I’m signing up again for Kristi‘s Debut Authors Challenge. I made it my goal last year to read 20 books and I surpassed it, reading 50 titles total. For me, this challenge is about learning new authors so I can be a better reader and a better librarian/collection developer.
This year, I’m going to aim a little higher and shoot to read 30 debut titles. I think I’ll be reading more than that, but I’m of the better safe than sorry camp. I’ll link all of my reviews to this post throughout the year and do a run down at the end of 2011.
Last year, I came up with this nice little list of titles I planned on reading, but as the year went on, I noticed I cared less about the list and more about my own reading needs. So, with good intentions, I post a list again knowing darn well it probably won’t all happen.
1. Entangled by Cat Clarke
2. Choker by Elizabeth Woods
3. Rival by Sara Bennett-Wealer
4. XVI by Julia Karr
5. Dark Mirror by MJ Putney
6. Exposed by Kimberly Marcus
7. Leverage by Joshua Cohen
8. Like Mandarin by Kirsten Hubbard
9. Illegal by Bettina Restrepo
10. Bumped by Megan McCafferty (her YA debut)
11. Unlocked by Ryan G Van Cleave
12. The Pull of Gravity by Gae Polisner
13. Blood Red Road by Moira Young
14. Putting Makeup on Dead People by Jen Violi
15. Popular by Alissa Grosso
16. Wildefire by Karsten Knight
17. Page by Paige by Laura Lee Gulledge
18. Stupid Fast by Geoff Herbach
19. Bad Taste in Boys by Carrie Harris
20. The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle
21. And Then Things Fall Apart by Arlaina Tibensky
22. Moonglass by Jessi Kirby
23. Where Things Come Back by Corey Whaley
24. Lie by Caroline Bock
25. Pretty Bad Things by CJ Skuse
26. Orchards by Holly Thompson
27. I am J by Cris Beam
28. I’ll Be There by Holly Goldberg Sloan
29. Bunheads by Sophie Flack
30. Clarity by Kim Harrington
31. The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab
32. Saving June by Hannah Harrington
33. Ten Miles Past Normal by Francis O’Roarke Dowell
34. OyMG by Amy Fellner Dominy
35. Dreams of Significant Girls by Cristina Garcia
36. Audition by Stasia Kehoe Ward
37. The Latte Rebellion by Sarah Stevenson
38. The Year We Were Famous by Carole Estby Dagg
39. Frost by Marianne Baer
40. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
41. The Mostly True Story of Jack by Kelly Barnhill (middle grade)
42. This Girl is Different by JJ Johnson
43. With or Without You by Brian Farrey
44. Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday
45. Anya’s Ghost by Vera Brosgol
46. A Long, Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan
47. Divergent by Veronica Roth
48. Paper Covers Rock by Jenny Hubbard
49. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
50. Flirt Club by Cathleen Daley (YA/MG Debut)
51. What Can(‘t) Wait by Ashley Hope Perez
52. Running Wide Open by Lisa Nowak
53. Bitter Melon by Cara Chow
54. I’m Not Her by Janet Gurtler
55. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
56. The Trouble with Half a Moon by Danette Vigilante
Considering my original goal was 30, I think 56 is pretty good.
Thanks for adding The Liar Society to your list! If you read it and enjoy it send us an e-mail! We'll be getting bookmarks and posters that should make for fun giveaways at the library.
Interesting post. Not a complaint; an observation. I do notice that girl authors figure prominently, and that male authors are scarce. On your quest to be a 'better librarian,' you might consider the balance here. As a HS teacher, I struggle with the up-hill 'get-guys-reading' battle, so I read with that audience in mind. I am curious about your clientele: who are you generally serving?
@Terry VERY interesting observation. I didn't even look at authors when I pulled titles, honestly, and quite frankly, I pulled them based on titles alone. An observation *I* made while pulling it together was the abundance of fantasy and paranormal titles and the scarcity of a good contemporary title and titles that would even FEATURE a male character.
You know well enough that male voice and male readership is something about which I am PASSIONATE. But you know as well as I do that this is an area of weakness in the YA world. It's something I work hard to seek out. Unfortunately, it's not marketed as it should be and not highlighted as it should be.
As I mentioned above, my list here shouldn't mean much anyway. If you read my list last year, I think of the 20 I listed I read maybe 10 of them. So many other great titles came out.
And with that, I beg you to keep your eyes here next week for something I think will make you rethink what I do in terms of reading/blogging/being a librarian.
I also point out though that it doesn't necessarily need to be about balance, either. That's something I've discussed at length elsewhere.
I read loads of debuts this year without even realizing it. I signed up as well and have a list that's likely way too long, haha. Many are on your list as well. We'll have discuss them 😉
Kelly, I check this blog all the time. Little chance I'll miss next week's post. And I know you are passionate about the fellas – I actually think I found STACKED through GuysLitWire – or perhaps the other way round? Anyway, I was just wondering a bit about the different perspective a librarian has as compared to my POV as a teacher. I do whatever I can to get all my students to read, and they are essentially captive and beholden to me for a grade. I imagine you're in a much different situation, which might lead you to read for different things than I do.
Keep up the good work – I really appreciate not having to read all those paranormals and fantasies because ya'll do such a good job sorting the wheat from the chaff for me.
Thanks for including XVI on your list!
I'm one of several authors you have listed above who are in the Class of 2K11. We are doing several librarian-focused programs and giveaways. Please let me know if you'd like any information about those.
And – I hope you like XVI!
@Julia: Of course I would like more information. I think Carrie may have gotten to me already (though of course I don't mind hearing again).
And I do look forward to XVI!
Hi! It's Sara Bennett Wealer (for some reason, I can't sign in with any of my other IDs), chiming in with a wave to Lisa/Laura, Carrie and Julia, who are also fellow Elevensies. Thank you so much for including RIVAL on your list. I hope you like it, and count me in, too, as one who has bookmarks, etc. if you're interested in them for your patrons.
@Terry: This might be worthy of a post down the line, indeed!
@Sara: Thanks for commenting! Again, always happy to take up bookmarks for the kids at work! I *may* have an idea up my sleeve.
I read Rival as an ARC for a VOYA review and *loved* it! It's one of those books that you'll pick up one day and have it finished the next. Enjoy!