Thanks to Carrie Gelson of There's A Book for That for hosting a #MustRead group each year for those who continue to create a list of lonely books on shelves or lists that we are excited about when bought or listed, then ignore, or find others that call more loudly. See the above link to Carrie's blog to find out more!
I still haven't read them all, but three more since the last update, shown in red. Here's what has happened thus far--ten out of thirteen! Of those recent three, don't miss any! Of course it depends on the genre you love or the age you want to read for. They are all terrific with their own unique stories.
Earlier books read are in blue, with links to my reviews on Goodreads.
Mary's Monster - Lita Judge
The Poet X - Elizabeth Acevedo
Illegal - Eoin Colfer & Andrew Donkin
Blood Water Paint - Joy McCullough
I Am Still Alive - Kate Alice Marshall
Front Desk - Kelly Yang
Children of Blood and Bone - Toni Adeyemi
Dry - Neal Shusterman
Me And Marvin Gardens - A.S. King
Solo & Swing - Kwame Alexander
Educated: A Memoir - Tara Westover
Becoming - Michelle Obama
Visit Kellee and Ricki at UnleashingReaders and Jen at Teach Mentor Texts to see what they've been reading, along with everyone else who post their favorites.
And Cathy Mere & Mandy Robek remind here that it's nearly time for #PB10for10! Are you getting ready?
Sixth-grader Obe Devlin has a lot of troubles. His beloved family farm has been gone for a while, most of it lost by a great-grandfather who "drank dirt" (you need to read it) and a small, beloved patch with a creek saved by a spunky great-grandmother. That 'patch' is where Obe lives and where, collecting trash that floats down into the creek, he discovers a wonder of a friend, one he is in need of, but this friend is nothing he's ever seen before, a combination of pig, dog, perhaps a peccary. Obe just isn't sure! We do discover other troubles, like his loss of his earlier best friend, gone to be with the crowd now living in the suburban homes built on the Devlin land. Obe tells this story, his problems, and his loves, like having still another friend from the bus named Annie, always with smiles and tissues for his constant nosebleeds. No worries, yes, there are worries. And A.S. King also lets Obe tell what's happening on this land 100 years ago, a perfect connection, but heartbreaking, too. The thread that binds is the environment. To Obe's science teacher, April is Earth Month, not just for one day, and it is she who tells about the need for everyone to do something to save the earth. Obe's love for nature, then for this new creature and his steadfast beliefs that make him stay lonely, showing his commitment to doing the right thing. You will love this character created by A.S. King. She writes that it took her a long time to write about losing a beloved cornfield, "something beautiful and magical replaced with something more convenient". I am so glad that she did.
This is from my #MustReadin2019 list. Why did I wait so long?
It's not the greatest dystopian book I've ever read, but it goes quickly and I imagine middle grade/early teens would love it. I'd love to see more character development, but perhaps that will happen in the next books. I am intrigued to think of what would happen if everything went dark, all electricity, all technology, and so on. It's like a sci-fi beach read, good for summer and I will read the next ones!
