There were over 1,000 reviews on the Children’s books site in 2014, but which books get the most praise from the world’s toughest critics (that would be you!)? Here at Guardian children’s books we’ve been busy searching our archives, emptying our cupboards and wearing down our pencil tips compiling a list of the most-reviewed books across the site during the last year. Can you guess what’s top?
1. The Fault in our Stars by John Green
Topping our list with a whopping 15 reviews – surprise, surprise – is John Green’s bestseller about teen love and the meaning of life. You must know the story by now but for those who’ve been living in a cave for the past three years, the two main characters – Hazel and Augustus – meet at a Cancer Support Group and embark on a life-changing journey. Along the way they find love, friendship and a new understanding of what it means to be alive. Site member ThePinkElephant wonderfully summarised the storyline in her review: “They ask questions that relate to all of us: Will I be loved? Will I be remembered? Will I leave a mark?”
2. Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan
Described as “endearing”, “intricate” and “poetic”, this astonishing read – which got 10 thumbs up from our site members – centres around a kiss. “But, it goes much deeper than just that,” says CaraErica. This kiss – which aims to break the world record for the longest ever – is carried out by two boys, Craig and Harry. The attempt has a profound effect on seven teenagers, who are all in various stages of coming to terms with their sexuality. As Orangutan36 aptly explains, “watched by the world, these boys are a pivot point for the stories of other characters”. Our site members couldn’t praise it highly enough: Joel commented that “The novel has a completely unique style of writing that I have never seen attempted before!” while Noggin expressed similar sentiments, noting that “Two Boys Kissing is a really eye opening story … it makes you change your perception of homosexuality.”
3. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Tied with Two Boys Kissing on 10 reviews was – another turn up for the books, eh! – the first instalment of the bestselling trilogy The Hunger Games. Again for the hermits amongst you, in this dystopian future the world is split up into 12 factions, with the Capitol running an annual fight to the death. There’s a reason the series is so popular; as Acornsized explains, “This is one of the most interesting series I’ve read with a very realistic plot that’s easy to imagine.” Nellie999 also praised Collins’ writing style: “This book is full of emotions and tension … the description used in the book really made you relate to the characters.” Summing up the effect of the series, group reviewers El Camino Academy 6th Grade concluded, “The Hunger Games is marvelous, dangerous, and filled with mixed emotions.” So just imagine how many reviews Suzanne Collins got if you add in Catching Fire and Mockingjay!
4. Divergent by Veronica Roth
Continuing the dystopian theme, our next most popular readers’ pick is Divergent by Veronica Roth, which comes in at 9 reviews – and which our site members described as “fantastic”, “fast-paced” and “explosive”. As the first book in Veronica Roth’s bestselling trilogy, this novel is set in a post-apocalyptic world where society is divided into five factions based on a single core value. Teenager Beatrice (Tris) does not fit into a fraction, and is labelled as Divergent. PearlyDewdrops terrifically summarised the storyline in their review: “Tris learns what it means to be Divergent and what a critical position it puts her in and all the while she is unearthing the hidden evil of the other factions as a war brews right under her nose.”
Our readers also felt a strong connection with protagonist Tris, and this might be why reviewers kept returning to the book: “I felt that I was living alongside Beatrice through all her trials and triumphs as she was such a convincing heroine,” praised Readaholic. PearlyDewdrops also liked the first-person narrative of Tris, which she felt “allowed us as readers to establish a deeper connection with the character and understand her with more ease”. Again, including Allegiant and Insurgent, Roth’s reviews are approaching world-domination proportion!
5. Rooftoppers by Katherine Rundell
And last but most certainly not least our final top read of 2014 is last year’s Guardian children’s fiction prize winner Rooftoppers by Katherine Rundell. In this story (which garnered an impressive 8 reviews, tied with RJ Palacio’s Wonder, September’s Teen book club read), Sophie is found as a baby floating in a cello case after the sinking of the Queen Mary. Rescued and brought up by an eccentric academic, when the authories threaten to put Sophie in a home for orphans she decides to escape to the Paris rooftops and look for her mother. “She writes in such a way that makes you want to know what happens and leaves you with a bond with the characters she creates,” says Potterhead103 in their terrific review. Similarly, PetrovaFossil explained their love of the characters: “My favourite part of the book was how I warmed to Sophie. She is such a likeable person.”
Safah aptly summed up the novel: “Jumping from rooftops, breaking into confidential records, making friends, and most importantly, learning to never ignore an impossible, this story had a fairytale feel that taught one to always have faith.”
Need some more ideas for good reads to cuddle up with this winter? Other popular books this year included:
• Wonder by R J Palacio
• More Than This by Patrick Ness
• The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E Smith
• We Were Liars by Emily Lockhart
• Trouble by Non Pratt
