Here’s what’s on my bookshelf right now with links to Amazon.com. If you need help understanding my rating system, there’s an explanation on the “My Ratings” page. These books are all upper elementary, middle school and YA fiction, as that’s what I’m focusing on at work.
What I’ve Read So Far This Summer
Hope Was Here, by Joan Bauer – My current BBE (Best Book Ever.) It replaced Before I Die, by Jenny Downham.
Peeled by Joan Bauer – Okay. (You can read my review by clicking on the title on the sidebar on the right side of this page.)
Best Foot Forward, by Joan Bauer – Good
Airhead, by Meg Cabot – Good
Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy, by Ally Carter – Good (You can read my review by clicking on the title on the sidebar on the right side of this page. I liked this second book in the series better that the first, so if you’re not sure after the first, I say try this one before you give up. According to the author’s website, there is a movie in the works, so if you’re a “read-the-book-before-you-see-the-movie” person, now’s the time!)
Howl’s Moving Castle, by Diana Wynne Jones – Awesome (although I think I’m going to have to read it a few more times to make sure I got it. My niece highly recommends the second book and it’s on my “To Read” list.)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, by Jeff Kinney – Awesome. Roderick Rules is good, too.
Defying the Diva, by D. Anne Love – Okay
How To Build a House, by Dana Reinhardt – Okay
A Northern Light, by Jennifer Donnelly – Awesome
Confessions of a Serial Kisser, by Wendelin Van Draanen – Good
Tears of a Tiger & Darkness Before Dawn by Sharon Draper – Awesome
Rumors, by Anna Godberson – Okay to Good. I really liked her first book, The Luxe, so this was a bit of a disappointment.
To Be Read Shelf
The Order of Odd-Fish, by James Kennedy (This book was written by a colleague’s husband and will be released on August 12. Go Odd-Fish go!)
Castle in the Air, by Diana Wynne Jones
The Lightening Thief, by Rick Riordan (I know you can’t believe I haven’t read the Percy Jones and the Olympians series. I can’t either.)
Little Brother, by Cory Doctrow
Boxer and the Spy, by Robert Parker
Sunrise Over Fallujah, by Walter Dean Myers
Bone Vol. One, by Jeff Smith
Naruto, Vol. 1, by Masashi Kishimoto
And of course, when it’s published in August, Breaking Dawn, the latest book in Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series will go on the shelf.
Happy reading. Let me know your opinions!
5 Comments
July 16, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Hey Marcia!
Cool rating system. I guess, as a librarian, I’m not really put off by the links to amazon.com. It would be cool to link to the library’s catalog, but if your audience is not just limited to people in Evanston, that doesn’t necessarily make sense. Or you could link to LibraryThing or GoodReads (another cool “2.0″ site we’ll discuss in Evanston Library Learns), but Amazon is great.
Can I make a suggestion for your “to read” list? How about “The Order of Odd-Fish” a new YA novel coming out Aug.12 on Delacorte Press. The author, James Kennedy, is my husband!
July 17, 2008 at 6:31 am
Heather-
“The Order of Odd-Fish” is now on the top of the “To Be Read Shelf.” I will use my blogging influence to make certain it is read far and wide!
July 21, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Hi Marcia!
Love the website and it brings back many memories of the books I used to spend hours reading that filled my “pre-teen and teen book shelf.” I particularly loved the Boxcar series and I hope that children continue to read them to date. I just finished a couple of books myself, “The Appeal” by John Grisham. After awhile his books sound the same but this one is an exception. If you haven’t had a chance to pick this one up, I highly recommend it. Mum just introduced me to “Infidel” which I have just begun reading. I sometimes prefer non fiction but always enjoy those light fun reads particularly in the summer such as “The Apprentice” and “Hotel Pastis” – anything set in France is always a plus.
Well I hope all is well and I look forward to hearing some recommendations that better fit my age group : )
Take care.
Love,
Steph
July 21, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Hi Marcia,
Would you like to post some reviews to “The Virtual Loft?” blog as well? That would be great!
I just finished Cory Doctorow’s book, “Little Brother.” I discovered that I can actually read on car trips now without getting car sick! It was a fascinating read and I think it’s a great book for all librarians (as well as teens and adults). The issues are so timely! I couldn’t put it down it was so interesting, but my main issue with the book is there are a number of “author interruptions,” where clearly the author is interjecting himself to explicate. Because his info was fascinating, it was a minor annoyance. Otherwise I think I would have been put off.
I’m with you about “A Northern Light.” Awesome!! I was disappointed with “Before I Die” though.
Look forward to more YA book chats!
Christie
September 25, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Nice mix of titles. Of those you listed here, I most enjoyed Cross My Heart… (Gallagher Girls is a cute, fun series) and How To Build a House.