Heise Reads & Recommends: Best I've Read

This is where I compile my lists of my most favorite books I've read each year (starting with the official Best I've Read 2010). These aren't necessarily books released in that year, just the year that I read them. Titles link to goodreads so you can add them to your to-read list. *series books

My Book Obsessions

It seems that each year there is one book that I obsess over that I will tell anyone and everyone to go out and read. It's hard to pick just one favorite, but it's the one (okay, or two) I recommended the most of each year (and continue to do so!)

2013 -
2012 - THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN by Katherine Applegate & ENDANGERED by Eliot Schrefer
2011 - THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER by Michelle Hodkin*

2010 - NIGHTSHADE by Andrea Cremer*

2009 - THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins*

2008 - 13 REASONS WHY by Jay Asher

2007 - THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART TIME INDIAN by Sherman Alexie

2006 - UGLIES by Scott Westerfeld*

2005 - SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson

2004 - MONSTER by Walter Dean Myers

Best I've Read 2012

Best Young Adult Books I Read in 2012

ENDANGERED by Eliot Schrefer
THE FAULT IN OUR STARS by John Green
THE STATISTICAL PROBABILITY OF LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT by Jennifer E. Smith
INSIGNIA by S.J. Kincaid
UNDER THE NEVER SKY by Veronica Rossi
THRONE OF GLASS by Sarah J. Maas
EMBRACE/ENTICE by Jessica Shirvington
THE FAULT IN OUR STARS by John Green
THE RAVEN BOYS by Maggie Stiefvater
TAKE A BOW by Elizabeth Eulberg
THE WAITING SKY by Lara Zielin
Bonus Graphic Novel: PAGE BY PAIGE by Laura Lee Gulledge
Bonus older book that I just discovered: HOLD ME CLOSER, NECROMANCER by Lish McBride

Early Picks for Best Young Adult Books of 2013

MIND GAMES by Kiersten White
ALTERED by Jennifer Rush
PIVOT POINT by Kasie West
CRASH by Lisa McMann
JUST ONE DAY by Gayle Forman
WHEN YOU WERE HERE by Daisy Whitney

Best Continuing Series Books I Read in 2012

INSURGENT (DIVERGENT #2) by Veronica Roth
RIFT (NIGHTSHADE prequel #1) by Andrea Cremer
THE EVOLUTION OF MARA DYER (sequel to THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER) by Michelle Hodkin
NECROMANCING THE STONE (Necromancer #2) by Lish McBride
CITY OF LOST SOULS (The Mortal Instruments #5) by Cassandra Clare
BLOODROSE (Nightshade #3) by Andrea Cremer
TIMEPIECE (Hourglass #2) by Myra McEntire
HALLOWED (Unearthly #2) by Cynthia Hand
THE RIVALS (sequel to The Mockingbirds) by Daisy Whitney
CLOCKWORK PRINCE (The Infernal Devices #2) by Cassandra Clare

Early Picks for Best Continuing Series Books of 2013
UNRAVEL ME (SHATTER ME #2) by Tahereh Mafi
PRODIGY (LEGEND #2) by Marie Lu
SCARLET (CINDER #2) by Marissa Meyer
THROUGH THE EVER NIGHT (UNDER THE NEVER SKY #2) by Veronica Rossi

Best Middle Grades Books I Read in 2012

WONDER by R.J. Palacio
THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN by Katherine Applegate
KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES by Shannon Messenger
ONE FOR THE MURPHYS by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
THE UNWANTEDS: ISLAND OF SILENCE by Lisa McMann
EYE OF THE STORM by Kate Messner
CAPTURE THE FLAG by Kate Messner
AUDITION & SUBTRACTION by Amy Dominy Fellner
SHOOTING STARS by Allison Rushby
GOLD MEDAL SUMMER by Donna Freitas

Best Picture Books I Read in 2012

EACH KINDNESS by Jacqueline Woodson
THE CLOUD SPINNER by Michael Catchpool
THIS IS NOT MY HAT by Jon Klassen (follow-up to I WANT MY HAT BACK)
A FLOWER IN THE SNOW by Tracey Corderoy
THE FANTASTIC FLYING BOOKS OF MR. MORRIS LESSMORE by William Joyce
TOO TALL HOUSES by Gianna Marino
UNSPOKEN: A Story From the Underground Railroad by Henry Cole (wordless)
SKY COLOR by Peter H. Reynolds
THE MONSTERS' MONSTER by Patrick McDonnell
HELLO! HELLO! by Matthew Cordell
Bonus (older book I just discovered this year) WE ARE IN A BOOK by Mo Willems

Best I've Read 2011

THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER by Michelle Hodkin* (psychological thriller with a paranormal twist & debut)
DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE by Laini Taylor* (urban fantasy & paranormal romance)
DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth* (dystopian & debut)
SHATTER ME by Tahereh Mafi* (dystopian & debut)
RIVAL by Sara Bennett Wealer (contemp & debut)
FIVE FLAVORS OF DUMB by Antony John (contemp)
SHIP BREAKER by Paolo Bacigalupi (dystopian)
LEGEND by Marie Lu* (dystopian & debut)
HOURGLASS by Myra McEntire* (sci-fi, time-travel, suspense-mystery, romance & debut)
WHERE SHE WENT (sequel to IF I STAY) by Gayle Forman* (contemp)
LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR by Stephanie Perkins (contemporary romance)
DELIRIUM by Lauren Oliver* (dystopian, romance)
BEAUTY QUEENS by Libba Bray (contemporary, satire, adventure-survival)
FORGOTTEN by Cat Patrick (contemporary romance, mystery, supernatural)
FOREVER* & THE SCORPIO RACES by Maggie Stiefvater (I couldn't possibly choose one Maggie book over the other) (fantasy, supernatural, mythology, romance)

Best Middle Grades Books I've Read 2011
THE UNWANTEDS by Lisa McMann* (dystopian, fantasy)
BREADCRUMBS by Anne Ursu (fantasy, fairy tales, friendship)
THE EMERALD ATLAS by John Stephens* (fantasy, science-fiction & debut)
THE STRANGE CASE OF ORIGAMI YODA by Tom Angleberger* (contemp, humor & debut)
THE FOURTH STALL by Chris Rylander* (contemp, humor, mystery & debut)

Best Authors with Multiple Books I've Read 2011
(I would buy and read any books these authors write in the future)
Elizabeth Eulberg
Kiersten White
Daisy Whitney
Andrea Cremer
Maggie Steifvater
Stephanie Perkins
Lauren Oliver
Lisa McMann
Cassandra Clare
Rick Riordan

Best I've Read 2010

NIGHTSHADE by Andrea Cremer*

THE MOCKINGBIRDS by Daisy Whitney

THE LOST HERO by Rick Riordan*

MATCHED by Ally Condie*

MOCKINGJAY by Suzanne Collins*

THIRTEEN REASONS WHY by Jay Asher

HEIST SOCIETY by Ally Carter*

LINGER by Maggie Stiefvater*

THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN by Sherman Alexie

DASH & LILY'S BOOK OF DARES by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

MY MOST EXCELLENT YEAR by Steve Kluger