Top Ten Tuesday: Top 10 Books I Want to Read by New-to-Me Authors

by Lily

I started to love reading a few years ago. There are so many books in the world that it's almost impossible to read every one, but I will always try to read as many books as I can fit into my life. I have many books on my to-read list, many of which are part of a series or by some of my favorite authors that I've read books by before. However, I think it's important to read books by a variety of authors to explore different writing styles and new stories. You might find your new favorite author, or a story that you love, or a new genre that you hadn't encountered yet. These top ten books are on my to- read list and are written by authors that I have not read before. 

Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson

This book has been sitting on my shelf for a long time. This is the first book in The Seeds of America trilogy. It's a historical fiction about a thirteen year old girl named Isabel fighting for her freedom. This seems very interesting to me and I can't wait to finally pick it up and learn about history from the point of view of someone who had to live through it. 

Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter

My friend read this book and recommended it to me. I haven't read any books by Lynn Painter yet, but I've heard great things about her writing and stories. This is a YA rom-com about a girl named Liz and her neighbor Wes. I would like to read this book as an introduction to the romance genre. 

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

I enjoy science fiction and dystopian books, so this seems like a great series. It even incorporates beloved tales into futuristic new adaptations. It is a four book series with a prequel. Each book is inspired by a different fairy tale story, with twists that you wouldn't expect. I have not read any books by Marissa Meyer but they all seem exciting and are definitely high on my to-read list. 

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

This book seems good, and I have heard great things about it. It has been adapted into a movie and a stage musical, showing how much people love this book. It was written by a teenage girl and shows realities and many relatable themes. This book is loved by many, and I hope to read it soon. 

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice is a classic loved by millions. Jane Austen is a very popular author, and wrote six major novels, although this might be her most popular of all. It follows Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy as they first meet and eventually realize they might have initially misjudged one another. It has been turned into movies and even TV shows. Jane Austen has inspired many with her great writing and storytelling. I can't wait to start this book and read the rest of her novels as well. 

Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle 

This is a broad topic because Arthur Conan Doyle wrote Sherlock Holmes as a series of short stories and four novels. However, his stories have been put into collections or rewritten to fit into a single book, and read in many different formats. I would love to start reading mysteries, and I feel like the perfect way to start is with a loved classic character such as Sherlock Holmes. Many have read the stories of this famous fictional detective. It has inspired so many books, movies, and shows that many people have heard of, and enjoy The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. 

Satellite by Nick Lake 

I love science fiction and space so I'm excited to read this book by Nick Lake. A boy makes his first trip to Earth after being trained by astronauts for years while living on a space station. It's a captivating sci-fi adventure that I will surely love. 

As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh

This book was recommended to me by a friend who found it interesting. The story follows Salama Kassub in Syria in 2011, at the start of the Syrian revolution. She is a volunteer at the hospital, while trying to find a way out of the country before her sister gives birth. She is faced with the hard decision of whether to flee or stay loyal to her country and her family. She begins to see how it is a war but also a revolution. This is a literary fiction book with good themes. It shows her struggles and how she overcomes it. 

All The Noise At Once by DeAndra Davis 

I saw this on the Florida Teens Read collection for 2026-2027 and immediately wanted to read it. It's about a teen boy with autism named Aiden whose brother is arrested falsely trying to protect him from a bully. As Aiden tries to get his brother out of jail, he is faced with many struggles and needs to find his own voice. 

The Davenports by Krystal Marquis 

This is a historical fiction set in Chicago in 1910. Four African American Girls have strong ambitious dreams. Defying the expectations of others, they pursue challenges and seek independence and love from others. I can't wait to dive into the stories of these brave girls written by Krystal Marquis. 

5 Questions with...Holly Black!

by Abby

Fantasy, romance, and girlboss MCs have always been the kinds of books I’ve loved reading. Once I picked up The Wicked King by Holly Black, I knew I was hooked. Although I hadn’t realized it was the second book in the Folk of the Air series, after I finished it, I went back to the first, The Cruel Prince. Holly Black has a way of making the fae world feel like a place you want to walk into. And because of that, when I got the chance to interview her, I didn’t pass it up. 

Question 1: Was there a character that you personally related to or one that was inspired by someone in your life? 

Response: I related to all of the characters in different ways. I am not very like Jude, but I understand her and there are aspects of her that I embody (like paranoid overthinking). None of the characters are inspired by specific people, although I will occasionally lift observations of specific moments or phrases from friends. Writers are magpies! We steal everything, but by the time we’re done with it, it usually no longer resembles where it came from. 

Question 2: What advice would you give to a writer that keeps giving up? 

Response: The best thing you can do is try to write a little every day. It’s not romantic and often it doesn’t feel at all good, but putting yourself in front of a laptop consistently is how books get written. Lots of folks give themselves little treats for hitting certain goals, like stickers or candy. Keeping track of a daily word count helps you see how it all adds up. 250 words a day for a year gets you 90K, a decently long book! Oh, and once you pick a story, your brain will throw lots of other lures at you. Don’t abandon a project until you get to the end of it. Otherwise, you will wind up an excellent and practiced writer of beginnings, with no practice at all with landing the plane. 

Question 3: Has music ever inspired you to write? 

Response: Yes! I have playlists on Spotify for most of my books, if you want to go sleuthing. 

Question 4: If you could go back and talk to your younger self, what would you say/tell her? 

Response: “Get to the end. Stop going back to the beginning and revising for the thousandth time. Also, buy a decent pair of boots, some statement earrings, and if you wear black dresses the rest of the time, no one will notice." 

Question 5: When you first started writing, who did you look up to or how did you know you wanted to write? 

Response: Because I was such a reader as a kid, I always wanted to write. When I was in middle school I found a copy of Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice and I read it to tatters. It inspired me to write a terrible novel about vampires and dragons, sort of a mash up of Interview with Lord of the Rings. While it was indeed terrible, it got me in the practice of writing. In terms of people I most wanted my writing to sound like — probably the British fantasy writer, Tanith Lee. 

It was truly an honor to ask one of my favorite authors these questions. Considering that it might have been a slim chance for her to get back to me, I'm grateful for the opportunity most don’t get. Holly Black has a hectic schedule, so I give thanks for taking the time to answer! 

Check out a Holly Black book at Winter Park Library!