Male Protagonists - Are An Essential Part Of My Reading Diet

Most of the novels I've read recently feature female protagonist.  I love stories with female leads but I can not exist on that diet alone, and I am experiencing a bit of a burn out. In the beginning of the year I read a some excellent YA novels featuring male protagonist

In Darkness by Nick Lake

The Knife and the Butterfly by Ashley Hope Perez
Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz 
Boy21 by Matthew Quick

I loved all of the above, unfortunately the last one was published in March,  and I would very much like find more young adult or middle grade novels  with male protagonists to enjoy.  However there's just not a large selection especially when I disregard the ones I have no interest and the others that end up in my DNF pile because they couldn't keep my attention.

However I think my slump is finally ending. I recently read two good YA debuts, A Beautiful Lie by Irfan Master and Before You Go by James Preller.

A few more I am very much looking forward to reading
Nothing Special by Geoff Herbach - I loved the author's debut Stupid Fast, it was one of my favorite debuts of 2011
Thou Shall Not Road Trip by Antony John - The author's last novel Five Flavors of Dumb was made me break out my old Nirvana MTV unplugged CD  awesome. 
 Lucky Fools by Coert Voorhees - I loved the author's 2009 debut, The Brothers Torres and I have been impatiently waiting for a new novel by the author ever since. - (July)
The Quick Fix by Jack D. Ferraiolo  - This is the long awaited follow up (for me anyway)  to The Big Splash, the first and still the best, humorous middle grade mystery (Oct)
Street Dreams by Tama Wise - This one I found thanks to author Malinda Lo. I've never read a Maori author , and I like the cover so there's no way I could pass this one up
The Drowned Cities by Paolo Baciqalupi  - This is the companion to Ship Breaker, which I enjoyed but not as much as most people, but I liked it enough not to pass this one up

Alien on a Rampage by Clete Barrett Smith was also on this list but I finished it the other day. It really enjoyed it, it was as good as the first one.   And with that my slump is officially over.

Froi of the Exiles - Melina Marchetta

Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta
This is the second book in the Lumatere trilogy. Set three years later, Froi is one the many young men who found a home in Lumatere after the curse on the land in finally lifted. In the first one, Finnikin of the Rock, Froi unknowingly journey's with three people essential to restoring Lumatere. In return for their acceptance, Froi is very loyal to Lumatere. Froi finally gets to do something on behalf of his new kingdom. Sent on a secret mission to Charyn, where the king responsible for Lumatere's five days of the unspeakable lives. As Froi tries to do what he believes is best for his adopted kingdom, the queen, her husband and the people of Lumatere are doing their very best to heal and rebuild.

There are many excellent and complicated layers making the struggles, sorrows, successes and triumphs feel that much more realistic. I loved Finnikin of Rock and was very much looking forward to Froi of the Exiles and I was not disappointed. I should be embarrassed by how much I love Marchetta's work but am not. She's simply got some serious skills, every single time I read one of Marchetta novels (I've read them all) she simply raises the bar and crushes it. I realize this is more of a fan gush than a review but I don't care.

An excerpt via Candlewick press
It's best to read in order, Finnikin of the Rock is out in paperback.
An excerpt of Finnikin of the Rock via Candlewick press

Starred Publishers Weekly review
Kirkus review