Whats on my book shelf

I have been reading a lot of teen or YA (young adult) novels lately. I blame my sister. She lent my Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments Trilogy last summer and since then I have been hooked. Ok, so may be it's not fair to blame her because I read many Teen novels before then but since then that is pretty much all I have wanted to read. Some of coworkers make fun of me because I am an adult reading books written for kids but they are so Good! Well, most of them. I like them because they are easy and fast and fun. They are not going to challenge my world view or make me think. They are just easy, breezy fun books, mostly about vampires, werewolves, fairies and an occasional dystopia world thrown in. It's all those reasons that I need to read them. I'm stressed out at work. Frustrated that I haven't been able to find another job that will pay me more. I'm not exactly where I thought I would be at this point in my life that I just need an escape and Teen books give me that. So my friends my scoff but I have already read 23 books in 2011. How many have you read?

Here are some of my favorites Teen novels I have read in the last year. I'm posting in no particular order.

The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins: If you haven't read them, Why the hell not? The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay make up the best series I have ever read. They are very complete. The characters are strong and well fleshed, the story is interesting and Collins perfectly balances the action/violence with the romance and stops every now and then for much needed comic relief. Go buy them now!

White Cat by Holly Black: It's part crime novel, part mystery and part family drama. It was recommended by several of the authors I follow on twitter and it didn't disappoint. I can't wait for the second book Red Glove to come out in a week.

The Mortal Instruments Trilogy (part 1) and Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare: Both series are about Shadow Hunters. Humans ascended from Angels who protect the world from Demons. It has a little bit every super natural beings, which is fun. TMI takes place in modern day New York, while Clockwork Angel takes place in Victorian England, giving it a little Steampunk feel to it. There really should be more Steampunk in teen fiction.

Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride: I picked this up because I thought the title was awesome. I was so glad that the book was just as awesome. Sam, is a college dropout, he works at a fast food restaurant and he just found out he's a Necromancer. It's a tough life. Very funny and I hope she continues with these characters because I want to read more!

Shiver, Linger, Lament and Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater: Shiver and Linger are about werewolves and are pretty awesome and Lament and Ballad are about fairies but really should be read for James. He's kind of the perfect boy ever!

Divergent by Veronica Roth: This book isn't even out yet. I got an advance reader copy from Harper Collins. Several of the authors I follow on twitter where raving about it so I had to read it and it lived up to the hype. It's a dystopian novel that takes place in Chicago. The people have broken up into factions based on what they value. Knowledge, Selflessness, honesty, Courage and Peace. At 16, you choose which faction you want to belong too. For Tris, her choice is difficult. Does she stay with her family or abandon them for another faction. It's kind of like the Hunger Games because it has a strong female protagonist and is at times very violent but that's about where the similarities end. I highly recommend it when it comes out in May.

Ok so I'm tiring here so I'm just going to post a just a few more titles that I really like and you can find them all on my goodreads page.

Tiger's Curse and Tiger's Quest by Colleen Houck Before I fall by Lauren Oliver Beautiful Creatures and Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

So what are you all reading? Any suggestions on what I should read next?