Via Jen Robinson, I see that Mother Reader is calling for lists of favorite new books in three YA catagories. I have tempered this a bit by what I imagine might be overlooked, although I could not prevent myself from listing King Dork or Kiki Strike. This list is impossible to defend as it is based solely on what I have found to be cool, different, well written or enlightening around here. It was a kick to come up with though and I look forward to seeing everyone else's.

Younger Kids:

Ivy & Bean by Annie Barrows - the new Betsy/Tacy/Tib series for the 21st century
A Young Shepherd by Cat Urbigkit - a photo book about a young boy raising a herd of sheep - my son loves it!
Stella Brite & The Dark Matter Mystery by Sara Latta - Young Nancy Drew going after celestial clues
Dear Fish by Chris Gall - Can not be read without laughing
Circus Carnivore - To be adored by all fans of "The Nightmare Before Christmas" (and future goths!)

Middle Grade:

Gilda Joyce & The Ladies of the Lake by Jennifer Allison - without a doubt, my new favorite girl detective
The Case of the Missing Marquess by Nancy Springer - Sherlock Holmes's much younger sister kicks butt while striking blows for equal rights at the same time!
Team Moon by Catherine Thimmesh - excellent nonfiction on the unsung heroes who got us to the moon
Kiki Strike by Kristen Miller - Girl Scouts with attitude (loved this - absolutely loved it!)
The Wall & The Wing by Laura Ruby - Excellent fantasy about flying and rats and never backing down, no matter what.

High School

Here There Be Dragons by James Owen - Great adventure/fantasy - in my column this month
The Queen of Cool by Cecil Castellucci - Cecil knows how complicated high school can be and she doesn't back down from any of it's tacky aspects in this great change of life story
Corbenic by Catherine Fisher - Best book I've read in ages, also in the current column
King Dork by Frank Portman - funny, sad, wry, honest - the new teenage classic (and I mean that)
Amaryllis by Curtis Crist-Evans - A story about Vietnam told by one brother who went and the younger one who waited for him to come home. A heartbreaker and as good as war fiction gets. I would stand this one up with all the big boys who have written on that war and that era - it should not be missed.