NPR released its Top 100 Teen Books list yesterday, which I just happened to see this morning on Flipboard on my phone. The list was compiled from more than 75,000 ballots and a finalist list of 235. In conjunction with the final list, I thought I’d give you links to my reviews of books on the list that I’ve read:
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
- The Giver by Lois Lowry
- The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
- The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
- The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
While looking at the list, I have to say, for the most part, I was going, “check, check, check” in my head, but found myself thinking, “Something’s missing, but I can’t quite put my finger on what.” I did remember reading somewhere that a few books were cut because of their violence and had this confirmed when I read this blog post about the nomination process.
The judges cut Ender’s Game for the same reason — Ender himself is young, but the book’s violence isn’t appropriate for young readers.
I have to say that I disagree and as my wife would say, “I call shenanigans.” Why include The Hunger Games then? Sure, Katniss is a teenager, but Primrose is 12, barely a “young adult.” If anything the violence in Ender’s Game is more implied than actual (at least to the viewpoints of the children who don’t know what’s going on at first), whereas in The Hunger Games the violence certainly is actual.
However, like I said, for the most part, I agree with the list or understand why the books that are there are there…even if I haven’t read them (which are many of them). It’s just that for some reason, I wanted more…I guess I was looking to NPR to be more Book Riot when really it’s just NPR.
To follow what else I’m reading (not just books, but articles from magazines, newspapers, etc.), see my What I’m reading shelf on my supplemental blog, Still Unfinished.
So what do you think of NPR’s list? Any surprises on what’s there or what’s not there?
Image credit for NPR logo: From Wikipedia.
I hadn’t read that article about why some books were eliminated. The violence thing does surprise me, since the Hunger Games trilogy is still on there. I’ve read almost half of what’s on the list – maybe not an entire series that was included, but at least the first book in the series. I agree with most of their choices, but it’s obvious that this was a reader-voted list, and not a list based on quality of writing or enduring nature. There are at least a couple titles on there that give this fact away in blazing letters. (“Twilight” and “Hush, Hush,” I’m talking to you.) They were fun reads, but the writing is no great shakes and I doubt you’ll see people talking about them 100 years later, like you do with Anne of Green Gables, or even decades later, like Narnia.
I was very excited to see Patrick Ness’s Chaos Walking trilogy show up, and also thrilled that both Book Thief and I Am the Messenger made it on the list. So different, you’d never guess they were written by the same author, but both brilliant.
I still need (and want) to read The Book Thief, but just haven’t gotten to it yet.
And on Twilight, um, yeah, so agree.
Was Anne of Green Gables there? If it was, I missed it. I think that’s one of the complaints one of the bloggers I know on Twitter, BookaliciousPam, had: not enough classics.
The Anne series was number 14.
Not sure it would be your cup of tea, though.
Um, no…although I think my sister liked them growing up.
Ender’s Game and Hunger Games should both either be on the list (my preference for teens) or both should be off the list.
You should write to NPR and let them know. I’m sure they’ll take your opinion into account
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Almost all of those that I voted for made the list, but I agree that there weren’t enough classics represented, and disqualifying Ender’s Game for the violence seems ridiculous considering the amount of violence appearing in many of the other books on the list. I had fun counting how many I had read on the list (36) and see that there are some fantasy books that I will probably hunt down and read that are new to me.
I have to go back and see how many I’ve read. I know it’ll be quite a few, but I’m not sure as many as 36.
Are we sure “Ender’s Game” wasn’t really disqualified because of author Orson Scott Card’s controversial stance on gay rights? Not that I want to accuse NPR of being disingenuous about their motives, but I remember the bru-ha-ha that erupted when ALA awarded Card the Margaret A. Edwards award for contribution to young adult literature, and many people were (loudly) offended by the choice. And since “Ender’s Game” *is* a YA book, I call BS.
And I second the recommendation of Patrick Ness’ Chaos Walking Trilogy; unbelievably intelligent Sci-Fi for YA’s. And coming soon to a theater near you, so read it now!
I didn’t know about any of that with Card, but it does make one wonder, huh?
I haven’t heard of the Patrick Ness series. So you’re saying I should check it out then?
Patrick Ness’ Chaos Walking Trilogy is one of the best kept secrets in literature, in my opinion, though that might change if the films live up to the books. I read it while waiting for “Mockingjay” to be published (in fact, if I remember correctly, the third book “Of Monsters and Men” came out at about the same time as “Mockingjay”.) Like all good sci-fi–and all good YA literature–it transcends the genre.
Kara -I hadn’t heard about the Chaos Walking film – that’s good news if they do it well! And, Bryan, I know I’ve raved about those books before – they are truly must-read!
Info about the film is here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2012/apr/24/charlie-kaufman-knife-never-letting-go.
Will have to check that out. Thanks, Kara, for the link.
I was keeping an eye on Twitter today and saw that this list had quite a few people up in arms about the disqualifications versus those that were kept on the list. I suspect that NPR will do some sort of follow-up to explain why they made those decisions, other than the violence thing which is obviously hypocritical. I haven’t looked at the entire list yet though. Now I’m curious to see how many I have read.
I don’t understand how they could cut Ender’s Game and keep Hunger Games. Makes the whole list suspect.
I’m not sure about the whole list, but it certainly makes one wonder about the distinction they made between Ender’s Game and The Hunger Games.