Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the fab ladies at The Broke and the Bookish!

Top Ten Authors/Books
For Which I Am Thankful

Happy early Thanksgiving, all!

Authors
1. JK Rowling
Harry Potter changed the world, guys. Not just that it's a fantastic story filled with true friends, real adventure, and what it means to be kind and good - but it changed the world of reading. Suddenly, it's ok to read children's and young adult books. It's ok to enjoy a fantastical setting, to want something not quite real in our world (at least, that we know of!). I'm not saying I needed the approval, but a wider acceptance means a wider access. I'm grateful. Also, Harry <3

2. Rachel Cohn & David Levithan
While I'm certain I read YA before picking up Nick & Norah, that is the first book I remember thinking, holy shit this is where I am meant to be. Their collaboration novels are still some of my favourites today; something about their characters together make me feel like I'm home, like I'm not really alone in the world.

3. Kirsten Hubbard
For two reasons: 1) Wanderlove is one of my favourites of 2012, and favourites ever. It's a fabulous book and I feel like I'm seeing my emotions on the paper when I read it. She's written a gift, as far as I'm concerned. and 2) she was one of the first authors I truly wanted to meet, and she was so sweet and kind when we finally did. She continues to tolerate my probably-less-than-appealing fangirling, and I really think she is one of the main reasons I've been as involved in the YA world as I have been. She's introduced me to her friends, and I feel very lucky to say she's an author friend. Also, without her, I never would have met...

4. Cindy Pon
If you've ever met or seen Cindy, you know that she is absolutely unforgettable. She's hilarious and has this loud, distinctive laugh that just lights her up like a Christmas tree. She is friendly and selfless and always making connections between people. Cindy has introduced me to numerous people in the YA and writing world (I got to hang out with Cassie Clare because of Cindy!), and I feel grateful to even be within her thoughts ever - not just a reading and writing friend, too. She's always thinking of others, and I really hope that if/when I'm an author, I'm just like her and constantly remembering readers as well.

Books
1. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Little Women is the first book I loved with all my being. I was Josephine March, it is the reason I read and write and carry myself as I do. It is the core to my reading/writing life.

2. His Dark Materials series by Philip Pullman
This will always be my favourite series, as I often say here. It's because it's the first one I read that made me realize that writing has absolutely no limits whatsoever. So what if a witch never actually falls out of the sky and chats with me? If I want to write a talking, fighting, loyal polar bear, I damn well can. Lyra's world is fascinating and fantastical and fantastic in all the ways possible, and I adore it for being a revelation to me as both a reader and a writer.

3. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
This is the first book I ever wrote a review on. When I read it, I just had to talk about it because I loved it so much. Writing this review (which is actually pretty cringe-worthy when I look back at it) made me realize that hey...this is something I like doing. That it's something I wanted to keep doing.

4. Across the Universe by Beth Revis
Across the Universe is the reason I found book blogging. After I read it (I picked it up when I saw the cover at the library - it was too gorgeous not to check out!), I loved it so much and so hard that I absolutely had to know what was going on. I googled the series, and stumbled across book blogs that had reviewed it or were early reviewing A Million Suns. It had literally never occurred to me before that book blogging would exist.


5. The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour
As I write in my review here, and what I tweeted and told Nina when I met her - The Disenchantments made me want to write again. There's a subtle force to Nina's writing, and it is so strongly what I hope to evoke in readers one day that it just made me yearn to pick up a pen and get scribbling again. I turned away from writing for some very personal and tough reasons, and it was wonderful finding the desire again.

6. If I Stay/Where She Went by Gayle Forman
Gayle's books made me realize that a young adult book can be many things. It can be fun and happy and filled with angst and boys and drama...and it can also be serious. It can be filled with introspection and tough choices and life and death and everything that ever encompasses. Gayle's books appeal to the deepest parts of our souls, and I adore that it's in a Young Adult novel. Her books prove the worth of Teen titles.

What authors/books are you grateful for?
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PS. Have you entered my Holiday Giveaway? Two winners can choose between 4 books!
International, ends 11/28