We had such fantastic suggestions last weekend for backlist young adult novels that I had to spotlight them all into a list this week.

Thank you all for making to to-read list so enormous!

Small Steps by Louis Sachar (2006)

I may have ruined my life, but at least I got to eat some really good Chinese food.

Our friend Gabrielle Prendergast (whose book, Audacious, is one of our very much anticipated 2013 verse novels) suggested Louis Sachar’s follow up to Holes. I’m shocked I haven’t read either Holes or Small Steps because they really sound like something I’d like. All of the reviews say that you don’t need to read the first book to enjoy this one about a teen recently released from juvenile detention who’s trying to turn his life around in Austin, Texas. 

Gabrielle also suggested anything by Barry Lyga (I know she’s a huge advocate for Boy Toy in particular), Pete Hautman and  I am the Messenger by Markus Zuzak.