Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Favorite Books Read in 2014

Today I'm participating in Top Ten Tuesday, a blog meme for posting a themed list for every Tuesday of the year!  Check out the meme here to see all of the lists, and here to see today's post if you want to join in!

This week's theme is Top Ten Books Read in 2014.  I have to say, I do have quite a few favorites! :)

Here are my favorites, in the order in which I read them:

1. Wonder by RJ Palacio
Although the copy I borrowed from the library was (heavily) chocolate stained, I couldn't put it down.  I still find myself thinking of this book whenever I call my puppy "Auggie-Dog."

2. Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins
I recommend this frequently at work to kids who are not quite ready for the Hunger Games series, or those who want a really awesome adventure story.  It doesn't hurt that Gregor is such a great character!  Plus, giant bats you can ride!!!

3. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
I read this one over my spring break while procrastinating on a final project.  I got the project done, but I was desperate to read the rest.  While I really enjoyed Fangirl, I do consider this one my favorite of the two.

4. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
I bought an e-book version of this on a whim when I saw it on sale for less than $3.  What a bargain!  I adore fairy tale retellings and this one was just so badass that I couldn't stop reading!  I've since finished Scarlett by my cousins are all nagging me to finish Cress already so we can talk about it!

5. Shug by Jenny Han
My supervisor at work is obsessed with Jenny Han.  Knowing this, I decided to give this one a shot.  How cute.  I love a good contemporary fiction story every now and then (not sure if there's such a thing as reading too much fantasy), and this was such a nice break from my usual routine.

6. Plain Kate by Erin Bow
I think I cried at least four times while reading this, and I have zero regrets.  I'll recommend this book to anyone that will listen.  Even though my heart broke a dozen times while reading it, I would do it again in an instant.  The beautiful writing, plus that wonderful cat companion, Taggle, made this one un-put-downable for me.

7. Every Day by David Levithan
Admittedly, I kinda raced through this one, but I enjoyed it nonetheless--so much so that I picked it for my teen department's next book club title.  I'm hoping they like it as much as I did!  David Levithan, master of LGBTQ fiction (and, well, awesomeness in general), made so many wonderful points about gender identity and sexuality without being preachy, all wrapped up in the coolest concept.  What if you woke up as someone else every day of your life?

8. Graceling by Kristin Cashore
I listened to the audio version, and, let me tell you--it was like listening to a play.  A really awesome play.  It was weird for me at first, because this audio had a full cast (a different actor for every character, plus a narrator), but that made it all the more enjoyable as I got used to it.  Wonderful voice acting, if you ever get the chance to listen!

9. Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes by Jonathan Auxier
My only regret is that I didn't get a chance to read this one in fewer sittings.  I had to take a couple of breaks from it, due to assigned readings, but holy wow is this one witty and delightful.  Auxier's writing reminded me a lot of Lemony Snicket, except a lot less... well, insulting to the reader.  Does that make sense?  It was immensely clever, but not in a way that put down the reader's intelligence.  So much sass!  Plus, Sir Tode was just too weird not to love.

10. Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
I love apocalyptic fiction.  It makes me completely anxious, and totally warps my brain as I'm reading it, but I love it all the same.   It's because of this title that I'm now starting on more apocalypse fiction now that the semester is over...  I had to do a big read-alike project with three titles from my syllabus (for which I also made lists on Eleanor & Park and Graceling), and this was my favorite.  I love diary format books, epistolary novels (letters), you name it--so this was very enjoyable.

And my runner up, up through the end of my teen lit course, was Akira: v. 1 by Katsuhiro Otomo.  I actually caught some of the movie on TV when I was about 11 years old, and was so freaked out by the graphic violence (and the guts--OMG, the guts) and million-year-old children that I was a little unsure about choosing this one to read for my class's graphic novel and comics week.  Well, surprise, surprise!  It was fantastic.  I guess I have grown up (and I've probably hardened a bit from watching The Walking Dead, although I have trouble reading that series).  I recently requested volume 2 via Inter-library Loan and can't wait to start!  It's crazy!

Half of my titles are actually from my two lit classes from spring and fall.  I've had to do a lot of reading for class in the past year, which can be pretty stressful, but it's so much more rewarding to actually enjoy the books assigned!

So, what were your favorite reads in 2014?

Read-Alikes: GRACELING

Image from Goodreads
FIND IT: YA CA

FOR FANS OF GRACELING BY KRISTIN CASHORE:

These titles have been selected not only on writing style and tone (comparable to Kristin Cashore's Graceling), but on three categories as well: characters with special abilities or powers; a setting primarily focused on kingdoms and royalty, with perhaps a "Medieval" feel to it; and novels featuring strong female main characters.  Readers that enjoyed any of these elements as presented in Graceling would likely enjoy any of the ten titles presented below, ranging from printed books, to digital audio books, to films, all covering these main components that readers of Cashore's Graceling Realm novels are familiar with.

Fiction about people with special abilities are reflective of the experience of difference--one that young people are all too familiar with.  Not only are these stories interesting, as the range of what counts as a special ability is so vast and infinitely possible, but they can be used to mirror the teen experience quite effectively.  We're all different, even in worlds immensely dissimilar to our own.

Fantasy fiction includes world-building as an incredibly essential component.  For readers looking for an escape from the real world, intricate world-building is essential.

Finally, young adult novels with strong female lead characters are rising in popularity (and availability), but it is how these young women choose to conduct themselves, despite opposition, that separates them from many women in YA fiction.

Use the key below to view the format of each recommendation.  To see the item in our catalog, click on the symbols provided above the "Find it" line.  If the item you want is unavailable, we can retrieve it for you from another library within SCLS.

CALL NUMBER KEY:

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Albin, G. (2012). Crewel. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

In Arras, some women are born with the ability to see the fabric of the universe as strands, and are able to manipulate them as they wish.  These women, known as Spinsters, have immense power and beauty, but are also under strict control by the Guild, who oversees the world and all its happenings.  Adelice has the gift of a Spinster, but her family trains her to hide her talents, so as not to be taken away from them. Using a compelling writing style and inventive world-building, Albin weaves society in which special abilities are revered, and controlled by those with power to abuse.   (368 pages)

FIND IT:  YA AL

Lu, M. (2014). The Young Elites. Rutherford, NJ: Putnam Pub. Group.

Not only did the blood fever in Kenettra kill most of its victims, but it left anyone unlucky enough to survive with a mutated appearance.  These mutants, known as malfettos, are unwanted, but those with unusual powers, dubbed the Young Elites, are the most reviled of all. Adelina was infected as a child, and discovers as a teen that she was also left with strange abilities.  The world-building and angst-filled writing will be sure to draw reader attention.  (336 pages)

FIND IT: ILL (in-house copy on order)

Mafi, T. (2011). Shatter me. New York, NY: Harper Teen.

Cursed with a touch that can kill, Juliette has been incarcerated for the better part of a year, far away from others.  Thinking herself unable to be around anyone else, for fear of killing them, she is suddenly presented with a cellmate, who is unaffected by her disturbing, unwanted power.  Juliette's situation multiplies in complexity as it becomes clear that both sides of an impending rebellion want to use her as a weapon and a symbol.  Readers looking for a suspenseful read will be satisfied with Mafi's dystopic debut. (352 pages)

 

FIND IT:  YA MA

Winter, R. (Producer) & Singer, B. (Director). (2000). X-men [Motion picture]. United States: 20th Century Fox.

Stigmatized for their strange powers, Mutants live in high tension alongside regular humans.  While out in the public, these Mutants are widely feared and shunned--but at Professor Xavier's school, a special institution that trains Mutants displaying special abilities, they are respected and welcomed.  Their training, however, comes in handy when the school's residents--known under Professor Xavier's tutelage as the X-Men--must band together to fight a group of Mutants with a sinister agenda.  Exciting and action-packed, this film shows just how important our talents can be, especially when we decide how to use them. (Rated PG-13, 104 min) 

FIND IT: DVD XME

A MEDIEVAL TIME

Carson, R. (2011). The girl of fire and thorns. New York, NY: Greenwillow Books.

Princess Elisa's strategic military strengths and general intelligence have gone largely ignored in light of her large size, but she is a Chosen One, as indicated by the Godstone she received as a baby.  Her kidnapping after an arranged marriage makes it necessary for her to use her under-appreciated abilities in battle, to great success, but is that enough to satisfy her desire for acknowledgement and respect?  Carson's emotionally intense writing, along with the world-building presented in the novel, will be a welcome change of pace for Graceling fans. (448 pages)

FIND IT: YA CA

Goldman, W. (1973). The princess bride: S. Morgenstern’s classic tale of true love and high adventure. New York, NY: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. 
This romantically-written, witty love story valuing inner strength and loyalty in love is full of humor, adventure and, yes, kissing.  Farm boy Wesley leaves Buttercup behind to seek his fortune so that they may marry, never to return (or does he?), while she is kidnapped as part an intricate plan to start a war with a neighboring country. This story-within-a-story is a light-hearted, humorous alternative to the imaginary kingdom presented in Graceling, showing readers the variety of fiction existing within similar settings. (308 pages print; 2 hrs, 33 min audio)

FIND IT: DIGITAL COLLECTION

 

Maas, S. J. (2012). Throne of glass. New York: Bloomsbury.

Celaena, a dangerous female assassin, has been imprisoned for her crimes for over a year, and is unlikely to leave until she is given a deal: either enter a brutal, murderous competition to become a contracted assassin for the royal king, or face the rest of her life laboring away in the mines.  Her interest in actually serving the king does not matter--it's the chance of freedom that does.  Those who perhaps want more of the Grace that Katsa had honed in Graceling, but in the form of a girl who is apparently very comfortable with her line of work, may enjoy this compelling first in a series. (416 pages)

FIND IT: YA MA

Marchetta, M. (2010). Finnikin of the rock. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.

After the Lumatere royal family was murdered, a curse was placed upon the land: a curse preventing anyone from entering (or escaping) the doomed kingdom.  Finnikin promises to restore the Lumateran throne and seeks Prince Balthazar, who is rumored to have survived the slaughter.  Marchetta's exquisitely detailed world, compelling writing style, and honorable characters make for gripping tale. (399 pages)

FIND IT:YA MA

STRONG FEMALE LEAD

LaFevers, R. (2012). Grave mercy. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin.

Ismae, hailed as the "daughter of Death," has been graced with a violent gift for killing, and becomes trained as an assassin.  Her abilities grow and strengthen, and she is assigned to watch Duval, a man who may be a traitor, in order to protect the Duchess of Brittany.  However, her job becomes exponentially more difficult when she falls in love with him. Written in a romantic tone to match that of Graceling, readers will enjoy reading a setting taken out of real life (15th century Brittany, France), and seeing how history plays into fantasy.  (416 pages)

FIND IT: YA LA

Rutkoski, M. (2014). The winner’s curse. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

·     The Valorians are a conquering people, as shown by their many enslavements of other races, like the Herrani. When Lady Kestrel, the daughter of a powerful general, buys a Herrani slave at an auction without real motive, she does not expect to fall for him.  Their romance is impossible, of course, due to their rigid class relationship, but nonetheless present and painful.  Lady Kestrel, who does not wish to marry or join the Valorian army, despite her father's wishes, reflects Lady Katsa’s distaste for traditional marriage, and her resentment of being her uncle’s thug.  Readers who liked Katsa's independent mindset will appreciate Rutkoski's first installment in the exciting Winner's trilogy. (368 pages)

FIND IT: YA RU

Doing It by Melvin Burgess

Image from Goodreads

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Burgess, Melvin. Doing it. Square Fish, 2012 (reprint). 352 pages. $9.99. 978-0-312551353.

This angsty, humorous novel follows the romantic happenings of best friends Dino, Jon, and Ben; as they discover what they do and do not want in their respective relationships.  Dino, gorgeous, popular, and conceited, constantly pressures Jackie into having sex she isn't ready for. Jon has difficulty coming to terms with his attraction to overweight Deborah, which makes him a target for ridicule among his friends.  Ben has been harboring a secret for the last few years: his relationship with their teacher, Miss Young, who becomes steadily more unhinged as the story progresses.

While the sexual content itself is abundantly obvious, the copious amounts of British slang may cause confusion for American audiences, making familiarity with foreign vocabulary somewhat essential to fully understand the text.  Still, given the nature of the text, curious teens will likely continue on, in spite of the unfamiliar word choices, and laugh throughout the book.  However, given its raunchy subject matter, professionals may be wary of recommending this Burgess novel, and teens themselves will be secretive while seeking it.

Matched by Ally Condie

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Condie, Ally. Matched. Dutton Juvenile, 2010. 369 p. $17.99. 978-0-525423645.

Cassia Reyes, like most teenagers in the Society, is excited to be Matched to her perfect mate. When her Match turns out to be her best friend, Xander, she is very pleased.  But when she inspects her microcard at home with her Match's information, she sees another face on the screen: her childhood friend, Ky.  How can Cassia have two Matches?  The Society does not make mistakes, and the Officials are quick to try to clear up the incident.  But when Cassia starts falling for Ky, everything becomes unclear.  Could this be the most perfect mistake of them all?

In the midst of many dystopian novels, Ally Condie spins a romance in a world eerily similar to that of Lois Lowry's The Giver (1993).  Cassia's Society gives its people very little choice, under the guise of efficiency and structure.  While Condie may draw in readers with the promise of a love triangle, it is decidedly one-sided from the beginning.  Readers will have to continue on in the series if they are devoted to seeing all sides of Cassia's potential relationships. 

The Riverman by Aaron Starmer

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Starmer, Aaron. The Riverman. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2014. 320 p. $15.99. 978-0374363093

"To sell a book, you need a description on the back. So here's mine: My name is Fiona Loomis. I was born on August 11, 1977. I am recording this message on the morning of October 13, 1989. Today I am thirteen years old. Not a day older. Not a day younger."

My coworkers have been raving about this book for the last several weeks.  In the spirit of Halloween, and in the hopes of going a little bit beyond my reading comfort zone, I decided to give it a try.  Normally, I'm not into creepy stuff.

When Fiona approaches Alistair to "pen" her autobiography, he is a little confused.  What would a 12-year-old girl want with an autobiography?  And why him?  As it turns out, Fiona's life story is more than a little unusual.  She claims to have been visiting the world of Aquavania, a world of creativity and imagination, since she was four years old and discovered the portal in her basement boiler room.  In Aquavania, she is like a God, with her imagination coming to life--she is the creator of her own perfect world.  She finds other kids in Aquavania, kids that have created fantastic lives of their own.  The possibilities seem unlimited, and it is all almost too good to be true, until the other kids start disappearing...  Because, you see, they don't just disappear in Aquavania--they disappear from the real world as well, and Fiona fears that she may be next.  Her fear of the Riverman is a strong one--but Alistair doesn't know what to believe.  Is Fiona delusional, or is she really visiting this other world?  He must decide what he believes, before it's too late to help her.

Starmer's newest YA series, The Riverman Trilogy, takes place in a relatively sleepy upstate New York town in the late 1980s.  Having access only to Alistair's mind, save for little vignettes of Fiona's adventures in Aquavania (as dictated for him to record for later), one must decide whether or not to believe Fiona, or Alistair.  Is there such a thing as Aquavania?  Or the Riverman, stealing children's souls?  Or is Fiona just making it all up, to cover up something even more sinister happening in her life?  While she claims to be spending more and more time in Aquavania, Alistair is growing more and more concerned for her.  As a reader, you can't help but share that concern... but whether it is for her safety in Aquavania or the real world--that is for you to decide.

With an easy and enticing, fluid writing style, Starmer hooks you to the page until the very end.  As my coworker kept saying, the whole thing is just so real.  If you're anything like me, you'll be on the edge of your seat while Alistair dares to play a dangerous game in the middle of the road with his strange best friend and his unhinged (and very drunk) older brother.  Your heart might beat just a little bit faster while reading Fiona's descriptions of her time in Aquavania when things stop being fun, and start getting scary.  This book has it all: fantasy, mystery, explosions, and adventure.  Even after you finish The Riverman, you'll be thinking about it for days and days after--I know that I haven't stopped.  This is a book that stays with you.  If you want to decide for yourself if Fiona is telling the truth or not about her days in Aquavania, or learn more about who the Riverman really is, then be sure to pick up a copy at your local library.  You won't be able to put it down.

Cirque du Freak: A Living Nightmare by Darren Shan

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Image from Goodreads

Shan, Darren. Cirque du Freak: A Living Nightmare. Little, Brown Young Readers, 2000. 266p. $15.95. 978-0-316603409.

An illegal freak show has come to town, and school friends Steve, Darren, Alan, and Tommy must get tickets.  Too bad they're only allowed to get two with their flyer.  When Steve and Darren are chosen to go, they concoct a plan to sneak out to see the show--and, oh, is it worth it.  Giants, contortionists, monsters, and more leave the entire audience in awe--and fear.  Things take a turn for the worse when Steve demands to be turned into a vampire and threatens to blackmail one of the show's performers.  And when Darren steals a venomous performing spider, and his friend is bitten, he'll have to do the unthinkable to save him...

Shan weaves a simultaneously creepy and humorous story with his autobiographical tone and frank descriptions of fear and death.  Readers will be on the edge of their seat with excitement as Darren trains the vicious spider, attempts to cure his friend's deadly condition, and interacts with various dark creatures.  This dark and creepy series will be a favorite for readers that want to get a little scared.

Summer of Secrets by Paul Langan

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Langan, Paul. Summer of Secrets. Townsend Press, 2004. 160p. $3.99. 978-0-439-90491-9.

Secrets are consuming Darcy Wills.  Her parents are fighting a lot, but will not tell her why.  Her sister, Jamee, has been lying about where she's been lately.  Darcy herself has dark secrets of her own.  She can't sleep or focus, and can't bring herself to tell her friends and family why.  Her anxiety multiplies when her old friend Brisana gets romantically involved with an older boy who does not seem to care about her at all, but when Brisana finally comes to her for help, will there be an easy solution?  This summer off from Bluford High just might be their most difficult one yet.

Readers will be totally immersed in this fast-paced summertime drama, written in an engaging, yet no-frills style by series editor Paul Langan.  Summer of Secrets does not skimp on the excitement, letting the tension build up until the very end.  Occasional typos and spelling mistakes may temporarily distract the reader, but they will continue eagerly to find out what becomes of Darcy and Brisana.

A must-read for fans of the TV series Degrassi: the Next Generation.

From Stacked: YA in Translation

In my teen materials class, we recently discussed foreign young adult books.  For the week's reading, we had a choice between several translated YA books from countries such as Spain and the Netherlands.  How cool to find this post from book review blog Stacked talking about translated YA books in the publishing world.  Click here to see the post from their Get Genrified series.

... and definitely stick around for the list of translated YA titles at the end!  I've only heard of a few of them, one being No and Me by Delphine de Vigan, and possibly Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier (although that may just be confusion with another book cover).

Try to pay attention to the translators' names--I recognized a few of them!  Anthea Bell, for example, translates a lot of German fiction, including Cornelia Funke's Inkheart series and The Thief Lord.  Another translator on the list, Margaret Sayers Peden, was the translator for the book I reviewed in a previous post, The Valley of the Wolves from Spanish author Laura Gallego Garcia.  A lot of the same names come up, if you look around.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore (audiobook)

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Cashore, Kristin. Graceling. Harcourt, 2008. 471 p. $17.00. 978-0152063962.

     Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight—she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug.

     When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change. She never expects to become Po’s friend. She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace—or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.          [summary from Amazon]

Let me start by saying that audiobooks have really grown on me in the last year or so.  I do a lot more driving now than I used to, and it is hard to find time to read for pleasure.  Audiobooks have proven to be a fantastic way for me to keep up on my reading (both for fun and for class), and are quite refreshing--it's nice to be read to every once in a while, as an adult!

THE STORY:
I have a little bit of a fascination with eyes in the fictional world, so Graceling was a pleasant surprise.  I went into it blind (pun not intended), and enjoyed the world-building Cashore presented through the description of the Graced.  This type of physical attribute made me label the book as another dystopian, but despite the book market being completely saturated with dystopian young adult novels, but not in the way I've become used to.  This novel does not scream "SCI-FI FUTURISTIC REBELLION" like most of its contemporaries do (I'm looking at you, Hunger Games).  Cashore's depiction of the Graced is well-rounded and, frankly, quite interesting.  The idea of bearing a special skill (some more "useful" than others) due to having two different eye colors is an innovative and unique idea.  There is no crazy government experiment or particular technology that makes this happen.  I appreciated that in its simplicity.

What endeared me most to Graceling was the development of the relationship between Katsa and Prince Po.  What starts out as a reluctant friendship turns into one of great trust and respect, which is ultimately tested by the revelation of an enormous secret regarding Po's Grace.  Katsa has gone through so much inner turmoil regarding her own Grace--making their mutual understanding more difficult to attain, and making it infinitely more valuable.

Finally, I greatly appreciated Cashore's depiction of romantic relationships, which she does without patronizing young readers.  There is a certain responsibility we must take in deciding what steps to take in a romantic partnership, and we have to choose what feels right for ourselves.  Cashore's non-didactic approach to sex, marriage, and romance is liberating and supportive of individual right.

THE AUDIO:
The audio version of Graceling was produced by Full Cast Audio, in a total of eleven 70-75 minute CDs.  Before this title, I had never listened to an audiobook narrated by a full cast.  Although it took some getting used to, I loved it.

This audiobook had my attention from the very beginning, and I found myself shouting out loud in excitement and anguish in response to the events of the story.  I have never been so participatory with an audiobook before Graceling.  I'm no expert, but that has to say something!

Katsa's voice grew on me over the course of the novel.  In the beginning she is harsh and serious, but her affectionate moments and instances of strong emotion make for a spectacular performance.  Po's thoughtful and joking personality shines through in Zachary Exton's portrayal of the Lenid prince.  His warm, passionate voice made for an easy favorite!  Overall, the casting was very well done--what an entertaining and talented cast.

FINAL NOTES:
For some bizarre reason, I could not help but think of The Princess Bride while listening to this.  I'm not saying this because Katsa, Po, or any other character particularly reminded me of anyone from William Goldman's fabulous fantasy, but the "medieval" setting and kingdoms galore helped me make that connection.  That being said, The Princess Bride is one of my favorite books (and movies), and this little thought made me appreciate Cashore's story a little bit more.

Highly recommended, both for the story and for the audiobook's production.  I will absolutely be listening to the sequel, Fire, as soon as I am able!  I am hooked.

Recommended for:
Those who sit in the car for several hours a week, those interested in a more medieval setting (including those wanting a break from all the high-tech dystopian futures), and those with an openness exploring the origins of unusual talent.

The Valley of the Wolves by Laura Gallego Garcia

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Gallego Garcia, Laura. The Valley of the Wolves. Arthur A. Levine Books, 2006. 247 p. $16.99. 0-439-58553-8.

*translated into English by Margaret Sayers Peden

Dana has grown up on a farm with a very large family, and yet has always felt very alone.  Her strange friendship with a boy that only she can see has prevented her from forming relationships with those around her.  Still, with Kai, her unusual friend, by her side, she is happy enough with her lot in life.  However, when it becomes apparent that Dana has an aptitude for magic, she is whisked away to a faraway academy of sorcery known as The Tower, and begins her training to become a maga.  She moves through her lessons with grace, and she steadily gains confidence in her talents.  The mystery of Kai's origins still elude her, and she becomes even more curious when she is visited by the image of a powerful female sorcerer who comes to her with a request.  In her efforts to learn more about her visions, she may find out more than she originally bargained for.

The Valley of the Wolves is a fast-paced tale of magic with a strong focus on friendship, the love we have for those closest to us, and what we will do to protect them.  There are few typographical inconsistencies in an otherwise smooth translation, but readers will nonetheless wait with anticipation to find out Kai's secret origins, Dana's true magical ability, and the loyalties of the mysterious Maestro and Fenris, her fellow student of sorcery.  The magical atmosphere is not alarmingly present in the text, but those looking for a Hogwartsian setting may be pleasantly surprised.

Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Books I Want to Reread

Today I'm participating in Top Ten Tuesday, a blog meme for posting a themed list for every Tuesday of the year!  Check out the meme here to see all of the lists, and here to see today's post if you want to join in!

My top ten reread choices (if I only had the time) are:

1. Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry - I've reread The Giver several times in the last few years, for class and for fun.  While I like the book, I'm getting really tired of all the hype, and it'd be refreshing to read one of its sequels again for a change.
2. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater - I'm very aware of my fangirl status for Maggie Stiefvater now, but this is the book that started it.  I was skeptical because of the werewolf component (the Twilight series and its contemporaries really turned me off to the whole vampires vs. werewolves thing), but I ended up loving it.  Now I will read anything she puts out!
3. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein - I picked this book up on a whim and I loved it!  I recently found out that there was a companion novel released...  Maybe I should read that one before rereading this!
4. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - I have an ulterior motive for wanting to reread this one...  I'm leading a teen book discussion on it in a couple of weeks!  I'd listen to the audio book to save time, but it really is kind of dangerous to be driving while crying hysterically...
5. Plain Kate by Erin Bow - I adored this book and I felt so many emotions while reading it (meaning I cried about four times).  I borrowed it from the library, but I have been yearning for my own copy ever since I finished it.
6. Homeward Bounders by Diana Wynne Jones - Okay, so I've read this quite a few times already...  But it is probably my favorite DWJ novel and I think of it constantly!
7. It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini - Another one that I've read a couple of times...  I would never mind reading it again.  It's a story that remains close to my heart.
8. Be More Chill by Ned Vizzini - Another Ned book, yes--but this one is just so delightfully bizarre that I really think it deserves a reread.
9. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan - I read the entire (first) series back when I was doing my undergrad, and it was surprisingly helpful when I was taking my classical mythology class!  My cousins are all reading the follow-up series, The Heroes of Olympus, and I feel like I'm really behind.  Maybe I should just read some summaries...?
10. Charmed Thirds by Megan McCafferty - I never thought I'd enjoy the Jessica Darling series when my friend recommended that I read Sloppy Firsts way back when, but I ended up really loving (and relating) to Jessica and have tried to acquire the entire series for myself.  I was rereading them a year or so ago, but didn't have the time to continue.  I think I left off at Charmed Thirds.

That's my list!  What books have you been dying to reread?  Share with me in the comments below!

Let's Get Crafty: The Big-Ass Book of Crafts by Mark Montano

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Image from Goodreads

Montano, Mark. The Big-Ass Book of Crafts. Simon Spotlight Entertainment, 2008. 384p. $19.95. 978-1-4169-3785-2.

Montano's enormous book of craft ideas gives even the novice crafter a plethora of possible projects.  Covering a range of themes, from body beauty products, to wooden masterpieces, to the just plain artsy, and everything in-between, Montano ensures the reader that there is certainly a craft for them.  With bizarre chapter titles (Artsy Fartsy, You've Been Framed, and I Made This for You... So You Better Love It, among others), out-of-the-ordinary project ideas, and the book's ridiculously blatant title, it will be difficult not to attract teens.

The Big-Ass Book of Crafts will certainly keep project-seekers busy and entertained.  However, there is a definite possibility of frustration when the crafts' instructions require the use of a jigsaw or drill bits, which may not be easily accessible (or affordable) for the young audience the book targets.  Still, teens may find it fun to flip through the book and admire the many crafts, and use them as a base for their own original craft ideas.  Advanced crafters will certainly be in their element.

Share this with the crafty teen looking to keep their hands busy, those with a lot of free time, and anyone up for a bit of a challenge.

Article Review: Can photos alone make nonfiction more fun?

Article:

Cart, M. (2010). The eyes have it - other visual forms: Photo essays and the new nonfiction. In Young adult literature: From romance to realism (pp. 179-185). Chicago: ALA.

Nonfiction for youth has certainly had a rough history.  Cart guides us through the last century or so of nonfiction meant for children and teens, with some distressing statistics.  Thanks to library grants from the National Defense Education Act and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, unimpressive nonfiction titles were made a thing of the past and series nonfiction were released in all their colorful, photographed glory... until the money ran out and children and teens (and let's not forget the librarians) were, again, left disappointed.

Cart mentions the emergence of "lexigraphical" nonfiction, as famously produced by Dorling Kindersley (DK Publishing) (181).  The combination of detailed, colorful, or otherwise interesting photos and illustrations with informational text was revolutionary in that it got kids to read and enjoy nonfiction.  I am in full agreement that the images and text inform each other and help to improve the reading (and learning) experience for the young reader--even for the old reader!

I think that readers, young and old alike, do not truly realize that, unlike fiction, nonfiction does not need to be read fully or consecutively.  Unless you are truly interested in a subject, or are particularly immersed in the reading experience, there may not be a need to read a nonfiction book in its entirety.  I feel that this is part of what turns people off from reading nonfiction--it has a (long) history of being boring and unappealing, and there is that connotation of it being "just a school thing," (184) so why would anyone want to read it in full, when there are so many more interesting things you could be doing?  You can still enjoy a nonfiction title while maybe not reading the entire text--just stick to what catches your eye (hopefully, it's not just the pictures) and continue as you see fit.

While children's nonfiction is certainly plentiful, having seen many juvenile nonfiction sections across libraries, oftentimes young adult fiction seems to get very little notoriety or attention in the teen room.  What little may exist in the collection is likely collecting dust in the space, or is relocated to adult nonfiction with no indication but a simple "YA" spine label.  Teens do not seem to realize that nonfiction can be enjoyable, so these titles get left on the back burner (or, rather, in the adult stacks) and they rarely see the light of day.  Children's nonfiction has had quite the number of makeovers in its existence as a genre, so that now we have access to beautiful photographs in each nonfiction picture book, with enthusiastic colors and text, simply bursting from the shelves.  I see plenty of kids that are excited to take home a nonfiction book, whether it be on mammals or outer space, and even though publishing is still working hard to make nonfiction more appealing for a teen audience, I think they still have a long way to go before teens stop rolling their eyes at the YA librarian for suggesting they take home that JFK biography for some light weekend reading.

Adding more photos, illustrations, fiction-like narratives, or comic book elements to nonfiction are a great start to reinventing the reputation of youth nonfiction.  At the same time, it is a science that has still not been fully explored.

I cannot say for sure whether or not the inclusion of photos or illustrations are the only way to improve youth nonfiction, but maybe that just means it is time to experiment!