Jill's Top Ten YA novels of 2012

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2012 was a great year for YA fiction. Here are Jill's favourites. Why not tell us about yours?


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Review of

In Darkness by Nick Lake

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An intense and affecting exploration of Haiti through the eyes of a boy in the present, caught in the rubble of the great quake, and a 19th century revolutionary leader. Gritty and real, full of cultural detail, this is a book not to miss. Full Review

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Review of

The Brides of Rollrock Island by Margo Lanagan

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A haunting, vivid, earthy story of sea-wives from one of the most exciting young adult authors around. If you like your magic wild and dangerous and abandoned, don't miss it. Full Review

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Review of

This Is Not Forgiveness by Celia Rees

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A dark and unsettling novel featuring three characters interconnected by more than just a love triangle, although it's that too. Tense and frightening, but beautiful at times, this thriller is something we didn't expect from Celia Rees. But we loved it. Full Review

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Review of

Dying to Know You by Aidan Chambers

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A wonderful book about friendship, words, and our deepest, most hidden selves. Elegant, precise prose and wonderful dialogue in which space has as much to say as words. This is a book to return to. Discerning readers will love it. Full Review

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Review of

This Dark Endeavour by Kenneth Oppel

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Superb prequel of Mary Shelley's classic Frankenstein, this is a fantastic read for everyone, not just fans of Gothic horror. Highly recommended. Full Review

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Review of

The Seeing by Diana Hendry

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Menacing and atmospheric story with a little bit of the supernatural mixed in with a lot of real life tragedy. Set in post-war Britain, this story is short but beautifully formed. Highly recommended. Full Review

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Review of

Next by Keith Gray

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After the success of Losing It, Keith Gray gets together with more leading writers for teens to create a volume of short stories about life after death. This slim volume offers romanticism, dark humour, religion, grief, nostalgia and comfort. Full Review

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Review of

Bringing the Summer by Julia Green

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Tender and absorbing and truthful, this story will appeal to a wide range of readers, especially the thoughtful, sensitive ones. Some will recognise Freya from an earlier book, Breathing Underwater. Full Review

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Review of

The Ingo Chronicles: Stormswept by Helen Dunmore

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Hooray! Ingo returns! New characters and a brand new introduction to Helen Dunmore's undersea world in a beautiful, magical story about history, music, and the special relationship between twins. Full Review