Young Adult Contemporary Challenge Recap

One of my favorite challenges this year was the Young Adult Contemporary Challenge. I knew I read a lot of YA genre fiction, but I never paid attention to how much contemporary I read, too - 13 exactly. I think I will do this one again as it offered a nice change of pace. Here's what I read:

1. Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr

2. I Am J by Cris Beam

3. You Killed Wesley Payne by Sean Beaudoin

4. Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

5. The Allegra Biscotti Collection by Olivia Bennett

6. Instructions for a Broken Heart by Kim Culbertson

7. Who What Wear by Olivia Bennett

8. Falling for Hamlet by Michelle Ray

9. Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson

10. In Zanesvilles by Jo Ann Beard

11. Reasons to Be Happy by Katrina Kittle

12. Freshman by Corinne Mucha

13. Bunheads by Sophie Flack

Suite Scarlett

Title: Suite Scarlett

Author: Maureen Johnson
Publisher: Brillance Audio
ISBN:
Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges: Audio Book, Young Adult Contemporary, Vacation, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: Listening to Suite Scarlett was a definite delight. Johnson's humorous writing hooked me immediately, and I loved how the story had deep roots in theatre. There were plenty of ups and downs, as one expects from a YA Contemporary, and, of course, Scarlett grew over the course of the story. Listening to it, I was also able to form deeper emotions towards the characters based on how they were read. This was a very cute story.
Rating: 4 stars

Vacation Reads Challenge: New York is such a fun place to visit. I would love to stay in a hotel like the Hopewell - it sounds so quaint in an otherwise bustling city.

The Allegra Biscotti Collection

Title: The Allegra Biscotti Collection

Author: Olivia Bennett

Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

ISBN:

Why Read?: For Fun

Challenges: Young Adult Contemporary, Borrowed Books, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: This was sort of a Hannah Montana-type story (except with the fashion industry), but it was so much cuter. Emma/Allegra was very likable and seemed like any middle-school girl. Her choices were interesting, but that made her character all that more real.

Rating: 4 stars

Because of Winn-Dixie

Title: Because of Winn-Dixie

Author: Kate DiCamillo

Publisher: Candlewick

ISBN: 0-7636-1605-2

Why Read?: Book Club

Challenges: Young Adult Contemporary, Borrowed, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: Normally, I shy away from books about dogs (especially ones for MG), but my book club was reading this, so I had to. I am glad I did. There was a sad part, but unlike some children's classics, this did have (SPOILER ALERT!) a happy ending. DiCamillo has written a heart-filled story about a lonely little girl, her stay dog, and the meaning of friendship.

Rating: 4 stars

Elsewhere Online: January 2011

As you may have guessed from my In My Mailbox posts, I review for another website (bookloons.com). As I cannot post my reviews there and here, but I would still like to count the books I read for the challenges, I am going to have a post like this at the end of the every month listing the books I reviewed and what challenges the went towards.

Title: Once Was Lost

Author: Sara Zarr

Challenges: Young Adult Contemporary, 100 Books in a Year

Title: Shadow Blade

Author: Seressia Glass

Challenges: 1st in a Series, People of Color, Horror & Urban Fantasy, 100 Books in a Year

Young Adult Contemporary Challenge

I enjoy YA Contemporary just as much as YA Fantasy, but I think The Undercover Book Lover's 2011 Young Adult Contemporary Challenge is going to be a hard one since the 13 books all have to be published in 2011, but I am game.

1. Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr

2. I Am J by Cris Beam

3. You Killed Wesley Payne by Sean Beaudoin

4. Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

5. The Allegra Biscotti Collection by Olivia Bennett

6. Instructions for a Broken Heart by Kim Culbertson

7. Who What Wear by Olivia Bennett

8. Falling for Hamlet by Michelle Ray

9. Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson

10. In Zanesvilles by Jo Ann Beard

11. Reasons to Be Happy by Katrina Kittle

12. Freshman by Corinne Mucha

13. Bunheads by Sophie Flack