Number One: 

Monsters Of Men

Patrick Ness

Yep. Patrick Ness is king. Slay. 

The Chaos Walking Trilogy is something very, very special. I've talked about Todd and Viola a lot in previous posts, and I don't think there will ever be a time when I run out of things to say about these incredible characters. This book, the final installment in the trilogy, tore my heart out too many times to count. To read it was to experience a constant, buzzing anxiety because I came to care about the characters so much and their seemingly endless peril was beyond stressful. These books bring forth the kind of story that I will forever wish I could experience again for the first time. It is just so important and so well written. Patrick Ness has perfected the craft of character development and he knows how to give us memorable and unique villains. He made Todd's innocence, which is challenged and redefined constantly throughout the story, a character within itself. He showed us the captivating growth of a friendship that turns into something so much more. He throws in twists and turns that make the book impossible to put down. 

This book inspired my first tattoo and earned a spot on my top shelf. I truly have never read anything like it before. It brought about every possible emotion and ended with something so perfectly fitting and satisfying. Patrick Ness is one of the most talented YA authors of our time, and I am forever in awe of what he is able to accomplish with his words. 

Number Two:

Salt to the Sea

Ruta Sepetys

This book had a lot of hype when it was published. Let. Me. Tell. You. That hype and praise was well deserved.

I love historical fiction, especially stories that deal with World War II. Every story is different and brings a new perspective on the horrors that took place during that dark time. There is just so much left untold, and that is was makes this book stand out and leave a powerful impact. It addresses the tragedy of the Wilhelm Gustloff, a ship that took nearly 10,000 refugees to the depths with it when it was torpedoed by a Soviet submarine. Such a massive death toll would likely make this event fall under common historical knowledge for us today, but I had never heard of it. Neither had my friends who read the book. We had an extensive unit on WWII when I was in high school, and it was never even mentioned. 

Ruta Sepetys made a point to shed light on this forgotten tragedy by taking us on the journey with four very different characters who all uniquely display what it was like to live during such a dangerous time. Her inclusion of the perspective of one the soldiers who ended up on the ship shows the more wicked side of the people involved, which you don't really see a lot of, especially in YA. The protagonists were admirable in their survival, and also relatable in their humanity. Knowing that these were the types of people who met their demise on that ship make it hit home all the more. The best part about this novel is that it gives a voice to those who were lost that day. It really makes you question why such an important piece of history was so overlooked. 

Number Three: 

Illuminae 

Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff 

I really didn't know what to expect when I started this book. I guess I'm always a little cautious with something that's super popular, but I was not disappointed. Illuminae was an entirely unique reading experience that showed the authors' authentic creativity on every page. It was exciting, and it brought back feelings of nostalgic space operas while also bringing so many new ideas to the table. Its characters are strong and original as they are taken on this suspenseful journey that was impossible to predict. It questioned the definition of humanity and was daring in its raw display of defeat and hope. The love story was so genuine, but did not take over the rest of plot in an overwhelming way. It was a perfect mixture of a wild action movie and rich science fiction with constant tension and impressive world building. The creative use of different styles of storytelling made it all the more exciting to read. 

Most of all, this book had a tremendous amount of heart. I really felt myself connecting with the characters and was torn up over their losses and pain. It was fascinating to watch them find their courage, even when they believed there was no way out of their countless troubles. Overall, this book was a powerhouse, and the ending left me in desperate need to know what happens next.

Number Four:
The Winner's Kiss
Marie Rutkoski

This was such an impressive trilogy, and it only seemed to get better with each new installment. Arin and Kestrel became a truly intriguing love story, and I was on board with it all the way through. I think this is one of the most well executed romances YA has seen in a while. It was dynamic in a really bold way, which made it all the more rewarding to finally reach a conclusion. What I love about these two characters is that they do not depend on each other to feel like a whole person. They challenge each other and recognize the many flaws that they both have. Throughout the entire series, I never really knew if they were going to end up together or not, but I knew that they could each stand on their own as characters and as people. This is a really important representation of love because, as I talked about in my romance post a few weeks ago, love should be brought to life with honesty and empowerment instead of pandering and swoon bait. The romance in this book was top notch and mesmerizing. It was done with class, but it also has just the right amount of makeout sessions.
Another thing I loved about this trilogy is how evident it was that Marie Rutkoski put so much work into creating this story. The details regarding warfare and swordsmanship were intricate and fascinating. It had a refreshing, sophisticated feel to it because she really did her research, taking the time to provide the reader with these facts that she incorporated into her writing style so well.
Many trilogies sort of die off after the first or second book, but this was not the case with The Winner's Kiss. I was fully invested in these characters until the very end, and was sad to say goodbye.

Number Five:
The Rest of Us Just Live Here
Patrick Ness

This is Patrick Ness's latest release, and it is definitely different from Chaos Walking. In this stand-alone contemporary, there is a great amount of satire that addresses the ongoing trends of chosen ones and wild quests that have swept through the world of YA. On the surface, it is a fun, self aware novel that focuses on those who don't get to go on these quests and fulfill any prophecies. It's creative and enticing, and it is also very endearing. This novel addresses the topic of mental illness in a refreshing way, navigating through a difficult topic with intent to develop the character and also to speak to the readers. The main character, who is dealing with obsessive compulsive disorder, sends an important message when we get to see him go through his ups and downs and eventually learn to let go of his self hatred.
Underneath the humor and radical examples of fantastical cliches, this is a charming and meaningful story of friendship and growing up. It takes on the idea of young love and merges it with reality. The happy ending isn't what one would expect, but that only makes it all the more memorable. The characters are people I can picture in my own high school, for they are multi dimensional and complicated. It's safe to say that Patrick Ness knows what he's doing in any genre, and I cannot wait to see what he comes up with next.