Best of 2010

Written by Catriona Coote Tuesday, 08 February 2011 17:02

This was meant to be posted in January, along with my New Year's Intention to write at least one blog a month. I guess it's just as well I make Intentions rather than Resolutions - Intentions cope a little better with being bent or broken, inducing less guilt and therefore a greater capacity to try again!

I found, in December 2010 and even in January 2011 that I had a number of people asking me the question that reviewers tend to dread: ‘So what's on your ‘best of 2010' list?'

Sigh. At the risk of ruining your day, I don't tend to think like that.

I'm inclined to respond with questions such as: ‘For which age group? Which genre?' and ‘But I haven't read all the books that were released in Australia in 2010, so how can I possibly make such a judgement?!'

I read (if not review) at least 200 children's novels a year and probably about the same number of picture books. Even the books that stun me at the time tend to become a little blurry around the edges by the time I've read another 40 or so titles.

That said there were some exceptional books this year - books that caught my attention for one reason or another and earned the phrase ‘special'. Please bear in mind that I'm only listing fiction titles - I simply haven't read enough NF lately - and that these are simply 20 of the best I've read so far of 2010 titles. I still have a pile of books from last year that I haven't yet read, so in three months' time I might have a different opinion about ‘The Best of 2010'.

Alice-Miranda series (Jacqueline Harvey, Random House, Australia): In the best tradition of Pollyanna, Pippi Longstocking and Milly-Molly-Mandy, Alice-Miranda is a vivacious, independent, strong-willed child who believes the best about people - even if they can't see the best in themselves. Alice-Miranda's adventures encourage readers to look beyond material possessions to healthier values such as friendship, loyalty, compassion and hope. The third book in the series has just been published. (Adventure; reading age 9+)

Bartimaeus - ring of Solomon (Jonathan Stroud, Doubleday, UK): Follows the rollicking adventures of a djinni in Ancient Egypt who has developed a highly refined cynicism over the centuries and far too much experience of the less attractive side of human nature; as a result Bartimaeus insinuates a subtle commentary about the nature and uses of power and the ethics of those who wield it. (Adventure/fantasy; reading age 13+)

 Graffiti Moon (Cath Crowley, PanMacmillian, Australia): Very much about expectations and preconceptions versus reality and how our society can lose some of its most gifted members by judging too harshly the non-conformists. Graffiti Moon is about taking risks when often the greatest risk is to allow your true self to be seen in the daylight. (Realistic fiction; reading age 13+)

I am Number Four (Pittacus Lore, Penguin Books: USA): A wonderful combination action/adventure, science-fiction and alien conspiracy theories mixed with a slight environmental theme provide a page-turning adventure with a sense of humour. Very readable. A film is already in the making. (Sci-fi; reading age 13+)

It's a Book (Lane Smith, Walker Books: Australia): a hilarious satire that explores the current fear that people are forgetting the value of a good story due to modern technology. While emphasizing all the things a book doesn't do, It's A Book in fact emphasizes the power of story. (Picture book; reading age: 6+)

 Madame Pamplemousse (Rupert Kingfisher, Bloomsbury: UK): this series started in 2009 but I only discovered it in 2010 with the release of the paperback of MP & The Time Travelling Café. It's great fun for imaginative younger readers - or adults reading it aloud. The idea of a cup of coffee with particular additives being able to transport one through time tickles my sense of funniosity. (Fantasy/Sci-fi; reading age 8+)

Mirror (Jeannie Baker, Walker Books: Australia): Follows the daily life of two families on different sides of the world, seeking to bridge sociocultural divides and promote acceptance of differences. Designed to be read by two children sitting side by side, the left-hand book is read left to right, the right-hand book right to left. Outstanding piece of work. (Picture book: reading age: 3+)

No and Me (Delphine De Vigan, Bloomsbury: UK): a truly remarkable piece of writing that shows great insight into what it is to be profoundly gifted. (Realistic fiction; reading age: 13+)

Noah Barleywater Runs Away (John Boyne, David Fickling Books, UK): like all good allegories, explores universal themes and reaches into the lives of readers, encouraging them to re-examine their choices as Noah does his. (Allegory; reading age 9+)

Potato Music (Christina Booth/Peter Groves, Omnibus Books, Australia): explores the complexities of loss that is inflicted on people during times of conflict and as a result of poverty. More importantly Booth expresses her faith in and wonder at the resilience of the human spirit and the power of imagination - and love - to help us survive the dark times. (Picture book; reading age: 7+)

Shakespeare's Hamlet (Nicki Greenberg, Allen&Unwin: Australia): this astonishing ‘inkblot' interpretation of a classic work will enlighten and enrich the experience of the play for both readers new to the text and those for whom it's an old and familiar friend. (Graphic novel; reading age 13+)

 SharkGirl (Kelly Bingham, Candlewick Press: USA): a powerful, evocative novel, mostly in verse, that captures the recovery experience of a girl bitten by a shark. (Realistic fiction; reading age: 13+)

The Black Book of Colours (Menena Cottin/Rosana Faria, Walker Books: UK): Thomas draws the reader into his sightless world and shares the wonder he feels at the beauty around him. The book is cleverly constructed to reposition the sighted person's view that the sight-impaired are somehow lesser, or deprived. Written in English and Braille, the illustrations are created for the fingers, using raised black plastic on black paper. (Picture book; reading age: 5+)

The Hunger Games trilogy (Suzanne Collins, Scholastic: UK): The trilogy was completed in 2010 and consists of three absorbing, dramatic adventures that expose a violent, corrupt dystopian society that consumes its young - and therefore itself. The books are also a disturbing commentary on the increasingly voyeuristic nature of our own world. (Action/adventure; science fiction; reading age 14+)

The Lion and the Mouse (Jerry Pinkney, Walker Books: USA): A wordless picture book interpretation of one of Aesop's most famous fables. Readers of all ages will pore over these highly tactile illustrations; one can practically hear and smell the world in which the story takes place. (Picture book; reading age 2+)

The Sky is Everywhere (Jandy Nelson, Walker Books: UK): another sensitive novel that explores gifts and talents, with particular emphasis on language and music and the complex nature of grief and how it affects our development, suggesting that loss can lead to growth and change. The writing is lyrical, the characters complex, the narrative powerful and moving. An astonishing, passionate debut novel. (Realistic fiction; reading age 15+)

 Toppling (Sally Murphy/Rhian Nest James, Walker Books, Australia): A short novel that expresses the terrible uncertainty that besets children - and adults - when their familiar, predictable world is shaken by sudden change. Toppling also celebrates the value of friendship at such times. (Realistic fiction; reading age 8+)

Trash (Andy Mulligan, David Fickling Books, UK): page-turning adventure which follows three ‘dumpsite boys' who find something which has them being chased by any number of powerful and dangerous men, including the police. Has a strong subtext about inequality of wealth. (Adventure; reading age 13+)

Ute Picnic and Other Poems (Lorraine Marwood, Walker Books, Australia): Marwood captures the world of the Australian farming family in deceptively simple lines, each word carefully selected, arranged, to create energy, shadow, movement. (Poetry; reading age 8+)

 Wibbly Wobbly Street (Trudie Trewin/Cheryl Orsini, Scholastic Press: Australia): Very much a story about society's tendency to object to those who are different in any way, Wibbly Wobbly Street is an affirmation of the value of all those who are non-conformists - and is therefore perfect for gifted individuals, who invariably feel slightly isolated. (Allegory; reading age 5+)

I'm sorry if there seems to be a bias towards realistic fiction but it was a dominant genre last year if you ignore (as I do) most of the ‘gothic romance fiction' genre that is currently popular. Unfortunately, although the Twilight series gave the genre a boost, there are few writers who have written something likely to last beyond the next five years, with the possible exception of Cassandra Clare's The Mortal Instruments series. Similarly there have been few exceptional books for readers under 13years although there have been some wonderful picture books. Sadly, picture books rarely go into a second print run, so if you find something you like, grab it quickly and hang onto it or you'll find yourself trawling the secondhand bookstores and online spaces to find a copy of that special book you remember seeing maybe only six months ago.  

Did you read something - yourself or to your child/ren - that blew you away in 2010? Please share - there are plenty of readers on this site who are always in search of a good book.