There are a few books on this list that stand out for me because I had already read them before the list was published. One of those books is The Glass Arrow by Kirsten Simmons. This is a book about finding strength and power in a society where you have no power. In the society created for this book, women have only one purpose. That purpose is to reproduce. If you are unable to bear children, you have no value. But, there are those that understand that value comes from things other than a physical ability to produce a child. This story is empowering as our protagonists fight for what is right.
Another book about abilities giving us value is Powerless by Tera Lynn Childs. Superheroes and supervillains have gained a lot of attention lately, and this book is about power. But, what if you have no power, no special ability? Does that define you as less worthy? Can you pretend to have super powers and not get yourself killed? Does having power corrupt? What happens when the villains become the heroes?
The final book that I'll mention today is The Game of Love and Death by Martha Brockenbrough. In this book, the only power that our protagonists have is the power of love over death. But, the problem is that death always wins. What will it take for love to win the game? Do our participants have a choice? Set in a time of jazz clubs, prohibition, segregation, and the mob, it would seem that there are too many obstacles for love to have a chance.
I hope you'll take time to read a few of the Teen's Top Ten Nominations, and then vote for your favorites.