Fiction
Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan
I’ll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson 
This is a wonderful follow up to Jandy’s lovely ‘The Sky Is Everywhere’.And while I’ve always thought that I loved The Sky is Everywhere, I was blown away by I’ll Give You The Sun. Without diminishing Sky, Sun is so much better! Jude and Noah are twins. They are incredibly close at 13, but by 16 are not speaking. Noah narrates the younger years and Jude the older, but the dual narrative highlights that both only have half the story and as they crash land into their teenage years they both learn more than they thought they ever would. I don’t want to tell you any more, just add it to your reading list, now.
Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo
Jim’s Lion by Russell Hoban and illustrated by Alexis Deacon 
The last time Alexis Decan illustrated Russell Hoban the result was the trippy but brilliant Soonchild. So when Alexis re-interpreted what had previously been published as a picture book into illustrated fiction genius, I was excited. Jim is in hospital and is worried that he won’t wake up from the operation that the doctors need to perform. That fear spills into his dreams, which are beautifully explored is Alexis’ new illustrations. Jim’s nurse tells him to look for his animal finder in his dreams to bring him back from wherever he ends up. The Lion is waiting for him.
Plenty by Ananda Braxton-Smith
Vango Book Two: A Prince Without A Kingdom by Timothée De Fombelle
It’s hard to talk about Vango 2 without referring to Vango, the first in this two part series, because really they should be one volume. But as epic, 1000 page novels don’t seem to get published any more as they did in centuries gone by, especially for the young adult or teen market, this story has been split into two. It’s magic realism, without the magic; it’s historical fiction that feels like a cinematic masterpiece. Set in the 1920s and 30s between the wars, it has a vast cast of characters that each get their own moment to shine while the story revolves around Vango, a young man who is as enigmatic to himself as he is to the reader. I would happily put these books into the hand of anyone over the age of 11, no matter what their taste in reading. I’m not a particular fan of historical fiction, but I loved every minute of it, right to the very end of the second book.
Boy meets Boy by David Levithan
You may wonder why David Levithan gets two books on this list. There is a simple answer: I read them both in 2014 and they both deserve a place. I’ve only read three of his books now, but he is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. I’ve already bought most of his books and they are sitting on the shelf waiting to be read, I’ll get to them in 2015, I’m sure. But Boy Meets Boy is great. It’s the YA novel that the ‘straight’ population have been reading for decades, but now for gay teens. By that I mean it removed enough of the existential angst about being gay to leave enough room for a feel-good high school romance.
Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You by Peter Cameron
The Boys’ Own Manual to Being A Proper Jew by Eli Glassman
I was given an advance proof of this book because it holds almost the exact same themes of the novel I wrote for my Masters although Jewish, rather than Christian. I read it in a single sitting and I thought it was great. A boy comes to terms with his homosexuality within the context of his Orthodox Jewish faith. This book is not just for gays and not just for Jewish people, it’s not just for teens either. It has led to some very interesting discussions (I won’t say arguments) with my friends and colleagues over the place of straight authors writing gay storylines, but that’s the topic of another post, I think. All in all, I would suggest reading it before you judge it on that front.33 Snowfish by Adam Rapp
Adam Rapp has said that while he was writing this novel, he was haunted by many questions, among them: “When we have nowhere to go, who do we turn to? Why are we sometimes drawn to those who are deeply troubled? How far do we have to run before we find new possibilities?” 33 Snowfish is not for anyone who likes to look at their sugar coated, candy coloured childhood through rose tinted glasses. It’s for those who want a glimpse of the stripped bare, visceral and dark corners of childhood that most would rather not think about. I was going to write that it’s equal parts bleak and hopeful, but I’m not entirely sure that’s true – the scales have not settled. Whatever it is, it’s a reading experience you won’t easily forget.Timmy Failure: We Meet Again
This is a bonus entry. I was going to limit the list to 10, but then I saw this and remembered how much I laughed! This is book 3 and it’s the best one yet. I heartily enjoy this series.Picture Books
The Bear’s Song by Benjamin Chaud When I first read this, it made me so happy. I felt like I was glowing and I couldn’t stop smiling. It was the same when I re-read it. Do you need any more invitation?
Eerie Dearies: 26 Ways to Miss School by Rebecca Chaperon
Put into my hands by a wonderful bookseller, I’m still not entirely convinced that this picture book is for children. It’s much the same way that Edward Gorey (who I very much liken the sense of humour in this book to) also, apparently, wrote for children. But maybe that’s not the point. Teenagers, I’m sure, would get a kick out of this alphabet of ways to miss school that includes things like ‘Vortex’ and ‘Zombie Apocalypse’.
Quest by Aaron Becker
Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise by Sean Taylor and Jean Jullien
Vanilla Icecream by Bob Graham
A Near Thing for Captain Najork by Russell Hoban and Quinten Blake
Before After by Anne-Margot Ramstein & Matthias Arégui
Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen
The Pied Piper of Hamelin by Drahos Zak and Robert Holden
Duck, Death and the Tulip by Wolf Erlbruch