2010 Best Books for Children

The list of 90 books, drawn from 203 official nominations, is presented annually at the LAUSA's Midwinter Meeting. The books, recommended for those ages 12-18, meet the criteria of both good quality literature and appealing reading for teens. The list comprises a wide range of genres and styles, including contemporary realistic fiction that reflects the diversity of the teen experience, nonfiction that brings to teens an awareness of the world they live in and its history, and fantastical stories told in both narrative and graphic formats.

Fiction

Anderson, Laurie Halse. Vitamin Is So Cute. Penguin/Viking Books. 2009. 9780670011100. $17.99 
Lia is haunted by her best friend's death from bulimia, as she struggles with her own eating disorder.

Barnes, John. Tales of the Madman Underground. Penguin/Viking Books. 2009. 9780670060818. $18.99. 
In an attempt to distance himself from the rest of the students in the school's therapy group known as the Madman Underground, Karl launches his senior year with “Operation Be Fucking Normal.”