Top Ten Books I've Read So Far In 2013

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by the bloggers of The Broke and the Bookish. This week we're revealing our top ten best books read so far in 2013. 

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz: "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao is literary fiction at its finest. I read with the sense that Diaz had everything meticulously planned out, from the tiniest details to the great overarching themes. It's a book that merits re-reading and, if possible, a discussion with others...Highly recommended for those who aren't afraid of crude language, who want a thought-provoking, lasting read that offers a glimpse into another culture and its history. " Read my full review!
Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard: "Wanderlove is a heartwarming story about a teen's journey, both physical and emotional, to find herself and regain a sense of purpose in her life. Even if you have no desire to travel, are uninterested in art, or do not think this is the type of book you'd enjoy, I encourage you to give this book a shot anyway. See if you can read it without feeling a sense of wonder and contentment about the world around you." Read my full review!
Keturah and Lord Death by Martine Leavitt: "Page after page of Keturah and Lord Death is full of ruminations on life and death, the great unknown. If the plot of the story itself does not convince you that Leavitt has written her own fairy tale, then the beautiful prose should do so. Deceivingly simple on a superficial level, the language is intricate, profound, and moving." Be sure to look out for my full review in a month!

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson: "Reading The Sky is Everywhere is an experience that each reader should have. Heartbreakingly poignant, Nelson presents a haunting exploration of death and its aftermath, although one that is riddled with hope. For it is possible for sadness and happiness to coexist, just as grief and hope can." Be sure to look out for my full review in a few weeks!

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys: "Between Shades of Gray is a difficult read. It's painful. It's tragic as only the truth can be. But it's important. It may be difficult to read stories like this, that really demonstrate how humanity has such a great proclivity to harm one another. But without evil, I suppose we also wouldn't have the capacity for great good. Through Lina's story, Sepetys has helped ensure that those who did suffer from similar circumstances will never be forgotten." Read my full review!

Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder: "Overall, I found myself very much impressed with Snyder's debut. Even if the romance was not my cup of tea, Snyder has created a readable and entertaining story, flipping certain Young Adult story tropes on their heads, which I always appreciate. There's no simple resolution or right answers in Poison Study, which contributed to its feel as a more mature novel." Read my full review!
In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters: "I turned the final page of In the Shadow of Blackbirds feeling as though I had actually learned many things. Through this novel, Winters has done what historical fiction authors should always strive to do: place a historical event into a focused perspective with enough attention to details that readers can truly feel transported back to this time period. The little details are the ones that truly are the most effective: the household remedies, Mary Shelley's observations of the outside world, the black and white photographs." Read my full review!
Native Son by Richard Wright: "Even with such a difficult protagonist, Wright brings up important issues that need to be discussed...A person may be more than simply the sum of his parts, but that doesn't mean that those individual parts cease to exist; instead they contribute to a fuller, more complex human. For, after all, how much can we really distance a person from his upbringing and circumstances?...I highly recommend that each person reads this book at least once. While not the easiest read in the world, it is an important one." Read my full review!
The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey: I have not been able to formulate my thoughts on this book yet, but suffice it to say I was impressed with this post-apocalyptic take on an alien invasion. Be sure to look out for my full review in a few weeks!
How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr: "Overall, though, I found myself to be quite impressed with my first experience reading Zarr. Her ability to create real, nuanced characters is impressive, as is the tight plot and strong writing. And I absolutely loved the fact that I was able to relate to her story on such a personal level." Be sure to look out for my full review in a month!

Let me know what are some of your top reads for the first half of 2013!