Top Ten Tuesdays - Friendships

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by Broke and Bookish. This week's TTT theme is friendship. I chose 5 YA and 5 MG novels and later noted that almost all of them deal with male friendships. 4 are boy/ girl friendships.

YA: 

We Were Here by Matt de la Peña. Random House Children's  Books, October, 2009.

I have written about this on TTT often. It is one of my favorite books. I recently reread this one with my ears and I still cried. de la Peña beautifully depicts male friendship and their attempts to connect emotionally.

If I Ever Get Out of Here by Eric Gansworth. Scholastic Inc., July, 2013.

Loved this one in every way but especially the friendship between Lewis and George.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, February, 2012.

This beautiful story of two loners who make tentative steps towards friendship and self-discovery won multiple awards. It is also a great audiobook.

 

The Vietnam Quartet by Chris Lynch. Scholastic Inc. Various release dates.

This series is great for middle grade boys looking for war books. They are gritty but pretty clean. I'm glad I had the opportunity to look these up because I learned that there will be a book 5! (Guess what my Waiting on Wednesday post will be tomorrow?)

Maggot Moon by Sally Gardner. Candlewick Press, February, 2013.

This was one of the first books I read in 2013 and it is unforgettable. I was so thrilled that it won a Printz Honor. I recently learned that an audiobook is available and plan on rereading it with my ears.

Middle Grade:

Chicken Boy by Frances O'Roark Dowell. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2007.

I recently reread this favorite with my ears. The narrator was spectacular! He really brought the book to life, especially the unique friendship between Tobin and Henry. Often laugh out loud funny but eyes will fill as well.

A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd. Scholastic Inc., February, 2014.

This remarkable debut features a lovely friendship between a girl and a boy who happens to need a wheelchair.

Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, February, 2013. Also, Five, Six, Seven, Nate, January, 2014.

Federle's adorable and funny debut won a Stonewall Honor and his narration of the audiobook won an Odyssey Honor. Nate and Lizzie are the best kind of best friends.

Odd Duck by Cecil Castellucci. First Second, May, 2013.

Two quirky folks find friendship in this sweet story of accepting differences.

Doll Bones by Holly Black. Margaret K. McElderry Books, May, 2013.

I did not love this Newbery Honor the way that many did but I did love the depiction of changing friendship.