Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Wrapped - #MustReadIn 2015

The last time I checked in with the group who have "Must-Read" lists was the beginning of September, this post. By then I had read about a third of the books on my list, which is below.

Thanks to Carrie Gelson at There's A Book for That for keeping us all going and checking in with each other. Go to her blog to see all the others linking up.





Books in blue are read! 10 of 21

Middle-YA
Navigating Early - Claire Vanderpool
Seraphina - Rachel Hartman
The True Blue Scouts of Sugarman Swamp - Kathi Appelt
Grasshopper Jungle - Andrew Smith
The Shadow Throne - Jennifer Nielsen
Half A Chance - Cynthia Lord
Blue Lily, Lily Blue - Maggie Stiefvater
Where Things Come Back - John Corey Whaley
Love, Amalia - Alma Flor Ada
The Great Trouble - Deborah Hopkinson
The Red Pencil - Andrea Davis Pinkney
Winger - Andrew Smith
Dr. Bird's Advice for Sad Poets - Evan Roskos
March - Lewis, Aydin, Powell
How I Discovered Poetry - Marilyn Nelson
All The Answers - Kate Messner
for adults
Dog Songs - Mary Oliver - still need to review 
Quiet - Susan Cain
All The Light We Cannot See - Anthony Doerr

for professional development


Nonfiction Notebooks - Aimee Buckner
What We See When We Read - Peter Mendelsund

       Here, at the end of the year, I haven't finished eleven, and I doubt that I will. Some I might transfer to the 2016 list, but some I may give up, at least for now. I'm too interested in some books newly out, or about to be published in early 2016. It's nice to have a list to check on once in a while. You can read more about how this started in the list above.  

Since September:
     
The Shadow Throne - Jennifer Nielsen
       I wish I hadn’t put this off so long because I had forgotten some of the parts in previous books that the story referred to, but I enjoyed reacquainting myself with the major relationships, the key players who are either so loving and likeable or are downright despicable. Once again, with Neilsen’s writing being never dull, I can’t share much of the story or will give it away. This time, Jaron’s fight for his country creates tension among all his followers, Mathias, Roden, the pirates including Erich, and Mott. He is in the fight of his life for Carthya against the evil King Vargan who has woven a web of lies in order to bring other countries in to fight with him in order to overcome Carthya. Regent Harlowe is there, true to form in his loyal quest to protect this boy king, and the intrigue of the romance now involves two: Amarinda, Jaron’s betrothed princess and Imogen. Neilsen has managed to complete the puzzle of the
ending by placing the final pieces exactly where they fit. Loved it.

Winger - Andrew Smith
Ah, Ryan Dean West, how I loved seeing you figure out life during this strange fourteen-year-old year as a junior in a private boarding school. With a voice that moves from the typical 'me, me, me" to one that begins to understand the need to think of others, too, this story shows the challenges of a high schooler, and the inner thought that must happen to grow into some kind of good human being. Andrew Smith gives Ryan Dean the talent of drawing comics as he moves through the new year in "O" hall, a dorm for troublemakers, and they are in the book! Ryan Dean is there in a room with a bully, and luck (bad or good?) has it that his first nights include an after hours, not-allowed poker game with alcohol. This typical year of boys trying to outdo each other, worrying about sexuality and love with girls and boys, and not trying very hard to follow the rules seems more real than many adults might want to know. I ached for this young man, and in the end, cried a little, hoping that the world might turn a little nicer than depicted. I'm sorry I put reading this book off so long. It is wonderful.

      If you see any books that I haven't read that you believe is a "must-read", please let me know!
Happy Reading in 2016!

14 comments:

  1. Of the books you still have on the list, the ones that I would say to read would be March and All the Answers. Those would be my top picks from what's left. I wish you a wonderful New Year of reading.

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    1. Terrific, thanks, Crystal. I need to get All The Answers, but have March. Happy Reading in the new year to you, too! I have more books you've shared on my next year's list!

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  2. All that wonderful reading, Linda - I am not as organized as you, and somewhere there are posits with various lists. But I've been reading, too, and gloriying in all the books that have come my way this year. Aren't we book worms lucky?!

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    1. Indeed we are, Tara. I enjoyed so many books this year! Happy New Year!

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  3. I am so happy that you also loved Winger! Ryan Dean West is one of my favourite characters ever! I was a HUGE fan of Navigating Early. My husband loved it too. There is a beautiful voice. That would be my recommendation.

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    1. And now I want to read the next one, of course! Thanks for sharing about Navigating Early! And Happy New Year, Carrie!

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  4. The Ascendance Trilogy was on my list too and I loved it! Several of my students started the year reading it also. Reading everyone's lists makes me realize once again: so many books, so little time!

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  5. Dear Linda, I love reading about your reading life! Sometimes I just have to move on, too -- so many new words and shiny covers calling! So many great verse novels this year... if you haven't read PAPER HEARTS or HOUSE ARREST, you'll want to add those to your list. Happy new year, Linda... wishing you joy peace love -- and poetry! xo

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    1. Thanks, Irene, there are so many books calling! Paper Hearts and House Arrest are definitely on my list. I've heard good things about both. Happy New Year to you as well.

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  6. I've read a lot of the the same ones you read, but none of the ones you didn't. I have House Arrest in the car from a library pickup and Half A Chance in my book club box. As soon as I finish Stella by Starlight, I'm off to read All the Light We Cannot See. It's wonderful that we'll never run out of books. I've always hesitated making these lists because I didn't want to feel guilty. I like the relaxed accountability! Happy New Year, looks like you were at the used bookstore today!

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    1. House Arrest is on its way from the library because its on the Cybils' finalists' list. I hope you love All The Light We Cannot See. It's simply wonderful. Happy New Year. I'm at the bookstore on Thursdays!

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  7. Hi, Linda! You had a great list, and of the ones you read, we had a good number in common-- several of which were great favorites for me. I loved the whole Ascendance Trilogy. I feel like Nielsen is an excellent writer of character-- her characters felt "real" to me in much the same way that J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter characters did-- and that's saying something. Cynthia Lord is another favorite of mine, and I loved Half a Chance. I know it sounds cliche, but All The Light We Cannot See was one of the most powerful books I've read in a good, long time.

    Like some others, I would highly recommend Navigating Early (such a great story, so beautifully written), and All the Answers. Thanks for sharing your list! Happy 2016-- may it be a year of wonderful reading! :)

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    1. Thanks for putting a second support for those two books. I'll definitely keep them on my lists for this year. Happy New Year filled with good reading to you, too!

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