stamps. This war also destroyed all American values. Bill of Rights? Gone. Doesn't exist. Instead, the president and government created the Moral Statutes, all the things defining the perfect citizen, including sticking with traditional gender roles and national religion. People who get arrested don't come back. No more trials or fines- either end up in jail for life or executed.

Ember Miller clearly remembers what life used to be when the US was a democracy. But she has learned to hide and blend in. That is, until now. The latest changes to the Statutes include that you cannot have a "valid" kid without being married. Ember does not have a dad. This violates the 5th article, causing the Moral Militia to arrest her mother and take Ember to a rehabilitation facility where she is government property. To make things worse, the officer that arrests Ember's mother is Chase, her ex-boyfriend.

This book is a real dystopian. Everything caused by humans, no aliens or natural disasters. Instead we have brutality, lack of compassion, and rights and liberties out the window like they never existed. The thing readers don't know is why the world is the way it is. Yes, there was a war three years ago. But we don't know what country attacked us, or if we attacked them, or if it was a civil war. That is really the only thing that bothers me.

The cover is amazing! The immense detail of the buildings is extraordinary. The cover really drew me in, more than anything. Another thing I really liked was Ember's personality and values. She is definitely not perfect, and she showcases what it means to be human. She is also a big rebel. She probably sets the record in their world for the most laws broken. She is so determined, and she faces internal conflict with not knowing what to do or how to fight, she just knows she wants to protect Chase and rescue her mother. She grows in confidence throughout the story.

This book is an epic journey of taking Ember to safety. It was also sweet. Chase and Ember were together before Chase was pulled away into war. Along their journey, they discover each other again and realize that they never actually broke up and that they are still in love. This would be an amazing movie.

I recommend that you read this book, and I am glad that I bought it! I cannot wait to read the next book, Breaking Point, which I plan to buy as well!

Title: Article 5
Author: Kristen Simmons
Publisher: Tor Teen
Pages: 384
Series: Yes, Book 1
Rating: 4 Stars
Goodreads

Premeditated by Josin L. McQuein

If you are looking for a fascinating YA realistic fiction book about revenge, read Premeditated. A week ago, Dinah's cousin Claire slit her wrists and ended up in a coma. Then Dinah read Claire's diary and found out why. Then she made a plan: out with the piercings, bleach her black hair, and put on a school uniform. She'll go to Claire's private school and find the boy who destroyed her cousin. Vengeance will be Dinah's.

I was ecstatic to read this! As we often find out, (in books and in life) revenge is not the answer and it often lands people in a larger mess than the reason behind it. The concept of revenge isn't the best idea in real life, but it is an amazing plot line for a book! Premeditated is not super dark and depressing. It actually is quite funny at times.

Dinah sacrificed her whole life to get back at the person who trashed her cousin and made her not want to live. It is sweet how much she cares about her cousin.

None of the characters are as they seem. Every character in the book has some sort of problem and secret, and it was fun guessing them all. They were not black or white, every character was different and like a lasagna. As you read Premeditated, you were eating different layers (personalities, behaviors, etc) and learning new things about who they are. Dinah had a lot of mixed emotions in the book, including anger, grief, confusion, sadness, and helplessness.

Wow, that twist at the end! I was quite happy about how it turned out. There is no need for a sequel; this story was wrapped up in its blanket and tucked into bed. But just because it is in bed, doesn't mean I can't read it again! I'll wake it up from time to time and read it again.
I recommend that you read this book!

Title: Premeditated
Author: Josin L. McQuein
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Pages: 336 Pages
Series: No
Rating: 5 Stars
Goodreads

Underwater by Marisa Reichardt

Underwater is a powerful, moving story about forgiveness and moving on. On October 15th, Morgan did a nice thing, and helped someone out. Unknowingly, the kind gesture made her indirectly responsible for a horrible, tragic shooting at her school. Logic tells her that she is not responsible for another person's actions, but her heart doesn't say the same. Now she is sick with guilt and panic attacks caused by PTSD and refuses to move outside her apartment. She also has to deal with scars from her father and divorce. Then one day, she gets new neighbors. She meets a boy named Evan, and with his help, she starts to realize that in order to come out of the water, and step outside, she has to forgive herself.

The author takes us into what happens after tragedy, and its lifelong impact. It opens a door for people to see what having a mental illness is like, and this book could help people become more understanding of someone's pain. Underwater also shows how emotional scars are often much more painful than physical ones. The tone of this book shifts a lot from so sad I want to cry to extreme happiness and humor! Basically, living life to the fullest is the message in this story, and it was well said.

This book also gives really good advice and coping strategies for people with panic attacks and anxiety. Morgan has posted on the walls of her apartment things to say to herself: 1. Breathe 2. You are okay. 3. You’re not dying. Regardless of any circumstance, that is really good advice, especially thought number 3. (Here's a life lesson from Underwater: Never tell somebody at a school that you are dying unless you actually are!)

The romance was outstanding, and I loved it. They had some rocky times like any relationship, and it was cool to see them progress, especially with Morgan thinking that she is a burden to him. Evan can be really sweet or really mean, and I personally thought that it made him more lifelike.

I highly recommend this book, especially for anyone suffering from trauma or mental illness.

Title: Underwater
Author: Marisa Reichardt
Publisher: Farrar, Straus, & Giroux
Pages: 288
Series: No
Rating: 5 Stars
Goodreads

Don't Mess with Coleman Stoops by Justin Lantier-Novelli

Don't Mess with Coleman Stoops is a new middle grade realistic fiction book that I received from the author. Coleman is the least popular kid in school, and the target of everyone's jokes. He's that overweight kid that raises his hand to every question and the kid that you catch picking his nose in the cafeteria. His last name is Stoops; the kids call him Stoopy. He hates that even more than how he hates himself for always finding a way to embarrass himself and play into their jokes.

So the last thing he would ever expect is for Trey, the most popular kid in school and the most mean to him, to want to be friends. He also claims that he wants to set him up with his cousin, Faith. Ignoring his gut feeling, Coleman agrees to do as Trey says, but he can't get rid of his suspicion that Trey could be tricking him.

The point of view was very unique and refreshing. Don't Mess with Coleman Stoops is told by a bystander, watching the events unfold. I like this because it eliminates all bias and shows an accurate representation of how his peers view him. This is not very popular, and I enjoyed something different.

Coleman is a very determined character, and he always does the right thing. Sure, he's gullible, but he doesn't let it bother him too much. Yes, he hates himself for jumping right into their traps, but he doesn't let that get him down. Instead he ignores them and still remains himself. For a sixth grader, he has the maturity of an adult. This felt strange at times, due to the fact that he is only 12.

The book is also an accurate representation of sixth grade. This is a great book for all middle school students and is very relatable! It shows the adjustment to middle school and demonstrates social classes very accurately. I remember in sixth grade having to get used to the idea of "popular" kids and cliques. This is a must-read for incoming sixth graders!

Don't Mess with Coleman Stoops is scheduled to be release on August 29, 2017. I recommend that you read this book!

Title: Don't Mess With Coleman Stoops

Author: Justin Lantier-Novelli

Publisher: Justin Lantier-Novelli

Pages: 113 pages

Series: No

Rating: 4 Stars

Goodreads

Aaru (The Aaru Cycle Book 1) by David Meredith

Aaru is a YA sci-fi fantasy book sent to me by the author. Rose used to be a normal teenager. That is until Leukemia got the better of her. Now she is skin and bones, too weak to even move. All seems lost until a strange man approaches Rose and puts a machine on her head, claiming that he can make her live forever. Surprisingly, he was telling the truth. After Rose died, her brain, including her personality, was uploaded into a virtual world called Aaru.

In Aaru, members have the power to shape their own reality and live without pain forever. Of course it is almost impossible to believe that technology can beat death, so the company makes Rose's sister, Koren, their spokesperson to verify that this is real. Shortly after, readers are introduced to "Magic Man," a stalker and hacker who takes great interest in Aaru. As both the sisters' worlds become in great danger, they discover that the bond between them is the most powerful of all.

All the emotions were raw and honest. Anybody can connect to the family's situation and their emotions. The anger and angst was so powerful that I feel like it punched my heart. Regardless of the specific situation, the feelings explored are universal. People who have a sibling would especially understand and connect. The book also explored the negative, exhaustive side of fame and fortune. This is eye-opening, revealing a side of a story not told very often.

Aaru is very thought-provoking. Life after death is a huge "what if," and this book really explores a new type of question, and not religious. After I was approached by the author, I was immediately interested. This is a type of story that is completely unique and lovable. I also liked that even though the book was suspenseful and intense at times, there were a lot of light-hearted, fun moments. This book is a mixture of love, sacrifice, humor, and hope.

The character known as "Magic Man" plays a huge role, and I really enjoyed guessing who he was and what he wanted. He is the antagonist in the story and executed that role beautifully. I especially enjoyed that it was written in third person because this allowed the author to write a lot of different perspectives.

I really liked this book and highly recommend it. I would gladly read it again! I am excited for more to come in the Aaru Cycle series!

Title: Aaru (The Aaru Cycle Book 1)
Author: David Meredith
Publisher: Bowker
Pages: 305
Series: Yes, Book 1
Rating: 5 Stars
Goodreads