Young Critics' Club Favorite Books of 2003-2004 | Perrot Memorial Library, Old Greenwich, Connecticut

	As Picked By: Margaret! Emily C.! Julie! Stephanie! Harris! Tyler! Brooke! Kristen! Emily F.! Hayden! Sam! Seldy! Matthew! Emma M.! Connor! Allie! Brian! Jamie! Scott! Nicola! Kate! Emma P.! Stephen! Emily S.! Ben! AND Jane! books books books books books books books books books books books Click on the picture of each book to search for it in the library catalog.
		number one number one number one Eragon (Book 1, The Inheritance Trilogy), by Christopher Paolini A boy named Eragon finds a strange blue object in the forest, which turns out to be a dragon's egg. The egg hatches under Eragon's care, and reveals him to be a Dragon Rider. Eragon and the dragon, Saphira, develop a powerful psychic bond. After Eragon's house is destroyed and his uncle killed, he sets out to seek revenge. number one number one number one number one
		number two number two number two number two **Inkheart, by Cornelia Funke Meggie loves to read. She lives alone with her Dad, Mo, who repairs books. One day a stranger named Dustfinger arrives, and Meggie discovers that her father has a special power: he can make characters come from books come to life-- literally. The villains from one book, Inkheart, have hunted Meggie's father for years, and have finally caught up with him. Meggie and her father begin to search for Inkheart's author so he can write a new ending to the story. An Associaton for Library Service to Children Notable Book** number two number two number two number two
		number three number three number three **A Great and Terrible Beauty, by Libba Bray It is 1895, and sixteen-year-old Gemma Doyle's mother has just committed suicide. Gemma must leave India, where she was raised, and travel to England to go an all-girls' school. Gemma is tormented by strange visions. She finds a diary that describes a mysterious group called "the Order." Gemma begins to learn of her own supernatural powers, and her ability to connect to her dead mother and the spirit world. In the Top Ten on the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) List of Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA)** number three number three number three

The Amulet of Samarkand (Book 1, The Bartimaeus Trilogy), by Jonathan Stroud

Nathaniel is a young magician's apprentice in London. After he is humiliated by a wizard named Simon Lovelace, he decides to summon up the all-powerful djinni, Bartimaeus, to help him get revenge. Nathaniel sends Bartimaeus to steal the Amulet of Samarkand, but controlling the djinni is harder than he imagined. This book is the first in a trilogy.

One of YALSA's Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA)

The Canning Season, by Polly Horvath

Ratchet Clark is a lonely thirteen-year-old who lives in Florida with her mother -- until her mother decides to send her to live with her aunts, 91-year-old twins Tilly and Penpen, on their blueberry farm in Maine. Despite the aunts' odd behavior and wild storytelling, Ratchet feels loved for the first time in her life.

One of YALSA's Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA)

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, by Mark Haddon

Christopher Boone is fifteen and autistic. He's a math whiz and gets along well with animals, but has a great deal of trouble getting along with people. When a neighbor's dog, Wellington, is found dead, Christopher is blamed for the killing. Christopher draws inspiration from Sherlock Holmes, and sets out to find Wellington's real killer.

In the Top Ten on the List of Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA)

East, by Edith Pattou

Rose, the eighth child in her family, has always been different. Her mother thinks she is unlucky. One day a white bear comes and offers to rescue Rose's family from poverty and illness if Rose will come away with him. The bear leads her to the arctic realm of the Troll Queen, who has had a curse on the white bear for the last 150 years.

In the Top Ten on the List of Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA)

The Fire-Eaters, by David Almond (c2004)

It's 1962 in England, and twelve-year-old Bobby's life is great. Then Bobby starts school at Sacred Heart, where he is tormented by his teacher, Mr. Todd. His father becomes mysteriously ill, and, worst of all, the US and USSR begin testing missiles, threatening to plunge the world into nuclear war.

	The First Part Last, by Angela Johnson Bobby is a typical New York City teenager-- until his girlfriend, Nia, announces on his sixteenth birthday that she is pregnant. Bobby is suddenly forced to deal with doctor's visits and social workers, instead of parties and school. After the baby, Feather, is born, tragedy strikes Nia, and Bobby is forced to deal with single-parenthood. The book is a prequel to Johnson's novel Heaven. Winner of the 2004 Coretta Scott King Award (Writing Category) Winner of the 2004 Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature *In the Top Ten on the List of Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA)*
	Kissing the Rain, by Kevin Brooks Mike "Moo" Nelson calls the teasing and name-calling he experiences "The Rain." Moo is overweight and shy, and goes to a bridge overlooking the highway to find peace. From his overlook he witnesses a murder. Being an important witness stops some of the kids' teasing, but now Moo is torn between the influence of the police and a career criminal who will do anything to stay out of jail.
	A Mango-Shaped Space, by Wendy Mass Mia is thirteen and has a strange condition called synesthesia-- it causes her to see each number and letter in a particular color, and each sound she hears causes colored shapes to appear. Her cat is named Mango because he makes puffs the color of mangoes when he meows. Mia becomes more and more absorbed in her disorder, neglecting school and friends. The death of Mango finally brings Mia out of her unique dream world.
	Milkweed, by Jerry Spinelli A young boy wanders the streets of Warsaw, Poland during the Holocaust. He is an orphan who steals to survive, and he can't remember his own name or the names of his family. A man named Uri ushers the boy into his group of Jewish street kids, names him Misha, and invents a background for him. When the Nazis arrive they are all forced into the ghetto, where life becomes more and more desperate. *One of YALSA's Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA)*
	Montmorency: Thief, Liar, Gentleman, by Eleanor Updale Montmorency is a small-time thief in 19th-century England. He falls through a glass roof in a getaway from the police, and after his body is mended, he starts his life over. He adopts two personas: Scarper, a thief who enters posh apartments through the sewer system, and Montmorency, a gentleman. But Montmorency must always be careful that his real way of life is never discovered.

	Olive's Ocean, by Kevin Henkes Martha Boyle is twelve years old. Olive Barstow, a girl in her class, was killed in a car accident a month earlier. Olive's mother shows up at Martha's door one day and gives her part of Olive's diary, in which Olive hopes for three things: to befriend Martha (who she thinks is the nicest girl in her class), to become a writer, and to one day visit the sea. When Martha goes to visit her Grandmother, who lives in Cape Cod, she is haunted by Olive and her three wishes. A 2004 Newbery Honor Book
	**Pirates!, by Celia Rees In the beginning of the 18th century, sixteen-year-old Nancy Kington is sent to her family's plantation in Jamaica, which she is to inherit. There she befriends Minerva Sharpe, a slave on the plantation. Nancy discovers that her father has promised her hand in marriage to an evil man named Bartholome. Nancy and Minerva run away, and end up seeking refuge on a pirate ship, where they must work with the pirates to earn their keep. One of YALSA's Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA)**
	**Pool Boy, by Michael Simmons Brett Gerson is one rich kid. He's also bigheaded and rude-- until his stockbroker father is arrested for insider trading and his family loses all its money. Brett is forced to take a job helping the old man, Alfie, who used to clean their pool. Alfie helps Brett to realize what is really important in life. One of YALSA's Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA)**
	The Oracle Betrayed (Book 1, The Oracle Prophecies), by Catherine Fisher (c2004) In an ancient world, Mirany is one of the nine priestesses who watch over the Oracle. After the Bearer-of-the-God dies, Mirany is promoted. She sets out to find the Archon, the next living incarnation of the god. He is the only one who can end the terrible drought that is plaguing the land. This book is the first in a trilogy.
	The Various, by Steve Augarde (c2004) Midge goes to live in the country with her Uncle Brian while her musician mother is away on tour. Midge finds she loves rural life, and soon discovers a society of fairies called The Various. When it turns out that Brian is planning to sell his land to developers, the fairies enlist Midge's help. This book is the first in a trilogy.
	Trickster's Choice, by Tamora Pierce Alianne Cooper, or Aly, wants to be a spy, like her father-- but her parents refuse. But Aly gets a chance to fufill her dream when she is kidnapped and sold into slavery in another land. A trickster god named Kyprioth offers to give her safe passage home (and convince her parents to let her become a spy) if she will watch the master's children for the summer. This book is part of the Tortall series, and is the first of a series of books about Alianne. *One of YALSA's Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA)*
	The Wish List, by Eoin Colfer When petty criminal Meg Finn dies at age fourteen, she is about to go straight to hell-- except for one act of kindness she commits just before her death. Meg ends up in Limbo, and Saint Peter has explained that she must return to Earth and do one good thing before she can be allowed into Heaven.