More of the 'Best of YA 2010' - Realistic Fiction-Kirkus Reviews

Continuting on with more of the "Best of YA Books in 2010" lists.  Today I'm including the winners from the Kirkus Reviews list for Realistic Fiction.

For those of you not familiar with Kirkus, they are notoriously tough in their reviews and I think it's safe to say most authors are thrilled to get a positive review from Kirkus.  Here's a description of their services from their website:

Founded in 1933, Kirkus reviews more than 500 pre-publication books each month, including fiction, nonfiction, children's and young-adult books.  Our reviews are a trusted and authoritative decision-making tools, crafted by specialists selected for their knowledge and expertise in a particular field.  

2010 Best Books for Teens: Contemporary Novels THE DARK DAYS OF HAMBURGER HALPIN Josh Berk out February 9, 2010 This witty tale of mainstreaming, misfits and murder glitters  like the “Future Diamonds” that coal-mine souvenirs promise  to someday become. ... Continue HUSH Eishes Chayil out September 1, 2010 Seventeen-year-old Gittel is preparing for marriage, and  she hopes the shadchen, the matchmaker, picks a good  husband. It's 2009 in ... Continue THE 10 P.M. QUESTION Kate de Goldi out September 1, 2010 A talented artist and observer of birds, 12-year-old New  Zealander Frankie has always been friends with his pal Gigs.  Their ... Continue WILL GRAYSON, WILL GRAYSON John Green out April 1, 2010 Will Grayson loves indie rock, plays the eye-rolling angry  stepchild to his extraordinarily giant, lovable, gay best  friend Tiny Cooper ... Continue ILLYRIA Elizabeth Hand out May 13, 2010 Growing up in a large, eccentric, extended family in  Yonkers in the late 1960s, two first cousins exist in their ... Continue    BLANK CONFESSION Pete Hautman out November 16, 2010 A stranger rides into town on a battered old BMW  motorcycle and with mad ninja skills stands up to the ... Continue SWEET, HEREAFTER Angela Johnson out January 5, 2010 Sweet never really fit in at home or at school, but  she has satisfying friends and connections. Few  are surprised ... Continue    PLEASE IGNORE VERA DIETZ A.S. King out October 12, 2010 A harrowing but ultimately redemptive tale of adolescent  angst gone awry. Vera and Charlie are lifelong buddies  whose relationship is ... Continue  DARK WATER Laura McNeal out September 14, 2010 This debut solo effort after several collaborations with husband  Tom McNeal (The Decoding of Lana Morris, 2007, etc.)  stands out ... Continue AS EASY AS FALLING OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH Lynne Rae Perkins out May 1, 2010 It’s easy to fall off the face of the Earth, as the affable  15-year-old Ry discovers when he misses his ... Continue  THE THINGS A BROTHER KNOWS Dana Reinhardt out September 14, 2010 Levi’s older brother Boaz enlisted in the Marines after graduating  from high school rather than attend an elite university as ... Continue  NOT THAT KIND OF GIRL Siobhan Vivian out September 1, 2010 Another powerful, involving exploration of teen girls' identities  and relationships from the ever-improving Vivian (A Little  Friendly Advice, 2008, Same ... Continue

I have seen PLEASE IGNORE VERA DIETZ on A LOT of lists so  I'm definitely going to need to check that one out! What about you?   Any on here you've read and loved? ~Kiki