Best Book of the Year So Far: John Kwiatkowski

John is adorable, isn't he?

The problem with this latest blog idea, which seemed innocent enough at the beginning, is that it's costing us money. John, an insanely good bookseller from Murder by the Book has just sold me on one of his choices. Jerk, you owe me $25, Kwiatkowski! 

Here is John's favorite books so far...

My absolute favorite book this year is Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan (out 8/27/13). Throughout the book, the voices of the generation of gay men wiped about by AIDS offer up observations as two boys attempt to break the Guinness Record for longest kiss. Levithan straddles the line between anger and awe as the reader experiences the reactions of those who came before us. It's beautifully written, incredibly moving, and completely different than any YA I've read in a long time.

 

 If you want something that's already out, it's Garden of Stones by Sophie Littlefield. The book blends a contemporary and past story together as Patty Takeda tries to clear her mother's name. Her mother has been accused of murder, and the murder has ties to her time spent in Manzanar. There's a mystery element to the story, but it's really about a mother and daughter learning about each other.