Ten Books from 2010 You May Have Missed

I saw this post over at The Book Cellar's blog and thought what a great idea! I did something similar last year with the My Top 5 YA Reads You May Not Know About post - which was project hosted by Kelly and involved over 70 bloggers posting about underdog books. So in no particular order here is a list of books that I read and enjoyed over this past year that I think are worth checking out.

1. The Rise of Renegade X by Chelsea Campbell

OMG. I can't tell you just how much I enjoyed this book. Seriously there are no words. This is a book that I grabbed an ARC of during ALA mid-winter and was holding it up shouting at passerbys to buy when it was released. Campbell has created an amazing world that I just want to live in. The dialogue was filled of snark and great one liners that I found myself laughing out loud. I was skeptical of this book when I first heard about it, I mean superheroes...really? But I am so glad I picked it up because its one of my favorite books of the entire year! I really really really need more books involving Damian and his friends so go out and buy a copy for you and all your friends. You won't regret it! (my review // Fragment Friday post)

 2. Split by Swati Avasthi

I hadn't heard much about Split when I picked it up. All I really knew was that it had a cool cover. I then devoured this one. The writing is beautiful and Jace is such a broken character. He's dealing with so much throughout the story that it is so wonderful to watch him and his brother heal from the wounds of the past. I also think that part of what sets this book apart from other books about abuse is that it doesn't involved a middle class or lower income family. I love that Jace's father is a judge. It just adds a whole new layer to how difficult it is to break the cycle and gets away from the stereotype. I was so very excited to see that Split was nominated for a Cybil award as the writing and story are just so strong and good. I loved this book and can't wait to see what Avasthi comes out with next! (review to come)

3. The Tension of Opposites by Kristina McBride 

Tension of Opposites was such a sleeper book for me. I was so happy to have received an ARC of it but again I wasn't sure about the story. So imagine my surprise when I stayed up ALL night long in order read this book from cover to cover! This was done a night when I had to work the next day so I was so exhausted but it was worth the lack of sleep! Tessa is such a heart breaking character who becomes paralyzed after her best friend is kidnapped. They did everything together so Tessa finds it so hard to move forward when she doesn't know what happened to Noelle. When a miracle happens and Noelle returns Tessa then struggles with the memory of the girl she knew and getting to know the girl who returned. This book was brilliant and I can't recommend it enough. (my review // Fragment Friday post)

4. A Spy in the House by Y.S. Lee

I am such a fanatic for historical fiction and then on top of that toss a mystery into the mix and you have a book that I NEED to check out. Such is the case with Y.S. Lee's A Spy in the House which is the first book in her Agency trilogy. The premise is school for girls in Victorian England which trains young women to be spies because they can go places and hear things that men can not. After all what upper crust society person is gonna see (or care) about that maid dusting in the corner?  I loved the main character of Mary she is just so strong and determined that its hard not to want to cheer her on...plus her potential love interest...OMG total swoon worthy! The writing of this book was solid and engaging, the mystery was complicated enough that I didn't figure it out by page 12 but not so complicated that the big reveal seems to come out of nowhere.I'm about 1/2 way through the second book now and am loving it just as much. (my review)

5. Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken

Brightly Woven was a book that I was eager to get my hands on the moment I heard about it. Its a book of fantasy and that is one of my favorite genres and so was so happy when I received a copy for review. At first I found it a bit slow but it wasn't long before this became a book that I couldn't put down. The story is just so lyrical and the world so vivid and bright. I could close my eyes and see the surrounds just as clearly as if I was a character in the book. Sydelle and North - the two main characters - had such great personalities (and chemistry) that I loved their scenes together. There was a mystery and there was magic and there is so much potential for more books set in this world. I really hope that Bracken writes more with these great characters because one book just isn't enough! (my review)

6. Stolen by Lucy Christopher

Stolen is a book that I have been a HUGE book bully for. Its one of the first titles that springs to mind anytime someone asks for a recommendation. I was so impressed with this story and the characters and found the writing to be so amazingly great. There are main characters in this story: Gemma (the girl who is stolen), Ty (the man who steals her) and the Australian Outback (the place Ty brings Gemma to). You might think I'm strange for naming a setting as a character but there is such life and yes even personality in the world that Christopher wrote that it has a whole life of its own. Stolen is one of my top reads of the year and is THE best book I've read that deal's with Stockholm Syndrome. I read this book months ago and I am still so torn with how I wanted it to end! Stolen is another Cybils award nominee and I am so happy for it to be on the list! I can't wait to see what Christopher comes out with next. (my review // Fragment Friday post)

7. The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

O.M.G. The Sky is Everywhere is another book that I find so hard to put into words how I feel. This book is actually currently tied with Stolen as my pick for top book of 2010. (I really need to choose one to be the best and I will but its so HARD!) I was a little put off by the cover and the description of this book but boy am I glad that I didn't let those stop me from reading this wonderfully beautiful story. I thought that it would be so sad and I wasn't sure I could take that. But while there is a death and grief its more a story of picking up the pieces and learning to move forward in a world that is forever changed. This was a story I loved so much that when I heard Nelson was doing a signing in California along with Heidi Kling (Sea) and Nina LaCouer (Hold Still, a Top 12 pick of 2009) I flew across the country just to meet her! Which makes me either really crazy or really dedicated or maybe a little of both.(my review // Fragment Friday post)

8. Change of Heart by Shari Maurer 

Change of Heart is one of those books that's hard to put into words. Its one that I am glad that I read, it is well written and deals with a serious issue: organ donation. There are so many myths and miss-perceptions out there about organ donation that I am glad that someone wrote a book about it. Its so easy to think that needing a new heart (or other organ) is something that only happens to the very old or on tv. But it can happen to anyone and it can occur suddenly. Emmi is such an active girl and she finds it so hard to accept that her own body is betraying her. I'm really glad that I read this title and I hope that others pick it up as well. (my review // Fragment Friday post)

9. Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus  

Shadow Hills is a book that crosses a couple of different genres its a paranormal, its a mystery and its got a bit of a romance to it. The main characters are all excellent and I just love Phe's spunk and determination. She flies across the country to attend a boarding school that she had never heard of until about a month prior all in the hopes of uncovering mysteries of her sister's death. But when she gets there things are even more complicated than she thought and her questions lead to someone who wants her dead. There was just such love with this book and the world that Hopcus made (and I'm not just saying that since its set in Massachusetts!) It was just such a fun and engaging read and I really need more about Phe and Davenish Prep like now...hear that Anastasia...MORE!! So please get to writing...like now. (my review)

10. Alexis by Alexis Singer

Last (but certainly not least) is Alexis by Alexis Singer. This book is unique from all the ones mentioned about as its no a book of fiction. Its a memoir based on Alexis's experiences with an online predator. I was so impressed with the bravery it took for Alexis to write her story down. I was also so impressed with the writing of this book. She is honest and holds nothing back and so you get this raw and powerful story that lets you understand how easily it can be to be sucked in. Alexis was lucky in so many ways in that her seducer didn't live near enough to her to do her harm but I just think of other teens who are dealing with this every day and how they aren't always so lucky. For me this is a must read book for teens and parents alike because the dangers of the internet are real and its important that everyone is aware of them. (my review)

For more books that you might not have heard of be sure to check out The Book Cellar's post here! And be sure to let me know your can't miss books that I may not have heard about in the comments below.