5 Star Books

Here are my 5 star reads from this past year.  Not all of these books were published in 2010, but the majority of them were.  For me to give a 5 star rating in Goodreads, the book must blow me away and just be completely amazing.  This is of course my opinion and you can either agree or disagree, that is the one great thing about books, not everyone has to like the same type of books.

5 Star Reads

Ninth Ward by Jewell  Parker Rhodes
Lanesha is a bright spirit in the middle of the horrors of Hurricane Katrina.  A very powerful read, one that brought tears to my eyes, just remembering the images and hearing the stories from my own Aunt who lived through it.

Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King
I fell in love with Vera right away she has an amazing voice, perfect YA novel.  This one is on my Printz shortlist.

Forge by Laurie Halse Anderson

When I finished Chains I instantly wanted to read Forge and now I am left wanting more again, I love it when a book holds my attention and I want more.

I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak
I read The Book Thief a few years ago and loved Zusak's writing, so I had to give this one a try and it was perfect.  Great on audio.

Charles and Emma by Deborah Heiligman

Having an undergrad degree in science I love when science can come alive in a books, Charles and Emma gives young readers a good understanding of Charles Darwin and not just about his theories.

Sorta Like a Rock Star by Matthew Quick
Amber is the eternal optimist and I loved that about her.  Excellent reading, if you haven't read this one you must!

Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok

I don't get to read many adult books and when I do I want them to be good ones.  Good story about immigration, this would also work for older teens as well.

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia
I was blown away by this one and has been on my Newbery shortlist ever since.

Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper

This book brought tears to me eyes and is on my Newbery shortlist.

Smile by Raina Telgemeier
I loved this one because of my own dental drama I had while growing up, great graphic novel and a good one to give to someone who has just gotten braces.








Can't wait to see what 2011 holds for reading, Happy Reading!

2011 Goals and Challenges

Ahh, 2011 is right around the corner.  The craziness that is Thanksgiving to Christmas is coming to an end, now we only have New Year's left (a low-key holiday for me).  So it is time to start thinking about goals and challenges for the coming year.

Since this past year I had more free time I was able to participate in more challenges than I have in the past and I am happy with my success with those challenges.  But this year is likely to bring changes so I am going to limit myself to just one year long challenge (Debut Author Challenge).  Of course I will still participate in the 48 hour reading challenge and the Fall into Reading Challenge, but those are just for short time periods and are easy to coordinate with my other reading.

For the blog, so I don't burn myself out I am going to commit to writing at least 4 book reviews a month including my monthly audiobook roundup.  I will also be sprinkling a few more personal posts about life  and reading in general. 

As for my reading in general I plan on reading 100 books in the coming year, this last year was a record year for reading, but I am not planning on reading that amount again.  I found myself in more reading slumps because I was trying to force myself to just keep reading.  With 100 books I will have more opportunities to take a break once in awhile from my reading and enjoy my other hobbies such as sewing and crocheting.  Plus my husband and I just brought our first home, closing at the end of January so I will have plenty of other things to keep me occupied.

So there are my goals and challenges I will be participating in 2011, far less than last year but it should still be an excellent year for reading.

2010 A Look Back

Wow, what a great year for reading and just a great year in general.  Who would have thought that by the end of the year I would be well over my goal of 170 books plus finding a new job that I love.  I have been truly blessed this year.

The year stated with me completing my Master's in Library Science then of course came the task of finding a job which would utilize that knowledge.  But after 5 months I was able to find a Youth Services position here in Michigan so my husband and I could stay pretty close to family!  This meant a move, but it was time for my husband and I to move from the area we both grew up in.  It has been an adventure and now trying to find a house is the next one.  Our puppy Berrie is happy as ever and has started to calm down which doesn't bother her mom and dad one bit, she is a pretty good dog and I love her!  Started working on a novel during NaNoWriMo and will continue to work on it throughout the next year as time allows.  This has been a great year and I am thankful for all of the blessings that have been given to me and my family from our father above.

Book related this was a great year.  Overall I did pretty good with my challenges, a few I did not finish, the Chunkster and YA through the decades because well they were just to many 2010 middle-grade and teen books coming out.  Plus I just didn't feel any adult titles this year and I'm fine with that.  I was able to read over 100 books this year, 12 of which were Debut Authors, 75 Teen books, well over 10 of them were Middle-Grade books, and well over 100 of them were checked out from my local library.  Out of all of the challenges I entered I did not finish two, but I was able to complete 5 other challenges and in my book that is pretty good. 

I look forward to 2011 has I'm sure it will bring new challenges and new joys for both me personally and my family!

What's On Your Nightstand?: December 28

I have been on a reading kick lately and I love it.  With the end of the year closing in, here are the books that I have completed in the last month.

178. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth by Jeff Kinney (completed Nov 23)
If you need a book for a reluctant reader, give them any of these books and they will fly through the series.
179. Call Me Mrs. Miracle (audio) by Debbie Macomber (completed Nov 24)
A cute Christmas story, a little predictable but still a quick easy read.
180. Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea (completed Nov 26)
Loved the first half of the book (perfect in fact) second half felt a little rushed but overall still a good middle-grade novel about an inspiring teacher.
181. Lulu and the Brontosaurus by Judith Viorst (completed Nov 30)
Wonderful beginning chapter book about a girl who always seems to get her way until one day a Brontosaurus stands up to her.
182. Skipping Christmas by John Grisham (completed Dec 1)
Great book about the true meaning of the season.  As long as we have family and friends who really needs the hoopla that goes into commercialized Christmas.
183. Snook Along by Marilyn Nelson (completed Dec 2)
Great picture book for older readers.   
184. The Adventures of Ook and Gluk: Kung-Fu Cavemen from the Future by Dav Pilkey (completed Dec 2)
Perfect for fans of Captain Underpants and Diary of a Wimpy Kid
185. The Christmas Genie by Dan Gutman (completed Dec 3)
A Christmas story + Gutman's trademark humore = perfect middle-grade novel
186. Touch Blue by Cynthia Lord (completed Dec 6)
Loved this little novel, one of my favs for the year
187. Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night by Joyce Sidman (completed Dec 6)
Wonderful book of poetry about the night
188. Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty by G. Neri (completed Dec 6)
Graphic novel for teens, about Yummy and his short life
189. Janis Joplin: Rise Up Singing by  Ann Angel (completed Dec 8)
Nice teen bio about Joplin, gives plenty of background information to intrigue readers
190. Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen (completed Dec 9)
Two voices, LOVED it! 
191. The Odious Ogre by Norton Juster, illustrated by Jules Feiffer (completed Dec 14)
loved it, another great books from Juster and Feiffer
192. Matched by Allie Condie (completed Dec 15)
The Society tells you who to marry, what you do, and when you die, but are they always right?
193. Mostly Good Girls by Leila Sales (completed Dec 17)
 Vi wanted to have the perfect junior, but it is anything but
194. Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King (completed Dec 19)
What a refreshing voice, I loved Vera, on my shortlist for the Printz award
195. The Homework Machine by Dan Gutman (completed Dec 20)
perfect middle-grade humor, you can't go wrong
196. Sea of Monsters (audio) by Rick Riordan (completed Dec 21)
another adventure for Percy Jackson and the kids from Camp Half-Blood 
197. Bless the Mouse by Lois Lowry (completed Dec 22)
A cute children's novel about the mice living in a church, definitely one to watch in 2011.
198. Losing Faith by Denise Jaden (completed Dec 25)
When Brie's sister Faith dies suddenly, Brie's world falls apart.  As she tries to discover the mysterious circumstances surrounding Faith's death, Brie's life is in danger as she comes closer to her sisters dark secret.

199. Ninth Ward (audio) by Jewell Parker Rhodes (completed Dec 27)
Beautifully written about the power of the human spirit despite the horrors left by Hurricane Katrina

What I plan on reading next:
In truth I don't really know yet, but I'm sure it will be plenty of 2011 Middle-Grade and YA Debut Authors.

Have a Merry Christmas

Just wishing everyone an early Merry Christmas.  I will be taking a break from blogging during the holidays to spend time with friends and family, and do a little more reading before the end of the year.  I'll be back after the holidays!

Book Review: Please Ignore Vera Dietz

Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King.  Knopf Books for Young Readers, October 2010.
Review copy checked out from my library.

[synopsis from Goodreads]

Vera’s spent her whole life secretly in love with her best friend, Charlie Kahn. And over the years she’s kept a lot of his secrets. Even after he betrayed her. Even after he ruined everything.
 
So when Charlie dies in dark circumstances, Vera knows a lot more than anyone—the kids at school, his family, even the police. But will she emerge to clear his name? Does she even want to?
 
Edgy and gripping, Please Ignore Vera Dietz is an unforgettable novel: smart, funny, dramatic, and always surprising.

This is one of those novels that will stick with you days, weeks, and months later.  I finished this one a few days ago and I'm still thinking about parts of the novel.  I love it when novels stay with you and make you think about parts differently than when you were reading them.  Like the synopsis states this book is smart, funny, dramatic, and surprising, I am having a hard time trying to come up with a better description than that short and sweet one.

With all of the reading I do, you tend to notice trends in books and it seems this year there have been plenty of death and dealing with the circumstances books out there right now.  But for me personally Please Ignore Vera Dietz is one of the best ones I have read in awhile.  And I think it is because it wasn't over dramatic, Charlie was not some knight in shining armor trying to rescue Vera, but Vera really must rescue herself from her past, present, and future. 

The narration is amazing as well, mostly told by Vera in the present but flashes back to particular events in her past with Charlie.  Flashbacks can be over done, but King does and amazing job of combing them with the present the book just wouldn't have worked without them.  Plus we get to see different sides of the story from Vera's dad and from Charlie's ghost and don't forget the Pagoda as well.  Bringing together great writing and great characters you get one of my favorites from 2010. 

This is one of those books that needs to be read by as many people as possible, it is just a great combination of things rolled into one book and is one my list of potential Printz award books come January.  If you have John Green fans looking for something good read read hand then Please Ignore Vera Dietz, they will not be disappointed.  Highly Recommended!

YA Reading Challenge - Complete

I am finally getting around to posting some more completed challenges from this past year.  Since I took a Youth Services Librarian position earlier this year, I spent a great deal of time catching up on middle-grade novels, so this one took me a little longer than expected but I'm finished now, having read 75 YA novels in 2010!


YA Reading Challenge (75 books/all year) - COMPLETED
1. Mare's War by Tanita S. Davis (completed Jan. 8)
2. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater (completed Jan. 11)
3. Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison (completed Jan. 22)
4. Love, Aubrey by Suzanne LaFleur (completed Jan. 24)
5. Academy 7 by Anne Osterlund (completed Jan. 26)
6. Love You Hate You Miss You by Elizabeth Scott (completed Jan. 30)
7. Into the Wild Nerd Yonder by Julie Halpern (completed Jan. 31)
8. Story of a Girl (audio) by Sara Zarr (completed Feb. 3)
9. By The Time You Read This, I'll be Dead by Julie Anne Peters (completed Feb. 5)
10. Woods Runner (audio) by Gary Paulsen (completed Feb. 18)
11. Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer (completed Feb. 19)
12. Freefall by Ariela Anhalt (completed Feb. 20)
13. Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick (completed Feb. 22)
14. The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner (completed Feb. 25)
15. Conspiracy 365: January by Gabriella Lord (completed Feb. 26)
16. Broken Memory: A Novel of Rwanda by Elisabeth Combres (completed Feb. 27)
17. On the Bright Side I am Now the Girlfriend of a Sex God by Louise Rennison (completed March 1)
18. Tangled by Carolyn Mackler (completed March 3)
19. Calamity Jack by Shannon and Dean Hale, illustrated by Nathan Hale (completed March 7)
20. Shakespeare Bats Cleanup by Ron Koertge (completed March 11)
21. Get Well Soon by Julie Halpern (completed March 16)
22. City of Ashes (audio) by Cassandra Clare (completed March 16)
23. Conspiracy 365: February by Gabrielle Lord (completed March 30)
24. Rampant by Diana Peterfreund (completed April 2)
25. Knocked Out By My Nunga-Nungas by Louise Rennison (completed April 8)
26. Heist Society (audio) by Ally Carter (completed April 12)
27. 8th Grade Superzero by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich (completed April 25)
28. City of Glass (audio) by Cassandra Clare (completed April 27)
29. The Goose Girl (audio) by Shannon Hale (completed May 12)
30. Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroeder (completed May 16)
31. Going Bovine (audio) by Libba Bray (completed May 18)
32. Fifteen by Beverly Cleary (completed May 21)
33. Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan (completed May 23)
34. Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins (completed May 28)
35. Dancing in My Nuddy-Pants by Louise Rennison (completed June 4)
36. Three Rivers Rising by Jame Richards (completed June 5)
37. The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin by Josh Berk (completed June 6)
38. Fallen (audio) by Lauren Kate (completed June 15)
39. Artemis Fowl (audio) by Eoin Colfer (completed June 19)
40. The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell (completed June 27)
41. Away Laughing on a Fast Camel by Louise Rennison (completed July 2)
42. The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan (completed July 4)
43. The Sons of Liberty by Alexander & Joseph Lagos (completed July 5)
44. The Secret Life of Prince Charming by Deb Caletti (completed July 5)
45. Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident (audio) by Eoin Colfer (completed July 13)
46. The Red Umbrella by Christina Diaz Gonzalez (completed July 18)
47. Maximum Ride, The Manga Vol. 1 by NaRae Lee & James Patterson (completed July 28)
48. Maximum Ride, The Manga Vol. 2 by NaRae Lee & James Patterson (completed July 28)
49. Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code (audio) by Eoin Colfer (completed Aug. 5)
50. The Prince of Mist by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (completed Aug 13)
51. Then He Ate My Boy Entrancers by Louis Rennison (completed Aug 17)
52. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (completed Aug 28)
53. Charles and Emma by Deborah Heiligman (completed Sept 4)
54. Glimpse by Carol Lynch Williams (completed Sept 6)
55. Annexed by Sharon Dogar (completed Oct 3)
56. Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception (audio) by Eoin Colfer (completed Oct 9)
57. The DUFF by Kody Keplinger (completed Oct 9)
58. Bloody Jack (audio) by L.A. Meyer (completed Oct 11)
59. The Boyfriend List: 15 Guys, 11 Shrink Appointments, 4 Ceramic Frogs and Me Ruby Oliver (audio) by E. Lockhart (completed Oct 13)
60. The Last Summer of the Death Warriors (audio) by Francisco X. Stork (completed Oct 18)
61. Forge by Laurie Halse Anderson (completed Oct 23)
62. The Boy Book (audio) by E. Lockhart (completed Oct 28)
63. After Tupac and D Foster (audio) by Jacqueline Woodson (completed Oct 31)
64. The Abused Werewolf Rescue Group by Catherine Jinks (completed Oct 31)
65. Lockdown by Walter Dean Myers (completed Nov 2)
66. The War to End All Wars: World War I (audio) by Russell Freedman (completed Nov 5)
67. Sorta Like a Rock Star by Matthew Quick (completed Nov 5)
68. Wicked Girls: A Novel of the Salem Witch Trials by Stephanie Hemphill (completed Nov 10
69. The Lying Game by Sara Shepard (completed Nov 13)
70. Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick (completed Nov 15)
71. The Demon King (audio) by Cinda Williams Chima (completed Nov 19)
72. Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan (completed Nov 21)
73. The Mockingbirds - Daisy Whitney (completed Nov 21)
74. Janis Joplin: Rise Up Singing by Ann Angel (completed Dec 8)
75. Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen (completed Dec 9)

Fall into Reading 2010 Wrapup

My goal for this challenge was to complete 30 books and try and read as many as possible from my must reads list.

Well I was able to complete my 30 books and then some and read a few from my list.  I find that I am not the good a reading books that I put on a list, I much prefer to read what I feel like reading when the mood strikes.  So I think for future challenges I am just going to come up with a number of books I would like to complete and a few other challenges and give up on making a list to read from.

Happy Reading!

Here is my list of books that I completed during the Fall into Reading Challenge:

148. Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine (completed Sept 27)
149. Around the World in 80 Days (audio) by Jules Verne (completed Sept 29)
150. Riding Freedom by Pam Munoz Ryan (completed Oct 1)
151. Annexed by Sharon Dogar (completed Oct 3)
152. Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception (audio) by Eoin Colfer (completed Oct 9)
153. The DUFF by Kody Keplinger (completed Oct 9)
154. Bloody Jack (audio) by L.A. Meyer (completed Oct 11)
155. Clementine by Sara Pennypacker (completed Oct 11)
156. The Boyfriend List: 15 Guys, 11 Shrink Appointments, 4 Ceramic Frogs and Me Ruby Oliver (audio) by E. Lockhart (completed Oct 13)
157. Binky to the Rescue by Ashley Spires (completed Oct 16)
158. Alvin Ho: Allergic to Birthday Parties, Science Projects and Other Man-Made Catastrophes by Lenore Look (completed Oct 17)
159. The Last Summer of the Death Warriors (audio) by Francisco X. Stork (completed Oct 18)
160. How to Grow Up and Rule the World by Vordak the Incomprehensible :by Scott Seegert (completed Oct 19
161. Forge by Laurie Halse Anderson (completed Oct 23)
162. Liberty or Death: The Surprising Story of Runaway Slaves Who Sided with the British During the American Revolution by Margaret Whitman Blair (completed Oct 23)
163. Sir Charlie Chaplin by Sid Fleischman (completed Oct 24)
164. Nest, Nook, and Cranny by Susan Blackaby (completed Oct 25)
165. Satchel Paige: Striking Out Jim Crow by James Sturm (completed Oct 25)
166. The Boy Book: A Study of Habits and Behaviors, Plus Techniques for Taming Them (audio) by E. Lockhart (completed Oct 28)
167. The Abused Werewolf Rescue Group by Catherine Jinks (completed Oct 31)
168. After Tupac and D Foster (audio) by Jacqueline Woodson (completed Oct 31)
169. Lockdown by Walter Dean Myers (completed Nov 2)
170. The War to End All Wars: World War I (audio) by Russell Freedman (completed Nov 5)
171. Sorta Like a Rock Star by Matthew Quick (completed Nov 5)
172. Wicked Girls by Stehanie Hemphill (completed Nov 10)
173. The Lying Game by Sara Shepard (completed Nov 13)
174. Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick (completed Nov 15)
175. The Demon King (audio) by Cinda Williams Chima (completed Nov 19)
176. Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan (completed Nov 21)
177. The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney (completed Nov 21)
178. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth by Jeff Kinney (completed Nov 23)
179. Call Me Mrs. Miracle (audio) by Debbie Macomber (completed Nov 24)
180. Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea (completed Nov 26)
181. Lulu and the Brontosaurus by Judith Viorst (completed Nov 30)
182. Skipping Christmas by John Grisham (completed Dec 1)
183. Snook Along by Marilyn Nelson (completed Dec 2)
184. The Adventures of Ook and Gluk: Kung-Fu Cavemen from the Future by Dav Pilkey (completed Dec 2)
185. The Christmas Genie by Dan Gutman (completed Dec 3)
186. Touch Blue by Cynthia Lord (completed Dec 6)
187. Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night by Joyce Sidman (completed Dec 6)
188. Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty by G. Neri (completed Dec 6)
189. Janis Joplin: Rise Up Singing by  Ann Angel (completed Dec 8)
190. Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen (completed Dec 9)
191. The Odious Ogre by Norton Juster, illustrated by Jules Feiffer (completed Dec 14)
192. Matched by Allie Condie (completed Dec 15)
193. Mostly Good Girls by Leila Sales (completed Dec 17)
194. Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King (completed Dec 19)

Waiting on Wednesday (11) - My 2011 Must Reads - Debut Author Edition

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I decided to highlight some 2011 Debut Authors that I am looking forward to reading as part of the 2011 Debut Author Challenge.  Click on the picture for the link to the Goodreads summary page.

What are you waiting on?

Book Review: Because of Mr. Terupt

Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea.  Delacorte Books for Young Readers.  October, 2010.
Review copy checked out from my library.

[synopsis from Goodreads]

It’s the start of fifth grade for seven kids at Snow Hill School. There’s . . . Jessica, the new girl, smart and perceptive, who’s having a hard time fitting in; Alexia, a bully, your friend one second, your enemy the next; Peter, class prankster and troublemaker; Luke, the brain; Danielle, who never stands up for herself; shy Anna, whose home situation makes her an outcast; and Jeffrey, who hates school.

Only Mr. Terupt, their new and energetic teacher, seems to know how to deal with them all. He makes the classroom a fun place, even if he doesn’t let them get away with much . . . until the snowy winter day when an accident changes everything—and everyone.

Mr. Terupt is that one of a kind teacher.  One that touches are lives in ways that we can only see later.  I was fortunate to have a few of those teachers who inspired me and developed my love of reading (Thank you Mrs. H and Mrs. N, you are the best).  Mr. Terupt is that teacher and he makes an impress on his students without them really seeing it at first.

I loved that this story was told from 6 different points of view.  You get to reader everyone's side of the story and see how they feel and interpret situations.  Plus is makes for short chapters and for middle-grade books I love when authors keep the chapters to the point.  Each student has a different background and backstory that you find out about during the school year, you just jump right into the first day of school and learn along the way.  For me the first half of the book worked beautifully.  The characters are authentic 5th graders, the foreshadowing of what is to come is perfect, but once we hit the major tragedy the book looses me.  But I don't think it will loose the intended audience. 

I found the second half of the book a little too "lessons learned" or preachy.  But this style will work for most middle-grade readers since it comes right out and tells you the lessons.  Personally I think most kids could figure it out, but that is my opinion.  It is a good book that shows you just how much damage one senseless act of rage or anger can turn into a tragedy quickly.  But it does bring the students much closer and helps a few find new friends or rediscover old ones.

While I may not have cared for the ending this was still a magical book and one I am glad I read.  Good for readers reading at a high 3rd grade to 6th grade level.  Read it and you will be remembering those teachers who have inspired you along the way.

Picture Book Review: The Twelve Bots of Christmas

The Twelve Bots of Christmas by Nathan Hale.  Walker Books for Young Readers, October 2010.
Review copy checked out from my library.

Christmas is my favorite time of the year.  I love the decorating my Christmas tree, I love going shopping and people watching, and I especially love getting together with my 6 nieces and nephews plus brother and sister-in-laws (I love that I married into a large family).  Since Aunt Jess is a librarian I always make sure to bring plenty of books and this year I will be adding the The Twelve Bots of Christmas.

I love that Nathan Hale took a traditional Christmas song and switched it up with various bots and featuring Robo-Santa.  On the back flap Hale states that he wanted to write a Twelve Days of Christmas gifts that kids would actually want and what kid wouldn't want some dancing droids. 

I am definitely going to be using this with my storytime kids and will being singing it since the wording is just perfect for singing.  This is sure to become a classic Christmas story, a nice update of a traditional song for our techy world.  Highly Recommended.