Top Ten Books of 2015

I'm trying to be more consistent in my blog posts, so I've decided to take part in Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's theme is...

Top Ten Books of 2015 - The best books I read this year

1. Winter - by Marissa Meyer

This is the latest book I've read to make the list, and it really was great. I only started reading the Lunar Chronicles earlier this year and didn't have as long of a wait for the final book, but it still felt like forever. Winter is a very fitting conclusion to a fantastic series and if you haven't read it yet, you really should!

2. None of the Above - by I.W. Gregorio

I just reviewed this book, but I can't emphasize enough how important I think it is. I'm all for LGBT+ themes in novels and None of the Above is fairly unique in featuring an intersex protagonist. This book manages to merge contemporary, YA fiction (complete with high school drama) with a touching, but also very educational, story about what it's like to suddenly discover you are intersex.

3. Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda - by Becky Albertalli

Another LGBT+ book that I cannot say enough good things about. Simon is a great protagonist and so funny as a narrator. This book has an important message, but it manages to come across as a fun, light read at the same time. 

4. His Majesty's Dragon - by Naomi Novik

I haven't quite finished my review of this book, but I am seriously obsessed with the Temeraire series. Combining the Napoleonic Wars with dragons? It´s genius! On top of that, the dragons are extremely intelligent and have their own place as characters in the book. Novik's representation of dragons really sold this book for me.

5. Skellig - by David Almond

I never actually reviewed this book, but I really did love it. I found this when I was making an effort to read more of the j-fiction section at my library. Skellig is the perfect example of magical realism for kids. I also highly recommend the audiobook, narrated by the author.

6. The Water Knife - by Paolo Bacigalupi

I went into this book not even realizing that it was a science fiction novel and it really exceeded my expectations. The science in this book is rock solid, and that's one thing I really look for in science fiction. On top of that, the characters in this book are so well developed and the plot moves along at a great pace.

7. Monstrous Beauty - by Elizabeth Fama

Another book that I really underestimated. I was expecting a fun, YA novel with mermaids and was impressed by how mature the story is. And really, this book tells two, interwoven stories - with one plotline taking place in the modern day and another set in the late 19th century. I was really impressed by Fama's beautiful writing and how well she transitions between the two time periods.

8. The Diviners - by Libba Bray

This book has all the fun of 1920's New York and all the creepiness that comes with a supernatural serial killer. The language in this book really brings out the 1920's setting and the audio book is amazing. The Diviners is definitely not a horror novel but is plenty spooky nonetheless. Also an honorable mention to the sequel Lair of Dreams.

9. The Raven Boys - by Maggie Stiefvater

This book, and the whole series so far, is amazing! Great characters, plenty of mythology, and a romance that I can totally get behind. Would more could I want? Just the next book....

10. Because I Am Furniture - Thalia Chaltas

I read this book for a young adult services class and never got around to a review, but it really stuck with me. The story of Anke and her family trying to deal with an abusive father is absolutely heartbreaking. This is a novel in verse, which I don't usually read, but there are some really beautiful sections in this book.

None of the Above - by I.W. Gregorio

My rating: 

A groundbreaking story about a teenage girl who discovers she was born intersex... and what happens when her secret is revealed to the entire school. Incredibly compelling and sensitively told, None of the Above is a thought-provoking novel that explores what it means to be a boy, a girl, or something in between. (Goodreads)

I'm always keeping an eye out for new LGBT+ themed books that make it to my library and None of the Above caught my eye because I hadn't ever read a book with an intersex character before, much less a protagonist who is intersex. I had a hard time deciding how to rate this book and kept going back between four and five stars. On the one hand, this book is so important because it's one of a relatively small number of books that deal with the reality of being born intersex. On the other hand, it's not the type of book I normally read. In the end, I went with four stars, but I really do think everyone should read None of the Above.

The protagonist, Kristin, is your typical, popular teenage girl. She's got popular friends, a wonderful boyfriend, a track scholarship to college, and she's just been chosen as homecoming queen. Overall, life is pretty great. Krissy has also decided that she's ready to take things to next level with her boyfriend, but her first time doesn't go at all the way she planned. Just to be safe, she makes an appointment with the gynecologist and is shocked to be diagnosed as intersex.

Krissy's reaction to her diagnosis is what really sold this book for me. Krissy is just an average teenage girl and her response to her situation felt authentic. She really struggles to accept what's going on and at times she seems pretty immature, but for me, that made the book seem more realistic. I don't normally read contemporary YA about high school drama, which is partially why I gave the book four stars, but I also think the genre works really well in None of the Above. In this case, the high school drama helps remind you that Krissy is just a popular girl trying to get through her senior year. She wants to be thinking about gossip, boys, track practice, and college plans. Instead, she's forced to think about what it means to be intersex and if she can even consider herself to be a girl anymore.

This book is also great in that it's very educational. Even if you're not familiar with the term intersex you will learn what it means along with Krissy and her dad who deals with the situation by doing obsessive research online. Aside from being an author, Gregorio is also a surgeon so the actual medical diagnosis is explained very well. I.W. Gregorio is a founding member of We Need Diverse Books as well, and if you haven't checked out this group, you definitely should!

On a related note, there actually are several other YA books that deal with the intersex experience. I wasn't aware of any until I did some research after reading None of the Above, but they are out there! I haven't read any of these, but if you're interested these are some of the YA books I came across:

Golden Boy: A Novel - by Abigail Tarttelin
Double Exposure - by Bridget Birdsall
Pantomime and Shadowplay - by Laura Lam
Annabel: A Novel - by Kathleen Winter
Alex as Well - by Alyssa Brugman