Top Ten Authors I Wish Would Write Another Book

Authors I wish could write more books/plays...

1. Jane Austen...I love all of her novels and her book fragments. Oh, what I'd give to have even a few more of her books to read and place in my Jane Austen book rotation.

2. Harper Lee...I realize that To Kill a Mockingbird is just about the perfect novel. Wouldn't it be lovely if she gave us another one?

3. Shakespeare...I have this funny little fantasy about being the person who locates a previously unknown Shakespeare play. Wouldn't that be awesome?

4. Olive Ann Burns...You may not have heard of her, Ms. Burns only wrote one book before she died but it was a good one...Cold Sassy Tree.  She wrote part of the sequel before she died and it just whet my whistle for more.  Alas it is not to be.

5. Emily Bronte...The author of Wuthering Heights died before she had a chance to write another masterful, Gothic novel. I actually like the book written by her sister Charlotte better.  Jane Eyre is one of my favorites but I don't feel like I have any room to complain about not having enough from Charlotte when I haven't read any of her other novels.

6. JK Rowling...she is such a fabulous author, surely she has more books in her.  We want more. We want more. We want more!

Hmmm. Can't think of any others right now.  I hope to be inspired by others' lists!

2011 Cybils Finalists for Young Adult Fiction are...

The Cybils: Children's and Young Adult Bloggers Literary Awards have announced their 2011 finalists.

I am really delighted with this list and will include reviews if I have read the book.

Cybils for Young Adult Fiction, the finalists are:

• Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins---a debut author with a touching romance/coming-of-age story set in Paris. Read my review here.

• Between Shades of Grey by Ruta Sepetys---historical fiction set in Stalin's Russia about a family deported from Lithuania to Siberia. This book is absolutely riveting.  Read my review here.

• Bunheads by Stephanie Flack---I've only recently become aware of this novel about the lives of ballerinas who have to give up nearly everything else to pursue a career in dance.

• Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King--- I really like this quirky book about a bullied boy, his dysfunctional family, and dreams of his grandfather who was MIA in Vietnam. This book gave me a lot to think about and the ending is hopeful. My review is here.

• Frost by Marianna Baer---this is the first I have heard of this psychological and paranormal suspenseful book. Since my students are often looking for "scarey" books I will look in to purchasing it for my library.

• Leverage by Joshua Cohen---"Told in two distinct, believable voices, this story about an unlikely friendship between a mouthy gymnast and a quiet football player wowed panelists in every possible way: muscle, heart and mind. It deals with bullying and abuse." We decided to not include this book in our Mock Printz list of books this year because of the explicit rape scene, but in sounds like we should have.  Several boys have told me that they think the book is very good. It's time for me to read it and see for my self.

• Stupid Fast by Geoff Herbach---This one has been on my list of books to read for a while now.  I've ordered it for the library but it hasn't arrived.  It sounds like just the type of book that boys like to read. "Both funny and heartbreaking, Stupid Fast drops readers into 15-year-old Felton's mind as he replays the events of the summer that changed his life."

Click on the links for the 2011 Finalists in all the categories:
Book Apps
Easy Readers & Early Chapter Books
Fantasy & Science Fiction (Middle Grade)
Fantasy & Science Fiction (Young Adult)
Fiction Picture Books
Graphic Novels
Middle Grade Fiction
Nonfiction for Middle Grade & Young Adult
Nonfiction Picture Books
Poetry
Young Adult Fiction


Winners will be announced on February 14th. 

Time to get reading!

Sunday Salon...Jan.8

Sunday Salon---January 8, 2012

Happy New Year!

Family doings: My family helped my father-in-law celebrate his 80th birthday yesterday.  We drove down to Portland, Don's brother and sister-in-law drove up from Grants Pass, and several other family members came from as far away as Texas. It was a very special day.
 
I'm listening to: Two different books on CD, obviously not at the same time: The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan about the Dust Bowl in the 1930s. It is very interesting but also depressing. My family and I listened to half of His Dark Endeavors by Kenneth Oppel last night.  It is the "prequel" to the Frankenstein story. We didn't finish the CDs on our tip home so now we are all going to have to take turns listening to the last few CDs as we drive to and from work this week.

Book finished this week: The Death Cure by James Dashner, the third book in the Maze Runner trilogy.

I'm reading: The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler.

Lists I am making: Books I read for book clubs last year and which ones were my favorites. I hope to sort that out and make a blog post on that soon.

Scripture lesson in church: Mark 14:28 "But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee." 

I'm praying for: The family of the park ranger who was murdered on Mr. Rainier this week. She had two children ages two and four.

Around the house: The house is still in a "state" as Christmas is only half undone. Ugh.

From the kitchen: My youngest daughter was home so I taught her how to make Eggplant Parmesan. We used lowfat cheese which wasn't as good as the regular fat kind but otherwise it was yummy as usual.

On the Web: Banished Words for 2012.

A favorite quote this week: When we were telling stories family stories at Chet's 80th birthday He said that he always told his sons that he didn't want to hear about them playing in the mines around their house. To which my husband replied, "That's right, dad, you never did hear about us playing in the mines." (They lived in an old gold-mining community.)

Snapshot Saturday...Jan. 7

Snapshot Saturday is hosted by At Home with Books.

 

In honor of the University of Oregon Ducks, who won the Rose Bowl against University of Wisconsin earlier this week, I am posting a photo taken at a Duck game earlier in the season by my cousin. The photo is of me and my husband at Autzen Stadium waiting for the game to begin. My parents have season tickets and we sit with them and my cousin and his wife.  It is a lot of fun to socialize and be part of the college football experience.

Review: The Death Cure

My. My. My.

The Death Cure by James Dashner is the final book in the Maze Runner trilogy and, as I said in an earlier blog post, I had a really tough time getting any traction reading it. After devouring both of its predecessors I could barely make myself read more than a few pages per sitting. That is until I reached the last 50 pages and then I tore through it at break-neck speed. Right up to the epilogue I had no idea how things were going to work out.  And there was that pesky book title: "The Death Cure."  Did it mean what I thought it meant? I was pondering this question all the way up to the last chapter.  Talk about stringing the reader along. Ha!

Hmmm.m.m.m.m.

So overall, what did I think of The Death Cure? In a lot of ways I think this book suffered in comparison to the first two books in the trilogy, like Mockingjay wasn't as good as the first two Hunger Games books.  It had moments of brilliance and the ending was powerful but the majority of the book didn't live up to the hype. But that doesn't mean that overall I didn't like it.  In fact, I think the flavorful taste I have in my mouth from the last bite of this book will stay with me longer than my memory of the slowness I experienced at the beginning. If you have read Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials, by all means grab this book and find out how it all works out.

And. And. And.....

The prequel to this series, The Kill Order, is due out in August.  You had better believe that I will be one of the first in line to get it.

Happy reading!

Review: Cloaked by Alex Flinn

My family and I listened to the audiobook of Cloaked by Alex Flinn on a recent holiday car trip and it was a joy to share the experience together. My husband was a bit skeptical that he wouldn't like the book since it a YA book and a fairy tale to boot. But the story sucked us all in and soon we were all laughing together and guessing what would happen next as we merrily drove along. In fact, at one point in the trip I was in another car, so my husband and daughters listened without me. When I rejoined them everyone was very excited to tell me what I had missed.

Alex Flinn, the author of the very popular book Beastly, said that he wanted to create a story using more obscure fairy tales, ones that didn't have a movie about them. Cloaked is set in modern times but it is also a mash-up of over five fairy tales, many I'd never even heard of before.  What fun!  It did make for zany scenes and magical events.  But that just increased the charm of this very family-friendly book.  I think this book will appeal to preteens through adults.

Check out the trailer and I think you'll get the idea of what a fun, different book Cloaked is:

Top Ten Books I'm Excited to Read in 2012

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

Here is my list of books I am looking forward to reading in 2012.  Some have not been published, but most are just books I am eager to read and I haven't gotten to yet. (The list is in random order.)

1. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green---I'm on the countdown for this book which is set to come out next week.
2. Insurgent  by Veronica Roth---sequel to Divergent a very good, exciting dystopian novel by a debut author. Due out May 1st.
3. Inheritance by Christopher Paolini---I am on the list at the public library for the audio version of this book.  I checked yesterday.  I am currently 46th in line.  It will be months before I get a chance to listen to this one. 
4. Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore--- the third book in the Graceling series.  I was enthralled by Graceling and its prequel, Fire. This is due out in May.
5. The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler---I have this book in my hot little hands and won't let go until I read it.
6. Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson---Amy and Roger's Epic Detour was one of my favorite reads from last summer.  It is now one of the most popular books in my library with older girls. Is this a sequel or a story that stands on its own?  I don't know but I hope to find out in May.
7. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake---one of my colleagues raves about this book so I must check it out.
8. Stick by Andrew Smith---students who have read this return it with glowing reports.
9. Death Comes to Pemberly by P.D. James---This was the only book I asked for Christmas. As an unashamed Jane Austen fan I am looking forward to this book more than any others on my list.
10. ???---The great unknown book.  Every year there is some book that I absolutely love that I stumble upon.  What book will it be this year?

It's Monday, January 2 and I'm reading...

 

I'm Reading:

The Death Cure by James Dashner...the third book in the Maze Runner trilogy. For some reason I can't seem to get any traction on this book.  I really, really like its two predecessors, so I must bear down and I'm sure I will find my rhythm.

I'm listening to:

The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl by Timothy Egan...a nonfiction book. I like the author and find his writing very accessible. I also enjoy listening to
Patrick Lawlor, the reader for this audiobook.

I recently finished:

Cloaked by Alex Flinn...a very cute, family-friendly, modern fairy tale. This one had me smiling, laughing, and hanging on the edge of my seat.

What's Up Next?

• Fragile Beasts by Tauni O'Dell...this is one of my book club selections for this month.  I have heard wonderful things about this book and can't wait to get started.
• The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler...My youngest daughter read this over the holiday break and she really liked it.  I think I will read it myself before I make it available to my students. (One of the perks of the job!)

Best books for teens 2011

The Kirkus Reviews just posted their top 30 best books for teens. Talk about a freak out for me.  I try so hard to stay on top of the best of the best when it comes to YA Lit, yet I've only read 9 of the books on the list while I've never even heard of 17 books of them. Here is the first 12 on the list. Go to Kirkus Reviews for the other 18.

ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD

by Kendare Blake

ANYA'S GHOST

by Vera Brosgol

ASHFALL

by Mike Mullin

BEAUTY QUEENS

by Libba Bray

BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY

by Sepetys Ruta

BLACK & WHITE

by Larry Dane Brimner

BLINK AND CAUTION

by Tim Wynne-Jones

BOOTLEG

by Karen Blumenthal

BROOKLYN BURNING

by Steve Brezenoff

BUNHEADS

by Sophie Flack

CHIME

by Franny Billingsley

DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE

by Laini Taylor

This is the first 12 books on their list.  Hop over to the Kirkus Reviews Website for the full list.

My Favorite 2011 YA Novels

My favorite YA novels of 2011

1. Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglass Adams
2. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
3.  Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor 
4. Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey 
5. Stolen by Lucy Christopher 
6. Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson 
7. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys 
8. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
   
9. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
   
10. A Hat Full of Sky by Terry Pratchett
    
11. Jane by April Lindner 
12. Blink and Caution by Tim Wynne-Jones 
13. Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly 
14. Beauty Queens by Libba Bray 
15. Hold Still by Nina LaCour 
16. Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai 
17. Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King 
18. Divergent by Veronica Roth 
19. Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King 
20. Paper Covers Rock by Jenny Hubbard 
21. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins 
22. The Freak Observer by Blythe Woolston 
23. The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Cathrynne M. Valente  
24. Cloaked by Alix Flinn 
25. Boom! by Mark Haddon 
26. Swim the Fly by Don Calone