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Booklist of 19 YA "problem novels", most of them fairly "dark". One of 14 award-winning Booklists for Teens, created by librarians at DC Public Library in Washington, DC--with some additions by elissa and other voters.
Score
A book’s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book.
| 1 |
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Speak
by
Laurie Halse Anderson (Goodreads Author)
4.05 avg rating — 628,654 ratings
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| 2 |
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Thirteen Reasons Why
by
Jay Asher (Goodreads Author)
3.84 avg rating — 1,021,188 ratings
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| 3 |
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Looking for Alaska
by
John Green (Goodreads Author)
3.96 avg rating — 1,736,563 ratings
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| 4 |
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Wintergirls
by
Laurie Halse Anderson (Goodreads Author)
3.96 avg rating — 125,594 ratings
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| 5 |
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Go Ask Alice
by
Beatrice Sparks (as "Anonymous")
3.74 avg rating — 291,017 ratings
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| 6 |
|
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
by
4.24 avg rating — 1,982,066 ratings
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| 7 |
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Cut
by
3.76 avg rating — 60,123 ratings
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| 8 |
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Dreamland
by
Sarah Dessen (Goodreads Author)
3.90 avg rating — 83,948 ratings
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| 9 |
|
The Book Thief
by
Markus Zusak (Goodreads Author)
4.39 avg rating — 2,850,605 ratings
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| 10 |
|
Living Dead Girl
by
Elizabeth Scott (Goodreads Author)
3.78 avg rating — 33,992 ratings
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| 11 |
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Crank (Crank, #1)
by
Ellen Hopkins (Goodreads Author)
4.16 avg rating — 154,793 ratings
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| 12 |
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The Fault in Our Stars
by
John Green (Goodreads Author)
4.12 avg rating — 5,667,388 ratings
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| 13 |
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Willow
by
3.90 avg rating — 32,825 ratings
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| 14 |
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Cutters Don't Cry (SoCal, #1)
by
Christine Dzidrums (Goodreads Author)
4.02 avg rating — 706 ratings
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| 15 |
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After
by
Amy Efaw (Goodreads Author)
3.73 avg rating — 20,014 ratings
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| 16 |
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Sold
by
4.24 avg rating — 64,332 ratings
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| 17 |
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Stolen (Stolen, #1)
by
Lucy Christopher (Goodreads Author)
3.89 avg rating — 86,743 ratings
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| 18 |
|
Such a Pretty Girl
by
3.86 avg rating — 17,065 ratings
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| 19 |
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Cracked Up to Be
by
Courtney Summers (Goodreads Author)
3.73 avg rating — 19,606 ratings
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| 20 |
|
Impulse (Impulse, #1)
by
Ellen Hopkins (Goodreads Author)
4.25 avg rating — 82,350 ratings
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| 21 |
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Story of a Girl
by
Sara Zarr (Goodreads Author)
3.65 avg rating — 17,525 ratings
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| 22 |
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Before I Die
by
3.81 avg rating — 57,915 ratings
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| 23 |
|
Identical
by
Ellen Hopkins (Goodreads Author)
4.29 avg rating — 66,857 ratings
score: 849,
and
9 people voted
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| 24 |
|
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
by
4.06 avg rating — 283,965 ratings
score: 842,
and
9 people voted
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| 25 |
|
Burned (Burned, #1)
by
Ellen Hopkins (Goodreads Author)
4.25 avg rating — 70,805 ratings
score: 834,
and
9 people voted
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| 26 |
|
The Rules of Survival
by
Nancy Werlin (Goodreads Author)
3.98 avg rating — 11,883 ratings
score: 823,
and
9 people voted
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| 27 |
|
If I Wake
by
Nikki Moyes (Goodreads Author)
3.91 avg rating — 755 ratings
score: 699,
and
7 people voted
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| 28 |
|
The Burn Journals: A Memoir
by
3.84 avg rating — 8,149 ratings
score: 675,
and
7 people voted
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| 29 |
|
Rage: A Love Story
by
3.63 avg rating — 3,402 ratings
score: 606,
and
7 people voted
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| 30 |
|
Blankets
by
4.06 avg rating — 124,922 ratings
score: 591,
and
6 people voted
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| 31 |
|
Hold Still
by
Nina LaCour (Goodreads Author)
3.99 avg rating — 28,028 ratings
score: 575,
and
6 people voted
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| 32 |
|
The Chosen One
by
3.85 avg rating — 15,672 ratings
score: 561,
and
6 people voted
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| 33 |
|
Seven Cuts
by
Kady Hunt (Goodreads Author)
4.23 avg rating — 13 ratings
score: 500,
and
5 people voted
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| 34 |
|
A Child Called "It" (Dave Pelzer, #1)
by
Dave Pelzer (Goodreads Author)
4.14 avg rating — 458,863 ratings
score: 482,
and
5 people voted
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| 35 |
|
Fat Kid Rules the World
by
K.L. Going (Goodreads Author)
3.80 avg rating — 8,254 ratings
score: 459,
and
5 people voted
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| 36 |
|
The Sky Is Everywhere
by
Jandy Nelson (Goodreads Author)
3.95 avg rating — 109,983 ratings
score: 423,
and
5 people voted
|
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| 37 |
|
Shine
by
Lauren Myracle (Goodreads Author)
3.82 avg rating — 12,977 ratings
score: 412,
and
5 people voted
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| 38 |
|
Sorta Like a Rock Star
by
Matthew Quick (Goodreads Author)
3.89 avg rating — 6,828 ratings
score: 355,
and
4 people voted
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| 39 |
|
Bottled Up
by
4.07 avg rating — 1,289 ratings
score: 337,
and
4 people voted
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| 40 |
|
Because I Am Furniture
by
3.84 avg rating — 6,466 ratings
score: 315,
and
4 people voted
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| 41 |
|
Stephanie
by
Melissa Service (Goodreads Author)
4.38 avg rating — 24 ratings
score: 300,
and
3 people voted
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| 42 |
|
Ada: Legend of a Healer
by
3.92 avg rating — 182 ratings
score: 297,
and
3 people voted
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| 43 |
|
Walking Naked
by
3.59 avg rating — 859 ratings
score: 275,
and
3 people voted
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| 44 |
|
Love You Hate You Miss You
by
Elizabeth Scott (Goodreads Author)
3.75 avg rating — 7,899 ratings
score: 259,
and
3 people voted
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| 45 |
|
Saving Francesca
by
Melina Marchetta (Goodreads Author)
3.99 avg rating — 33,355 ratings
score: 257,
and
3 people voted
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| 46 |
|
Breathing Underwater (Breathing Underwater, #1)
by
Alex Flinn (Goodreads Author)
3.89 avg rating — 8,992 ratings
score: 254,
and
3 people voted
|
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| 47 |
|
Tyrell (Tyrell, #1)
by
4.19 avg rating — 5,063 ratings
score: 250,
and
3 people voted
|
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| 48 |
|
Tricks (Tricks, #1)
by
Ellen Hopkins (Goodreads Author)
4.27 avg rating — 41,344 ratings
score: 245,
and
3 people voted
|
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| 49 |
|
Inside Out
by
3.85 avg rating — 2,119 ratings
score: 240,
and
3 people voted
|
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| 50 |
|
Fallout (Crank, #3)
by
Ellen Hopkins (Goodreads Author)
4.25 avg rating — 39,694 ratings
score: 238,
and
3 people voted
|
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| 51 |
|
Beneath the Skin
by
Kyla Stone (Goodreads Author)
4.20 avg rating — 1,103 ratings
score: 200,
and
2 people voted
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| 52 |
|
The Lovely Bones
by
3.86 avg rating — 2,454,452 ratings
score: 198,
and
2 people voted
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| 53 |
|
America
by
3.95 avg rating — 1,426 ratings
score: 197,
and
2 people voted
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| 54 |
|
The Memory of Light
by
Francisco X. Stork (Goodreads Author)
3.98 avg rating — 6,540 ratings
score: 184,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 55 |
|
Beautiful
by
Amy Reed (Goodreads Author)
3.66 avg rating — 5,568 ratings
score: 183,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 56 |
|
Sammy and Juliana in Hollywood
by
Benjamin Alire Sáenz (Goodreads Author)
3.88 avg rating — 1,592 ratings
score: 182,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 56 |
|
How I Live Now
by
Meg Rosoff (Goodreads Author)
3.57 avg rating — 46,962 ratings
score: 182,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 58 |
|
Glass (Crank, #2)
by
Ellen Hopkins (Goodreads Author)
4.29 avg rating — 74,376 ratings
score: 181,
and
2 people voted
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| 59 |
|
You Are Not Here
by
3.74 avg rating — 1,331 ratings
score: 175,
and
2 people voted
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| 60 |
|
Punkzilla
by
3.64 avg rating — 1,597 ratings
score: 168,
and
2 people voted
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| 61 |
|
The Luckiest Girl in the World
by
3.72 avg rating — 1,319 ratings
score: 166,
and
2 people voted
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| 62 |
|
Recovery Road
by
Blake Nelson (Goodreads Author)
3.77 avg rating — 2,798 ratings
score: 165,
and
2 people voted
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| 63 |
|
The Best Little Girl in the World
by
3.68 avg rating — 5,514 ratings
score: 164,
and
2 people voted
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| 63 |
|
I Was a Teenage Fairy
by
Francesca Lia Block (Goodreads Author)
3.84 avg rating — 7,040 ratings
score: 164,
and
2 people voted
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| 63 |
|
And We Stay
by
Jenny Hubbard (Goodreads Author)
3.43 avg rating — 5,425 ratings
score: 164,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 66 |
|
The Rose and the Beast: Fairy Tales Retold
by
Francesca Lia Block (Goodreads Author)
3.77 avg rating — 7,370 ratings
score: 161,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 67 |
|
Stay with Me
by
Garret Weyr, also Freymann-Weyr (Goodreads Author)
3.47 avg rating — 1,027 ratings
score: 153,
and
2 people voted
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| 68 |
|
Shooter
by
3.64 avg rating — 3,511 ratings
score: 144,
and
2 people voted
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| 69 |
|
Grey Dogs
by
Ian D.G. Sandusky (Goodreads Author)
3.67 avg rating — 156 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 69 |
|
Rebirth (A Daughter of Kings, #3)
by
2.06 avg rating — 16 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 69 |
|
My Heart Stopped Beating
by
Chamed (Goodreads Author)
3.42 avg rating — 158 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 69 |
|
A Dish Best Served
by
J. Richard Singleton (Goodreads Author)
4.40 avg rating — 5 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 69 |
|
Her
by
Felicia Johnson (Goodreads Author)
4.27 avg rating — 471 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 69 |
|
Honest
by
Ava Bloomfield (Goodreads Author)
3.75 avg rating — 20 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 75 |
|
I Don't Want To Be Crazy
by
3.78 avg rating — 5,727 ratings
score: 99,
and
1 person voted
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| 75 |
|
Promiscuous
by
3.95 avg rating — 259 ratings
score: 99,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 75 |
|
Remodeling Eve
by
Helen Kantor (Goodreads Author)
4.69 avg rating — 13 ratings
score: 99,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 78 |
|
The Children and the Wolves
by
3.34 avg rating — 440 ratings
score: 98,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 79 |
|
The Time Traveler's Wife
by
Audrey Niffenegger (Goodreads Author)
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1,852,965 ratings
score: 97,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 80 |
|
Sleeveless
by
Joi Brozek (Goodreads Author)
3.24 avg rating — 46 ratings
score: 96,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 80 |
|
Born Blue
by
3.82 avg rating — 2,257 ratings
score: 96,
and
1 person voted
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| 80 |
|
The Only Girl in the World
by
3.77 avg rating — 9,269 ratings
score: 96,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 83 |
|
Hush
by
Eishes Chayil (pseudonym)
3.99 avg rating — 3,752 ratings
score: 94,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 84 |
|
Words in Deep Blue
by
Cath Crowley (Goodreads Author)
3.98 avg rating — 40,920 ratings
score: 93,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 85 |
|
Far from the Tree
by
Robin Benway (Goodreads Author)
4.24 avg rating — 49,073 ratings
score: 89,
and
1 person voted
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| 86 |
|
The Sidekicks
by
Will Kostakis (Goodreads Author)
3.84 avg rating — 1,954 ratings
score: 83,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 87 |
|
Pregnant Pause
by
3.76 avg rating — 1,792 ratings
score: 78,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 88 |
|
Jay's Journal
by
Beatrice Sparks (as "Anonymous")
3.23 avg rating — 7,806 ratings
score: 76,
and
1 person voted
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| 88 |
|
Girl Made of Stars
by
4.18 avg rating — 29,563 ratings
score: 76,
and
1 person voted
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| 90 |
|
Dime
by
4.11 avg rating — 1,187 ratings
score: 71,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 91 |
|
Beneath a Meth Moon
by
Jacqueline Woodson (Goodreads Author)
3.70 avg rating — 4,631 ratings
score: 70,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 92 |
|
Twisted
by
Laurie Halse Anderson (Goodreads Author)
3.82 avg rating — 37,487 ratings
score: 67,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 93 |
|
All the Bright Places
by
Jennifer Niven (Goodreads Author)
4.11 avg rating — 624,032 ratings
score: 66,
and
1 person voted
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| 94 |
|
The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley
by
Shaun David Hutchinson (Goodreads Author)
3.97 avg rating — 7,643 ratings
score: 61,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 95 |
|
I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter
by
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 82,359 ratings
score: 55,
and
1 person voted
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| 96 |
|
Hole in My Life
by
Jack Gantos (Goodreads Author)
3.77 avg rating — 8,045 ratings
score: 52,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 97 |
|
Thicker Than Water
by
Kelly Fiore Stultz (Goodreads Author)
3.78 avg rating — 920 ratings
score: 49,
and
1 person voted
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| 98 |
|
Waiting
by
3.93 avg rating — 2,932 ratings
score: 48,
and
1 person voted
|
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| 99 |
|
Every Time a Rainbow Dies
by
3.67 avg rating — 264 ratings
score: 46,
and
1 person voted
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| 100 |
|
Katie.Com : My Story
by
3.40 avg rating — 1,035 ratings
score: 44,
and
1 person voted
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Comments Showing 1-4 of 4 (4 new)
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newest »
message 1:
by
elissa
(new)
May 11, 2009 10:13AM
I had the major responsibilty for creating the original 19-title list, but there are still a few books on it that I haven't personally read.
reply
|
flag
Not sure what's with people adding fantasy novels to this list. "Problem novels" aren't usually in the fantasy genre!
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